Search

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an important spice crop worldwide and its production is hampered by the infection of Alternaria blight. Cultivation of cumin in Bangladesh is very limited due to the lack of appropriate germplasm and adequate scientific information regarding the prevalence of Alternaria blight. Field trials were conducted with four advanced lines of cumin viz. CN026, CN028, CN031 and CN038 in five agro-ecological zones (AEZ) to know the adaptation possibility of these lines against the incidence and severity of Alternaria blight of cumin in Bangladesh. Among all lines, CN026 was found as the best in germination capacity and other yield parameters in all locations. The incidence and severity of the disease was observed as high as 98% and 88%, respectively, however, out of the five locations, the incidence and severity of the disease was the lowest in Bogura for the line CN026. In an attempt to identify the causal organism of the Alternaria blight of cumin by using molecular tools, a total of twenty three isolates were collected from the plants showing Alternaria blight symptoms from different AEZ in Bangladesh. Based on the molecular analysis, the isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata , A. burnsii , A. gaisen and A. tenuissima. A. alternata was the most prevalent species followed by A. tenuissima. The isolates of the identified species were found to have genetic, morphological and pathogenic variation. An isolate of A. alternata was observed as the most virulent among the isolates. This is the first report of A. alternata causing Alternaria blight disease of cumin in Bangladesh. The findings of this experiment will help in selecting suitable cumin germplasm and designing proper management strategies against Alternaria blight of cumin in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the environmental issues linked to current plastic packaging, it is feasible to create biodegradable films that effectively control the microbial properties of food. This can be achieved by integrating antimicrobial components, like plant-derived essential oils, to enhance their efficacy. This study aims to create a smart film using chitosan-zein biodegradable polymers, natural dye hematoxylin, and cumin essential oil (Cuminum cyminum) through the casting method, to control chicken meat spoilage. The research assessed the physical and chemical properties, antimicrobial effects, volatile amine levels, and color characteristics of the films when in contact with chicken samples. Results demonstrated that incorporating essential oil at a recommended 2% concentration reduced film swelling and moisture levels compared to samples without essential oil. Among the tested films, the essential oil-content film exhibited the highest tensile strength at 0.012 MPa. Additionally, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed improved compatibility when essential oil was included. The indicator displayed a noticeable color change, shifting from light purple to dark red, in response to pH changes in the chicken meat samples, indicating spoilage and decreased quality. Furthermore, the correlation between color difference (ΔE) and pH was found to be satisfactory at (R = 0.861). The addition of essential oil also helped maintain volatile nitrogen content within acceptable limits. Implementing this approach extends the shelf life of chicken meat, expedites consumption, and reduces food waste. • A pH-responsive indicator was created using natural hematoxylin dye. • The indicator was prepared for monitoring of chicken fillet spoilage at 4 °C. • The pH results showed a strong correlation with the ΔE values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out to determine the effects of cumin seeds in food diets of Anatolian water buffaloes (AWB) in shelter about gas concentration, milk yield and composition. The animal material of the experiment was conducted with 27 buffaloes at Karaoglan Village located in Mustafakemalpasa, Bursa. Three different buffalo shelters (E1, E2 and E3) and three different diets (S1; S2; and S3) (0, 10 and 30 g grounding cumin seeds (GCS) kg-1) in 3x3 a replicated Latin square design was used with nine replicates of one buffalo each. Periods lasted 21 days, in which the first two weeks were preliminary for adaptation and data for statistical analysis collected in week 3. In conclusion, It has been determined that 30 g cumin supplementation to AWB diets (S3; one kg of diet) significantly increased total dry matter intake and milk yield of AWB (P<0:01). Meanwhile; there were no significant effects of diets containing cuminun seeds in milk composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and shelter about gas concentrations (CH4, NH3 and CO2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cumin is one of the oldest seed species and second most popular after black pepper. Till date molecular work into cumin has been principally related to studying diversity based on phenotypic, biochemical and molecular aspects. Molecular aspects in cumin are restricted to DNA marker. But for more advanced study with profundity it is to bring