scholarly journals Management of Postharvest Diseases of Vegetables in a Tropical and Sub-tropical Environment of the Kingdom of Eswatini

Author(s):  
Diana M. Earnshaw ◽  
Michael T. Masarirambi ◽  
Bonginkhosi E. Dlamini ◽  
Kwanele A. Nxumalo

Vegetables are important in human diets as a side dish eaten either cooked or raw as in salads. They are important for their nutritional contribution as major sources of minerals, vitamins, nine essential amino acids, beneficial phytochemicals, fibre and interesting colour from an aesthetic point of view. Despite the immerse health benefits offered by vegetables there are challenges encountered in their post-harvest handling and storage up to consumption. Challenges include post-harvest losses due to diseases. Some losses occur even at household level when vegetables are not stored appropriately when stored under the sink where humidity can be high leading to an environment which promotes diseases. Diseases in the post-harvest chain are caused by bacteria and opportunistic pathogenic fungi. Post-harvest losses of vegetables are not only a threat to nutritional security but a threat to food security as well. The aim of this research study was to document major post-harvest diseases of vegetables found in the Kingdom of Eswatini and to suggest appropriate management strategies or ways of alleviating them.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-461
Author(s):  
Gabriela M. Baia ◽  
Otniel Freitas-Silva ◽  
Murillo F. Junior

Fruits and vegetables are foods that come into contact with various types of microorganisms from planting to their consumption. A lack or poor sanitation of these products after harvest can cause high losses due to deterioration and/ or pathogenic microorganisms. There are practically no post-harvest fungicides or bactericides with a broad spectrum of action that have no toxic residual effects and are safe. However, to minimize such problems, the use of sanitizers is an efficient device against these microorganisms. Chlorine is the most prevalent sanitizing agent because of its broad spectrum, low cost and well-established practices. However, the inevitable formation of disinfection by-products, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), is considered one of the main threats to food safety. Alternative sanitizers, such as chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and ozone, are becoming popular as a substitute for traditional post-harvest treatments. Thus, this review addresses the use of chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone emphasizing aspects, such as usage, safe application, spectrum of action and legislation. In order to ensure the quality and safety of final products, the adoption of well-prepared sanitation and sanitation programs for post-harvest fruits and vegetables is essential.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Clasen ◽  
Andrew Bastable

Paired water samples were collected and analysed for thermotolerant coliforms (TTC) from 20 sources (17 developed or rehabilitated by Oxfam and 3 others) and from the stored household water supplies of 100 households (5 from each source) in 13 towns and villages in the Kailahun District of Sierra Leone. In addition, the female head of the 85 households drawing water from Oxfam improved sources was interviewed and information recorded on demographics, hygiene instruction and practices, sanitation facilities and water collection and storage practices. At the non-improved sources, the arithmetic mean TTC load was 407/100 ml at the point of distribution, rising to a mean count of 882/100 ml at the household level. Water from the improved sources met WHO guidelines, with no faecal contamination. At the household level, however, even this safe water was subject to frequent and extensive faecal contamination; 92.9% of stored household samples contained some level of TTC, 76.5% contained more than the 10 TTC per 100 ml threshold set by the Sphere Project for emergency conditions. The arithmetic mean TTC count for all samples from the sampled households was 244 TTC per 100 ml (geometric mean was 77). These results are consistent with other studies that demonstrate substantial levels of faecal contamination of even safe water during collection, storage and access in the home. They point to the need to extend drinking water quality beyond the point of distribution to the point of consumption. The options for such extended protection, including improved collection and storage methods and household-based water treatment, are discussed.


1966 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 367-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAKAO MURATA ◽  
KUNIYASU OGATA
Keyword(s):  

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Mauric ◽  
Kristina Starcevic ◽  
Sven Mencik ◽  
Mario Ostovic ◽  
Anamaria Ekert Kabalin

