Search Results (949)

Chilling injury is a major problem limiting the postharvest storage and marketability of mango fruit at low temperature. The present study investigated the individual and combined effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), L-arginine (Arg) and salicylic acid (SA) on chilling tolerance, regulation of oxidative stress and the postharvest quality of ‘Keitt’ mango fruit stored at 5 ± 1 °C for 28 days followed by 4 days of shelf life at 23 °C. Fruits were pre-treated with 1 mM SNP, 1 mM Arg, 2 mM SA or their binary combinations before storage. The chilling injury, membrane damage, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and fruit softening were greatly enhanced by cold storage in untreated fruits. In contrast, all the treatments significantly ameliorated these deteriorative changes, and the combined treatments were superiorly effective. Among these, SNP + Arg was the most effective treatment, which reduced the chilling injury index from 4.05 in control fruits to 1.00 after shelf life, completely inhibiting the incidence of decay and reducing electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde accumulation by 47.4 and 48.2%, respectively. The same treatment also maintained higher firmness, titratable acidity, visual appearance and ascorbic acid content than untreated fruits. The enhanced chilling tolerance was accompanied by increased antioxidant defense, as SNP + Arg significantly stimulated the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase, but suppressed the activity of pectin methylesterase. Multivariate analyses, such as PCA, clustered heatmap and integrated stress index, demonstrated a strong negative relationship between oxidative stress markers and antioxidant metabolism. The results showed that combined SNP and Arg treatments enhanced chilling tolerance through increasing antioxidant capacity, preserving membrane integrity, and retarding ripening-related metabolism, which provides an effective way to maintain the postharvest quality of cold-stored mango fruit. Full article

Water resource management in the Sahelian-Sudanian transition zone faces growing uncertainty under climate change, yet hydrological projections remain scarce for the Oti-Pendjari basin (West Africa). This study develops an integrated modelling chain combining CMIP6 multi-model evaluation, bias correction, and GR4J hydrological modelling to project streamflow changes under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 over 2021–2100. Eleven CMIP6 models were evaluated against ERA5 reanalysis data (1960–2014) using NSE, KGE, and MAE; the three best-performing models were bias-corrected using Linear Scaling, Variance Scaling, Quantile Mapping, and Quantile Delta Mapping. Linear Scaling proved most effective, with CMCC-ESM2 best reproducing observed precipitation (NSE and KGE up to 0.9), while the multi-model approach performed best for temperature. The GR4J model, calibrated at Porga, Mandouri, and Mango (KGE: 0.609–0.668), satisfactorily reproduces intermediate flows and flood dynamics, although structural limitations persist for low flows (KGE [1/Q]: −0.65 to −0.71). Projections reveal a marked divergence between scenarios: SSP2-4.5 yields September peak flow increases of +5.7% to +16.7%, whereas SSP5-8.5 leads to slight decreases of −1.1% to −3.6%, likely driven by increased potential evapotranspiration partially offsetting precipitation gains. These findings underscore the critical importance of scenario selection and model uncertainty in regional water resource planning. Full article

Large-scale production of Bacillus thuringiensis, one of the most widely used biopesticides, is often limited by the high cost of conventional culture media. In this study, fermented cassava paste water (EFM), ripe mango pulp juice (CM), and cashew apple juice (JPC) were evaluated as alternative substrates for the liquid fermentation of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1. Physicochemical analyses revealed acidic pH values and classified the substrates into two clusters: CM with high C/N ratios, organic matter, total sugars, and proteins, and EFM and JPC with lower C/N ratios and nutrient levels. Fermentation results indicated that JPC supported the highest biomass production (8.29 × 10¹³ CFU mL⁻¹), exceeding that in the standard Tryptone Soy Broth (TSB) medium. However, CM promoted the highest sporulation rate (1.46 × 10¹³ CFU mL⁻¹) and the greatest bioactive lipopeptides—iturins (102.2 mg L⁻¹) and surfactins (554.7 mg L⁻¹)—surpassing TSB. The antifungal activity of crude fermented CM, EFM, and TSB was evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii. All samples significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the pathogen with no significant differences among substrates or concentrations tested. This study highlights the potential of B. thuringiensis-fermented agrowaste as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly biocontrol tool for Sclerotium rolfsii. Full article

