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The present study investigates the effects of guar gum (GGM) based edible coatings containing citric acid (CA) as antibrowning agents and 0, 3, 5, and 10% of mint leaves extract (ME). The fabricated active film was characterized by measuring its physical and mechanical properties, barrier, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Storage tests at 23 °C for 15 days were performed for uncoated ber fruit, neat guar gum-citric acid, and guar gum-citric acid with mint leaves extract. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of coated ber fruit were measured. FTIR confirmed physical interactions between GGM and CA. A film with 10% of ME showed 1.81 ± 0.87 antimicrobial activities and 91.22 ± 024% antioxidant capacity. It displayed reduced respiration rate, TSS, weight loss, and was firmer than the non-coated ber at the storage end. The results designated that the film with 10% ME coating indicated a high perspective to prolong the storability of ber, and sensory aspects of 5 and 10% ME containing film increased, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ziziphus species particularly Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus nummularia constitute an important part of genetic resources in India. They contribute economically as a fruit crop with lots of morphological and pomological variability. In current study, 48 accessions belonging to two wild Ziziphus species, i.e., Z. mauritiana and Z. nummularia, were characterized using SSR markers. In addition, external features were also examined using stereomicroscope. Results: Present investigation was done to explore the genetic structure of North Indian jujube. In total, 23 SSR markers detected 57 SSR alleles with an average of 2.47 alleles. Highest number of alleles (4) were detected by three primers, namely BFU1178, BFU479, and ZCMS14, while lowest number of alleles (2) were detected by fifteen primers. Highest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was 0.500 and shown by two primers, namely BFU528 and BFU1248, while lowest PIC (0.041) was observed in primers BFU286 with mean value of 0.443. Similarly, highest value of marker index (MI) was detected by primer BFU1178 i.e. 1.969, and lowest value of marker index was observed in primer BFU286 i.e. 0.021. Dendrogram generated using SSR markers data and principal component analysis showed two major groups of the analyzed germplasm with intermixing. STRUCTURE analysis also clustered all the accessions into two groups. We did not found correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Conclusions: The preliminary results suggest that there is high level of gene pool mixing in these species which can be attributed to their cross-pollination habit. However, more such studies with large numbers of samples are required in future to gain concrete insights of the genetic structure in these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ziziphus fruits are recognized as a rich source of biologically active compounds, such as polysaccharides, phenolics, triterpenes, saponins, etc. related to both nutritional and nutraceutical importance. In order to explore more about the phytochemical potential and health benefits of these wild fruits, these have been analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Betulinic acid (BA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic lupane-type triterpenoid distributed widely throughout the plant kingdom. It exhibits a number of biomedical activities like retarding the progression of HIV1 (human immunodeficiency virus 1) infection, selectively killing human melanoma cells while leaving healthy cells alive, anti-inflammatory activity, antibacterial, and anthelmintic properties. The present study was aimed to quantify BA from the methanolic extracts of the wild fruits of two Ziziphus species (Z. mauritiana and Z. nummularia) collected from different parts of Northwest India. The HPTLC‒densitometric determination of BA was performed using the optimized mobile phase of petroleum ether‒ethyl acetate‒toluene (7:2:1, V/V). Post-chromatographic derivatization was done by using anisaldehyde‒sulphuric acid reagent. For densitometry measurements, the plates were scanned at 580 nm absorbance/reflectance wavelength. The amount of compound (% w/w) was observed to be maximum in ZM-10 (0.922 ± 0.006) collected from Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), ZN-3 (0.335 ± 0.004) from Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and minimum in ZM-4 (0.042 ± 0.002) from Ponta Sahib (Himachal Pradesh), ZN-1 (0.016 ± 0.003) from Kangra (Himachal Pradesh). The results of the study revealed that the wild fruits of Ziziphus species are rich sources of triterpenoids besides minerals and vitamins and can be further used in the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, both species can be further explored for the development of potential therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plant species have seeds embedded in their fleshy pulp to attract frugivores, which enhances the chance of seed dispersal. However, some tropical plants are evolved with sharp spines to avoid herbivores and/or to prevent water loss, which makes foraging by frugivores difficult. Such plants receive frugivores' attention, either because of resource scarcity or adaptive behavioural plasticity. We have a limited understanding of how fruit-eating animals access fruits protected by spines. In this 1-year study, we describe bat foraging on a spiny tropical shrub, Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae) whose dried branches are often used by the local people to capture bats in caves that inevitably damage