Control of skin colour and polyphenol oxidase activity in santol fruit by dipping in organic acid solution.

This laboratory experiment was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Technology, Mahasarakham University, Northeast Thailand during July and August 2008. The experiment aimed to determine an effective natural organic acid that would delay the unattractive skin browning of santol fruit, while at the same time not damaging the quality of the fruit. The experiment included a study of the fruit's polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, phenolic content and quinone content, as they relate to colour and a study of total soluble solid content, pH, titratable acidity and vitamin C content as they relate to fruit quality. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications was used. Each replication consisted of 10 fruits. Santol fruit was harvested at 145 days after full bloom and dipped for 30 min in aqueous solutions of two organic acids that were used as treatments, i.e., 0% for T1 (control), 5% citric acid for T2, 5% ascorbic acid for T3, 10% citric acid for T4 and 10% ascorbic acid for T5 and stored at room temperature (28 degrees C, 90% R.H.) to investigate the effect of the acid on fruit weight, skin colour, PPO activity and other internal parameters. The results showed that the most appropriate anti-browning agent for santol fruit was found with T2. It gave the highest mean values, 57.37 and 55.95, of brightness (L*) at 4 and 10 Days After Storage (DAS), respectively. In addition, PPO activity of flesh tissue was lowest for T2 with mean values of 0.0078 to 0.0092 by 0 and 300 S, respectively. The phenolic content in the flesh tissue significantly increased with an increase in numbers ofDAS, whereas the reverse was found with the pH level in the fruits. They were lowest for T2, with mean values of 6.00, by 10 DAS. There were no significant differences among the treatments in any of the measured Total Soluble Solids (TSS), Titratable Acidity (TA) and vitamin C content.

An analysis on quality, colour, tissue texture, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity and pH of Santol fruits (Sandoricum koetjape Burm. F.) Merr. Pui Fai cultivar, grown in Northern Thailand.

This laboratory experiment was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Technology, Mahasarakham University, Northeast Thailand during June to October 2007. The experiment aimed to search for the most appropriate harvesting age of fruits of Santol orchard plants with respect to colour, tissue texture, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity and pH of Santol fruits. A Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications was used. Each replication consisted of 10 fruits, thus a total of 160 fruits were used. The Santol fruits were harvested at different ages, i.e., 100, 115, 130 and 145 days after full bloom of flowers and these harvested ages were used as treatments, i.e., 100 for T1 (Control), 115 for T2, 130 for T3 and 145 for T4. The results showed that the most appropriate harvesting date for high quality Santol fruits was found with T4, i.e., 145 days after full bloom of flowers where Santol fruits of T4 gave the highest mean values of fruit length, diameter, fresh weight fruit(-1) of 10.71 cm, 9.31 cm and 399.76 g, respectively. Yellowness of skin colour of fruits was evenly distributed. Total soluble solid content of pericarp, flesh tissue and seeds were highest for T4 with mean values of 13.93, 15.05 and 18.260 brix, respectively. Flesh texture density highly decreased with an increase in numbers of days after full bloom of flowers. Titratable acidity content in fruits was highly decreased with an increase in numbers of days after full bloom of flowers whereas a reverse was found with pH of fruit juices.

Effect of harvesting index on browning reaction and changes of tissue structure in santol fruits.

This investigation was carried out to justify the relationship between harvesting ages of santol fruit, browning reaction and other concerning data. Growers of santol plantations in Thailand have always accustomed to problems on inconsistency in qualities of santol fruits var. Pui Fai due to inappropriate harvesting index. Thus these encourage to decrease marketable qualities of fruits and short shelf-life particularly browning discoloration. In order to investigate adequate information for growers of the santol orchard plants, it is important to carry out experiments on Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO) activity and changes of tissue structure by separating fruit into three parts: peel, flesh and seed of santol fruit var. Pui Fai harvested at four stages: 100, 115, 130 and 145 Days After Full bloom (DAF). A factorial in randomized complete block design with five replications was used. In each replication ten fruits were used. This investigation was carried out during the period of October 2006 to March 2007 at The Department of Agricultural Technology, Mahasarakham University, Northeast Thailand. The results showed that PPO activity which related to browning reaction changed with harvesting stage. The highest PPO activities were obtained and highly significant increased in mature fruit at 130 and 145 DAF. When the fruits were ripening at 145 DAF, PPO activities from peel, flesh and seed had no significant differences and high levels by 160.76-184.44, 158.88-180.76 and 154.52-181.08 U mg(-1) fresh weight, respectively. While cross-section study in peel and flesh of santol fruit var. Pui Fai at different ages indicated that immature fruits (100 and 115 DAF) showed small cells arranged one to two layers in epidermis. Trichome like-hair also appeared on this layer. When santol fruits grew through 145 DAF, epidermis converted to periderm and trichome disappeared. In addition, parenchyma cells in flesh accumulated several substances in form of druse with the fruit age increment. These high PPO activities and fruit tissue conversions of peel and flesh in mature fruit may led to be more sensitive to browning reaction.

