Understanding the reproductive biology of Terminalia ferdinandiana for improved fruit yields

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 630
Author(s):  
Julian Gorman ◽  
Hanna Markones ◽  
Michael John Lawes
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Food Plant ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Important Food ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Kakadu Plum ◽  
Terminalia Ferdinandiana

Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell., also known as the Kakadu plum, is an important food plant endemic to northern Australia. The fruit has substantial commercial demand as it contains sought-after antioxidants and the greatest concentration of ascorbic acid of any fruit known worldwide. Better knowledge of its reproductive biology is required to increase fruit production from wild stands and sustain commercial demand. Experiments demonstrate that T. ferdinandiana is andromonoecious and self-incompatible, relying on cross-pollination for successful fruit production. Wild stocks of this species are pollen limited, likely caused by pollinator satiation in dense, synchronously flowering stands. These findings indicate that enhanced fruit production requires supplementation of suitable pollinators in wild stands.

scholarly journals The Use of a Micro Near Infrared Portable Instrument to Predict Bioactive Compounds in a Wild Harvested Fruit—Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1413
Author(s):  
Eshetu Bobasa ◽  
Anh Dao T. Phan ◽  
Michael Netzel ◽  
Heather E. Smyth ◽  
Yasmina Sultanbawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Ellagic Acid ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fruit Samples ◽  
Nutritional Characteristics ◽  
Analytical Quantification ◽  
Kakadu Plum ◽  
Terminalia Ferdinandiana

Kakadu plum (KP; Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell, Combretaceae) is an emergent indigenous fruit originating from Northern Australia, with valuable health and nutritional characteristics and properties (e.g., high levels of vitamin C and ellagic acid). In recent years, the utilization of handheld NIR instruments has allowed for the in situ quantification of a wide range of bioactive compounds in fruit and vegetables. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a handheld NIR spectrophotometer to measure vitamin C and ellagic acid in wild harvested KP fruit samples. Whole and pureed fruit samples were collected from two locations in the Kimberley region (Western Australia, Australia) and were analysed using both reference and NIR methods. The standard error in cross validation (SECV) and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) values were 1.81% dry matter (DM) with an RPD of 2.1, and 3.8 mg g−1 DM with an RPD of 1.9 for the prediction of vitamin C and ellagic acid, respectively, in whole KP fruit. The SECV and RPD values were 1.73% DM with an RPD of 2.2, and 5.6 mg g−1 DM with an RPD of 1.3 for the prediction of vitamin C and ellagic acid, respectively, in powdered KP samples. The results of this study demonstrated the ability of a handheld NIR instrument to predict vitamin C and ellagic acid in whole and pureed KP fruit samples. Although the RPD values obtained were not considered adequate to quantify these bioactive compounds (e.g., analytical quantification), this technique can be used as a rapid tool to screen vitamin C in KP fruit samples for high and low quality vitamin C.

scholarly journals Effects of Fruit Maturity on Physicochemical Properties, Sugar Accumulation and Antioxidant Capacity of Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Anh Dao Thi Phan ◽  
Maral Seidi Damyeh ◽  
Saleha Akter ◽  
Mridusmita Chaliha ◽  
Michael E. Netzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Radical ◽  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
Radical Scavenging ◽  
Free Radical Scavenging ◽  
Maturity Stages ◽  
Radical Scavenging Capacity ◽  
Scavenging Capacity ◽  
Kakadu Plum ◽  
Terminalia Ferdinandiana

Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum), belonging to the family Combretaceae, is endemic to Australia and has a long history of traditional medicinal applications and food cuisine by the Australian Indigenous people. This study investigated the effects of maturity stages on the morphology, physicochemical parameters (total soluble solids (TSS), total acid content (TAC), and pH), soluble sugar profile and antioxidant capacity of Kakadu plum (KP) fruits that were wild harvested from different trees and classified into four different maturity stages (immature to mature). TSS and TAC were determined by standard assays/procedures, main sugars by UHPLC–MS/MS and antioxidant capacity (total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH free radical scavenging capacity) by spectrophotometry. The results showed that soluble sugars (glucose, sucrose and fructose) ranging from 1.3 to 17.7% dry weight (DW), TSS (17.0–52.7% DW) and TAC (1.3–6.7% DW) increased with maturity. However, antioxidant capacity (TPC in the range of 7.4–21.9% DW and DPPH free radical scavenging capacity from 22 to 76% inhibition at the extract concentration of 20 g·L−1) did not follow the same trend as the one observed for soluble sugars, TSS and TAC. These differences were associated with the tree-to-tree variability as a consequence of the wild harvest condition. This study provides important information to both the KP industry and Indigenous enterprises regarding the selection of the appropriate maturity stage to harvest KP fruit to target for different markets (e.g., low-sugar vs. high-sugar fruit).