forth the understanding related to transcriptome level studies. The prerequisite for such sophisticated strategy is high quality RNA. Here, we had attempted different RNA extraction procedures for fulfilling the basic preconditions for such studies. In this study we have used five different protocols to achieve high quality RNA from cumin. The RNA was isolated from root and shoot tissues using different extraction methods viz. Trizol method, CTAB Method, Quiagen RNAesy plant mini kit, QIAsymphony (Direct RNA extraction machine) and Phenol: choloroform method. Quality and quantity were assessed using Nanodrop [for quantity (ng/µL) at A260/280 and A260/230)], Qiaxcel [for RNA integrity score (RIS)] and 2% agarose gel electrophoresis (for intactness). RNA was converted into cDNA and visualized on agarose gel followed by real time PCR analysis to conform the quality of RNA. Eventually, the phenol chloroform extraction method was found to be most efficient for RNA extraction in terms of high yield and good quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 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 research, the effects of essential oils isolated from four ecotypes of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) Northern-Khorasan (NS), Fars (FS), Kerman (KK), and Kerman (KR) were evaluated on the 4th instar larvae of pink stem borer, Sesamia cretica Lederer. The essential oils were extracted from seeds and the chemical composition was assessed via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Cuminaldehyde (43.599-55.939%), γ-terpinene (13.134-21.750%), m-cymene (8.349-16.935%), ß-pinene (6.320-14.130%), and α-phellandrene (2.137-4.742%) were the main components of the essential oils. Four types of blood cells: prohaemocytes, plasmatocyte, granulocyte, and oenocytoid were identified in the haemolymph of the 4th instar larvae of S. cretica. The decreasing haemocyte counts were found to be significant in the different ecotypes of C. cyminum essential oil. The utilized concentrations and specified times had significant effects on the reductions of the mentioned cell numbers. The fewest number of cells for all ecotypes was measured after 48 h. The highest decline in the total haemocyte count was related to the concentration of 8000 ppm in NS ecotype. The lowest LC50 value was observed in KR ecotype. Based on the results of the present study, the essential oils isolated from the different ecotypes of C. cyminum showed to be promising candidates for S. cretica management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans causes persistent endodontic infections; however, current antifungal materials for C. albicans infection have some limitations. Because Cuminum cyminum (cumin) has antifungal properties, its efficacy against C. albicans ATCC 10231 was investigated using Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB). Steam distillation technique was used to obtain 5 different concentrations of cumin extract (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μL/mL). To evaluate the antifungal effect of cumin extract, the turbidity of C. albicans was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader. The cumin extract concentration that resulted in the lowest turbidity value of C. albicans ATCC 10231 was 0.4 μL/mL, which was significantly different from those produced by concentrations 0.1, 0.2 μL/mL, and the control. The concentration that resulted in the lowest turbidity of the biofilm was 0.1 μL/mL; however, this finding was not significantly different from biofilm turbidity values of other groups. Turbidity was lower for the planktonic form than for the biofilm which was significantly different from those produced by concentrations 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μL/mL. In conclusion cumin extract has an antifungal effect on both planktonic and biofilm forms of C. albicans ATCC 10231. Furthermore, it is more effective against planktonic than biofilm form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Using different methods of Fe fertilization including nano, chelated and siderophore. • Nano and siderophore significantly affecting cumin yield and seed fortification. • Fe concentration of 1 g/l was the most efficient one for the fertilization types. • The findings are of great nutritional, environmental and economical significance. Abstract Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) from the Apiaceae family and as an important medicinal plant is greatly used for food production and medicinal purposes. The plant requires macro- and micro-nutrients including iron (Fe), which is not available under calcareous conditions. Accordingly, it was hypothesized the proper source (including the new methods of fertilization) and concentration of Fe can provide cumin with its required amounts of Fe under calcareous soils. The objectives were to determine: 1) the most efficient source of Fe fertilization (by spraying) on cumin yield and Fe uptake, and 2) the most optimum Fe concentration for cumin growth, yield production and seed fortification. A field experiment, as a completely randomized block design, with three replicates