their wing membranes. The greater short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx was the only visitor to this spiny plant during its fruiting season and predominantly extracted fruits using a hovering tactic (on 81% observations) without damaging wing membranes. The hovering enabled them to extract fruits quicker than when alighting on the tree. Bats carried all the fruits away from the parent tree to feeding roosts for consumption. Bat foraging has thus effectuated short-distance seed dispersal (range 11–70 m radii) in which most seeds (30.73%) were found at the distance of 31–40 m in our search up to 150 m. Although bats extracted both ripe and unripe fruits, ripe-fruit extraction was 4.5 × higher than the unripe fruits. This study shows the tradeoff between getting a good meal and contending with spines in a resource-scarce habitat. Besides, this study describes the adaptive foraging tactics of greater short-nosed fruit bats that facilitate short-distance seed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi constitute promising biofertilizers for the deployment of a sustainable agriculture. However, the evaluation of mycorrhizal benefits in the field is poorly documented, notably in fruit tree orchards, and concerns exclusively growth performance and nutrition. Here, we evaluated the persistence of beneficial effects of AM fungal inoculation on two jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) cultivars (Tasset and Gola) inoculated in nursery conditions and subsequently transferred in the field until fruit production. The growth-promoting effects on jujube observed in nursery was still maintained 18 months after planting, with significant higher rates of survival and an increase of fruit production for inoculated jujube cultivars. Nevertheless, AM-mediated responses were dependent on cultivar. No major disturbance of native AM fungal community was associated with AM fungal inoculation but a stimulation of AM fungal colonization is probable. The use of mycorrhizal inoculation with the R. irregularis IR27 strain hold promise for the development of efficient jujube orchards under semi-arid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effectiveness of dietary Ziziphus mauritiana leaf powder (ZLP) to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Nile tilapia and reduce damage to vital immune organs. Four experimental groups were fed a diet supplemented with ZLP at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 20 g/kg (w/w) for 6 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, all groups were intraperitoneally injected with pathogenic A. hydrophila. It was found that Z. mauritiana significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated (lysozyme, interleukin 1 beta) and superoxide dismutase gene expressions as well as improved the activity of serum lysozyme and liver antioxidant enzymes. The fish that were fed a ZLP-supplemented diet also exhibited significantly higher survival rates after A. hydrophila challenge than those that were fed a ZLP-free diet (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 10 g/kg ZLP most effectively reduced the histopathological alterations caused by A. hydrophila challenge in the liver, spleen, kidney, and muscle of the fish. In conclusion, ZLP can be effective in controlling A. hydrophila infection in Nile tilapia (particularly at a concentration of 10 g/kg) through enhancement of its immune and antioxidant status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Out of various species of Ziziphus, there are three, namely Z. mauritiana Lam., Z. rotundifolia Lam. and Z. nummularia (Burm. f.) wt., that are most abundantly occurring species in drier part of India. Z. mauritiana has socio-economic importance in the rural life of the local people being part of each and every farming system supplying food, fuel, fodder, fencing and nutritious fresh as well as value added products. Z. nummularia is an excellent top feed species producing nutritious leaves locally called 'Pala' serve as good source of fodder for desert livestock such as sheep, goat, camel and cattle. Z. rotundifolia have much value as timber however its importance lies as rootstock for vegetative propagation and played an important role in commercialization of cultivated Z. mauritiana. These species have tremendous potential for improvement and utilization as commercial crop of arid regions. The paper is an attempt to synthesize available information on Ziziphus species, their distribution, botanical description, nutritional and medicinal value, and experimental findings on genotypic diversity, adaptability under progressive drought situation, mass multiplication method, pruning, system based production and rejuvenation of unproductive trees. These information and research findings on improvement, production and utilization of jujube would create a strong commercial opportunities in arid and semi arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: A set of reliable SSR markers were developed for Ziziphus mauritiana. The genetic relationship of Z. mauritiana germplasms was generally consistent with their geographical origin, and low diversity in the maternal lineage was revealed. Ziziphus mauritiana, known as Indian jujube, is an important fruit crop that is native to southern Asia and eastern Africa. There is a variety of germplasm resources, and particularly many new cultivars were selected and introduced into wide tropical regions in recent years. However, there are few practical molecular markers for cultivar authentication and genetic analysis. In this study, we developed 55 polymorphic nuclear SSR markers based on restriction-site associated DNA sequences and transcriptome sequencing. We