Growth and maturation of pequi fruit of the Brazilian cerrado

The objective of this study was to characterize the development of pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense) of the Brazilian cerrado. It takes 84 days (12 weeks) for pequi to develop with the onset of flowering in September and early fruit set in January. Pequi fruit showed a simple sigmoid growth curve, and its growth was characterized based on fresh mass and longitudinal and transverse diameters. The contents of titratable acidity, soluble solids, β-carotene, and vitamin C increased during fruit growth, reaching their maximum values at the 12th week (84 days) after anthesis. Pequi is a fruit with an extremely high respiratory activity; its respiratory rate decreased during its development. Pequi fruit has been classified as a non-climacteric fruit due to the decrease of both respiration and ethylene production rates during maturation and ripening.

Effect of adding flours from marolo fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart) and jerivá fruit (Syagrus romanzoffiana Cham Glassm) on the physicals and sensory characteristics of food bars

Abstract The marolo (Annona crassiflora Mart.) and jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana Cham Glassm) fruits grow in the Cerrado biome, and have important sensory and nutritional characteristics. These fruits are eaten fresh or processed and embedded in ice cream, candy, juices, and liquors. However, their use is very limited and is localized exclusively to their native region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of these fruits in food consumer products to improve the nutritional patterns of consumers and extend knowledge thereof. To do this, different levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of flour derived from the marolo and jerivá fruits were incorporated into food bars, which were then characterized in terms of their physical of the texture (TPA), porosity, color and sensorial properties. The food bars enriched with marolo and jerivá flours had an intense yellow color and increased hardness relative to the control bars; the porosity of the bars progressively decreased as the amount of flour added increased. The sensorial analysis in the snack bars developed added with the fruits flour no was influence by incorporation this component, showed good averages for the scores evaluated.

Ontario Tender Fruit Grower’s Marketing Board Fonds, 1960, 1967, 1969-1977, 1980-1981, 1987

The Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board operates under the Farm Producers Marketing Act. It covers all tender fruit farmers who produce either fresh or canned products. Today the board has over 500 grower-members. Tender fruit in the Niagara region includes: peaches, pears, plums, grapes and cherries. The fruits are used in a number of different ways, from jams and jellies to desserts, sauces and wine. Peaches were first harvested along the Niagara river in 1779. Peter Secord (Laura Secord’s uncle) is thought to be the first farmer to plant fruit trees when he took a land grant near Niagara in the mid 1780s. Since the beginnings of Secord’s farm, peaches, pears and plums have been grown in the Niagara region ever since. However, none of the original varities of peach trees remain today. Peaches were often used for more than eating by early settlers. The leaves and bark of the tree was used to make teas for conditions such as chronic bronchitis, coughs and gastritis. Cherries have been known to have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Like peaches and cherries, pears had many uses for the early pioneers. The wood was used to make furniture. The juice made excellent ciders and the leaves provided yellow dyes. Plums have been around for centuries, not only in the Niagara region, but throughout the world. They have appeared in pre-historic writings and were present for the first Thanksgiving in 1621. The grape industry in Ontario has also been around for centuries. It began in 1798 when land was granted to Major David Secord (brother-in-law to Laura Secord) slightly east of St. David’s, on what is Highway No. 8 today. Major Secord’s son James was given a part of the land in 1818 and in 1857 passed it onto Porter Adams. Adams is known to be the first person to plant grapes in Ontario1. Tender fruits are best grown in warm temperate climates. The Niagara fruit belt, stretching 65km from Hamilton to Niagara on the Lake, provides the climate necessary for this fruit production. This belt produces 90% of Ontario’s annual tender fruit crop. It is one of the largest fruit producing regions in all of Canada.

Assessment of the strategies of organic fruit production and fruit drying in Uganda