was conducted in the city of Aligudarz, Lorestan province, Iran. The cumin plants were sprayed twice during the season, before and after flowering (with a 10 day interval) according to the manufacturing Company. Three different types of Fe fertilization including Fe-nano-chelated (Fe-N), Fe-chelated (Fe-C) and Fe-siderophore (Fe-S) with the concentrations of 0 (control), 0.5 and 1 g/l were used for the experiment. Different plant parameters including grain Fe, crop yield, weight of 1000 grains, grain length, root length and stem length were determined. The highest yield of single plant was resulted by Fe-N1 (250 mg). Fe-N1 (3.8 g) and Fe-C1 (4.0 g) resulted in the highest weight of 1000 grains. However, the highest Fe concentration was related to treatment Fe-S1 (9.4 mg/kg). Plants treated with Fe-N (24.9 cm) and Fe-C (25.0 cm) treatments had the highest plant height. The highest root length was resulted by the Fe-N (8.9 cm) and Fe-C (9.1 cm) treatments. The control treatment resulted in the highest rate of root length/stem length (0.41). Treating the plants with Fe-C treatments resulted in the highest and significantly different grain length (6.8 mm). The concentration of 1 g/l of nano, chelated and siderophores were the most effective, significantly enhancing cumin yield and grain fortification. The results indicated the significant effects of Fe-N on plant yield and Fe uptake followed by the Fe-C method. The findings of this research work indicated that the Fe-N and the Fe-C methods were the most efficient methods enhancing cumin growth and yield. However, the most efficient method for seed fortification was the Fe-S method. The findings are of great nutritional, environmental and economical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), has become a serious pest of prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica L. in the Mediterranean region. The present study investigated the insecticidal activity of four essential oils, namely Cuminum cyminum , Cinnamomum camphora , Artemisia herba-alba , and Salvia rosmarinus against D. opuntiae nymphs and adult females in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays. Laboratory tests showed that at a concentration of 2.5%, C. cyminum oil was the most effective (inducing 100% nymph mortality at 3 h after treatment), followed by C. camphora , A. herba-alba and S. rosmarinus oils which recorded comparable mortality rates ranging from 89.40 to 100%, while S. rosmarinus and C. cyminum oils induced the highest mortality rates on adult females (88% and 86%, respectively) 8 days after treatments. Under greenhouse conditions, the combined application of C. cyminum oil (2.5%) and black soap (10 g/L) showed the highest nymphs' mortality (100%) at 3 days after application. Adult female mortality in the greenhouse was lower than in the laboratory bioassay for all tested oils, with S. rosmarinus inducing 47% mortality at 2.5% at 14 days after the second spray. Eucalyptol was the main constituent of S. rosmarinus (41.20%) and C. camphora (56.47%) oils, and thujon-camphor was the major chemotype of A. herba-alba (30.55%/28.16%), while cuminaldehyde was the main compound of C. cyminum oil seeds (32.53%). These findings showed that the compounds of the two essential oils S. rosmarinus and C. camphora potential sources of insecticidal compounds and warrant further investigation. • The wild cochineal recently invaded the cactus across the Mediterranean region. • Salvia rosmarinus and Cuminum cyminum were the most effective oils under laboratory. • C. cyminum oil combined with black soap had a great potential under greenhouse. • Eucalyptol was the main constituent of S. rosmarinus and C. camphora oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To conduct a systematic review, including meta-analysis, of published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of cumin to determine the effect on anthropometric and metabolic indices in overweight and/or type 2 diabetics, relative to controls. Methods Studies were identified by a search of electronic databases before December 2017. Combined and stratified analyses were used. Results Seven trials were identified, and data from 412 subjects were included. Pooled analysis showed improvements in bodyweight, body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) by −1.74 kg, −0.67 kg/m 2 and −17.82 mg/dL respectively. Significant findings were also observed in triglycerides (TG) [WMD: −21.23 (95% CI: −37.64 to −4.82; P < 0.001, I 2 = 92%)] and HDL-c (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) [WMD: 4.16 (95%CI: 3.30, 5.01; P < 0.001, I 2  = 82%)] following cumin intake. No changes were found in controls. Conclusions Cumin improves anthropometric and metabolic indices in overweight and/or type 2 diabetic subjects. The changes were related to the clinical condition and quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils from 8 Cuminum cyminum local populations collected in Morocco were investigated for their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. The chemical composition, investigated by gas chromatographic technique, revealed a common fingerprint in all