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Carvacrol, a natural plant compound with antibacterial, antioxidant, and various biological activities, serves as the basis for developing a micro-emulsion fruit and vegetable cleaner. The study found that carvacrol demonstrated a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL against four foodborne pathogenic bacteria and three spoilage fungi. The formulated cleaner, containing 67 mg/mL of carvacrol, demonstrated superior characteristics (a particle size of 228 nm, an absolute zeta potential of 21.4 mv, and a stability coefficient of 91.2%). Remarkably, the cleaner remained stable when stored at room temperature for at least 3 months. Its efficacy against pesticides ranged from 76% to 91%. The cleaning effectively inhibited microbial colonies and the decay rate of cherry tomatoes during storage at 4 °C. Furthermore, the cleaning treatment was found to minimize changes in color and hardness. Overall, this study provides evidence that a fruit and vegetable cleaner based on carvacrol enhances the safety of the food industry effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to develop an active biodegradable bio-based (polylactic acid/PLA) equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging (EMAP) containing a carvacrol-emitting sachet (created by poly-hydroxybutyrate) (PLA-PHB-CARV) to extend the shelf-life of cherry tomatoes at 15 °C and 25 °C. Cherry tomatoes in macro-perforated polypropylene (PP) films (mimicking the commercial packaging) or in PLA-based micro-perforated film without the carvacrol sachet (PLA) were also tested. Weight loss, decay, headspace gases, pH, titratable acidity (TA), total suspended solids (TSS), ripening index, color, texture, total viable counts (TVC), and sensory analysis were performed. Decay was 40% in PLA-PHB-CARV, and 97% in PP after 20 days at 25 °C. PLA-PHB-CARV showed lower weight loss (p < 0.05) and stable firmness compared to PP and PLA at both temperatures. TSS and TA were not affected by the packaging at 15 °C, while at 25 °C, the TSS accumulation was inhibited in PLA-PHB-CARV compared to in PLA and PP (p < 0.05), indicating a notable delay in the ripening process. PLA-PHB-CARV retained their red color during storage compared to PP and PLA. Carvacrol addition inhibited TVC compared to PP and PLA by ca. 2.0 log CFU/g during storage at 25 °C, while at 15 °C, the packaging did not reveal a significant effect. Overall, the results indicated that the developed active EMAP may be adequately used as an advanced and alternative packaging for tomatoes or potentially other fruits with a similar respiration rate versus their conventional packaging, showing several advantages, e.g., a reduction in petrochemical-based plastics use, shelf-life extension of the packaged food, and consequently, the perspective of limiting food waste during distribution and retail or domestic storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of plants hinges on a complex interplay of biochemical and physiological activities across various growth stages. These intricate processes dynamically adapt to different environmental conditions, shaping both plant development and productivity. This study explores the impact of greenhouse climate on the growth, yield, and biochemistry of winter-grown cherry tomatoes 'Cheramy F1'. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) under split plot arrangements (3 Rows) with three replications (3 plants from each row) was adopted. The data were collected on various dates during the period extending from December to March of two consecutive growing seasons in 2022 and 2023, and presented as averages. An analysis of variance was applied to statistically analyze the collected data at a confidence level of p < 0.05. The climatic conditions in the greenhouse were calculated as temperature ranging from a minimum of 10.5 °C to the maximum of 41.3 °C by an average of 21.2 °C during the vegetative stage and from 8.2 °C to 32.3 °C by an average of 20.9 °C during the fruit-bearing stage, with an average CO2 concentration fluctuated within the range of 385.61 ppm to 510.30 ppm and an average light intensity of 94.62 to 240.45 W/m². This study assessed various growth parameters such as plant height, leaf growth, stem diameter, leaf spacing, leaf count, leaf area, and inflorescence count per plant, and suggested the optimum range of greenhouse conditions for each stage. The key results of this study revealed the Progressive Growth Report (PGR), predicting daily potential growth rates of plants: plant height, 2.86 to 3.81 cm/day; growth rate of mature older leaf: 0.003988 m2/day; middle younger leaf: 0.008733 m2/day; top nascent leaf: 0.010722 m2/day; three to five leaves per week; and one inflorescence per week. In our accidental observation, we noticed unusual plant growth and yield responses because of the various growing postures and positions that the plants adopted in the greenhouse. An exceedingly significant difference among the inflorescences was found in view of their growth, productivity and biochemical composition. A non-significant interaction was found between the fruit keeping quality (shelf days), fruit height, fruit diameter, and inflorescence number. The present study results highlight the possible responses of greenhouse-grown cherry tomatoes to different ranges of temperature, light intensity, and CO2 concentrations, offering valuable insights for optimizing greenhouse cherry tomatoes cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports of P. olsonii causing postharvest rot of cherry tomatoes emphasize the need for effective strategies to prolong fruit shelf life. This study is the first to explore the use of essential oils (EOs), recognized for their antimicrobial properties, as a potential method to prevent postharvest losses from P. olsonii. Antifungal activity was tested for ten EOs at a concentration of 625 μL/L using the vapor diffusion method. Thyme, wild thyme, savory, oregano, and marjoram completely inhibited fungal growth over 14 days. Thyme EO, at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250 μL/L, fully inhibited all strains, while oregano, wild thyme, and savory were effective at 500 μL/L. Marjoram EO showed weaker activity. The lowest IC90 values, ranging from 35.72 to 162.72 μL/L, were estimated for thyme and oregano. In cherry tomatoes, oregano EO completely halted P. olsonii growth at 250 μL/L; thyme was effective for seven days; wild thyme and savory for two days. Thyme EO prevented P. olsonii spore germination at 500 μL/L for seven days, though germination occurred at half that concentration. The IC90 values varied between 256.2 and 138.7 μL/L depending on the strain. The vapor phase of EOs at 125 μL/L influenced the sensory characteristics of cherry tomatoes; however, for thyme and oregano, this effect was not negative due to their culinary association with tomato flavor. The selected EOs could be used to