selected 14 robust nSSR markers for further analysis of 117 Z. mauritiana accessions from four countries (45 from China, 39 from Vietnam, 25 from Pakistan and 8 from Myanmar). In total, 137 alleles were detected and DNA fingerprints for each accession were constructed. Cluster analysis based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean displayed that most accessions clustered consistently with their geographic origin. In addition, there was common and high degree polyploidization based on nSSR and flow cytometry analyses. Only two of the 50 SSR loci in noncoding regions from the chloroplast genome had polymorphisms, and 5 haplotypes in total were identified among the 117 accessions. Haplotype C with 89 accessions was the most dominant haplotype and presented in four countries. This indicates low diversity in the maternal lineage of tested Z. mauritiana germplasm. Our research provides reliable marker resources for cultivar authentication and new insights into the genetic diversity, polyploidization and domestication of Z. mauritiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a major role as biofertilizer for sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, it is still poorly documented whether inoculated AMF can successfully establish in field soils as exotic AMF and improve plant growth and productivity. Further, the fate of an exogenous inoculum is still poorly understood. Here, we pre-inoculated two cultivars (Tasset and Gola) of the fruit tree Ziziphus mauritiana (jujube) with the exotic AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis isolate IR27 before transplantation in the field. In two experiments, tracking and quantification of R. irregularis IR27 were assessed in a 13-month-old jujube and an 18-month-old jujube in two fields located in Senegal. Our results showed that the inoculant R. irregularis IR27 was quantitatively traced and discriminated from native R. irregularis isolates in roots by using a qPCR assay targeting a fragment of the RNA polymerase II gene (RPB1), and that the inoculum represented only fractions ranging from 11 to 15% of the Rhizophagus genus in the two plantations 13 and 18 months after transplantation, respectively. This study validates the use of the RPB1 gene as marker for a relative quantification of a mycorrhizal inoculant fungus isolate in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is an infectious and deadly parasitic disease, associated with fever, anaemia and other ailments. Unfortunately the upsurge of plasmodium multidrug resistant constrained researchers to look for new effective drugs. Medicinal plants seem to be an unquenchable source of bioactive principles in the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the antiplasmodial activity of two Ivorian medicinal plants. The in vitro activity was evaluated against clinical isolates and Plasmodium falciparum K1 multidrug resistant strain using the fluorescence based SYBR green I assay. The in vivo bioassay was carried out using the classical 4 day suppressive and curative tests on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Results showed that the in vitro bioassay of both plant extracts were found to exhibit a promising and moderate antiparasitic effects on clinical isolates (5 µg/mL < IC50 < 15 µg/mL) and Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistant K1 strain (15 µg/mL < IC50 < 50 µg/mL). Furthermore, the in vivo antiplasmodial screening of both extracts showed a significant decrease in parasitemia, which was dose-dependent. Body temperature in mice treated with both extracts at experimental doses increased, compared to the negative control group and was dose-dependent. As for mice body weight a significant decrease (p < 0.001) was noticed in the negative control group compared to tested groups of animals. The hydroethanolic stem bark extract of Anthocleista djalonensis A Chev and leaves extract of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam exhibited anti-malarial activities. Therefore, the bioactive compounds of both plant extracts need to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the adsorption potential of activated carbon prepared from Ziziphus mauritiana nuts for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution has been investigated using batch mode experiments. The effects of some operating parameters on the removal dye such as, initial pH (2-12), temperature (298-328 K), initial MB concentration (20-100 mg L), and contact time (5-70 min) were investigated. Adsorption kinetic showed that the rate adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Four adsorption isotherms models were applied to experimental equilibrium data (Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Fritz-Schlunder) and the different constants were calculated using non-linear equations models. Fritz-Schlunder model was found the best one to describe the adsorption process which suggests that the adsorption of MB onto activated carbon derived from Ziziphus mauritiana is heterogeneous with a multilayer. Thermodynamic adsorption showed that the process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation and relationships among 37 cultivars of Ziziphus mauritiana (Lamk.) native of India were analyzed using start codon targeted (SCoT), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers. High level of polymorphism among SCoT (61.6%) and ISSR (61%) primers with higher PIC values ranging from 63.1 to 90.4% of SCoT and 47.3 to 88.8% of ISSR primers was recorded. SCoT and ISSR dendrograms revealed similarity coefficients ranging from 0.80 to 0.92 and 0.79 to 0.96, respectively, and clearly delineated all the cultivars of Z. mauritiana into well-supported distinct