Effect of chemical paclobutrazol on growth, yield and quality of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Har lium cultivar in northeast Thailand.

This investigation was carried out at Mahasarakham University Experimental Farm, Mahasarakham University, Northeast Thailand in the late rainy season of the 2003 to 2004 with the use of Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults). The experiment aims to search for more information on the effect of different rates of chemical Paclobutrazol (PBZ) application on growth, yield and quality of edible okra pods. A Randomised Complete Block Design (RCDB) with four replications was used for the experiment. The experiments consisted of five treatments, i.e., 0 (T1), 4000 (T2), 8000 (T3), 12,000 (T4) and 16,000 ppm ha(-1) (T5) of chemical PBZ. The results showed that an increase in PBZ application rate highly decreased plant height, harvesting age and significantly decreased leaf area of the fifth leaf but highly increased pod length, fresh weight/pod and fresh pod yield ha(-1) of the okra plants. PBZ had no significant effect on stem diameter and diameter of pods of the okra plants. Total soluble solid, fibre content, titratable acid, vitamin C and pectin contents in pods were not affected by chemical PBZ application. Pod yield highly increased with an increase in rate of PBZ application. The highest edible pod yield reached a value of 4501 kg ha(-1) for the highest rate of PBZ application (T5).

Effects of green manures on growth, yield and quality of green okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Har Lium Cultivar.

This green manure experiment with the use of okra crop as indicator plant was carried out at Mahasarakham University Experimental Farm, Mahasarakham province, Northeast Thailand during May to September 2005 to investigate four types of green manure legume crops on growth, yield and quality of edible fresh pods of okra crop when grown on Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults). The four types of green manure plants include Jack bean, Cowpea, Green gram, and Giant sensitive plant. The experiment consisted of five treatments, i.e., T1 (Control), T2 (Jack bean), T3 (Cowpea), T4 (Green gram) and T5 (Giant sensitive plant). The experiment was laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. The results showed that Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults) contained some considerable mean values of organic matter (1.64-1.66%) but soil available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium were relatively low, particularly potassium. Green manures of the four legume plants slightly improved soil property of the Roi-Et soil series (tested at the end of the experimental period). The most effective green manure on stem diameter, bushy diameter, leaf numbers plant(-1) and leaf area of the fifth leaf of the okra plants, in most cases, was found with Jack bean and Cowpea ranked the second. However, in most cases, Cowpea gave a similar effect as that of Green gram and Giant sensitive plant. Pod length and weight pod(-1), pod diameter and edible fresh pod yields (5941.86 kg ha(-1)) were highest with Jack bean green manure treatment (T2), whilst the rest, in most cases, were similar. Green manure treatments gave highly significant effect on total soluble solids of pods over the control treatment, whilst total acidity, fibre and pectin contents were unaffected by green manure treatments. Green manure of Jack bean was the best legume crop for green manure to be used in improving soil fertility, particularly for Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults).

An investigation on the germination of seeds of Kwao Kreu Kao (Pueraria candollei Grah. ex Benth) as affected by both water soakings and hot air oven treatments.

This experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 4400, Thailand to investigate effects of different water-soaking durations and hot air oven treatments on the germination of seeds of Kwao Kreu Kao (Pueraria candollei Grah. ex Benth) plants. The experiment was laid in a Randomised Complete Block Design with four replications. The results showed that after tested for Electrical Conductivity (EC) values for cracking of seeds, all seeds being used were at a normal condition (with an average EC value of 28.56 microS cm(-1) g(-1)) and all seeds were ready for germination. Strength on impermeability of seeds declined after soaking in water for 10 h and onwards then the treated seeds had increased in weights. However, after treated under hot air oven, dry weights of all seeds became similar. Germination percentage of all treatments was most rapid during the first three weeks of germination period and later slowly increased with time. At day 91 after sowing, T2 gave the highest percentage of germination (52%) and the lowest was found with T1 (control) with 31.25%. Again at day 91 after sowing, T2 gave the highest mean value of plant numbers (16.38) and the lowest was found with T1 (7.28). Numbers of abnormal seedlings determined at day 63 after sowing were lowest with T2 (6.25%) and worst with T4 (20.14%). Again at day 63 after sowing, plant height was significantly tallest with T2 (3.88 cm) and the lowest was found with T4 (2.71 cm). Numbers of leaves were not significantly different among the treated plants reaching a highest value of 11.25 leaves plant(-1) for T3. It may be concluded that T2 was the best treatment for use in germinating seeds of Pueraria candollei Grah. ex Benth plants. Further improvements on longevity and high percentage of germination of seeds were discussed and suggested.