control and prevent postharvest fruit losses, but further research is needed to optimize their application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an analysis on the combined effects of two light conditions (L1: greenhouse natural lighting; L2: greenhouse natural lighting plus supplemental lighting (SL)) and three nutrient solution concentrations (EC, NS1: 3.2 dS/m; NS2: 3.7 dS/m; NS3: 4.2 dS/m) on the growth, fruit production, and quality of two cherry tomato cultivars with different fruit coloring ('Baiyu' and 'Qianxi'). The plants subjected to NS2 exhibited enhanced growth, photosynthetic parameters, and fruit production. The utilization of SL further enhanced stem diameter, leaf number, and single fruit weight, resulting in higher fruit weight per plant in 'Baiyu', which was not observed in 'Qianxi'. The growth, fruit size, and fruit weight of both cultivars cultivated under NS3 conditions were suppressed, while these fruits exhibited elevated levels of total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugars, vitamin C, polyphenols, fructose, glucose, sucrose, citric acid, and carotenoids. These levels were further enhanced by SL treatment. The improvement of fruit quality through the application of SL was found to be cultivar and EC dependent. In 'Baiyu', SL at NS1 significantly enhanced the accumulation of fruit water, minerals (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), TSS, vitamin C, fructose, sucrose, and carotenoids. However, this effect was not observed in 'Qianxi'. The combination of SL and EC 4.2 dS/m (NS3) generally contributes to the enhancement of fruit quality, while SL and EC 3.7 dS/m can ensure consistent fruit production. The yellowish-white fruit cultivar exhibited higher levels of soluble sugars, vitamin C, and polyphenols under L2NS3 conditions compared to the red fruit cultivar, whereas the carotenoid content showed an opposite trend. The findings are anticipated to establish a theoretical foundation for the consistent annual cultivation of cherry tomatoes in protected horticultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the effects of using edible gel coatings and bio-based packaging materials on extending the shelf life of cherry tomatoes. Two edible gel coatings (guar gum and guar gum +5% of a lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck pomace extract obtained in the research laboratory) were applied on cherry tomatoes, then they were packaged in bio-based materials (cellulose tray + PLA lid). Guar gum, glycerol, sorbitol, extra virgin olive oil, and tween 20 were used in coating formulation. Uncoated tomatoes packed in bio-based materials and conventional plastic (PET trays + lid) were tested as a control. Samples were stored for 45 days at 20 °C and their quality parameters were evaluated. Coated tomatoes maintained firmness and weight, and the enriched coated samples showed a significant increase in phenol content, derived from the antioxidant extract. Samples packed in PET showed a sensory unacceptability (<4.5) after 45 days correlated with a greater decline in firmness (from 10.51 to 5.96 N) and weight loss (from 7.06 to 11.02%). Therefore, edible gel coating and bio-based packaging proved to be effective in maintaining the overall quality of cherry tomatoes for 45 days, offering a promising approach to reduce plastic polymer use and food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural preservation materials have long been a focus of research in the quality control of fruits and vegetables. This study aimed to develop composite films with exceptional preservation properties by utilizing chitosan (CS) as the film‐forming material and incorporating onion polysaccharide (ONP) as the active component. The CS‐ONP composite films were prepared, and their performance and preservation effects were evaluated. The results demonstrated that increasing the ONP content significantly enhanced the shading, antimicrobial, and antioxidant capabilities of the CS‐ONP composite films. Preservation experiments revealed that the CS‐ONP composite films effectively delayed the quality decline of cherry tomatoes during storage. However, despite the improvements brought by ONP, certain drawbacks persisted, such as reduced mechanical properties and alterations in surface structure. In summary, the CS‐ONP composite films exhibit promising potential as novel materials for fruit and vegetable preservation. Practical Application: The spoilage of fruits and vegetables can cause huge economic losses. This study addresses this challenge by using chitosan as the film‐forming substrate and adding crude onion polysaccharide as the active ingredient to create composite films. The preservation effects of these films on cherry tomatoes were studied. Although only cherry tomatoes were tested in this study, the composite films demonstrated significant potential for broader applications in fruit and vegetable preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to characterize different colored lines of cherry tomatoes and derive information regarding their metabolite accumulation. Different colored cherry tomato cultivars, namely 'Jocheong', 'BN Satnolang', 'Gold Chance', 'Black Q', and 'Snacktom', were assessed for their firmness, taste characteristics, and nutritional metabolites at the commercial ripening stage. The cultivars demonstrated firmness to withstand impacts during harvesting and postharvest operations. The significant variations in the Brix to acid ratio (BAR) and the contents of phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid highlight the distinct taste characteristics among the cultivars, and the nutritional metabolites are associated with the color of the cultivars. The cultivar choices would be the black-colored 'Black Q' for chlorophylls, β-carotene, total flavonoids, and anthocyanins; the red-colored 'Snacktom' for lycopene; the orange-colored 'Gold Chance' for total phenolics; and the green-colored 'Jocheong' for chlorophylls, vitamin C, GABA, glutamic acid, essential amino acids, and total free amino acids. The antioxidant capacity varied among the cultivars, with 'Gold Chance' consistently exhibiting the highest activity across the four assays, followed by 'Snacktom'. This study emphasizes the importance of screening cultivars to support breeding programs for improving the nutritional content and encourages the inclusion of a diverse mix of different colored cherry tomatoes in packaging to obtain the cumulative or synergistic effects of secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms are predominantly responsible for food deterioration, necessitating the sanitization and removal of these entities from food surfaces. The packinghouse employs free chlorine in the sanitization process; however, free chlorine's propensity to react with organic matter, forming potentially toxic compounds, has led to its restriction or outright prohibition in several European countries. Therefore, this