Research Publications (Food Safety)

Abstract Background Understanding the role of adjuvants in pesticide persistence is crucial to develop effective pesticide formulations and manage pesticide residues in fresh produce.

Large‐spored Alternaria species lose pathogenicity after treatment with the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor 2‐aminoethoxyvinyl glycine (AVG), while for small‐spored species pathogenicity increased. Abstract Alternaria species are notorious pathogens of solanaceous crops and are known to produce a plethora of toxins. Nevertheless, the involvement of toxins or other virulence factors in Alternaria infections on potato plants has never been investigated.

Abstract BACKGROUND Fresh‐cut fruit are convenient ready‐to‐eat products increasingly demanded by consumers, but highly susceptible to oxidation. To increase the shelf life of these products, this industry is currently facing the challenge of finding sustainable natural preservatives capable of maintaining fresh‐cut fruit quality while meeting consumers’ expectations regarding health and environmental concerns.

SUMMARY Horticultural plants contribute immensely to the quality of human's life. The rapid development of omics studies on horticultural plants has resulted in large volumes of valuable growth‐ and development‐related data. Genes that are essential for growth and development are highly conserved in evolution. Cross‐species data mining reduces the impact of species heterogeneity and has been extensively used for conserved gene identification.

Wild birds pose a difficult food safety risk to manage because they can avoid traditional wildlife mitigation strategies, such as fences. Birds often use agricultural fields and structures as foraging and nesting areas, which can lead to defecation on crops and subsequent transfer of foodborne pathogens.

Ethylene is a primary plant hormone associated with the ripening process of fruits. Ethylene can initiate the ripening process in fruits even at sub-parts per million concentrations. Therefore, ethylene monitoring during fruit transport and storage is very important in order to ensure optimum quality control and shelf-life extension.

Summary This study investigates the development of Poly‐vinyl alcohol (PVA) and essential oil‐based biocomposite films incorporating halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as reinforcement materials for the packaging of papaya fruits to extend their postharvest shelf‐life. The fabrication process involves the dispersion of filler materials within the PVA polymer matrix, followed by the casting of the films using the solvent‐evaporation technique.

Apple is classified as a climacteric fruit, characterized by a rapid surge in ethylene levels at the onset of ripening. However, there is significant variation in the degree and timing of ripening and softening among different apple cultivars. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit softening and the associated changes in cell wall integrity is crucial for improving fruit quality and extending shelf life.

Introduction

Understanding fitness costs associated with fungicide resistance is critical to improve resistance management strategies. E198A in b-tubulin confers resistance to the fungicide thiophanate-methyl and has been widely reported in several plant pathogens including Colletotrichum siamense.

Method

The continual emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the slow development of new antibiotics has driven the resurgent interest in the potential application of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents in different medical and industrial sectors. In the present study, the potential of combining phage biocontrol and a natural plant compound (carvacrol) in controlling Escherichia coli on fresh-cut mixed vegetable was evaluated.

Organic acids and essential oils are commonly used in the poultry industry as antimicrobials and for their beneficial effects on gut health, growth performance, and meat quality. A common postharvest storage fungal colonist, Aspergillus flavus, contaminates corn, the primary component of poultry feed, with the highly detrimental mycotoxin, aflatoxin.

by Jacob J. Capelle, Eva Hartog, Tony Wilkes, Tjeerd J. Bouma Aggregation into groups may affect performance of individuals through the balance and strength of facilitative versus competitive interactions. We studied in situ how seasonal variation in abiotic environment affects this balance for blue mussels, a semi-sessile species. We hypothesize that seasonal variation in stresses and resources affects the strength of the interaction.

Abstract Browning discoloration is a critical issue that negatively affects the quality of fresh‐cut products and their industrial growth. Although many individual anti‐browning technologies have been adopted, very few reports on the combination use of natural product extracts and physical methods exist.

Summary Improving tolerance to ethylene‐induced early senescence of flowers and fruits is of major economic importance for the ornamental and food industry. Genetic modifications of genes in the ethylene‐signalling pathway have frequently resulted in increased tolerance but often with unwanted side effects. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout the function of two CpEil1 genes expressed in flowers of the diploid ornamental plant Campanula portenschlagiana.

The aims of the present work were to evaluate consumers’ perceptions and purchasing habits in relation to fruit and vegetables and to determine the importance of the production type, price and geographical origin of such products for consumers’ purchasing decisions. For this purpose, an online consumer survey was conducted to determine Spanish people's opinions and consumption habits in relation to fruit and vegetables, especially those from organic farming.

Food chain contamination by soil lead (Pb), beginning with Pb uptake by leafy vegetables, is a threat to food safety and poses a potential risk to human health.

Table grapes are considered non-climacteric fruit, not showing a rapid increase in respiration rate and ethylene production during ripening. Previous research has suggested that abscisic acid (ABA) may have a more crucial role in grape postharvest behaviour. This study aimed to identify biomarkers of postharvest resilience and flavour life of imported table grapes.

Proanthocyanidins (PCs) extracted from ume have many well-known functional properties. The aim of this study was to explore a novel natural food preservative using ume plum pulp proanthocyanidins (UPPP). The crude product of PCs from ume plum was obtained by using ethanol as extraction solvent and ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and then the pure product of UPPP was obtained by purification with AB-8 resin.

Indoor, soilless production—often referred to more broadly as controlled environment agriculture (CEA)—is increasingly used for the cultivation of leafy greens. Minimal information is currently available regarding food safety practices during production and distribution of leafy greens grown within indoor, soilless environments in the United States (U.S.). This study aimed to describe production challenges and implementation of good agricultural practices among CEA growers.

The majority of fruits and vegetables are perishable, thus finding sustainable postharvest treatments to regulate the quality of fresh produce is imperative. Recent research has demonstrated that the exogenous application of hydrogen (H2)-associated treatments such as H2 gas or hydrogen-rich water (HRW), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at optimal concentrations can significantly maintain the quality of postharvest fruits and vegetables.

Abstract The marine finfish and crustaceans contribute immensely to human nutrition. Harvesting marine food‐fish to meet the global demand has become a challenge due to reduction of the fishery areas and food safety hazards associated with increased pre‐harvest and post‐harvest contaminations. The causes of low fish availability and contaminations were reviewed following the published literature from 2000 to 2023.

Cold shock precooling with ice-water mixture (0 ± 2 °C) was innovatively utilized in this study to supposedly improve the postharvest quality of chili pepper fruit during storage at 10 ± 2 °C. The chili peppers were randomly exposed to four different treatment groups being without and with cold shock for 30 min, 60 min and 90 min.

The mango (Mangifera indica) is a fruit with high nutritional value. Fresh mango pulp remains highly prized by the local population for its highly attractive nutritional and organoleptic characteristics. Unfortunately, mango is a highly perishable seasonal product with shortages. To remedy this problem, the pulp was dried. Drying was carried out at 50°C and 60°C in an electric oven for 72 hours.

Pear (Pyrus L.) is one of the most important fruits in the world. Fruit dots are an important trait that affects pear quality. Abnormal fruit dots usually reduce the merchantability of pears. In this research, during cold storage, ‘Danxiahong’ pear fruit exhibited protrudent fruit dots on the peels. Microscopy system measurement showed that fruit dots size and height on the abnormal fruit peel were bigger and higher than the normal ones.

Demand for fresh vegetables has led to development studies in postharvest area mainly focused on minimizing and look for alternatives to chemical additives for food preservation. The use of natural derived edible coatings emerges as a promising alternative for maintaining quality of vegetables. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Aloe vera gel in minimally processed carrot during postharvest storage.