Current Situation and Perspectives of Fruit Annonaceae in Mexico: Biological and Agronomic Importance and Bioactive Properties

The Annonaceae family is one of the oldest angiosperms. The genus Annona is the one with the most species and, together with Asimina, the only ones that contain edible fruits. In the last 10 years, interest in these fruit species has increased, mainly due to their nutritional properties and their application in the treatment of human diseases. Mexico is the center of origin for most of them. However, at present much of the basic agronomic information, postharvest handling of the fruits, and their potential as new crops for areas with poor soils in organic matter or semi-dry climates is unknown. It is considered that these custard apple species may be an option to change towards instead of crops that have lost profitability and sustainability. A review of the current state of knowledge in different areas of the species A. muricata, A. macroprophyllata, A. reticulata, A. squamosa, and A. cherimola was carried out and to focus research efforts on the topics of greatest interest and on those where is required to achieve a sustainable production and use of these resources in Mexico. However, knowledge about the cultivation and potential uses of these species is needed to increase their commercialization; the integration of interdisciplinary and interinstitutional groups is required.

Effect of Bio-Pesticides on Mortality of Greater Wax Moth Galleria mellonella L.

Galleria mellonella larvae feed on wax, pollen, honey and damage the combs with in active bee colonies and storage condition. Galleria mellonella larvae can bore tunnel and feed around the midrib base of the wax comb. Larvae produce silk fibers that can trap bee brood cells. Comb is completely covered with webbing and extracted matter of the larvae condition described as “Galleriasis”. The study was carried out at Apiculture Lab of RVSKVV-ZARS-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morena (M.P.) during 2019-20. Different three concentration of bio-pesticides viz., Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki (1, 1.5 and 2%), custard apple seed extract (2, 4and 6%) and Neem Oil (1, 2 and 3%) were used against the Galleria mellonella to assess the effect of larval mortality at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after treatment. There was no significant effect showed in all the treatments after 24 hours. The maximum mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae was recorded in Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki 2.0 percent concentration (46.67, 87.08 and 96.67%) after 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively and it was at par with custard apple seed extract 6.0 percent concentration (45.83, 85.0 and 93.75%). Neem oil 3.0 percent concentration expressed 38.33, 75.42 and 87.50 percent larval mortality after 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively. Whereas minimum mortality was noticed in Neem oil 1.0 percent at 48 hours (22.08%), at 72 hours (37.08%) and at 96 hours (56.25%) among the treatments. The higher concentration of all the three bio-pesticides was proved effectiveness against Galleria mellonella during investigation.

Agricultural Waste Annona squamosa L. Peel and Seed Extract: Biosynthesis of Hand Sanitizer Gel against Skin Pathogens

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are being recommended as an infection prevention measure for COVID-19. Washing hands is a simple matter to eliminate and minimize germs on the hands with water and by adding certain ingredients, the use of hand sanitizer becomes must in recent circumstances. We have developed reliable and eco-friendly process for the synthesis of hand sanitizer gel that is a really useful tool in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Considering scanty literature available on the use of custard apple peel and seed for preparation of hand sanitizer gel, present study was undertaken to evaluate effect of hand sanitizer from custard apple peel and seed extract. The antimicrobial activity of the formulated gel was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii, Salmonella typhimurinum and Shigella sonnei by The Quality Assurance and Testing Center 3 (QUATEST 3) in Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam.

Potential antioxidant effect of fruit peels for human use from northern Peru, compared by 5 different methods

The objective of the work was to determine the antioxidant potential in vitro of freeze-dried peel extracts of 20 fruits from the northern region of Peru through five tests (Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH., ABTS+., FRAP and CUPRAC). According to multivariate statistical analyzes, five groups were found: (i.) peel extracts with the highest values of antioxidant capacity (AC) from custard apple, and star fruit; (ii.) rind extracts with high AC values from quince, sweet granadilla, guava, and black grape; (iii.) husk extracts with middle values of AC from passion fruit, and red mombin; (iv.) shell extracts with low AC values from tangerine, mandarine, and bitter orange; and, (v.) coating extracts with the lowest AC values from pawpaw, red pawpaw, muskmelon, dragon fruit, yellow and red indian figs, pear, apple, and green grape. To conclude, the fruit lyophilized-husk extracts of custard apple, star fruit, quince, sweet granadilla, guava, and black grape obtained the best AC.

Quality Assessment of Chicken Breast Fillets Treated with Custard Apple (Annona squamosa) Leaves Extract

Background: Meat and meat products are perishable due to high content of moisture and easy availability of other nutrients. Oxidative rancidity and microbial growth are the major causes of their spoilage. Synthetic antioxidants viz. BHA, BHT, TBHQ etc. are used in the chicken processing industry for maintaining quality of chicken products. However, due to evidence of their toxic effects on human health there is interest in the scientists and manufacturers to use natural preservatives with antioxidants and antimicrobials properties. Hence, the study was undertaken to assess the effect of custard apple (Annona squamosa) leaves extract (CLE), on the quality of chicken breast fillets. Methods: Chicken breast fillets were treated separately by dipping in 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5% aqueous solutions of CLE, distilled water and 100 ppm solution of BHT. Samples were stored under refrigeration (4±1oC) conditions and analyzed on 0th, 3rd, 6th and 9th day of storage. Result: Total phenolic content, ascorbic acid content, DPPH radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power of CLE were 57.13±0.22 µgGAE/mg, 163.23±0.40 µgAA/mg, 32.20±0.42% and 132.43±0.50 µMFe (II) equi/g respectively. The fillets treated with 0.5% solution of CLE were acceptable till sixth day with significantly (p less than 0.01) higher sensory scores than the controls. The pH, WHC, ERV, tyrosine value, TBARS value, total plate count and psychrophilic count of the sixth day samples treated with 0.5% CLE were 5.72±0.01, 65.32±0.31%, 19.40±0.59ml, 9.50±0.37 mg/100g, 0.316±0.002 mgMDA/Kg, 4.90±0.01 log10CFU/g and 3.68±0.02 log10CFU/g respectively. It can be concluded that 0.5% aqueous solution of CLE can be used for extension of shelf life of chicken breast fillets up to 6 days at refrigeration (4±1oC).

A Comprehensive Study of Hexanal Formulation on Extending Shelf Life of Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.)

Shelf life of custard apple is limited due to climacteric nature. In the present study, two application methods along with different concentration of hexanal formulations were used, first hexanal vapour at different concentrations (0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05% v/v) and second hexanal dip (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2% v/v) along with control were evaluated on custard apple dipping fruits for 2 min and 4 min and store at ambient temperature (27±2ºC). Hexanal filter paper dip in 0.05% concentration effectively maintained the firmness, total sugar, reducing sugar, preserved L*, a*, b* value, extend shelf life and maximum BC ratio during storage from day 1 to days 14 as compare to control. Therefore, we concluded that hexanl vapour(0.05%) was effective to use post harvest technology for custard apple.