study aims to assess various washing methods, emulating packinghouse conditions, utilizing diverse forms of electrolyzed water to impede microbial proliferation and significantly enhance the food's shelf life. The subject of investigation was cherry tomatoes. The findings revealed that electrolyzed water containing NaCl exhibited superior efficacy compared to electrolysis with Na2SO4. Both forms of electrolyzed water demonstrated noteworthy effectiveness in inhibiting microorganisms, resulting in a reduction of 2.0 Log CFU mL−1 for bacteria and 1.5 Log CFU mL−1 for fungi. The electrolyzed water also exhibited a comparable capability to free chlorine in removing fecal coliforms from the tomato surfaces. Notably, both electrolyzed water treatments extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes by at least three days, accompanied by minimal or negligible residues of free chlorine. Consequently, the electrolyzed water formulations proposed in this study present themselves as promising alternatives to traditional packinghouse sanitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on developing a Pickering emulsion fresh-keeping paper that contained clove essential oil (CEO). Cherry tomatoes served as the test material for assessing the preservative efficacy of fresh-keeping paper. The results showed that Pickering emulsion had strong stability. Additionally, the fresh-keeping paper had a good antioxidant activity and sustained-release effect on CEO. In terms of the preservation effect, 0.75 wt% CEO Pickering emulsion paper reduced the decay incidence and weight loss of cherry tomatoes during 12-day storage. Fresh-keeping paper could also play a positive role in protecting the sensory index and color difference of tomatoes. It slowed the decline rate of soluble solid concentration (SSC) and titrable acid (TA). The vitamin C (Vc) and hardness of preserved tomatoes using fresh-keeping paper were maintained at a high level. The paper also inhibited the growth of microorganisms significantly. Therefore, 0.75 wt% CEO Pickering emulsion fresh-keeping paper displayed considerable potential for application in the preservation of postharvest fruits and vegetables. It is a novel fruit and vegetable preservation material worthy of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology / Zhongguo Shipin Xuebao is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding how cherry tomatoes respond to variations in greenhouse microclimate is crucial for optimizing tomato production in a controlled environment. The present study delves into the intricate relationship between summer-grown cherry tomatoes (Cheramy F1) and greenhouse conditions, exploring the influence of these conditions on growth attributes, inflorescence development, and yield potential. The aim of the study was to characterize the chronology of reproductive events, specifically flowering and fruit stages, in correlation with the prevailing greenhouse climate during the development of the first ten inflorescences on the plant. The performance of each inflorescence has been ranked based on available data, which involve a comparative analysis of both the time duration (number of days) and the frequency of yield-contributing traits, specifically the total number of flowers at the anthesis stage. The duration of each stage required for completion was recorded and presented as a productivity rate factor. Greenhouse conditions exhibited variations during the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively, as follows: temperature - 25.1 °C and 21.33 °C, CO2 levels - 484.85 ppm and 458.85 ppm, light intensity - 367.94 W/m2 and 349.52 W/m2, and humidity - 73.23% and 89.73%. The collected data conclusively demonstrated a substantial impact of greenhouse microclimate on plant growth, productivity, and inflorescence development. The development of flowers and fruit has been categorized into five stages: the fruit bud stage (FB), the anthesis stage (AS), the fruit setting stage (FS), the fruit maturation stage (FM), and the fruit ripening stage (FR). An irregular productivity and development response was noted across the first (close to roots) to the tenth inflorescence. Inflorescence 5 demonstrated the highest overall performance, followed by inflorescence numbers 4 and 6. The study findings provide valuable insights for enhancing greenhouse operations, emphasizing the improvement of both the yield and growth of cherry tomatoes while promoting environmental sustainability. A statistical analysis of variance was used to rigorously examine the presented results, conducted at a confidence level of p < 0.05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actually, there are intensive efforts towards eco-friendly integrated agricultural management measures to control plant diseases and pests. One of the most promising approaches is the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in combination with organic biopesticides such as eagle fern manure (FM) compost tea. However, their effects have been mainly studied independently from each other. The potential interactions between belowground plant-associated microorganisms such as AMF and aboveground foliar application of biopesticide to mitigate common tomato phytopathogens and pests remain untapped, particularly under on-farm conditions. In a randomized complete block design, the impact of inoculating tomato seedlings with a selected AMF consortium and beyond that the impact of mycorrhized plants receiving three different doses of FM compost tea (0%, 5%, and 10%) on the control of tomato-specific plant diseases and pests and subsequently on the crop yield were examined. The present study demonstrated a sevenfold increase in the rate of mycorrhizal root colonization (from 10% to 70%) in tomato plants that received the combined application of AMF and 10% FM compost tea compared to the control plants that did not receive AMF inoculum and FM compost tea. The combination of AMF and FM compost tea application led to positive synergistic effects that promoted beneficial effects in suppressing the incidence and severity of common tomato diseases and pests. The magnitude of these synergistic effects increased with AMF inoculation and FM compost tea dosage, culminating in greater suppression of tomato plant diseases and pests and, moreover, in an increase in fruit yield compared to control plants. The combination of AMF and 10% FM compost tea revealed a higher suppressive ability against most pathogens and insect attacks. This was evidenced by a 71.3% and 94.7% total reduction in incidence and severity, respectively, compared to control plants. Frontiers in This is the first time that pre-inoculation of AM, combined with FM compost tea application, has been reported as a potential biocontrol alternative to suppress common tomato pathogens and pests while increasing cherry tomato yields sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn silk (Stigma