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an emerging biopolymer for skin tissue regeneration; however, its functionalization with natural antimicrobial agents remains limited. This study reports the preclinical evaluation of a BC-based dressing for diabetic wounds. BC membranes were obtained from mango pulp agro-waste by Komagataeibacter xylinus cultivation (6.32 g/L) and functionalized with grapefruit seed oil (GSO) at three v/v ratios (1:100, 1:200 and 1:500). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed GSO incorporation into the BC matrix through physical interactions, with a dose-dependent loading. Antimicrobial activity of the BC/GSO dressings was screened against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans by agar diffusion, showing dose-dependent inhibition zones. Following the minimum effective dose principle, the BC/GSO 1:500 (v/v) formulation was selected for comprehensive biocompatibility evaluation (cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, pyrogenicity and sensitization) and for in vivo wound-healing testing in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rat model. Cell viability above 70% was achieved from membrane-extract dilution 1:100,000, while mutagenicity, pyrogenicity and sensitization assays confirmed the absence of adverse biological responses. In vivo, BC/GSO 1:500 (v/v) dressings supported wound closure comparable to nitrofurazone, with no clinical signs of infection. Overall, these results position BC/GSO dressings as a sustainable, biocompatible and antimicrobial candidate for early-stage diabetic wound regeneration and demonstrate the technical feasibility of valorizing mango pulp agro-waste into a high-value biomedical biopolymer. Full article

Bactrocera correcta is an important quarantine pest of mango, and the development of phytosanitary treatments that achieve quarantine security without compromising fruit quality remains a major challenge in fresh-fruit trade. Heat treatment is a residue-free phytosanitary option, but the temperatures required to control fruit flies often approach the tolerance limits of tropical fruit, leaving a narrow margin between quarantine security and commodity injury. In this study, a phosphine (PH₃)-assisted forced hot-air treatment was evaluated for the phytosanitary disinfestation of B. correcta in mango fruit. The developmental progression of B. correcta in mango fruit was characterized, the heat tolerance of different developmental stages was compared, and the efficacy of PH₃ followed by forced hot-air treatment (PH₃→Heat) against eggs was quantified using probit time–mortality analysis. Large-scale confirmatory validation and postharvest quality assessment were then conducted. Eggs were identified as the most heat-tolerant stage. PH₃ pre-fumigation significantly enhanced forced hot-air treatment, with 0.7 g m⁻³ PH₃ providing the most practical improvement at quarantine-relevant endpoints. According to this schedule, LT_99.9968 was reduced by 44 min for heat treatment alone, from 269.0 to 224.5 min, and the large-scale validation yielded no survivors. Postharvest quality evaluation showed that PH₃→Heat did not adversely affect firmness, total soluble solids, or titratable acidity during shelf life. These results demonstrate that PH₃-assisted forced hot-air treatment is a technically feasible and commercially promising phytosanitary strategy for mango fruit. Full article