Moroccan samples: twenty-five compounds were identified with γ-terpinen-7-al being the major component in all samples studied. The antimicrobial activity of cumin essential oils were tested against 10 bacterial strains, belonging to 8 different species, and 6 yeast strains, belonging to 4 species. Lactic acid bacteria showed a good resistance to all essential oil tested while overall the cumin essential oils showed a strong antifungal activity that affected both maximum specific growth rate and lag time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is present worldwide and causes large economic losses. As more and more serious resistance of S. sclerotiorum against commonly used fungicides, development of novel biorational fungicides to control this fungal has become more and more urgent. In this study, the activity of cuminic acid isolated from the seed of Cuminum cyminum L, was assessed. The median effective concentration (EC 50 ) values for inhibition of mycelial growth of 78 S. sclerotiorum strains ranged from 5.46 to 29.34 μg/ml, with an average EC 50 value of 17.36 ± 2.28 μg/ml. Meanwhile, both in pot experiments and on detached leaves, cuminic acid exhibited significant control effects against S. sclerotiorum. After treated with cuminic acid, mycelia were clustered seriously and the surface were collapsed and shriveled. In S. sclerotiorum, cell membrane permeability would be increased while oxalic acid content would be decreased and glycerol content would be increased significantly treated with cuminic acid. Above all, cuminic acid showed the potential as a natural alternative to commercial fungicides or a lead compound to develop new fungicides for the control of Sclerotinia stem rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different concentrations of cumin essential oil (CEO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were incorporated in polycaprolactone-gelatin (PCL/Gel) to fabricate five nanofiber mats for anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity purposes in cheese. GC-MS analysis of the CEO revealed nineteen constituents. The cuminaldehyde was the most abundant (35.21%) component. FESEM analyses showed the fiber diameters in a range between 179 ± 88 and 277 ± 165 nm. The band intensities of ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed the proper incorporation and encapsulation of ZnO NPs and/or CEO in the PCL/Gel blend. EDS analyses indicated the characteristic peaks of the nanoparticles, and elemental mapping proved the proper distribution of ZnO NPs in nanofibers. Based on TGA and DTG results, increasing ZnO NPs and/or CEO to 3% improved the thermal stability of mats. Water contact angles (WCAs) of the mats increased by adding ZnO NPs and/or CEO concentrations after 0, 1, 3, and 5 s. Incorporating CEO/ZnO NPs, particularly at the concentration of 3%, led to significant improvement of tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of the mat. According to the MTT cell viability assay, the mats had no detrimental influence on Human Dermal Fibroblasts. The CEO/ZnO NPs-loaded mats could markedly decrease or slow the bacterial growth during 12 days of cold storage of cheese samples. The sensory attributes of cheese samples treated with the CEO/ZnO NPs-loaded mat were improved during the storage period. This investigation suggested that the PCL/Gel/CEO/ZnO electrospun fibrous mats were efficient in gaining anti-staphylococcal properties and were promising for food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [ • ] Dyeing of silk fabric with dye extracted from Cuminum cyminum L. [•] Physicochemical parameters of dyeing of silk fabric with cumin dye in terms of enthalpy, entropy changes and activation energy of adsorption were studied. [•] Pseudo first-order and second-order kinetic models were used to examine the adsorption kinetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study on different in vitro morphogenesis pathways (shoot regeneration and somatic embryogenesis) in four cumin accessions, three experiments (direct and indirect regeneration and indirect somatic embryogenesis) were conducted. Factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was carried out. Direct shoot regeneration of cumin accessions on shoot explant was tested in different concentrations of TDZ (1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 μM) on B5 medium. Indirect shoot regeneration was conducted in B5 medium supplemented with different combinations of BAP (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 1 mg/l) in combination with NAA (0.2 and 0.4 mg/l) from shoot explant derived calli. In indirect somatic embryogenesis experiment, the induced calli were transferred to MS medium free of any plant growth regulators. Statistical analysis showed that the highest (57.5%) and lowest (6.67%) direct shoot regeneration were found in 10 μM and 1 μM of TDZ respectively. Results showed that 0.1mg/l NAA plus 0.4mg/l BAP and 0.1mg/l NAA plus 1mg/l BAP combinations determined as the highest level for indirect shoot regeneration (with 25.83 % and 25 % respectively). Furthermore, Shahdad and Afghanistan accessions had the highest (14.38 and 13.75 % respectively) and Koohbanan and Badrood the lowest (10.42 and 10.21 % respectively) indirect shoot regeneration. There was a relationship between 2,4-D concentration (that was applied for callus induction stage) and somatic embryo numbers in the somatic embryogenesis experiment. Also, we observed the more number of somatic embryos with increasing of 2,4-D concentration that were used for callus induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Mycology / Journal de Mycologie Médicale is the property of Elsevier B.V. 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.)