maydis), the silky hairs on maize, is commonly discarded as waste. Despite its traditional medicinal use in countries like China, the United States, France, and Türkiye, its phytochemical and pharmacological attributes have received limited attention. In this study, agar well diffusion was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of free and bound crude extracts from corn silk obtained using different solvents. Compared to the free crude extract, the bound crude extract exhibited greater efficacy against the microorganisms tested. Consequently, sequential fractionation was performed on the bound crude extract, and it was found that the ethyl acetate extract showed the greatest activity against the microorganisms tested. Stigmasterol (STG) (compound 1) and stigmasteryl-3β-arachidate (compound 2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate active fraction, followed by their identification via mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. STG showed favorable antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Escherichia coli. In vivo the antimicrobial activity of STG was evaluated in artificially contaminated cherry tomatoes infected with Fusarium verticillioides. STG showed significant inhibitory activity compared to the control on cherry tomatoes when placed prior to inoculation at a concentration of 1.5 mg/mL STG and 2.5 mg/mL STG. This research paves the way for practical applications of STG isolated from corn silk in the food industry, where the demand for safe and natural antimicrobial agents is increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Packaging & Food Machinery is the property of Packaging & Food Machinery Magazine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study investigated the impact of saponins of tomato extract (STE) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The findings demonstrated that introducing STE in NAFLD mice revealed promising results in ameliorating symptoms of oxidative stress, lipid metabolism disorders, visceral fat deposition and fatty liver disease. Moreover, the mechanistic studies have demonstrated that STE delivers its effects by activating adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), thereby suppressing downstream protein expression associated with fatty acid synthesis. In such conditions, lipid metabolism can be improved. Simultaneously, STE enhanced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and entry into the nucleus and initiated the transcription of downstream antioxidant factors, thereby relieving oxidative stress induced by a high-fat diet and lowering oxidative damage to the liver. Such results imply that the administration of STE can be regarded as a viable treatment option for NAFLD, providing a mechanism that can regulate the AMPK and Nrf2 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Storage & Process is the property of Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cherry tomatoes are abundant in Tianyang County, Guangxi. In this study, we investigated the nutritional composition, bioactive composition and antioxidant function of three widely grown cherry tomato varieties in Tianyang County. The nutrients included sugar, fats, proteins, and minerals, and the cherry tomatoes bioactive components included fat-soluble components and water-soluble components, such as lycopene, β-carotene, esculeoside A, glutathione (GSH), and vitamin C. In addition, antioxidant activities of the three cherry tomato varieties were evaluated by their ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl free radicals in vitro, preventing lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice. The results showed that all three types of cherry tomatoes were all rich in water and dietary fiber, and the Jinbi cherry tomato variety showed the highest energetic value (36.69 kcal/100 g fresh weight), suggesting cherry tomatoes as a low-calorie diet food. Constituent studies revealed that all three cherry tomato varieties were rich in GSH, esculose A, vitamin C and rutin, and the Qianxi cherry tomato variety was also rich in lycopene. In vitro scavenging of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals revealed excellent free radical scavenging activity in all three cherry tomato fat-soluble and water-soluble components, with the best results in the Qianxi variety fat-soluble component. Experimental results suggested that cherry tomatoes reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level and increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and GSH, and prevented lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice. Our study suggests that cherry tomatoes are not only a good low-calorie nutritional supplement, but also a functional antioxidant food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of cherry tomatoes has a great significance for robotic harvesting. However, uneven environment conditions, such as branch and leaf occlusion, cluster of fruits, and so on, have made the cherry tomatoes detection very challenging. This paper proposes an effective cherry tomato detection algorithm called YOLOX-Dense-CT to solve these problems. To be specific, the DenseNet network is treated as the basic backbone of the original YOLOX to make the whole network suitable for the cherry tomatoes. Moreover, the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) attention mechanism is applied to make the features from the backbone more fused with the Neck part. As suggested by the experimental results, the proposed YOLOX-Dense-CT model is effective in detecting cherry tomatoes, with the mean average precision (mAP) reaching 94.80%, which is 4.02% higher than the original YOLOX-L model. Meanwhile, the number of parameters is only 34.6 M, which is 19.6 M lower than the YOLOX-L. Furthermore, the YOLOX-Dense-CT is compared to general target detection models and it has the best detection performance. In summary, the proposed method can well meet the requirements of high accuracy detection and provide a strategy for the cherry tomato detection system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymol is a phenol monoterpene with potential antifungal, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Due to the low water solubility and high volatility of thymol, encapsulation serves as an effective tool during application. In the present study, cyclodextrin (CD)-based metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized using α-CD, β-CD, and γ-CD as organic building blocks, and further complexed with thymol to produce three CD-MOF-THY inclusion complexes (ICs). The encapsulation content, release kinetics and fruit preservation effect of ICs were analyzed. Results showed that thymol was well embedded in γ-CD-MOFs, with the highest encapsulation content of 286.7 ± 8.4 mg/g. Release kinetics revealed that CD-MOFs exhibited a controlled release effect toward thymol for 35 days. The release kinetics of three ICs fit the