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Induction of defense mechanisms in avocado using Mexican oregano oil-based antifungal sachet

Active sachets can be used to manage postharvest losses associated with phytopathogens in fruit and vegetables. Diseases associated with phytopathogens are the principal causes of avocado losses postharvest. This study was performed to develop antifungal active sachet-based oregano oil microencapsulated with starch/agave fructans that allows in vivo and in vitro control of phytopathogens associated with avocado decay. In addition, avocado-sachet interactions were studied. Oregano oil sachets inhibited 100% of the in vitro growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum acutatum, Diaporthe passiflorae, and Neoscytalidium hyalinum at 30 °C for 12 d The efficacy of the oregano oil sachets was confirmed on avocados inoculated with C. gloeosporioides. Active sachets reduced the injury area of anthracnose infection in avocado without negative effects on the color or firmness of the fruit, compared to untreated control. Treatment also caused significantly higher (p < 0.05) phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, catalase and peroxidase activities compared to the control fruit. In addition, antifungal sachets significantly enhanced the contents of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds in treated avocados.

Groene gezondheid

Groente en fruit bevatten tal van belangrijke voedingsstoffen. Het belang van groente en fruit als onderdeel van een gezond voedingspatroon wordt telkens weer bevestigd in wetenschappelijke studies. Zo is er overtuigend bewijs dat verhogen van de groente- en fruitconsumptie leidt tot een lagere bloeddruk en een lager risico op hart- en vaatziekten en beroertes. Ook relaties met andere ziekten worden steeds meer gelegd. De consumptie van groente en fruit is bij de meeste mensen echter veel lager dan de norm. Sterker nog, de consumptie lijkt de afgelopen jaren zelfs te dalen. Dat is vreemd, gezien de stijgende belangstelling van consumenten voor gezonde voeding en de stijgende kosten voor de zorg. Wat is de reden voor deze lage consumptiecijfers en, nog interessanter, wat is daar aan te doen? Het lectoraat Groene Gezondheid stelt zich tot doel om kennis te ontwikkelen en te verspreiden rond voedingswaarde en de consumptie van groente en fruit, om daarmee bij te dragen aan een gezonder eetpatroon en een reductie van zorgkosten.

Towards a Diagnostic Instrument to Identify Improvement Opportunities for Quality Controlled Logistics in Agrifood Supply Chain Networks

Western-European consumers have become not only more demanding on product availability in retail outlets but also on other food attributes such as quality, integrity, and safety. When (re)designing food supply-chain networks, from a logistics point of view, one has to consider these demands next to traditional efficiency and responsiveness requirements. The concept ‘quality controlled logistics’ (QCL) hypothesizes that if product quality in each step of the supply chain can be predicted in advance, goods flows can be controlled in a pro-active manner and better chain designs can be established resulting in higher product availability, constant quality, and less product losses. The paper discusses opportunities of using real-time product quality information for improvement of the design and management of ‘AgriFood Supply Chain Networks’, and presents a preliminary diagnostic instrument for assessment of ‘critical quality’ and ‘logistics control’ points in the supply chain network. Results of a tomato-chain case illustrate the added value of the QCL concept for identifying improvement opportunities in the supply chain as to increase both product availability and quality. Future research aims for the further development of the diagnostic instrument and the quantification of costs and benefits of QCL scenarios.

Desigining new supply chain networks: Tomato and mango case studies

Consumers expect product availability as well as product quality and safety in retail outlets. When designing or re-designing fruit and vegetables supply chain networks one has to take these demands into consideration next to traditional efficiency and responsiveness requirements. In food science literature, much attention has been paid to the development of Time-Temperature Indicators to monitor individually the temperature conditions of food products throughout distribution as well as quality decay models that are able to predict product quality based upon this information. This chapter discusses opportunities to improve the design and management of fruit and vegetables supply chain networks. If product quality in each step of the supply chain can be predicted in advance, good flows can be controlled in a pro-active manner and better chain designs can be established resulting in higher product availability, higher product quality, and less product losses in retail. This chapter works towards a preliminary diagnostic instrument, which can be used to assess supply chain networks on QCL (Quality Controlled Logistics). Findings of two exploratory case studies, one on the tomato chain and one on the mango chain, are presented to illustrate the value of this concept. Results show the opportunities and bottlenecks for quality controlled logistics depend on product—(e.g. variability in quality), process—(e.g. ability to use containers and sort on quality), network- (e.g. current level of cooperation), and market characteristics (e.g. higher prices for better products).

Development in postharvest technology for rambutan

Control of anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) growth in “Hass” avocado fruit using sachets filled with oregano oil-starch-capsules.

Active antifungal packaging is a technological solution for reducing the postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables associated with phytopathogens. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is the principal fungus that causes post-harvest avocado fruit decay. In this study, antifungal sachets filled with oregano oil-starch capsules were prepared, and their active effects were demonstrated on Hass avocado fruits. Oregano oil (31 % of carvacrol) was encapsulated with corn starch by spray drying. Tyvek sachets (4 × 4 cm) filled with 80 (T1) and 160 mg (T2) of oregano oil-starch capsules (99.35 ± 1.86 mg g − 1) were fabricated. The antifungal effects of the sachets were tested in vitro and in vivo using a humidity chamber (90–95 % relative humidity (RH)) on fruits inoculated with anthracnose. The results showed that T1 and T2 inhibited 75.21 ± 2.81 and 100 % in vitro growth of anthracnose at 25 °C for 12 days. Furthermore, Hass avocado fruits stored in a humidity chamber at 25 °C for 6 days showed that only T2 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the area of lesion produced by artificial inoculation of Hass avocado fruits with anthracnose. On average, the lesion area in the Hass avocado fruits treated with T2 was 13.94 % smaller than that in the control fruit.