Biomass, Essential Oil Yield, and Composition of Marjoram as Influenced by Interactions of Different Agronomic Practices under Controlled Conditions.

L. has been valued for centuries for its flavoring attributes and therapeutic properties. The growing demand for its various applications necessitates optimizing agronomic practices for its production.

Cultivar and Postharvest Storage Duration Influence Fruit Quality, Nutritional and Phytochemical Profiles of Soilless-Grown Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons.

There is an increasing demand for sweet melon ( L.) fruit in fruit and vegetable markets due to its nutritional content, resulting in different cultivars being grown in different production systems. This study evaluated the nutritional and phytochemical contents of soilless-grown cantaloupe and honeydew sweet melon cultivars at harvest and postharvest.

Different Postharvest Responses of Fresh-Cut Sweet Peppers Related to Quality and Antioxidant and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Activities during Exposure to Light-Emitting Diode Treatments.

The influence of emitting diode (LED) treatments for 8 h per day on functional quality of three types of fresh-cut sweet peppers (yellow, red, and green) were investigated after 3, 7, 11, and 14 days postharvest storage on the market shelf at 7 °C. Red LED light (660 nm, 150 μmol m s) reduced weight loss to commercially acceptable level levels (≤2.0%) in fresh-cuts of yellow and green sweet peppers at 7 and 11 d, respectively.

Cultivar-specific responses in red sweet peppers grown under shade nets and controlled-temperature plastic tunnel environment on antioxidant constituents at harvest.

Antioxidant constituents such as carotenoids (capsanthin, phytoene, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin), polyphenols content (p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, and quercetin-3-glucoside) and marketable yield were investigated in 11 sweet pepper cultivars grown under controlled temperature plastic tunnel and white shade net. Marketable yield was not affected by either of the environments, while the interaction between cultivar and growing environment significantly affected the accumulation of antioxidant constituents. The principal component analysis illustrated that controlled temperature plastic tunnel improved the accumulation of carotenoid components and ascorbic acid and vitamin C content in most cultivars.

Impact of transportation, storage, and retail shelf conditions on lettuce quality and phytonutrients losses in the supply chain.

This study was initiated to investigate the impact of transportation, storage, and retail shelf conditions on lettuce quality and phytonutrients losses in the urban fresh produce market supply chain. Reducing postharvest losses is a priority to reduce the loss of the dietary-based phytonutrients and to improve the health of the consumers. Limited information is available in South Africa related to the postharvest and nutrition loss in the urban fresh produce market supply chain.

Deficit irrigation improves phenolic content and antioxidant activity in leafy lettuce varieties.

This study investigated the effect of deficit irrigation at three management allowable depletion levels (MAD) 25%, 50%, and 75% on phytochemicals, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, glucose, fructose, and fresh and dry mass in two green leafy lettuce cultivars (Lollo Bionda and Vera) at harvest. Genotype response was observed during deficit irrigation on fresh and dry mass at harvest. Vera revealed similar fresh mass at MAD levels 25% and 50%.

Spectral quality of photo-selective nets improves phytochemicals and aroma volatiles in coriander leaves (Coriandrum sativum L.) after postharvest storage.

The influence of spectral light on leaf quality and phytochemical contents and composition of aroma compounds in coriander leaves grown for fresh use under photo-selective nets; pearl net [40% shading; and 3.88 blue/red ratio; 0.21 red/far red ratio; photosynthetic radiation (PAR) 233.

Anti-proliferative properties of commercial Pelargonium sidoides tincture, with cell-cycle G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in Jurkat leukaemia cells.

Context Pelargonium sidoides DC (Geraniaceae) is an important medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa and Lesotho. Previous studies have shown that root extracts are rich in polyphenolic compounds with antibacterial, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities. Little is known regarding the anticancer properties of Pelargonium sidoides extracts.

Bioactive Compounds and Fruit Quality of Green Sweet Pepper Grown under Different Colored Shade Netting during Postharvest Storage.

Unlabelled: In this study, influence of 3 types of photo-selective nets (pearl, red and yellow) and a standard black net on marketable yield, fruit quality and bioactive compounds after postharvest storage was investigated. Percentage marketable fruits were higher in green sweet peppers produced under the pearl nets. Fruits produced under the pearl nets showed higher fruit mass, firmness, chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant scavenging activity after postharvest storage.

Postharvest responses of red and yellow sweet peppers grown under photo-selective nets.

Postharvest responses of red ('HTSP-3') and yellow ('Celaya') sweet pepper fruit yield, quality parameters and bioactive compounds (to three types of photo-selective nets and a standard black net) were investigated in this study. Red and yellow peppers produced under the black net retained higher β-carotene, lower total phenolic contents and showed deep red and orange colour after storage. Both peppers produced under the pearl net retained a higher ascorbic content, antioxidant scavenging activity, fruit firmness and also reduced weight loss after storage.

Effect of photo-selective nettings on post-harvest quality and bioactive compounds in selected tomato cultivars.

Background: Photo-selective coloured netting is referred to as a 'new agro-technological' concept adopted to manipulate light quality changes that can induce favourable responses in plants.

Results: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars AlvaV, Irit and SCX 248 grown under the black net (commercial net, 25% shading) showed higher weight loss, loss of firmness, ascorbic acid content and decline in the ratio of soluble solids content/titrable acidity during post-harvest storage (low-temperature storage at 10°C and 90% relative humidity for 21 days followed by market shelf conditions at 25°C for 2 days).

Thyme oil vapour and modified atmosphere packaging reduce anthracnose incidence and maintain fruit quality in avocado.

Background: Postharvest application of prochloraz fungicide is commercially practiced to control anthracnose, a postharvest disease in avocado. Increasing consumer concern regarding food safety and demand for organically produced fruits make it necessary to search for natural environmentally friendly alternative products and processes for the fruit industry.

Results: A combination of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; ∼8% CO₂, 2% O₂) plus thyme oil (TO) was evaluated on the incidence and severity of anthracnose, physiological disorders (grey pulp, vascular browning), fruit quality parameters (L*, h°, firmness, weight loss) and sensory parameters (taste, texture, flavour and overall acceptance), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activity, total phenolic compounds, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity in avocados ('Fuerte' and 'Hass' cultivars) held at 10 °C cold storage for 18 days and thereafter, ripened at 25 °C for 5-10 days.