Rigter–Peppas model well, with γ-CD-MOF-THY showing the lowest release rate constant of 2.85 at 50 °C, RH 75%. Moreover, γ-CD-MOF-THY exhibited a remarkable preservation performance on cherry tomatoes with the lowest decay index (18.75%) and weight loss (5.17%) after 15 days of storage, suggesting this material as a potential fresh-keeping material for fruit and vegetable preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, keratins were extracted from pig nail waste through the reduction method using L-cysteine as a reductant. Curcumin was successively incorporated in a mixed solution including keratin, gelatin, and glycerin to prepare different kinds of keratin/gelatin/glycerin/curcumin composite films. The morphology of the keratin/ gelatin/glycerin/curcumin composite films were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The structures and the molecular interactions between curcumin, keratin, and pectin were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, and the thermal properties were determined through thermogravimetric analysis. The tensile strengths of keratin/gelatin/glycerin/curcumin and keratin/gelatin/curcumin composite films are 13.73 and 12.45 MPa, respectively, and their respective elongations at break are 56.7% and 4.6%. In addition, compared with the control group (no film wrapped on the surface of tomato), the ratio of weight loss of the keratin (7.0%)/gelatin (10%)/glycerin (2.0%)/curcumin (1.0%) experimental groups is 8.76 ± 0.2%, and the hardness value of the tomatoes wrapped with composite films is 11.2 ± 0.39 kg/cm3. Finally, the composite films have a superior antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli because of the addition of curcumin. As the concentration of curcumin reaches 1.0%, the antibacterial activity effect of the film is significantly improved. The diameter of the inhibition zone of E. coli is (12.16 ± 0.53) mm, and that of S. aureus is (14.532 ± 0.97) mm. The multifunctional keratin/gelatin/glycerin/curcumin bioactive films have great potential application in the food packaging industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of chitosan-plant extracts composite coating on the fresh-keeping effects of cherry tomatoes, the composite film solution prepared by chitosan and different concentrations of clove/lotus leaf extracts was used for coating treatments, and the changes of hardness, weight loss rates, decay rates and nutritional components of cherry tomatoes during cold storage at 4 °C were investigated. The results showed that the fresh-keeping effects of cherry tomatoes were significantly improved after chitosan-plant extracts composite coating treatments, and the fruits color and freshness were well maintained. The hardness of 10 g/L chitosan-clove(10 g/L) extract treated fruits was the highest with a value of 220.8 g, the fruits decay rate was 10.00 percentage points lower, and the weight loss rate was 0.06 percentage points lower compared with blank control group, and the effects in inhibiting the loss of soluble solids, titratable acid, VC and other nutrients loss were the best compared with other treatments groups. This study provided a theoretical basis for developing novel biological preservatives for fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of edible coatings based on sodium alginate with ʻBaozhuʼ pear chitinase on the quality of cherry tomatoes during refrigerated storage were evaluated. Cherry tomatoes inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum were coated and stored up to 21 days. All coatings with the chitinase significantly reduced F. oxysporum proliferation on cherry tomatoes during storage and extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes effectively (p <.05). Results showed that alginate coatings with the chitinase could prevent weight loss, maintain firmness, and slow down the changes of titratable acidity and vitamin C (p <.05) in a dose‐dependent manner. However, no significant differences were observed between T3 (1% alginate/0.15% ʻBaozhuʼ pear chitinase/1% glycerin) and T4 (1% sodium alginate/0.3% ʻBaozhuʼ pear chitinase/1% glycerin) (p >.05). Overall, alginate coating with 0.15% ʻBaozhuʼ pear chitinase could be a promising method to maintain the quality of cherry tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, the cherry tomatoes were treated by four preservatives solution with different concentrations including pullulan polysaccharides (1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%), glutathione (0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%), natamycin (0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%) and citric acid (3%, 4%, 5%), and then the changes of hardness, weight loss rates, VC contents, decay rates, soluble solid contents and sensory scores of experimental groups were compared with control group to judge the preservation effects of four preservatives on cherry tomatoes. Results showed that 2.5% pullulan polysaccharides solution presented better effects on reducing weight loss rates, decay rates and maintaining VC contents of the fruits. The 0.4% glutathione solution had better effects on maintaining hardness and reducing weight loss rates of the fruits. The 0.03% natamycin solution exhibited superior effects on maintaining fruits hardness, VC and soluble solid contents, and reducing the decay rates. The 3% citric acid solution showed better effects on maintaining fruits hardness and soluble solid contents, and reducing decay rates of the fruits. Overall, these four preservatives with different concentrations presented certain effects on maintaining the hardness and soluble solid contents of the fruits, reducing the loss of water and VC, and suppressing the decay rates, which could contribute to extend the shelf life effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of significant yield losses caused by fungal pathogens, new efficient and environmentally safe methods of pest control are needed, and amphiphilic compounds (biosurfactants) produced by many microbes are considered a good alternative. In the present study, biosurfactants produced by the rhizosphere isolate Bacillus mojavensis P1709 were assessed for their ability to protect postharvest cherry tomatoes from decay and mycotoxin contamination caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. It was demonstrated that the genome of B. mojavensis P1709 contained the fenD and srfAA genes, which are responsible for the synthesis of compounds of the fengycin and surfactin families. APF (acid-precipitated fraction) of B. mojavensis P1709 culture medium at a concentration of 20 g L−1 inhibited pathogen radial growth on agar plates by 93%, and T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxin production by 98%, after 5 days of cultivation. APF also suppressed fungal growth in the in vivo test on cherry tomato fruits by 93% and 25% on the 2nd and 7th days of incubation, respectively. The results obtained demonstrate