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity and Ellagitannins from Terminalia Ferdinandiana

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Akter ◽  
Hong ◽  
Netzel ◽  
Tinggi ◽  
Osborne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Free Radical ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Radical Scavenging Activity ◽  
Radical Scavenging ◽  
Free Radical Scavenging ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Agar Disc ◽  
Kakadu Plum ◽  
Terminalia Ferdinandiana

Extracts were prepared from Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) fruits, leaves, seedcoats, and barks using accelerated solvent extraction with methanol, ethanol, water, acetone, and hexane. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and by determining the total phenolic content (TPC). Methanol fruit extracts had the strongest free radical scavenging activity and the highest TPC (12 g/100 g DW). The antimicrobial activity of all extracts (except hexane) was analysed by agar disc diffusion. Fruits and leaves showed larger inhibition zones against foodborne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to seedcoats and barks. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 mg/mL against the tested microorganisms. Scanning electron microscopy images of bacteria treated with the extracts showed morphological changes consistent with cell death. A new UHPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of punicalagin and castalagin, bioactive ellagitannins, was developed and validated. Punicalagin contents in the fruits and leaves were 74 and 49 mg/100 g DW whilst castalagin contents were 1.1 and 0.8 mg/100 g DW. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about punicalagin and castalagin concentrations in Kakadu plum fruits and leaves. These initial findings are very promising in regards to the potential use of Kakadu plum fruit and leaf extracts as natural preservatives in the food industry.

scholarly journals Chemical and Nutritional Composition of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) Kernels: A Novel Nutrition Source

Foods ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleha Akter ◽  
Michael Netzel ◽  
Mary Fletcher ◽  
Ujang Tinggi ◽  
Yasmina Sultanbawa
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Kakadu Plum ◽  
Terminalia Ferdinandiana ◽  
Nutrition Source

Observations on the biology of Carcharhinus cautus (Whitley), C. melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard) and C. fitzroyensis (Whitley) from Northern Australia

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 701 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Lyle
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Teleost Fish ◽  
Species Range ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Breeding Seasons

The reproductive biology and diets of C. cautus, C. melanopterus and C. fitzroyensis from northern Australia are described. Males and females are usually mature at 84 and 91 cm, respectively, in C. cautus, 95 and 97 cm in C. melanopterus, and 88 and 100 cm in C. fitzroyensis. The species exhibit placental viviparity, have restricted breeding seasons, and individual females appear to breed annually. Breeding seasons for C. cautus and C. melanopterus are very similar: mating occurs between January and March, ovulation in February-March, and parturition in October-November. Individuals of C. fitzroyensis mate between May and July, ovulate between July and September, and give birth the. following February- April. Gestation periods for the three species range from 7 to 9 months. Approximate sizes at birth are 40 cm for C. cautus, 48 cm for C. melanopterus and 50 cm for C. fitzroyensis. Mean litter sizes are 2.9 (range 1-5) for C. cautus, 3.8 (range 3-4) for C. melanopterus and 3.7 (range 1-7) for C. fitzroyensis. Teleost fish are an important component of the diets, with crustaceans and molluscs (mainly cephalopods) of lesser importance. Snakes are eaten by C. melanopterus and C. cautus.

Distribution, size and sex composition, reproductive biology and diet of sharks from Northern Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Stevens ◽  
KJ McLoughlin
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Size At Birth

The distribution, size composition, sex ratio, reproductive biology and diet of 17 species of shark from the families Triakidae, Hemigaleidae and Carcharhinidae from northern Australia were examined. In most of these species the sex ratio of the embryos is 1 : 1, whereas in the post-partum populations there were significantly more males than females. The results indicate four broad reproductive strategies among these sharks. In most species reproduction was distinctly seasonal with individual females giving birth each Austral summer (annual cycle) after a gestation period of 9-12 months. A second group had a very similar cycle except that individual females gave birth every second year (biennial cycle). A third group had an annual cycle but breeding was continuous throughout the year, these were mostly small bottom-associated sharks. One species had a seasonal cycle but gave birth twice each year (biannual cycle) after a 6-month gestation. The average size at birth varied from 27 to 75 cm and the average litter size varied from 2 to 34. The size at birth was about 40% of the size at maturity, which in turn was about 70% of the maximum size. Diets ranged from omnivorous to highly selective. Fish was an important component of the diet in all but one species. There was evidence of partitioning of food resources among sympatric, morphologically similar, sharks.

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