An experiment was conducted to study effects of nitrogen fertilizer and plant density on quantitative relationships between yield and yield components and essential oil in cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) under three different climate testing sites (cold, tropical and moderate climate locations) in western of Iran. Plant density (80, 120, 160 plant m-2) and Nitrogen fertilizer (0, 25, 50, 100 kg ha-1) were main and subsidiary factors respectively. Maximum yield (1275 kg ha-1) and essence (2.78%) were obtained at 100 kg nitrogen ha-1 and 160 plant m-2 in moderate location. Analysis of variance for testing contrasts of plant density and nitrogen fertilizer showed significant linear relationship between nitrogen fertilizer and yield components. A quadratic relation was found to be significant between nitrogen fertilizer and yield, yield components as well as between nitrogen fertilizer and essence percent. Significantly positive correlations were also observed between yield and number of seed per plant, number of umbel per plant, number of seed per umbel, thousand seed weight and biologic yield at tropical location. To gain maximum seed and essence of cumin, moderate location is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the larvicidal activities of crude and chloroform: methanol (1:1 v/v) extracts of some common spices (Cuminum cyminum, Allium sativum, Zingiber offinale, Curcuma longa) and vegetable waste (Solanum tuberosum germinated tuber) against Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae. Methods: Larval mortality of above mosquito species were observed after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure to five concentrations of aqueous extract (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%) and four concentrations (25, 50, 75 ppm) of chloroform: methanol (1:1 v/v) extract. The lethal concentration of individual spices or vegetable waste was determined by log-probit analysis (at 95% confidence level) and effect of crude and chloroform: methanol (1:1 v/v) extracts were recorded on non target organisms. Results: Relative mortality rate of both larval mosquito species were recorded in the following sequences: Cuminum cyminum >Allium sativum >Zingiber offinale, Curcuma longa >Solanum tuberosum germinated tuber for crude extract, and efficacy of chloroform: methanol (1:1 v/v) extract were as follows: Curcuma longa >Zingiber offinale >Solanum tuberosum germinated tuber >Cuminum cyminum >Allium sativum. Conclusions: Crude and chloroform: methanol (1:1 v/v) extract of Cuminum cyminum, Allium sativum, Zingiber offinale, Curcuma longa and Solanum tuberosum germinated tuber can be recommended effectively in mosquito control programmes at very low concentrations. No mortality and other abnormalities were noticed on non target organisms and further studies are needed to investigate the chemical structure of active principal which are responsible for larvicidal activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple model was constructed, tested and used to determine the potential yield of cumin (Cuminum cyminum). Using model outputs and data obtained from 228 fields, yield gap was determined. Yield gap varied considerably among regions (from 2.42 to 0.68 ton ha−1). Stepwise regression on data collected from fields showed that 73% of yield gap variation in 228 fields could be explained by fungal diseases (Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria burnsii), inappropriate sowing dates and successive planting. Therefore, these were considered to be the main reducing factors in the studied regions, with 38% contributed by fungal diseases, 30% by sowing date and 5% by successive planting. When 67% of surveyed fields (averaged for all fields) were infected with these diseases and when there was a 3-mm increment in precipitation, infection increased about 1%. Our results indicated that 1% of the fungal infection increase equals to a yield loss of 150 kg per hectare. Sowing date of 63% of fields were also not within the appropriate range. Therefore, appropriate sowing date and all possible approaches to alleviate the effects of fungal diseases are the most fundamental advices to fill the gap between potential and actual yield of cumin in Khorasan provinces, Iran. Detailed descriptions of the model, important physiological parameters and other important state variables are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection Research is the property of Institute of Plant Protection 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.)