that biosurfactants produced by B. mojavensis P1709 are an efficient tool for protecting postharvest cherry tomatoes from fungal mold decay and mycotoxin contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan is widely used as a natural preservative of fruits and vegetables, but its poor mechanical and water resistances have limited its application. Therefore, in this study, we prepared chitosan composite films by incorporating different amounts of nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) to improve the mechanical properties of chitosan. We also assessed the antibacterial activity of these films against selected microorganisms. The addition of nano-ZnO improved the tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) of the chitosan films and reduced their light transmittance. TS and EAB increased from 44.64 ± 1.49 MPa and 5.09 ± 0.38% for pure chitosan film to 46.79 ± 1.65 MPa and 12.26 ± 0.41% for a 0.6% nano-ZnO composite film, respectively. The ultraviolet light transmittance of composite films containing 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6% nano-ZnO at 600 nm decreased from 88.2% to 86.0%, 82.7%, and 81.8%, respectively. A disc diffusion test showed that the composite film containing 0.6% nano-ZnO had the strongest antibacterial activity against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. In a 15-day preservation study, chitosan composite films containing 0.6% nano-ZnO maintained the soluble solid content of cherry tomatoes, effectively inhibited their respiration, and exhibited good antibacterial properties against the selected microorganisms. Overall, the prepared chitosan nano-ZnO composite film showed a good preservation effect on cherry tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Storage & Process is the property of Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Objective] High quality cherry tomato cultivars suitable for substrate cultivation in northern Shaanxi were screened to solve the problem of lacking suitable cultivars. [Method] A total of 15 cultivars of cherry tomatoes were selected and 13 indexes including transverse diameter, longitudinal diameter, fruit shape index, hardness, single fruit weight, yield per plant, sugar acid ratio and soluble solids, reducing sugar, titratable acid, vitamin Clycopene and soluble total sugar content were measured. The differences between indexes were compared and evaluated based on Pearson correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method of membership grade function. Then, cultivars suitable for substrate cultivation in northern Shaanxi were suggested. [Result] There were significant differences among different cherry tomato cultivars, and the coefficients of variation were 13. 60%-54. 15%. The content of soluble solids was significantly positively correlated with contents of soluble total sugars and reducing sugars, and negatively correlated with longitudinal diameter and transverse diameters of fruits. The content of vitamin C was positively correlated with contents of lycopene and titratable acid. The titratable acid content was negatively correlated with sugar acid ratio, fruit longitudinal diameter and fruit shape index. The single fruit weight was positively correlated with fruit hardness, and negatively correlated with soluble solid content and sugar acid ratio. The yield per plant was positively correlated with the titratable acid content. PCA obtained four principal components with cumulative variance contribution rate of 83. 408%, and factors affecting comprehensive quality of cherry tomato were weight factors (single fruit weight and per plant yield), fruit shape factors (longitudinal diameter and fruit shape index), nutrition factors (vitamin C and lycopene content) and taste factor (titrable acid content). The top 5 cultivars by PCA were Huangjinbei (0. 662), Zheyingfen No. 1 (0. 526), Hongyu (0. 483), Fenbeibei (0. 374) and Fenjiaren(0. 334). The top 5 cultivars by fuzzy membership function comprehensive evaluation method were Hongyu (0. 638), Fenjiaren (0. 587), Zibeibei (0. 551), Zheyingfen No. 1(0.539) and Huangjinbei (0. 504). The results of PCA and fuzzy membership function were basically consistent. [Conclusion] Huangjinbei, Fenjiaren, Zheyingfen No. 1 and Hongyu had better comprehensive quality than other cultivars and were suitable for substrate cultivation in northern Shaanxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cherry tomatoes inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium were treated with vaporised ethyl pyruvate (EP). The changes of microbial and organoleptic properties of the samples during storage were investigated at two temperatures (4 and 10 °C) and four EP concentrations (0, 42, 105, and 420 ppm) for 7 days at 4 °C and for 5 days 10 °C. After 3 days, 4.3 log and 3.6 log reductions in E. coli O157:H7 numbers were detected in cherry tomatoes treated with 42 ppm EP at 4 °C and at 10 °C, respectively. The highest EP treatment (420 ppm) led to 5.7 log CFU g−1E. coli O157:H7 reduction after 1 day at 4 and 10 °C. The reduction of Salmonella Typhimurium on samples treated with 420 ppm EP was 7.7 log CFU g–1 after 1 day at 4 °C, and 6.9 log after 1 day at 10 °C. The treatment of EP can be effective at decreasing pathogen populations and can protect the organoleptic and colour properties of fresh produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zagazig Journal of Agricultural Research is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cherry tomatoes are one of the most popular tomato varieties known for their bioactive compounds and sensory properties. One way to reduce the contamination of tomato is to coat them with natural or antimicrobial substances. In this study, an ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) was obtained, and its chemical composition was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) were determined using the serial microdilution method. The antimicrobial activity of 5 and 10% EEP and pullulan films containing EEP (5 and 10%) against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium solani, and Botrytis cinerea were compared. The influence of a pullulan coating containing EEP (5 and 10%) on reducing the number of bacteria and molds, physicochemical properties (weight loss (WL), total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), maturity index, pH, and color), and sensory properties (color and brightness of skin, aroma, flavor, overall quality, and general preference) of cherry tomatoes during refrigerated storage was evaluated. Pullulan films with EEP inhibited the growth of microorganisms on cherry tomatoes. These coatings did not affect the TSS and pH values of tomatoes, but a slight decrease in TA and WL was observed. Cherry tomatoes coated with pullulan coatings containing EEP did not show any adverse changes in their sensory properties. It was found that the addition of EEP to the pullulan coatings enriched them with