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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.)

Abstract 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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

Accurate irrigation and nitrogen application are essential for promoting the growth and yield of cherry tomatoes. In investigating the effects of irrigation and nitrogen on the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of cherry tomatoes, nine treatments including three levels of both irrigation and nitrogen were conducted over two growing seasons. Transverse stem diameter and horizontal stem diameter had the best performance at the irrigation level of 75% evaporation (Ep), although their responses to nitrogen were different for the two years. Plant height increased with the increase of irrigation and nitrogen. Plant dry matter (PDM) was significantly affected by irrigation and nitrogen interaction. The lowest PDM was found in the highest proportion of root dry matter, which occurred under low nitrogen level. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate enhanced with the increase of irrigation. Medium nitrogen showed promotion effect on all photosynthetic parameters in both growing seasons. Six of all fourteen indicators showed significant correlations with yield. Especially, single plant fruit number and PDM in 2018 Fall had significant positive direct effects on yield with the path coefficients of 0.648 and 1.159, while the significant direct path coefficients were 0.362 and 0.294 in Fruit dry matter and Pn for 2019 Spring, respectively. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of growth and yield by TOPSIS, the irrigation level of 75% Ep combined with medium nitrogen application produced higher yields by promoting the growth and photosynthesis of cherry tomatoes. It provides a strategy for water and nitrogen management of cherry tomatoes in Northwest China. [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]

Cherry tomatoes have gained immense interest due to their convenient size, delightful taste, and nutritional profile. Cherry tomatoes are highly perishable and are considered climacteric with lower shelf-life. In the present study, cherry tomatoes were packed with nanocellulose (NC)-arabinoxylan acetate (AXAc) packaging (50:50, 40:60 w/w) containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an antimicrobial agent. Further, the efficacy of AgNPs incorporated antimicrobial NC-AXAc packaging was evaluated for the post-harvest shelf-life improvement of cherry tomatoes during 15 days of storage at 25 °C (±2) and 85% RH. It was observed that NC-AXAc packaging (with and without AgNPs) were found to significantly reduce the weight loss, respiration rate, color degradation, process of fruit softening, ripening index, and enzymatic activity (PPO and POD), as compared to unpacked tomatoes and tomatoes stored with commercial biodegradable packaging during storage. Furthermore, NC-AXAc packaging (with and without AgNPs) were significantly maintained the lycopene content, organic acids, sugar content, and volatile content in stored cherry tomatoes. Moreover, tomatoes packed with AgNPs incorporated NC-AXAc (50:50, 40:60 w/w) packaging exhibited maximum inhibitory effect against total mesophilic count and Yeast/Mold count compared to unpacked and other packed tomatoes. The overall findings revealed the potential benefits of AgNPs incorporated NC-AXAc biodegradable packaging for the shelf-life extension of cherry tomatoes especially during storage and transport.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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 (

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.

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. 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.

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.)

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.

【Objective】 To clarify the effects of flooding days and recovery days on the growth, physiological and biochemical indices of cherry tomato, and to provide a reference for the optimal cultivation of cherry tomato in tropical areas. 【Method】 Five flooding days were set up: 2 days (W2), 4 days (W4), 6 days (W6), 10 days (W10) and 14 days (W14), and five recovery days: 2, 4, 10 and 14 days, and the response law of different cherry tomato seedling stage recovery under flooding stress was explored. 【Result】 Flooding days and recovery days significantly affected the root growth, antioxidant enzyme activity and membrane lipid peroxidation of cherry tomato at seedling stage. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities of QX were higher than those of CK, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower than that of CK; The catalase (CAT) and POD activity, MDA content and superoxide anion free radical (O2·-) production rate of HF varieties can still return to the normal level compared with CK after 6 days of flooding. When the flooding time is the same, the CAT and POD activity of HF varieties are higher than CK after 2 to 4 days of recovery, while the CAT activity of QX varieties are higher than CK after 6 days of recovery, With the extension of flooding days, the recovery ability of QX varieties decreased gradually. 【Conclusion】 The corresponding laws of flooding stress and recovery of different varieties are different, and the recovery effect of cherry tomato is better when the flooding is relieved for 2 to 6 days, and the recovery ability gradually stabilizes after 2 to 6 days of recovery.

The presence of Salmonella in nature poses a significant and unacceptable threat to the human public health domain. In this study, the antibacterial effect and mechanism of ultrasound (US) combined with Litsea cubeba essential oil nanoemulsion (LEON) on Salmonella. LEON + US treatment has a significant bactericidal effect on Salmonella. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) detection, N-phenyl-l-naphthylamine (NPN) uptake and nucleic acid release assays showed that LEON + US exacerbated cell membrane lipid peroxidation and increased the permeability of the cell membrane. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that LEON + US treatment was able to alter cell morphology. It can be observed by flow cytometry (FCM) that LEON + US treatment can cause cell apoptosis. In addition, bacterial counts of cherry tomatoes treated with LEON (0.08 μL/mL) + US (345 W/cm2) for 9 min were reduced by 6.50 ± 0.20 log CFU/mL. This study demonstrates that LEON + US treatment can be an effective way to improve the safety of fruits and vegetables in the food industry.

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.)

