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Essential oils have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, so it is considered one of the most suitable methods to maintain overall fruit quality, reduce decay and extend the shelf life of fruit during storage. Therefore, two experiments using fruits harvested from 14-year-old guava trees in a private farm located in Al-Busayli village, Rashied, Bohaira governorate, Egypt, during the 2021and 2022 seasons. The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of essential oils on the overall quality and extension of the shelf-life of winter guava fruit. The fruits were subjected to various treatments, including dipping in the following solutions (at 1000 ppm) for 5 minutes: control (distilled water), clove oil, eucalyptus oil, mustard oil, and jojoba oil. Subsequently, the coated fruits with essential oils were preserved in cold room with a temperature of 7±1°C and a relative humidity of 90 – 95 % for a duration of 24 days. The obtained data revealed that immersing in essential oils of winter guava fruits at concentration of 1000 ppm significantly reduced loss in weight of fruit, rot and respiration rate in addition its also improved fruit firmness. SSC%, acidity, SSC/acid ratio and ascorbic acid content compared to control treatment during cold storage. Moreover, the results show a significant reduction in loss of weight, decay, and respiration rate of guava fruits when Eucalyptus and clove oils were utilized. Furthermore, the applications of Eucalyptus and clove oils demonstrated effectiveness in keeping firmness, acidity, vitamin C content, SSC%, and SSC/acid ratio in guava fruits during the storage. In conclusion, Eucalyptus oil and cloves oil proved to be highly effective in reduce weight loss, decay, and respiration rates while concurrently maintaining the overall quality of winter guava fruits under cold storage conditions for a duration of 24 days, in comparison to the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial was conducted through 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons on 9 years old "Kalamata" olives cultivated at 5×5 m apart in sandy soil. Trees were irrigated from a well using a drip irrigation system. To investigate the effects of calcium chloride and ascorbic acid as foliar spray Firstly: on yield and fruit quality, Secondly: on the next flowering, fruit set of "Kalamata" olive trees. Sprayed "Kalamata" olive trees with calcium chloride at (1.0 and 1.5%), ascorbic acid at (1500 and 2000 ppm) and calcium chloride at 1.5% combined with ascorbic acid at 2000 ppm were carried out at three times, in mid- May (end of fruit set), in mid-June (during pit hardening) and in performed second week of October. The results revealed that calcium chloride and ascorbic acid foliar spray induced a positive effect on leaf chlorophyll and calcium content, yield, biennial bearing index, fruit quality i.e. pulp thickness and pulp oil content as compared with control treatment of "Kalamata" olive. They also improved the next flowering; number of panicle/shoot, number of total flowers/ panicle, fruit set compared to untreated trees. Briefly, foliar spray "Kalamata" olive trees with calcium chloride at 1.5% plus ascorbic acid at 2000 ppm at three times during fruit development was able to improve yield and fruit quality also, it enhanced the next flowering and fruit set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several authors have used Cytokinins (CKs) to boost the production of potato, but data on the varying effects of CK types on potato yield and tuber traits are scarce. In the current study, two field experiments were conducted in sandy loam soil to investigate the effects of different types of CK and concentrations [6-Benzylaminopurine-BAP (20 and 40 ppm), N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea-CPPU (10 and 20 ppm) and kinetin-KN (2 and 4 ppm)] on the yield and quality of potato. The collected data, generally, indicates that the treatment with BAP had a remarkable effect on plant fresh weight and chlorophyll content. Moreover, adding BAP increased the N content of potato leaves, while adding CKs did not affect K content in both seasons. In potato tubers, 40 ppm BAP maintained the highest N content, whereas the different types of CK raised P and K levels in both seasons. However, the application of CKs did not have a significant effect on the number of tubers. Except for 20 ppm BAP, the applied CKs increased, often by similar levels, the average tuber weight, total tuber weight per plant, and total yield. In addition, CKs treatment did not impact potato tuber specific gravity or dry matter, in both seasons. However, the application of CPPU and KN lead to produce more tuber starch and reduced sugar. Plants treated with 40 ppm BAP had the greatest total protein content and ascorbic acid in tubers. These results highlight the importance of different CK types on the growth, yield, and quality of potato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out during 2018/2019 and 2019/ 2020 seasons. On Valencia orange trees are grown in al kawamil orchard at the faculty of agriculture, sohag university, where the soil texture is sandy. The selected trees had the same vigor. This study aimed to throw some light on the effect of single and combined applications of some antioxidants (300 ppm ascorbic and 300 ppm salicylic acids), 1% magnesium and a mixture of micronutrients (300 ppm Fe, 200 ppm Zn, 200 ppm Mn) on some vegetative growth characters, fruit set %, fruit retention%, tree nutritional status, number of fruits per tree, yield and physical and chemical characteristics of fruits. Selecting the best-combined treatment from these antioxidants, magnesium and micronutrients responsible for gaining an economical yield is considered another target. Single and combined applications of these compounds were very effective in enhancing Main shoot length, shoot thickness, leaf area, fruit set %, Fruit retention%, nutrients in the leaves (N, P, K, Mg, Zn, Fe and Mn), Number of fruits per tree, yield as well as physical and some chemical characteristics of the fruits in relative to the check treatment. The best results about yield quantitively and qualitatively of Valencia orange trees were obtained when the trees received three sprays (growth start, just after fruits setting and one month later) of a mixture containing 300 ppm salicylic acid, micronutrients and 1 % magnesium sulphate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fufu is one of the major fermented cassava food product widely consumed in Nigeria. Due to several unhygienic methods of preparation and objectionable odour, this study was carried out to investigate the nutritional, cyanide, rheological and microbial properties of odourless fufu flours produced from white and yellow flesh cassava using Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) Technology and sensory properties of smooth dough prepared from the reconstituted flours. The results showed that both white and yellow odourless fufu has safe moisture content (4.34 to 7.21%). It was also observed that white and yellow odourless fufu had an improved pasting properties with pasting temperature and viscosity of (71.850C to 75.230C and 3088cp - 3797cP), The Cyanide content and microbial analysis of both flours were within the safe range with no coliform bacterial present. The sensory evaluation from panelists showed that white odourless fufu had a better overall acceptability despite yellow flesh having higher ascorbic acid and T. carotenoid content. From the study, it can be concluded that the cyanide content, microbial load of the processed flour samples using NSPRI technology were at a safe level. Which makes it safe for consumption and the level of moisture content of the flours would make the flours suitable for long term storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opuntia ficus-indica was planted under three irrigation water regimes during 2019-2020 in the north west of Alexandria, Egypt. The objective was to study the influence of applied irrigation regimes on fruit quality, total yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). The first irrigation treatment (T1) was 12 liters of water per plant week-1. The second and third irrigation treatments (T2 and T3) only applied when soil moisture content in the effective root zone reached below 35% and 30% of field capacity (Ɵfc), respectively to be filled up to 40% of Ɵfc again. The obtained results indicated that the highest WUE was in T3 (0.59 - 0.61 kg ha-1mm-1) followed by T2 (0.52 - 0.60 kg ha¹mm-1) and the lowest was in T1 (0.06 - 0.31 kg ha-1 mm-1) for (2019-2020), respectively. Very good quality fruits were produced for commercialization taking into account fruit shape, pH, total soluble solids, vitamin C content, and color index. Fruits produced under T1 had a significant higher total sugars' content than those produced under irrigation regime T2 and T3. Fruits produced under T3 had higher nutritional value with a significant higher concentration of antioxidants than T1 and T2. In conclusion, applying irrigation water when soil moisture content falls below 30% of field capacity produced higher fruit quality and saved more irrigation water. It is recommended that the obtained results be confirmed with third plantation season before dissemination to farmers and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine some of the biological parameters and economic traits of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori after feeding of 5th instar larvae on mulberry leaves (Morus alba) leaves treated with different materials (ascorbic acid at concentration 1%, silver nanoparticales (AgNPs), Titanium oxide nanoparticales (TiO2NPs), Copper oxide (CuONPs), Zinc oxide (ZnONPs) at concentration 50µg/l and the mixtures of each nanoparticales and ascorbic acid in relation to some biological parameters such as larval weight, pupal weight and cocoon shell weight . The present study revealed that the economic parameters were enhanced by 1% ascorbic acid and all tested nanomaterial at a concentration of 50µg/l than control. On contrast, the mixture of each nanomaterial and ascorbic acid didn’t improve the economic parameters and have a negative effect on the biological parameters of silkworm larvae. This study was indicated that using ascorbic acid and AgNPs, TiO2NPs, CuONPs, ZnONPs significantly improved silk production by about 42.3, 34.7, 20.86 and 25.29%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ascorbic acid (AA), known as vitamin C, plays an important role in the human body. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the beneficial effects of two levels of (AA) that can protect or cure the lung against the hazards of passive smoking in male mice. Materials and Methods: The study was done on forty male albino mice (6 weeks age and average body weight 22 ± 3 g). The mice were assigned into eight equal groups; control group, group 2was exposed to cigarette smoke for 12 weeks, and the other six groups were given low or high doses of vitamin C(0.015and 0.075 mg/g BW)before, during and after exposure to smoke. Doses were given orally via oro-gastric tube. Results: High doses of vitamin C had a protective effect when taken before and during exposure to smoke. It reduced the negative effect of smoke as indicated by the levels of TBARS and GSH in plasma and lung tissue, and the improvement of studied histological parameters. Conclusion: Ascorbic acid had no therapeutic effects after lung tissue damage due to exposure to secondhand smoke. Therefore, it is important to protect the lung from the negative effects of smoking by increasing the daily intake of vitamin C doses to 1 gram, from food rich in vitamin C like fresh fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study a variety of fruit juices (pomegranate, strawberry, apple, plums and blackberries) each was mixed with equal amounts of orange juice (1:1) and different levels of rosemary extract (5, 10, 15, ml/L) were developed. Sensory evaluation tests were performed to choose the most acceptable level of rosemary added to the fruit-orange juices. Physicochemical and bioactive determinations were also assessed. Sensory evaluation tests showed that 10ml/L rosemary extract added to all tested fruit-orange juices was highly appreciated by panelists except blackberry-orange juice at 5ml/L. The physicochemical tests as measured by TTA%, pH and TSS revealed that the addition of rosemary extract did not significantly affect most of the tested parameters for all tested fruit-orange juices and their controls, and they were at the normal range of commercial juices. Vitamin C the total sugar content showed a variation ranging between 2.54 -28.11mg/100ml and 6.51-19.35%, respectively. Results also indicated that the addition of rosemary extract significantly enhanced the increase in total phenolics (TP) and flavonoids (TF), where blackberry (BO5), strawberry (SO10) and pomegranate (PO10) exhibited the highest TP values, respectively whereas, SO10, BO10 and RO10 exhibited the highest TF values, respectively. SO10, exhibited the highest anthocyanin content (800mg/L) as compared to all other fruit- orange juices. The antioxidant activity (% inhibition) measured by DPPH radical scavenging assay showed that SO10, PO10, and RO10 (plum) exhibited the highest antioxidant activities as compared to their controls and the other fruitorange mixes. The study postulates that these beverages could provide health promoting benefits against oxidative stress related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to assess the effect of organic phosphorus on the growth, yield and post-harvest fruit traits of tomato. Plants were fertilized with five levels of fertilizers (containing 20% organic mineralized P2O5, 30% decomposed organic matter and 2% organic nitrogen) with the rate of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha-1 accompanied with a control. Results showed that Maximum survival percentage, No. of picking/plot, fruit weight, plant height, number of branches, maximum yield was also obtained from the plots treated with 60 kg ha-1 fertilizer. Plots with 60kg ha-1 of organic phosphorus required less days to produce 50% flowering and 50% fruit setting. Fruit maturity duration and No. of defective fruits were also minimum in the plots where fertilizer were applied with the rate of 60 kg ha-1. Results of post-harvest analysis of fruits also revealed that different levels of organic phosphorus (organic phosphorus as a source) have no significant effect on fruit firmness but with the increase in storage time firmness decreases significantly. Total soluble solids were also reduced with the increased level of fertilizer, with the increase in storage time increased the total soluble solids in fruit. Ascorbic acid was found with higher concentrations in high levels of fertilizer which was reduced significantly with the passage of storage time. Fruit juice had maximum pH value in the control treatment which was significantly reduced with the increase of fertilizer level. However, pH started to increase when fruit was stored for more than 12 days. From the results it can be concluded that fertilization with 60 kg ha- 1, tomato plant can response better during pre-harvest and post-harvest period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of organic, mineral, and bio-N-fertilizers on growth and productivity of pepper plants (Capsicum annum) CV. (Dolman- 10191) grown in a modified green house under fertigation system were studied in two intervals experiments of 2013 and 2014. The results indicated that, applying organic fertilizer (as biogas digester residue or farm yard manure at rate 20m3/fed) combined. with bio-N fertilizer (microbin at rate 4L/fed) and mineral - N fertilizers at rate of (19-19-19)N-P-K commercial liquid fertilizer gave the vigorous plants expressed as plant length, number of leaves and stems as well as shoots dry weight in both seasons. Moreover, it increased number of fruits and total fruit yield per plant as well as the best physical properties of fruits i.e., diameter and flesh thickness. In addition, it gave the best values of total acidity, vitamin C content, TSS percentage, dry matter and N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb contents of fruits. It could be noticed that organic, mineral, or bio N fertilizer applied alone has a little effect when compared with mixed application of two of them or combines application of all of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]