Genotype influence on shelf life behaviour of minimal processed loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) fruit: the role of sugar, acid organics and phenolic compounds

Background Loquat cultivars cultivated in Southern Italy are very appreciated by consumers for their sensorial characteristics, such as persistent aroma and taste. Apposite maturity indexes for peeling and processing loquat fruit were investigated to increase diffusion of minimally processed loquat. The genotype’s effect on the minimally processed loquat fruit shelf life and quality harvested at commercial maturity (80% yellow color) was investigated on peeled fruit stored at 5 °C for 10 days. The role of sugars, organic acids and phenols composition was observed through in depth qualitative analysis. In addition, several qualitative analyses were carried out to determine the quality of minimal processed fruit. Results Loquat fruits harvested at commercial ripening stage performed very good palatability and flesh color persistency. Late ripening fruits genotypes shown a low rate of pulp oxidation and quality decay, while early ripening fruits were not suitable for fresh-cut. Genotype had a great influence on weight loss, β-carotene content, fruit respiration, ascorbic acid and total phenols content during the shelf life. Conclusions This work shows how the amount of the composition of sugars and organic acids as an intrinsic characteristic of genotype influences the quality of loquat fruits minimal processed. The higher values of glucose, sorbitol and ascorbic acid accumulated in the cv ‘Nespolone Trabia’ contributed to a reduction in chilling injury and oxidative stress after cutting. Graphical Abstract

The Content of Phenolic Compounds and Organic Acids in Two Tagetes patula Cultivars Flowers and Its Dependence on Light Colour and Substrate

The main focus of the study was to determine the content of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and organic acids in the flowers of Tagetes patula ‘Petite Gold’ and ‘Petite Orange’. The growth of the plants was assessed depending on the cultivation conditions. The above plants were illuminated with white light, whereas the ‘Petite Gold’ ones with white light enhanced with blue or red light. Both cultivars grew in a two-level-mineral compounds organic substrate. The research showed that the French marigold flowers were rich in phenolic compounds and organic acids. The ‘Petite Gold’ flowers had more bioactive compounds compared with the ‘Petite Orange’ flowers. Three flavonoids, 10 phenolic acids and seven organic acids were found in the ‘Petite Gold’ flowers. The artificial lighting used during the cultivation of the plants showed diversified influence on the content of organic compounds in their flowers. The measurements of the plants’ morphological traits and the number of inflorescences showed that illumination with red light resulted in a better effect. Large plants with numerous inflorescences grew in the substrate with a lower content of nutrients.

Response of Root Exudates of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) to Exposure of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Root exudates play a pivotal role in the behaviors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mangrove sediments, but the knowledge of how mangrove root exudates response to PAHs pollutants is limited. This study examined the root exudates of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) (B. gymnorrhiza) under exposure in phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene solution through a 45 days hydroponic cultivation. The results showed that the root exudates of B. gymnorrhiza were mainly hydrocarbon compounds. Tartaric acid was the dominant low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in root exudates. Under PAHs stress, the proportion of hydrocarbon compounds in root exudates decreased, while the proportion of amide compounds increased. At the first 15 days exposure, the amounts of dissolved organic carbon, soluble total sugars, total organic acids and LWMOAs all increased and reached the maximum values, subsequently, the amounts of root exudates had dropped. The degradation rates of PAHs followed the sequence of phenanthrene > pyrene > benzo [a] pyrene, and the presence of root exudates can significantly enhance the degradation of PAHs. The results illustrated that PAHs stress can significantly change the concentrations and species of root exudates. This study provides the scientific reference for understanding the ability of B. gymnorrhiza response to PAHs stress.

Practical and Thermodynamic Constraints on Electromicrobially-Accelerated CO2 Mineralization

By the end of the century tens of gigatonnes of CO2 will need to be removed from the atmosphere every year to maintain global temperatures. Natural weathering of ultramafic rocks and subsequent mineralization reactions can convert atmospheric CO2 into ultra-stable carbonates. But, while natural weathering will eventually draw down all excess CO2, this process will need hundreds of thousands of years to do it. The CO2 mineralization process could be accelerated by weathering ultramafic rocks with biodegradable lixiviants like organic acids. But, in this article we show that if these lixiviants are produced from cellulosic biomass, the demand created by CO2 mineralization could monopolize the world's supply of biomass even if CO2 mineralization performance is high. In this article we demonstrate that electromicrobial production technologies that (EMP) combine renewable electricity and microbial metabolism could produce lixiviants for as little as $200 to $400 per tonne at solar electricity prices achievable within the decade. Furthermore, this allows the lixiviants needed to sequester a tonne of CO2 to produced for less than $100, even with modest CO2 mineralization performance.

Comparison of Wormhole Profiles on Carbonate Rocks Using Emulsified and Single-Phase Retarded Acids

Acid retardation through emulsification is commonly used in reservoir stimulation operations, however, emulsified acid are viscous fluids, thus require additional equipment at field for preparation and pumping requirements. Mixture of HCl with organic acids and/or chemical retarders have been used developed to retard acid reaction with carbonate, however, lower dissolving power. Development of low viscosity and high dissolving retarded acid recipes (e.g., equivalent to 15-26 wt.% HCl) addresses the drawbacks of emulsified acids and HCl acid mixtures with weaker organic acids. The objective of this study is to compare wormhole profile generated as a result of injecting acids in Indian limestone cores using 28 wt.% emulsified acid and single-phase retarded acids at comparable dissolving power at 200 and 300°F. Coreflood analysis testing was conducted using Indiana limestone core plugs to assess the pore volume profile of retarded acid at temperatures of 200 and 300° F. This test is supported by Computed Tomography to evaluate the propagation behavior as a result of the fluid/rock reaction. Wider wormholes were observed with 28 wt.% emulsified acid at 200°F when compared to test results conducted at 300°F. The optimum injection rate was 1 cm3/min at 200 and 300°F based on wormhole profile and examined flow rates. Generally, face-dissolution and wider wormholes were observed with emulsified acids, especially at 200°F. Narrower wormholes were formed as a result of injecting retarded acids into Indiana limestone cores compared to 28 wt.% emulsified acid. Breakthrough was not achieved with retarded acid recipe at 300°F and flow rates of 1 and 3 cm3/min, suggesting higher flow rates (e.g., > 3 cm3/min) are required for the retarded acid to be more effective at 300°F.