Organic agriculture in Uganda is developing at a fast pace and despite this trend Uganda is still unable to produce enough fresh and dry organic fruits mainly pineapple to meet the exporters demand. This current research investigated the strategies of farmers at production level by assessing the pros and cons of fruit growing, organic agriculture and fruit drying in order to understand the underlying causal factor for the low production of organic dry fruits in a major fruit producing district of Uganda. The study was carried out in two separate and distinctive areas; one which only produces and export fresh organic pineapple and the other which exports dried fruits (mainly pineapple and papaya). About 10% of the farmers in the two study areas were surveyed using questionnaires which were further followed by semi-structured interviews and participatory rural appraisals activities with various types of farmers in order to understand the different decisions and strategies of farmers. 82% and 74% of farmers in the two study areas grew fruits as it gave better economic returns and for 77% and 90% respectively in the two study areas, the reasons for growing fruit was the ease of selling compared to other crops. All the farmers were relying on coffee husk for growing organic pineapples. However, 50% of the farmers want to grow pineapples (either organic or conventional) but couldn't afford to buy coffee husk. Fruit drying was mainly a strategy to utilize cheap fruits during harvesting seasons for value addition. 71% and 42% of farmers in the two study areas wanted to dry fruits but it was beyond their economic capacity to buy the driers. Decision of the farmers whether to grow fruits or cereals, organic or conventional agriculture and selling the fruits as fresh or dry were dependent mainly on the economic, knowledge and resource availability of each type of practices. It is concluded that the main barrier for an increase in the production of organic dried fruits is at the processing level, and the limited capacity for investments in drying facilities.

Lactic acid bacteria as bioprotective agents against foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in fresh fruits and vegetables

La present tesi doctoral es centra en l'aplicació dels bacteris de l'àcid lactic (BAL) com a agents bioprotectors davant microorganismes patògens i deteriorants.Es van aïllar i seleccionar BAL de fruites i hortalisses fresques i es van assajar in vitro davant 5 microorganismes fitopatògens i 5 patògens humans.Es van realitzar assajos d'eficàcia en pomes Golden Delicious amb tots els aïllats enfront les infeccions causades pel fong Penicillium expansum. La soca més eficaç era Weissella cibaria TM128, que reduïa el diàmetre de les infeccions en un 50%.Les soques seleccionades es van assajar enfront els patògens Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli i Listeria monocytogenes en enciams Iceberg i pomes Golden Delicious.Els BAL interferien eficientment amb el creixemet de S. typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes, però van mostrar poc efecte enfront E. coli.Finalment, es van realitzar assajos dosi-resposta amb les soques Leuconostoc mesenteroides CM135, CM160 and PM249 enfront L. monocytogenes. De totes les soques assajades, la soca CM160 va ser la més efectiva.

Seasonal changes in olive fruit characteristics and oil accumulation during ripening process

Olive fruits of three of the most important Spanish and Italian cultivars, 'Picual', `Hojiblanca' and 'Frantoio', were harvested at bi-weekly periods during three crop seasons to study their development and ripening process. Fresh and dry weights and ripening index were determined for fruit, while dry matter, oil and moisture contents were determined in both fruit and pulp (flesh). Fruit growth rate and oil accumulation were calculated. Each olive cultivar showed a different ripening pattern, 'Hojiblanca' being the last one to maturate. Fruit weight increased, decreasing its growth rate from the middle of November. Dry matter and moisture contents decreased during ripening in pulp and fruit, 'Hojiblanca' showing the highest values for both. Oil content, when expressed on a fresh weight basis, increased in all cultivars, although for the last time period showed variations due to climatic conditions. During ripening, oil content on a dry weight basis increased in fruit, but oil biosynthesis in flesh ceased from November. Olive fruits presented lower oil and higher dry matter contents in the year of lowest rainfall. Therefore fruit harvesting should be carried out from the middle of November in order to obtain the highest oil yield and avoid natural fruit drop. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fruit and vegetables, and the role they have played in determining the EU’s aggregate measurement of support

In its periodic declarations of domestic support to the WTO, the EU has progressively reduced its amber-box declarations in line with its changing system of farm support. Surprisingly, however, in 2007/08 it managed to more than halve its amber box compared with that of the previous year, easily achieving the reduction targets being touted in the Doha Round. This was largely due to a change in the calculations for fresh fruits and vegetables. These had been linked to the entry price system, which was not affected by the 2008 fruit and vegetables reform. Why the EU chose to make this change during the ongoing Doha Round negotiations remains unclear.