antimicrobial properties and enhanced their action while reducing the WL and maturation time of cherry tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Journal of Agricultural Sciences (YYU J Agr Sci) is the property of Yuzuncu Yil University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Botrytis cinerea is one of the most destructive pathogens of cherry tomatoes during preharvest and postharvest phase. Our previous study demonstrated that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Hanseniaspora uvarum could markedly suppress the mycelium growth and conidia germination of B. cinerea. However, the main inhibitory VOCs of H. uvarum are not fully clear. In this study, a total of 21 volatile organic monomers (VOMs) of H. uvarum were tested for their antifungal activity against B. cinerea in vitro. It was found that trans-cinnamaldehyde, 2-nonanone, ethyl caprylate, benzyl alcohol, hexanoic acid, hexyl alcohol, isobutyl acetate, ethyl propionate, isoamyl acetate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, phenethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, 4-ethylphenol, 3-phenyl-1-propanol, ethyl cinnamate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and ethyl 3-hydroxybhexanoate could significantly inhibit mycelium growth within 3 days at higher concentrations, whereas ethyl 3-hydroxybutyrate, ethyl caprate, decanoic acid, and lauric acid exhibited a lower inhibition. Furthermore, the five VOMs, including trans-cinnamaldehyde, 2-nonanone, ethyl caprylate, benzyl alcohol, and hexanoic acid, also had the efficiency on inhibiting conidia germination. In particular, trans-cinnamaldehyde was the best inhibitor of mycelium growth and conidia germination. Hence, trans-cinnamaldehyde was also tested in vivo as postharvest biofumigants. In vivo assay showed that trans-cinnamaldehyde could significantly reduce B. cinerea infection of cherry tomatoes and maintain fruit hardness, color, total soluable solids, and titratable acidity under conditions of artificial and natural infection. Collectively, these results indicated that trans-cinnamaldehyde, the main inhibitory VOMs of H. uvarum, has the potential for effectively controlling postharvest gray mold of cherry tomatoes and maintaining fruit quality in commercial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The antibacterial microspheres of tea polyphenols were added into the solution composed of sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose and glycerol to study the effects on mechanical properties and vapor transmission rate, and to investigate its preservation effect on cherry tomatoes. The effects of various factors on the mechanical properties of the membrane were investigated by single factor test and orthogonal test. The decay rate and weight loss rate of the cherry tomatoes were also determined. The best optimization conditions of preparing anti-microbial film were as follows: the concentration of sodium alginate 1.5%, the ratio of carboxymethyl cellulose to sodium alginate 100 mL: 30 mL, the concentration of glycerol 1.5%, and the concentration of antibacterial microspheres 15 mg/mL. Besides, the anti-bacterial coating and anti-bacterial film had the fresh effect on the cherry tomatoes. Both the coating and the membrane could enhance the sensory quality, acid content, and soluble solids of the cherry tomatoes, and also extended their shelf life, which was a promising fresh fruit packaging material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to elucidate the regulating mechanism of sodium nitroprussiate on seed germination and seedling growth of cherry tomato. After the treatment with different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside, the effects on the metabolites and key enzyme activities in carbon-nitrogen metabolism of cherry tomato cultivar Zhuyun as an experimental material were investigated. The results showed that from seed germination to seedling period, the contents of starch and total nitrogen decreased, but the contents of soluble sugar, reducing sugar, sucrose and soluble protein increased firstly and then decreased; and free amino acids content increased gradually. Sodium nitroprusside made the contents of starch, sucrose and fiee amino acids higher than CK. From seed germination to seedling period in cherry tomato, the activities of amylase, glutamine synthetase (GS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) decreased; the activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) increased at first and decreased then; and the CK and the 0.25 mmol/L sodium nitroprusside treatments exhibited decreased sucrose synthase (SS) activity, and the trend was increasing at first and decreasing then after the treatment with 0.50 and 1.00 mmol/L sodium nitroprusside. Sodium nitroprusside treatment improved amylase activity; and the carbon-nitrogen ratio of the CK increased at first and decreased then, while the values of other treatments tended to decrease. In addition, sodium nitroprusside did not affect seed germination potential and germination rate, but significantly improved biomass accumulation, root length and height of seedlings. These data suggest that sodium nitroprusside could affect the conversion of starch and sugar accumulation, delay the decomposition of total nitrogen and soluble protein, and achieve the effects of accelerating the accumulation of free amino acids, and promoting seed germination and seedling growth, and 0.50 mmol/L sodium nitroprusside has the best effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited information available on lycopene content and antioxidant activity of new special coloured cherry tomatoes. We also lack data regarding the effects of on the correlation between the commonly applied colour formulas of surface, puree and lycopene content as well as the effect of extraction solvent on the results of antioxidant activity assays. In this study 11 cherry tomatoes including 5 colours (red, bright red, red-green, yellow, orange) from commercial trade were assessed. Surface and puree colours were determined by a hand-top colorimeter using Lab colour space. Lycopene content was measured as well as the FRAP-, DPPH-, CUPRAC-, ABTS- and TPC-assay following extraction by either water, ethanol or methanol. Our results indicate that the most commonly applied formulas are not disturbed by the special coloured varieties. The colour of puree correlated better with the lycopene content than the values measured on the surface. The method-extraction combination ranking showed that the CUPRAC-EtOH and supernatant ones were the best to distinguish cherry tomato samples. Correlation of chromaticity values was strong with the FRAP-assay and with the DPPH-method. We can conclude that colour parameters as indicators of lycopene content are not disturbed by the special coloured varieties and also have some correlation with antioxidant-capacity assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) from