clusters. Greater Gst signifies higher amount of differentiation observed over multiple loci among seven Z. mauritiana populations. On the other hand, higher gene flow demonstrating a very high migration rate between Z. mauritiana populations indicated higher rates of transfer of alleles or genes from one population to another. The genetic diversity of population 1 (Rajasthan) was the richest among all the seven populations. The largest genetic distance was measured between Maharashtra and West Bengal and the least between Rajasthan and Punjab cultivars. Most of the genetic diversity exists within population rather than among populations. Substantial variation in the ITS-1 region signifies its phylogenetic utility specifically in assessing genetic diversity in Z. mauritiana. The clustering patterns using three molecular marker systems vis-à-vis place of origin exhibited no consistency in grouping of Z. mauritiana cultivars as cultivars from the same place of origin were genetically cataloged into different SCoT, ISSR, and ITS phylogram clusters indicating wide genetic diversity and distribution across agro-climatic zones validating the robustness of marker systems tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study has been carried out to evaluate the effect of a composite edible coating of 2 % Sodium alginate and 0.2 % Olive oil with combination of 1 % ascorbic acid and 1 % citric acid on the post harvest nutritional quality and shelf life of Ber fruit stored at 25 ± 2 °C and 65 % R.H. The coatings reduced the decay occurrence, weight loss, accumulation of total soluble solids (TSS) and total sugars in Ber fruit and enhanced the level of antioxidants. The delayed activity of polygalacturonase (PG), Pectate lyase (PL) and Pectin methyl esterase (PME) was noticed in coated fruits than that of the control fruit indicating the reduced softening and ripening process. These findings suggest that the composite edible coating tested under the current study has the potential to control decaying incidence of Ber fruit, extends its storage life and also improves its valuable nutritional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube Seed is a crude drug defined as the seed of Ziziphus jujuba Miller var. spinosa Hu ex H.F. Chou (Rhamnaceae) in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP). Most of the jujube seed in the Japanese markets is imported from China, with the rest obtained from other Asian countries. Here we confirmed the botanical origins of jujube seeds from both China and Myanmar by a DNA sequencing analysis. We found that the botanical origins of the crude drugs from China and Myanmar were Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana, respectively. Although the jujube seed from China conforms to the JP, that from Myanmar does not. A method for discriminating jujube seeds from China and Myanmar using a chemical approach is thus desirable, and here we sought to identify a compound specific to Z. jujuba. Jujuboside A ( 1) was identified as a compound specific to Z. jujuba. To establish a purity test of Jujube Seed in the JP against Z. mauritiana, we fractionated the extract of Z. mauritiana seeds and identified frangufoline ( 2) and oleanolic acid ( 4) as the marker compounds specific to Z. mauritiana. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the latter compound was useful for testing by TLC analysis. The established TLC conditions were as follows: chromatographic support, silica gel; developing solvent, n-hexane:EtOAc:HCOOH = 10:5:1; developing length, 7 cm; visualization, diluted sulfuric acid; R value, 0.43 (oleanolic acid). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three cultivated species of Ziziphus Mill. [ Z. jujuba Mill., Z. mauritiana Lam. and Z. spina- christi (L.) Willd.] comprising a total of seventeen cultivars/genotypes were selected for a mating system study. Phenological stage determination showed an overlap in blooming between the three species during June. Intraspecific cross compatibility was evaluated for Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana, and interspecific crosses between the three species were carried out during two flowering seasons. Following intraspecific hand cross-pollination, pollen tube formation and growth to the ovule 24 h after pollination (HAP) were observed in all three species. Although very low seed set was obtained following intraspecific Z. jujuba crosses, histological studies showed normal embryo formation and endosperm development, suggesting that double fertilization had occurred and that embryo development arrest occurred later. Following interspecific hand pollination, in vivo pollen grain germination and the formation of pollen tubes and their growth to the ovule 24 HAP were observed in compatible crosses, which also set fruit and seed. Viable embryos were obtained from Z. mauritiana × Z. jujuba, Z. mauritiana × Z. spina- christi and Z. spina- christi × Z. mauritiana crosses. Putative hybrids from these crosses were germinated in vitro, and the resultant plantlets were studied using flow cytometric analysis. Indications of true hybrid origin were obtained based on total 2C-DNA content of plantlets, but they died during the hardening-off process. This study showed that gene flow among these species is possible, thus increasing the potential that interspecific crosses can be used for genetic crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Females of lac insects especially of Kerria lacca (Kerr) secret a resin known as lac for their own protection, which has tremendous applications. Lac insect completes its lifecycle on several host taxa where it exclusively feeds on phloem sap but Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken, Butea