Dietary fructose, fruits, fruit juices and glucose tolerance status in Japanese-Brazilians

Background and aims: Evidence suggests that fructose and sweetened beverages may be a risk factor for obesity and type 2 diabetes, but the role of sweetened fruit juices in glucose disturbances has been minimally explored. The aim of this study was to examine the association of total fructose, fresh fruit and sweetened fruit juice intake with glucose tolerance homeostasis in Japanese-Brazilians. Methods and results: A total of 475 men and 579 women aged >= 30 years were evaluated in a cross-sectional population-based survey with a standardized protocol including a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (WHO criteria). Habitual food consumption was obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire for Japanese-Brazitians. After adjustments for potential confounding variables, the odds ratio (OR; 95%Cl) for impaired glucose tolerance was 2.1 (1.0-4.5; P for trend = 0.05) for the highest as compared to the lowest tertile intake of total fructose and 2.3 (1.1-5.1; P for trend = 0.05) for the highest as compared to the lowest tertile intake of sweetened fruit juices. Conclusion: Our results showed that high intakes of dietary fructose and sweetened fruit juices, but not whole fresh fruits, were associated with impaired glucose tolerance among genetically susceptible individuals. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Liming and quality of guava fruit cultivated in Brazil

An experiment was conducted on guava trees Psidium guajava L. (cv. Paluma) grown in the Experimental Citrus Culture Station of Bebedouro, SP, on dystrophic, acid Typical Hapludox in order to assess the effects of application of increasing lime doses to the soil on the quality of guava fruits on the basis of the physicochemical changes observed in the fruits after harvesting. The treatments consisted of increasing lime doses applied before planting, considering 0, 1.85, 3.79, 5.56 and 7.41 t ha(-1), applied in August 1999. Leaf calcium content was assessed at flowering time. After fruit harvesting, calcium content in the pulp, total weight, transverse diameter, length, pulp weight, % pulp, Brix degrees (degrees Brix), titratable acidity, and fruit ratio were determined. Loss of fruit fresh mass, firmness and color were determined daily during a period of 8 days of storage. Lime application to an acid Red Latosol before guava tree planting did not affect the physical characteristics of the fruits but provided a lower loss of fresh matter and greater fruit firmness when the fruits presented Ca levels close to 0.99 g kg(-1). It is important to conduct new studies of the effects of liming on guava fruit quality under different edaphic-climatic conditions and on different guava tree genotypes. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aplicações da tomografia de ressonância magnética nuclear como método não-destrutivo para avaliar os efeitos de injúrias mecânicas em goiabas 'Paluma' e 'Pedro Sato'

Objetivou-se determinar o potencial do uso da tomografia de ressonância magnética, como método não-destrutivo, para avaliar os efeitos das injúrias mecânicas em goiabas. Foram utilizados frutos no estádio de maturação de vez das cultivares Paluma e Pedro Sato. Na injúria por impacto, os frutos foram deixados cair, em queda livre, de uma altura de 1,20 m, sofrendo dois impactos, em lados opostos de sua porção equatorial. Na injúria por compressão, os frutos foram submetidos a um peso de 29,4 N, por 15 minutos. Para a injúria por corte, foram efetuados dois cortes, no sentido longitudinal dos frutos, de exatamente 30 mm de comprimento por 2 mm de profundidade. Os frutos injuriados foram armazenados sob condições de ambiente (22 ± 2 °C e 40 %UR). Foram realizadas análises com tomógrafo de ressonância magnética Varian Inova de 2 Tesla. As imagens foram obtidas a partir da detecção dos prótons de hidrogênio (¹H). Para cada fruto, foram obtidos tomogramas simétricos a partir do centro do fruto. A tomografia de ressonância magnética nuclear mostrou-se uma ferramenta eficaz na detecção de injúrias internas de frutos. O estresse físico causado pelo impacto produziu um colapso interno nos lóculos desses frutos (internal bruising), levando à perda da integridade celular e a conseqüente liquefação dos tecidos placentários. A cultivar Pedro Sato mostrou uma suscetibilidade maior à injúria por impacto que a 'Paluma'. A injúria por compressão tornou-se mais evidente no pericarpo externo do fruto, de ambas as cultivares. A injúria por corte levou a lignificação dos tecidos no local injuriado e deformações superficiais devido à perda acentuada de matéria fresca no local da lesão, evidentes no sexto dia de avaliação.