Abstract: In a two year field study, the effect of varying intensities of sub-lethal heating on the efficiency of Brassica amendments in controlling viable populations of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f sp. cumini was determined in an arid region of India. After 30d of dry summer exposure of pathogen infested soil, incorporation of mustard residues and oil cake (0.18% and 0.04% w/w) and then applying one irrigation caused significant reduction by 75.3–81.3% in viable counts of M. phaseolina that causes dry root rot of legumes and by 93.9% in counts of F.o. f. sp. cumini causing wilt of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) at 0–15 and 16–30cm depths. Increasing duration of summer exposure to 60d improved the reductions in viable propagules of M. phaseolina by 83.6–90.4% and in F.o. f. sp. cumini by 78.2–94.8% at same soil depths. At certain heat levels, reduction in viable population of Fusarium due to amendments and irrigation was greater than that recorded in Macrophomina. Significantly low levels of reduction in pathogenic propagules of Macrophomina (63.9–71.4%) and Fusarium (48.0–57.2%) under shade compared to unshaded conditions indicated that mild heating did not cause discernible weakening effect. In second season also, 89.2–91.5% and 78.5–95.8% reduction in counts of Macrophomina and Fusarium, respectively was achieved by the application of amendments after 60d of summer exposure at 0–30cm soil depth. These results suggested a new approach to improve the control of soil-borne plant pathogens in hot arid regions by combining prolonged sub-lethal heating, effective naturally available on-farm wastes as soil amendments and one summer irrigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection Research is the property of Institute of Plant Protection 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 health benefits of nanoparticles in preservation of sensitive compounds such as essential oil (EO) to overcome its application difficulties, e.g., instability, low water solubility, and oral bioavailability. In this study, CEO-loaded nanophytosomes (NP) were prepared using a thin layer hydration technique in different ratios of CEO to phosphatidylcholine (PC). Colloidal properties of NP such as particle size, ζ-potential, polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation efficiency (EE), CEO-PC ionic interactions, antioxidant activity, turbidity, stability and release behavior were investigated. CEO-NP showed good characteristics, i.e., d<100 nm particle sizes, low size distribution (PDI<0.3), EE>90% and relatively uniform size (unchanged size and turbidity during one month of storage). The ζ-potential changed from +9 mV in the blank (B) NP to -19 mV in encapsulated EO. EO-encapsulated in NP showed a relative constant release pattern. About 88% of free CEO remained stable in simulated gastric fluid at pH 2 while 95% was eliminated during 2.5 h in simulated intestinal fluid at pH 7. However, NP improved the stability of CEO 6.7 times in SIF. This study indicated that the release of bioactive compounds from NP can be efficiently reduced using encapsulation into NP, and offered CEO-loaded NP as an efficient candidate for food and beverage fortification to produce functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing resistance of microbes to available antifungals has necessitated a search for alternative natural products with antifungal properties. Combinations of essential oils (EOs) with known antifungal activities may increase antimicrobial activity, reduce side effects, and overcome resistance. This study determined the antifungal activity of basil, marjoram, clove, cumin and caraway EOs, both individually and in combination. The EOs and the major constituents of clove, cumin and caraway were screened against Candida albicans (C. albicans), and Aspergillus niger (A. niger) using a broth dilution method. Fluconazole was used as a positive control. The MICs of the mixtures of EOs were better than those of the single oils (except in the case of clove oil) especially against C. albicans (1 mg/ml) suggesting a synergistic effect against both C. albicans and A. niger (2 mg/ml) when increasing the concentration of one oil over the other two. Single active components (eugenol, carvone and cuminaldehyde) have