Biological activity of essential oil from Foeniculum vulgare

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. is a medicinal plant, used as a flavouring agent. The essential oil from F. vulgare has potential antimicrobial and insecticidal effects, and can be used in food industry in order to protect the food resources and food products against microbial and pest’s contamination. The aim of the research was to characterize the volatile components of F. vulgare essential oil by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Gas Chromatography (GC-FID) and to observe the antimicrobial activity by disk diffusion method and in vapour phase. Also, insecticidal activity of the vapour phase of the essential oil of F. vulgare was detected. We found that major components of the essential oil from F. vulgare were trans-anethole (73.6%), fenchone (6.0%), and limonene (5.7%). Antimicrobial activity on gram-positive, gram-negative, and yeasts was weak in liquid phase, but vapour phase showed stronger activity against B. subtilis at the concentration 250 μL.L−1 (98.65% of bacterial growth inhibition). Vapour phase of essential oil was effective against insects, where 25% concentration had 80% lethality.

Selection indices for fruit yield improvement in elite cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivars

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop, rich in vitamins and minerals and eaten fresh as a dessert. Its fruit yield is relatively low, though could be improved through knowledge of character association with it and selection of desirable materials for improvement programmes. Fifteen cultivars of Cucumber were evaluated at two locations (Abeokuta and Ibadan), South West, Nigeria in a randomized complete block design with three replicates in order to determine heritability, correlation, direct and indirect effects of characters on fruit yield. Data collected on agro-morphological characters were subjected to analysis of variance, estimates of heritability, correlation, and path analysis. Significant variations (p <0.05) were observed in the cultivars. High heritability estimates (>90%) was observed for fruit length at both locations. A significant phenotypic and genotypic correlation was observed between fruit yield and fruit weight. Number of days to 50% flowering and fruit width could also be selected directly for improvement of fruit yield in cucumber.

Assessment of genetic variability among accessions of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Okra yields are low in West and Central Africa and factors including narrow genetic base of available germplasm have been implicated. An assessment of genetic variability among germplasm from various sources and knowledge of trait contributions to these variations is crucial to the success of okra breeding program. Eighteen okra accessions were evaluated during the 2020 cropping season in Nigeria to assess the genotypes for genetic diversity, group the accessions into clusters and identify traits that chiefly accounted for the variations among the genotypes. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), metroglyph and principal component analyses (PCA). ANOVA revealed significant accession mean squares for majority of the measured traits. Metroglyph analysis grouped the accessions into four clusters with members of Cluster IV generally high-yielding, early-maturing and short genotypes. NGB00353 and NGB00356 that were among genotypes with high total index scores were members of Cluster IV. The first four principal components (PCs) accounted for 80% of the total observed variation. PC1 with the highest discriminatory power was loaded with days to budding, internode length, pod yield.plot−1 and the number of pods.plant−1. The variation within and between clusters could be explored in okra breeding program.

Date palm compost versus peat and perlite: a comparative study on germination and plant development of muskmelon and tomato

This research was carried out in the experimental site of the Arid and Oasian cultures Laboratory of the Institute of Arid Regions, Medenine, Tunisia. It aims at studying the effects of compost on seed germination patterns, seedling growth, and plant development of muskmelon and tomato under greenhouse conditions. Three growth media were used: compost of date palm wastes and two reference media (peat and perlite). The results showed that compost presented a promising threshold of both maturity and stability, which is related to its neutral pH, C : N ratio, greater humic acid vs fulvic acid, and low values of chlorophyll-type compounds. Seeds of muskmelon and tomato germinated at varying liquid compost extract concentrations and muskmelon reached higher germination index values even at the pure extract solution (100%). Moreover, seeds of both species germinated relatively faster in peat than in compost and an overall delay in germination was observed, with a more pronounced reduction on tomato germination percentage. Produced seedlings have attained a similar vigour index among media (p <0.05). Compost of date palm was more suitable for muskmelon stem elongation and leaf-enlarging capacity than perlite. However, the gustative quality of fruits was not significantly affected by the medium-types. Thus, it is concluded the promoising effect of compost of date palm as potting medium and substrate in soilless culture under greenhouse conditions unless a pertinent choice of cultures.

The impact of apple preparation on the content of chlorpyrifos pesticide residues in the final products

The apples of Red Delicious are round fruits that have red colour when ripe according to which they are named. They can be eaten fresh, but also can be processed into a variety of processed products including apple juice. In order to grow or obtain better yield of a good quality apples, pesticides are usually used to protect apple trees, but they can adversely affect human health, therefore, some precautions should be taken when these chemicals are used as food contact materials. This study summarizes the presence of chlorpyrifos pesticide residues in apples that are prepared by different methods including mechanical treatments, fresh, washed, peeled as well as heat treatment of apples when prepared into an apple juice. For this purpose, the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method was used for residue extraction in apple samples after different methods of preparation, and their analyses were performed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The concentration of the pesticide chlorpyrifos in different samples of apples was in the range of less than 0.0005 mg.kg−1 to 0.00348 mg.kg−1. This study provides a conclusion that all samples of apples are safe for consumption while the peeling method and heat treatment are the most efficient in reduction of chlorpyrifos content in the final products.