plant extracts is important in nanotechnology because the employed methods are environmentally friendly and cost‐effective. In this study, silver NPs (AgNPs) were synthesised using Chinese tea (Oolong tea) extract. The effects of the relative content of the employed silver nitrate, the reaction temperature, the incubation time, and the tea‐to‐water ratio on the formation of the AgNPs were examined. The synthesised AgNPs were also analysed by UV–vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermo‐gravimetric analysis. The NPs were observed to be highly crystalline, approximately spherical, and 10–50 nm in diameter. They were also tested for their use in preserving the postharvest quality of cherry tomatoes, with good results obtained. The tea AgNP treatment was specifically found to reduce the weight loss of the tomatoes, as well as changes in their total soluble solids, vitamin C, and titratable acid contents. The findings of this study indicate that postharvest tea AgNP treatment affords a clean, safe, high‐quality, and environmentally friendly method for extending the shelf life of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the epidermis structure (micro, ultra, and nano), mechanical properties, and surface color of Solanum licopersicum L. fruits (cherry tomatoes) due to hydrogen peroxide (HP) and high-power ultrasound (US) treatments were examined. Both treatments induced small alterations in the epicuticular waxes, the cuticular membrane, and the epidermal and subepidermal cells. Plasmolysis of subepidermal cells, slight epicarp compression, and dense cellulose microfibrils pattern in the non cutinized cellulose layer were documented after US. Looser cellulose microfibrils pattern in the cutinized and non cutinized cellulose layer was detected after HP exposure. Main nanostructure alterations in the cellulose domain affected the morphology and size of cellulose aggregates and nanofractures of cellulose layer in treated fruits. US treatment decreased a*, b*, and chroma values by 10, 5, and 7% and increased L* and hue angle by 2.5 and 3%, respectively, as compared to raw fruits. These small but significant differences were attributed to the disruption of the wax layer; color became brighter, more vivid, and more orange. Treatments slightly affected puncture parameters; the rupture force decreased from 14.8 N to 14.1 N and 13.8 N; the penetration probe at the rupture point increased from 7.6 mm to 7.7 mm and 8.0 mm and the mechanical work decreased from 48.7 mJ to 48.3 mJ and 44.4 mJ in raw fruits and after HP and US exposure, respectively. The mechanical response could be partially explained by the alterations in the micro, ultra, and nanostructure of the tissues. The low impact of US and HP treatments on mechanical and color characteristics would indicate their potential for cherry tomatoes decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Rhamnolipids showed an antimicrobial activity applicable to a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, but mechanisms were mostly focused on their direct inhibitory effect. RESULTS This study showed that disease incidence obviously decreased when cherry tomatoes were treated with rhamnolipids, whether before or after Alternaria alternata inoculation. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase, were increased in rhamnolipid-pretreated cherry tomato inoculated with A. alternata within 12 h, while contents of reactive oxygen species decreased. Moreover, resistant response of cherry tomato treated with rhamnolipids and A. alternata was also attributed to activity stimulation of ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, accompanied with an increase in reduced glutathione, which is beneficial for scavenging excessive H2O2. CONCLUSION Results indicated that rhamnolipids could effectively reduce fungal disease of harvested cherry tomato by inducing fruit resistance and mechanisms involved in elicitation of antioxidative reactions such as the ability to scavenge excess reactive oxygen species. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmotic dehydration (OD) and pulsed vacuum osmotic dehydration (PVOD) were employed to assess the various properties of partially-dehydrated tomatoes. Ascorbic acid and lycopene degradation and color and texture change were determined. The mastership incorporation of probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus TISTR 1338) into tomatoes was also investigated. OD mediums (20, 40 and 60 °Brix) consisted of a mixture of formulated tomato extract (FTE) and probiotic cell suspension. PVOD promoting mass transfer was clearly observed in a short-time process compared with OD. The physical and chemical properties of the tomatoes changed significantly after the dehydration processes, especially those of ascorbic acid content compared with lycopene. A more than 50 % loss of ascorbic acid was noted, starting at 10 g /100 g tomatoes of water loss. The hardness values significantly increased, while chroma values decreased. The cell entrapment on the tomatoes was in the range of 8 - 9 log CFU/g tomatoes. The highest entrapment of the probiotic bacteria was found in the long-time process (12 h) conducted with 20 °Brix FTE for the PVOD and OD processes, while entrapment was decreased by the short-time process (6 h). Using high solution concentration resulted in lower cell entrapment. However, cell entrapment could be increased by using the vacuum process. These results will provide a platform that encourages the inclusion of probiotics in high quality fresh-cut products and semi-moist products. These products can then be considered as alternative probiotic food choice for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Rhamnolipids were reported to have evident antifungal activity. The efficacy of rhamnolipids against Alternaria alternata and their possible mechanisms involved were investigated. RESULT The decay incidences of A. alternata of cherry tomatoes ( Lycopersicon esculentum) treated by rhamnolipids were significantly reduced. The in vitro assays showed that rhamnolipids inhibited fungal growth on solid medium and prevented spore germination and mycelium growth in liquid medium. In addition, the combination of rhamnolipids and essential oil had a synergistic effect leading to the decrease of fungicidal concentrations of laurel oil. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations of the pathogen revealed significant morphological and cell structural alterations in the hyphae. Compared to the control, the content of nucleic acid in supernatant of the suspension of A. alternata increased, while the content of DNA and protein of mycelium decreased, which was in agreement with electrolyte leakage experiments. CONCLUSION Rhamnolipids could be an alternative to chemicals for controlling post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi on fruits and vegetables. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]