The rapid and accurate detection of cherry tomatoes is of great significance to realizing automatic picking by robots. However, so far, cherry tomatoes are detected as only one class for picking. Fruits occluded by branches or leaves are detected as pickable objects, which may cause damage to the plant or robot end-effector during picking. This study proposed the Feature Enhancement Network Block (FENB) based on YOLOv4-Tiny to solve the above problem. Firstly, according to the distribution characteristics and picking strategies of cherry tomatoes, cherry tomatoes were divided into four classes in the nighttime, and daytime included not occluded, occluded by branches, occluded by fruits, and occluded by leaves. Secondly, the CSPNet structure with the hybrid attention mechanism was used to design the FENB, which pays more attention to the effective features of different classes of cherry tomatoes while retaining the original features. Finally, the Feature Enhancement Network (FEN) was constructed based on the FENB to enhance the feature extraction ability and improve the detection accuracy of YOLOv4-Tiny. The experimental results show that under the confidence of 0.5, average precision (AP) of non-occluded, branch-occluded, fruit-occluded, and leaf-occluded fruit over the day test images were 95.86%, 92.59%, 89.66%, and 84.99%, respectively, which were 98.43%, 95.62%, 95.50%, and 89.33% on the night test images, respectively. The mean Average Precision (mAP) of four classes over the night test set was higher (94.72%) than that of the day (90.78%), which were both better than YOLOv4 and YOLOv4-Tiny. It cost 32.22 ms to process a 416×416 image on the GPU. The model size was 39.34 MB. Therefore, the proposed model can provide a practical and feasible method for the multi-class detection of cherry tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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.)

A new antibacterial film was constructed to combat the severe spoilage of fruits and vegetables caused by microorganisms. Specifically, photoresponsive cinnamaldehyde-tannic‑iron acetate nanospheres (CTF NPs) were prepared using ultrasonic-triggered irreversible equilibrium self-assembly and ionic cross-linking co-driven processes and were integrated into the matrix of κ -carrageenan (KC) (CTF-KC films) as functional fillers. The CTF0.4-KC film (KC film doped with 0.4 mg/mL CTF NPs) showed a 99.99% bactericidal rate against both E. coli and S. aureus , extended the storage period of cherry tomatoes from 20 to 32 days. The introduction of CTF enhanced the barrier, thermal stability, and mechanical strength properties, albeit with a slight compromise on transparency. Furthermore, the biosafety of the CTF0.4-KC film was confirmed through hemolysis and cytotoxicity tests. Together, the aforementioned results demonstrated the outstanding antibacterial and fresh-keeping properties of CTF0.4-KC. These desirable properties highlight the potential use of CTF0.4-KC films in food preservation applications. • CTF NPs with visible photodynamic bactericidal performance were fabricated by self-assembly and cross-linking technology. • CTF-KC composite films with enhanced photodynamic antibacterial properties were constructed based on the ROS generation. • CTF-KC films exhibited favorable feasibility and practicability of antibacterial preservation for cherry tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella enterica is a foodborne pathogen that can be internalized into fresh produce. Most of the Salmonella virulence genes are clustered in regions denominated Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands (SPI). SPI-1 encodes a Type Three Secretion System (T3SS-1) and effector proteins that allow the internalization of Salmonella into animal cells. HilD is a transcriptional regulator that induces the expression of SPI-1 genes and other related virulence genes located outside of this island. Here, we assessed the role of hilD in the internalization of Salmonella Newport and Typhimurium into cherry tomatoes, by evaluating either an isolate from an avocado orchard, S. Newport-45 or the laboratory strain S. Typhimurium SL1344 and their isogenic mutants in hilD. The internalization of these bacteria was carried out by using a temperature gradient of 12°C. The transcription of hilD and invA was tested by qRT-PCR experiments. Our results show that S. Newport-45 hilD mutant viable cells obtained from the interior of the fruit were decreased (2.7-fold), compared with those observed for S. Typhimurium SL1344. Interestingly, at 3 days postinoculation, the cells recovered from S. Newport-45 hilD mutant were similar to those recovered from all the strains evaluated, suggesting that hilD is required only for the initial internalization of S. Newport.

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]

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.

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]

Few commercial genotypes of tomato are resistant to Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici [FOL]), especially to race 3. We developed five intraspecific hybrids of Solanum lycopersicum (FOX1 to FOX5) and assessed them for agronomic traits and resistance to FOL races 1, 2, 3, and a mixture of these races. FOX1 and FOX4 were resistant to all races and the race mixture but did not have the desired agronomic traits. Next, FOX1 and FOX4 were assessed as rootstocks of the cherry tomato Sweet Heaven. The grafting of Sweet Heaven on FOX4 did not reduce growth, gas exchange, yield, or fruit quality. When FOX1 was used as a rootstock, the fruits exhibited a reduction in firmness, fruit pulp pH, and total soluble solids by 14.3%, 1.2%, and 6.75%, respectively. Thus, the hybrid FOX4 can be used as a rootstock for Sweet Heaven to manage Fusarium wilt. [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]

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]

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.)

This study analyzed the overall nutritional composition of 87 cherry tomato varieties and evaluated the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities of the top 30 varieties with excellent overall quality. In addition, the phenolic metabolic characteristics of cherry tomatoes were determined via phenolic metabolomics, and the bioactive module "phenolic-DPPH" was identified. There was extensive interspecies variation in total soluble solids, titratable acid, lycopene, chlorophyll, γ-aminobutyric acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids and multivitamins, and different color groups presented unique nutritional compositions. The comprehensive nutritional value of the 56 varieties is greater than that of the Millennium variety. Phenolic substances are closely related to DPPH free radical scavenging activity. A total of 484 phenolic substances were identified, among which 5′-methoxymatairesinoside and 6-hydroxykaempferol-7,6-O-diglucoside are key antioxidant components. Our research provides valuable resources and insights for the selection of functional cherry tomato varieties and the identification of phenolics with important biological activities. • Analysis of nutritional components of 87 cherry tomato varieties. • High diversity was found between different varieties and color groups. • A total of 484 phenolic metabolites were identified. • "Phenolic-DPPH" is an important bioactive module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]