Injúrias mecânicas e seus efeitos em pêssegos 'Aurora-1'

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Application of plant growth regulators at pre-harvest for fruit development of 'PÊRA' oranges

O trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos de auxinas e giberelinas, combinados e aplicados em pré-colheita no desenvolvimento e na taxa de queda natural de frutos de laranjeira 'Pêra'. Foram utilizadas árvores de laranjeira (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) cultivar Pêra com 5 anos de idade. Os tratamentos foram: GA3 + 2,4-D 12,5mg L-1 de cada; GA3 + 2,4-D 25mg L-1; GA3 + 2,4-D 37,5mg L-1; GA3 + NAA 12,5mg L-1; GA3 + NAA 25mg L-1; GA3 + NAA 37,5mg L-1; NAA + 2,4-D 12,5mg L-1; NAA + 2,4-D 25mg L-1; NAA + 2,4-D 37,5mg L-1 e testemunha (água). Durante todo o período experimental foram realizadas três aplicações a intervalos de 45 dias. As variáveis avaliadas foram: Taxa de queda natural dos frutos (%), comprimento (mm), diâmetro (mm) e massa fresca dos frutos (g). Nenhum dos tratamentos proporcionaram alterações no desenvolvimento final dos frutos, mas reduziram a taxa de queda natural em comparação com a testemunha em até 78,05%, inibindo a abscisão dos frutos em até três meses.

Fruit Yield in Cucumber Grafted on Different Rootstocks

Grafting is an alternative technique often recommended for cucumber culture in protected environments. This study aimed to study yield of cucumber grafted on different rootstocks compared to non-grafted plants in non-infected soil. Five treatments (Japanese cucumber hybrid 'Tsuyataro' without grafting, grafted on squash hybrids 'Shelper', 'Excitte Ikki', 'Daiguy' and 'Keiji') were evaluated in a completely randomized blocks design, with four repetitions and six plants per plot. Lesser fruit yield was obtained in cucumber grafted on 'Keiji', while cucumber grafted on other rootstocks did not differ from non-grafted plants. So, in the absence of soil borne diseases, grafting did not increase cucumber fruit yield, and, depending on rootstock, grafting can decrease production compared with non grafted plants.

Preparo de amostras e métodos para a determinação do teor de óleo essencial de frutos de limoeiro

Objetivou-se avaliar alternativas de preparo da amostra e os métodos quantitativos para a determinação do teor de óleo em frutos de limão. Os tratamentos foram avaliados por meio do delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2x2x6, com quatro repetições, sendo duas variedades-copa de limoeiro verdadeiro ('Siciliano' e 'Eureka'), dois métodos analíticos para a determinação do teor de óleo (Scott e Clevenger) e seis formas de preparo dos frutos para análise (análise do fruto inteiro; frutos cortados na longitudinal e análise de ¼; frutos cortados na longitudinal e análise de ¹/2; frutos cortados ao meio e análise da parte superior; frutos cortados ao meio e análise da parte inferior; e análise de ²/8 do fruto). O método denominado de Clevenger foi o mais eficiente na determinação do teor de óleo essencial, e as formas de preparo de amostras ½ inferior, ½ superior, ¼ longitudinal e ½ longitudinal dos frutos proporcionaram valores superiores de óleo essencial.

Avaliações sensoriais, bioquímicas e microbiológicas do guacamole, um produto à base de abacate, sob armazenamento a frio e com adição de ácido ascórbico

The elaboration of avocado products for commercialization keeping their characteristics of fresh product has been limited. The cut avocado darkens quickly and their sensorial characteristics are modified with the storage. In the present research, the sensorial parameters, microbiological stability, and peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activity were evaluated in guacamole added with ascorbic acid and conserved under low temperature, by using avocado variety Hass. Products were conditioned in polyethylene+nylon packages with and without vacuum application; then, they were subjected to the slow and fast freezing (-18 degrees C) and stored in freezer (-18 degrees C). Evaluations were performed at the moment of elaboration of the product (t0) and at 3, 7 and 30 days post-storage. At t30, samples were kept under refrigeration (4 +/- 1 degrees C) and evaluated at 3, 5 and 7 days. After the 30 days of storage, -18 degrees C under freezing, followed by thawing and keeping at 4 +/- 1 degrees C for 7 days, the notes for the sensorial parameters decreased. The peroxidase activity was totally inhibited in the elaborated product and the polifenol oxidase activity considerably decreased in the guacamole (20.07 mM catechol/g fresh matter) relative to those in the fruit (58.31 mM catechol/g fresh matter), however with no significant variation during storage (at -18 degrees C). The samples were microbiologically stable under the conditions of the present study. The addition of ascorbic acid contributed to the conservation of the frozen avocado product by decreasing the enzymatic activity. However, the sensorial parameters are prejudiced under thawing and storage at 4 +/- 1 degrees C.