Transpiration and water use efficiency of maize in different soil moisture conditions

Globally, agriculture accounts for 80–90% of the fresh water used by humans, and in many crop production systems; this water use is unsustainable. Irrigation of large areas of field and horticultural crops is impossible. Studies of the impact of drought on important field and horticultural crops are necessary to estimate dimensions of adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change. For this purpose, maize was monitored as a model crop in this study. In a three-year experiment (i) using the sap flow measurement method, the transpiration of maize was evaluated during flowering and grain filling, (ii) water use efficiency (WUE) was evaluated in four soil moisture conditions. The intensity of transpiration was closely correlated with the values of global radiation and vapor pressure deficit. However, soil water content was a major factor influencing transpiration under drought stress. The transpiration decreased when water content in the soil reached 28% of available water holding capacity (AWHC), but the yield of corn cobs decreased only under stress of 25% AWHC. Thus, the yield reacted less sensitively to lower water availability than transpiration. WUE increased with decreasing transpiration. Statistically significantly higher WUE was already observed at a water content of 42% AWHC, however, a higher WUE did not lead to a higher yield of corn cobs.

Chemical composition and biological activity of Salvia officinalis essential oil

The study was aimed at analyzing chemical composition, and biological and antibiofilm activity of Salvia officinalis L. essential oil (EO) with MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper. The main compounds of S. officinalis EO were a-thujone 24.6%, camphor 20.6%, 1,8-cineole 12.1%, and a-humulene 5.8%. Free radical scavenging activity was medium high. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis. Changes in the biofilm structure confirmed the inhibitory action of S. officinalis and the most pronounced effect was observed in B. subtilis biofilm. The highest inhibition in situ in antimicrobial activity was 78.45% at 125 µ.L−1 on apple for B. subtilis.

Performance and character contributions to variability in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) genotypes

Okra is an important vegetable crop, but its optimal production is constrained by a myriad of problems including pests, poor agronomic practices, and improper varietal identification among others. A study was carried out to determine the field performance and contribution of agronomic characters to overall variation in eighteen okra genotypes over two locations, Teaching and Research Farms of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria and Rehoboth Farms Limited, Moniya, Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiments were laid down in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and data were collected on number of days to emergence, number of days to 50% flowering, number of branches per plant, pod length, pod width, number of pods per plant, plant height, pod weight, number of seeds per pod, number of ridges per pod, 100 seed weight, seed, and pod yield. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, heritability in the broad sense, principal component analysis as well as the single linkage cluster analysis. Results revealed significant (p <0.05) variation in the genotypes and high heritability estimates for most of the characters. Number of branches per plant, plant height, number of pods per plant accounted for the highest contributor to variations in the accessions while clustering analysis revealed genotypes; NGB00303, NGB00342 and NGB00346 were distant from all genotypes making them useful materials for hybridization studies.

Sustainable food systems and healthy diets: the case of mediterranean diet

Sustainability should be an imperative in everyone’s lifestyle in order to achieve an equilibrium between humans and ecosystem for the wellbeing of current and future generations. Sustainable food systems and healthy diets are main key-players to achieve sustainable planet and lifestyle and at the same time to be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to achieve better and sustainable future for all). Such food systems offer not only a way towards ending the hunger, but also enable healthy nations and less environmental pollution. A good representative of a sustainable food system is the Mediterranean diet that is affordable and accessible even in the regions far from the Mediterranean basin. Raw or minimally cooked plant-based food products flavoured by different herbs and spices are the foundation of this diet packed with powerful nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, enriched with healthy fats from extra virgin olive oil. The Mediterranean lifestyle provides many health and wellbeing benefits for humans. Authors believe that adhering to it leads to healthy nations and a sustainable world with less hunger.

Antioxidant capacity of wild-growing bilberry, elderberry, and strawberry fruits

Chemical properties (L-ascorbic acid and total sugars content, pH, titratable acidity, and dry solid content), phenolic compounds (total phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and flavan-3-ols) and antioxidant capacity were measured in ripe fruits of wild-growing strawberry, bilberry, and elderberry from eastern Serbia. All three selected fruits are rich sources of nutraceuticals: vitamin C, sugars, and different classes of phenolic compounds and their extracts expressed high antioxidant activity. Elderberry fruits possess highest concentration of all measured biomolecules.