monosperma (Lam.) and Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam.) are its major hosts. Analysis of phloem sap constituents as well as hemolymph of lac insect is important because it ultimately gets converted into lac by insect intervention. Main phloem sap constituent's viz. sugars and free amino acids and hemolymph of lac insect were analyzed using HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The results were transformed to relative percentage of the total sugars and free amino acids analyzed in each sample for comparison among lac insect hemolymph and the phloem sap of the three different host taxa. Sucrose (58.9 ± 3.6-85.6 ± 0.9) and trehalose (62.3 ± 0.4) were the predominant sugars in phloem sap of three taxa and hemolymph of lac insect, respectively. Glutamic acid (33.1 ± 1.4-39.8 ± 1.4) was found to be main amino acid among the phloem sap of three taxa while tyrosine (61 ± 2.6) was the major amino acid in hemolymph of lac insect. The relative percentage of non-essential amino acids (60.8 %-69.9 %) was found to be more in all the three host taxa while essential amino acids (30.1 %-35.4 %) were present at a lower relative percentage. In contrast to this, the relative percentage of essential amino acids (81.9 %) was observed to be higher as compared to non-essential amino acids (17.7 %) in lac insect hemolymph. These results led to the detection of lac insect's endosymbionts. Moreover, this study revealed a clue regarding the importance of development of a synthetic diet for this insect so that a precise pathway of lac biosynthesis could be investigated for thorough understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betulinic acid (BA), a potent anticancer agent, occurs in more than 50 plant species worldwide, out of which Dillenia and Ziziphus species are found in Gujarat, India. The presented research work was aimed at the development of a single validated high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method which can quantify BA from different plant species and thereof from different chemical environments. The analysis was performed on a thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) precoated silica gel 60 F254 plate using a mobile phase of toluene-chloroform-ethanol (4:4:1, v/v/v) and after derivatization with anisaldehyde sulfuric acid reagent showed magenta color spot at RF 0.71. Densitometric evaluation of BA was carried out at 525 nm. The suitability of this HPTLC method for quantitative determination of BA was proved by validation in accordance with the requirements of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The occurrence of BA is more frequent in bark or stem as compared to leaves. The content of BA was found to be the highest, 0.43%, in Dillenia indica bark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pot experiments were conducted in a nursery in 2008 in Mali to study the effect of mycorrhizal symbionts on the growth and root infection of Ziziphus mauritiana and Tamarindus indica seedlings in unsterile soils. Three treatments were used and consisted of two types of inoculum ( Glomus aggregatum, G. fasciculatum) and an uninoculated control. The seedlings were non-destructively assessed each month, and an additional, destructive harvest was made, after 6 and 10 months for Z. mauritiana and T. indica respectively. Mycorrhizal inoculation had a more positive impact on the growth of Z. mauritiana than on T. indica. G. aggregatum significantly ( P < 0.01) improved the growth of Z. mauritiana seedlings. However, the growth of T. indica seedlings was significantly better in the control compared to the two types of inoculum used. This indicates that unsterile nursery soil may contain effective mycorrhizal propagules. The mean percentage of infection of Z. mauritiana seedlings (74%) was significantly higher than that of T. indica (57%). We conclude that mycorrhizal inoculation can improve both mycorrhizal infection and growth of Z. mauritiana seedlings in unsterile nursery soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit trees play an important nutritional role for livelihoods of rural people in the West African Sahel through provision of energy and nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Research on the domestication of local fruit trees has started recently through projects concentrating on some of the most important indigenous species of dry West Africa, i.e. Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, Vitellaria paradoxa and Ziziphus mauritiana. We present a status of finalised and ongoing domestication research with the aim of defining research gaps that would need to be covered by future research activities to obtain higher yields and better quality fruits. Germplasm collection in central West Africa has been intense compared to elsewhere in the species' distribution areas, but conservation status of the material is poor since it is only planted in few trials. Knowledge of genetic parameters, especially for fruit traits, is almost absent, but characterisation of genotypes is underway for some of the species. Mating systems and patterns are still unknown for many species. Efficient vegetative propagation based on simple techniques was shown to be possible for all species except P. biglobosa. In order to secure immediate as well as long term gains, we recommend combining clonal propagation of selected plus individuals with recombination and breeding of selected genotypes. We discuss whether local institutions in the Sahel have the financial capacity to carry out long term breeding programmes, and suggest that efforts should be made to find new ways of disseminating improved germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]