AbstractDalmatian turkey is a slow growing breed kept in free range systems. It is a type of “old fashioned poultry” whose meat is present on the market and accepted by consumers. However, no information about its meat quality and fatty acid profile is available. The chemical composition of the meat was influenced by gender and meat type and these differences could be important from the consumer’s point of view. Fatty acid composition was characterized by the predominance of n6 fatty acids, especially C18:2n6 and a high n6/n3 ratio. Increased time of storage strongly reduced the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC PUFA) and increased atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices (AI and TI) in thigh tissue. The content of beneficial n3 PUFA was influenced by meat type, with lower values of C18:3n3 and higher values of LC PUFA in the breast compared to the thighs. The potential intake of LC PUFA of comercial turkey in the human diet was lower in comparison to poultry fed with complete feed mixtures. An interesting fact was the higher DHA values in comparison with DPA values in breast tissue, which is characteristic of old poultry breeds. The Dalmatian turkey is a highly valued traditional product and an important archaic breed for gene preservation and biodiversity. Nevertheless, Dalmatian turkey meat could be even further improved by minimal dietary manipulation to become a product with additional health promoting effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (15) ◽  
pp. 977-981
Author(s):  
Prakash Chandra Ghosh ◽  
Mitali Bera ◽  
Punyabrata Barma ◽  
Arijit Roy ◽  
Sananda Majumder ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Though epilepsy remains a significant problem for children and adolescents in our country, studies delineating the clinical profile and response to treatment in childhood epilepsy are lacking. The current study was carried out for obtaining a baseline profile and to predict the response to treatment in childhood epilepsy in India that may be helpful in planning management strategies from a public health point of view. METHODS Patients with clinical suggestion of active epilepsy (N = 141) from one month to 12 years, were enrolled into the study over a period of 1 year (February 2010 to January 2011) from the out-patient department and epilepsy clinic of Bangur Institute of Neurology. Detailed history was taken along with neurological examination. Electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging (MRI / CT scan) were done on all patients. Each patient included in the study was kept in followup for a period of 6 months and their response to the treatment was recorded. RESULTS About 48.9 % (N = 69) patients had localisation related epilepsy while the rest had generalised epilepsy. Of those with generalised epilepsy, generalised tonicclonic seizures (GTCS) was by far the most common type. Of those with focal EEG activity, the highest proportion (50 %), were localised to the temporal lobe. Symptomatic aetiology accounted for 59.6 % (N = 84) of the patients. 20.6 % (N = 29) had poor response to treatment at 6 months follow-up. Abnormal neuroimaging (OR = 6.708) and abnormal EEG (OR = 6.357) were effective factors in predicting poor response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the need to link specialised epilepsy services with primary health centres for early detection and treatment. EEG is an essential cost-effective modality in determining seizure localisation and response to treatment. KEYWORDS Paediatric, Epilepsy, Clinical Profile, Response to Treatment


Author(s):  
Jianchao Zhang ◽  
Jing Su ◽  
Chao Ma ◽  
Xiangyu Hu ◽  
Henry H Teng

Periphyton occurs widely in shallow-water ecosystems such as paddy fields and plays critical parts in regulating local phosphorus cycling. As such, understanding the mechanisms of the biofilm’s response to environmental P variability may lead to better perceptions of P utilization and retention in rice farms. Present study aims at exploring the biological and biochemical processes underlying periphyton’s P buffering capability through examining changes in community structure, phosphorus uptake and storage, and molecular makeup of exometabolome at different levels of P availability. Under stressed (both excessive and scarce) phosphorus conditions, we found increased populations of the bacterial genus capable of transforming orthophosphate to polyphosphate, as well as mixotrophic algae who can survive through phagotrophy. These results were corroborated by observed polyphosphate buildup under low and high P treatment. Exometabolomic analyses further revealed that periphytic organisms may substitute S-containing lipids for phospholipids, use siderophores to dissolve iron (hydr)oxides to scavenge adsorbed P, and synthesize auxins to resist phosphorus starvation. These findings not only shed light on the mechanistic insights responsible for driving the periphytic P buffer but attest to the ecological roles of periphyton in aiding plants such as rice to overcome P limitations in natural environment. Importance The ability of periphyton to buffer environmental P in shallow aquatic ecosystems may be a natural lesson on P utilization and retention in paddy fields. This work revealed the routes and tools through which periphytic organisms adapt to and regulate ambient P fluctuation. The mechanistic understanding further implicates that the biofilm may serve rice plants to alleviate P stress. Additional results from extracellular metabolite analyses suggest the dissolved periphytic exometabolome can be a valuable nutrient source for soil microbes and plants to reduce biosynthetic costs. These discoveries have the potential to improve our understanding of biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in general and to refine P management strategies for rice farm in particular.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Judith Perez Espitia ◽  
Nilda de Fátima Ferreira Soares ◽  
Laura Costa Moreira Botti ◽  
Nathália Ramos de Melo ◽  
Olinto Liparini Pereira ◽  
...  

Rot and damage caused by post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi affect fruit quality. Essential oils (EO) are considered as an alternative to fungicides. Postharvest diseases of fruits may also be controlled by the bagging approach and the use of antimicrobial packaging. Based on the beneficial properties of EO and the concepts of bagging and antimicrobial packaging, this study aimed to develop sachets containing EO to be used as part of an antimicrobial packaging system. The activities of oregano, cinnamon and lemon grass EO were evaluated testing the sachets in vitro against the phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Fusarium semitectum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus stolonifer. The effects of the sachets on the microbiological and physicochemical parameters of post-harvest papaya were also evaluated. Both pure and sachet-incorporated EO showed antifungal activity in vitro against all tested fungi. For papaya, sachets containing cinnamon, oregano and lemon grass showed a significant reduction in the growth of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and mould, with the cinnamon sachet causing the greatest reduction in microorganisms at the end of the storage time. Physicochemical parameters of papaya, such as weight loss, colour, firmness, total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio and pH were not significantly altered by the presence of EO sachets, thus not affecting the natural ripening process of the papaya.


Strawberries ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 411-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.V.C. Mahajan ◽  
Alemwati Pongener
Keyword(s):  

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