better activity than single total oils against both organisms and showed synergistic effects when combined. In summary, mixtures of EOs or their active components had similar/better antifungal activities compared to the single oils or ingredients suggesting a synergistic effect against both C. albicans and A. niger. Clove oil was the best against both organisms while eugenol was the best against A. niger. In conclusion, the synergistic effect of the combinations of the EOs and their active components against C. albicans and A. niger could lead to decreased side effects and consequently they can be used to treat various fungal infections caused by these organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial edible coatings containing natural herbal extracts and essential oil possess various benefits and are currently used to design novel active biodegradable packaging. In this study, adaptive neuro fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) model was used to predict the population of pathogenic microorganisms, chemical changes, and sensory characteristics of beef slices during 9- day storage period. First, Cumin essential oil (CEO) was incorporated into Shahri Balangu seed mucilage (SBM) to fabricate an active and eco-friendly edible coating for beef slice. Microbial populations (based on total viable count (TVC), psychrotrophic count, Escherichia coli , coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus , and mold and yeasts) and lipid oxidation of the coated beef reduced significantly during storage period, and this was more pronounced in SBM coatings containing higher CEO concentrations. The SBM-CEO edible coating had no adverse effects on the sensory characteristics and it conferred a better texture to the product as compared to the control sample. According to the TVC results, the shelf-life of beef samples coated with SBM, SBM+0.5%CEO, SBM+1%CEO, SBM+1.5%CEO, and SBM+2%CEO were 3, 6, 9, 9, and 9 days, respectively. The coating containing 2% Cumin essential oil conferred good quality characteristics to the beef and expanded its refrigeration shelf-life. The CEO enriched SBM could be therefore employed as an active packaging to ameliorate quality attribute and microbial safety of beef and other fresh food products. In addition, ANFIS model had high R2 values (>0.84), which indicated that the designed ANFIS model had enough accuracy for predicting the qualitative and microbial properties of coated beef during storage. • ANFIS adequately showed the correlation between the exerted treatments on the beef samples. • Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and peroxide value (PV) correlated well with the microbiological data and sensory characteristics. • Shahri Balangu seed mucilage (SBM) extended the shelf life of beef slice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of the spices on the caecal microbiota were revealed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. • Several OTUs were estimated as the spice-susceptible indigenous gut bacteria (S-SIB). • Among S-SIB, B. pseudolongum, L. jouhnsonii, L. murinus, and Cl. innocuum could be isolated. Some food ingredients are thought to be correlated with the gut microbiome. To clarify the presence of susceptible gut indigenous bacteria (SIB) against four popular spices, ICR mice were fed with a high-sucrose diet containing no-fibre (NF), 2% w/w cumin-seeds (CM), coriander-seeds (CR), turmeric (TM), or red chili pepper (RP) for seven days. The caecal microbiome was examined by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing using a MiSeq system. Principal coordinate analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) revealed microbiome alterations in the CM, CR, and RP groups. Typical SIB in the CM, CR, TM, and RP groups were Bacteroides acidifaciens- and Bacteroide sartorii -like, Lactobacillus johnsonii -like, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum -like, and RP-SIB Lactobacillus murinus --like bacteria, respectively. [ Clostridium ] innocuum - and Faecalibaculum rodentium -like bacteria were suppressed by the spices. Of the SIB identified, B. pseudolongum , L. johnsonii, L. murinus , and [ Clostridium ] innocuum were isolated and identified using BL agar and a 16S rDNA BLAST search, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]