Export supply chains (ESCs) for perishable fruits, such as mangoes and avocados, are shaped by complex supply–demand dynamics and macroeconomic conditions. However, limited forecasting of these dynamics constrains strategic planning and investment in Australia’s horticultural sector. This study assesses the longitudinal growth and future potential of mango and avocado exports. To achieve this, the study identifies influential supply–demand dynamics and applies time-series forecasting to understand the export trends. Historical export–import data were analysed for mango and avocado from 1992 to 2024, including volume, value, per capita GDP (Australia and key importing nations), real exchange rate, and real interest rate. Holt’s exponential smoothing was used to forecast export trends, supported by unit root testing in RStudio 4.2.3 and model execution in SPSS version 30. ARIMA and ARIMAX models were applied to stationary variables to improve mango export forecasts. The results show that avocado exports follow a strong upward trajectory, while mango exports remain volatile due to logistical inefficiencies and informal trade disruptions. ARIMAX modelling confirmed that production and consumption volumes significantly enhance forecast accuracy. Macroeconomic trends, rising GDP, declining real interest rates, and stable real exchange rates further reinforce Australia’s competitive position in the destination markets. The long-run trends in export volume and value suggest that both the mango and avocado sectors hold potential for further export growth, although the higher volatility observed in the avocado series indicates that expansion should be approached cautiously. To sustain this growth, maintaining a balanced relationship between production capacity and export demand, particularly for commodities exhibiting higher volatility, will be essential for ensuring stable and efficient export performance over time. Full article

The present study evaluates the optical and colorimetric properties of Polylactic acid (PLA)-based films blended with Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and impregnated with mango leaf extract (MLE) using supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI) under different operating conditions (pressure: 10–30 MPa; temperature: 35–55 °C). Additionally, the relationship between impregnation load (IL) and color properties, as well as the release kinetics of the impregnated compounds, was investigated. The incorporation of PHB and PBS into the PLA matrix prior to impregnation led to a slight increase in the b* parameter (from 1.64 to 2.61), indicating a tendency toward yellowish tones. After SSI, all films exhibited noticeable color changes, with a shift toward yellowish-green hues and a decrease in lightness, regardless of processing conditions. Statistical analysis confirmed that polymer composition and its interaction with pressure and temperature significantly affected color properties (p-value < 0.001). The addition of PHB and PBS, as well as MLE impregnation, enhanced UV-barrier properties, while also modifying film transparency and opacity. In particular, PLA-PBS films showed higher opacity (more than 20 times) and lower transparency compared to neat PLA. These films also exhibited the highest IL values (2.41–4.75 mg MLE/100 mg polymer). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between CIELAB parameters (L*, a*, and b*) and IL (R² > 85%, p-value < 0.001). Release studies in a food simulant showed partial release profiles, well described by Peleg’s model (R² > 0.90). Furthermore, Korsmeyer–Peppas model fitting yielded diffusion exponents (n < 0.5), indicating quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanisms governing the release process. Full article

This multi-level study investigates the economic resilience of mango farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic and their pesticide management practices under Thailand’s Q-GAP (Quality Good Agricultural Practices) certification standard. Field surveys compared the economic outcomes of 104 certified and 151 non-certified farmers from 2019 to 2023, together with pesticide use practices during the year preceding the 2024 survey. The sample was drawn from three provinces in northern Thailand: Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, and Phichit. The statistical analysis of the collected information produced several key findings. Certified farms achieved significantly higher production and sales than non-certified farms over the five-year period, mainly due to larger farm size and higher prices obtained from premium export market sales. Certified farmers also adopted a wider range of coping strategies during the pandemic, whereas non-certified farmers mainly reduced mango investments related to mango cultivation. Certified farmers reported significantly higher rates of insecticide and fungicide adoption, as well as significantly higher annual pesticide application frequencies across all three pesticide categories. Residue analysis showed no significant difference in organophosphate (OP) residues between the two groups; however, pyrethroid (PY) residues were significantly higher among certified farms. This pattern suggests that certified farmers may apply pesticides more intensively to satisfy the aesthetic requirements of premium export markets. Regression results further showed that herbicide application frequency was the only factor marginally associated with PY-type residue levels among certified farmers, although this finding should be interpreted cautiously because of the weak model fit. Full article

Although mango is not classified among the nine major allergenic foods reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the increasing global and domestic consumption of mango has been accompanied by a growing number of reported cases of mango allergy. Currently, reports on cross-reactive allergens and cross-reactive linear epitopes in mango are limited. This study employed BLASTp (version 2.11.0+) to predict potential allergens that may cross-react with mango protein allergens and other food protein allergens. Subsequently, cross-reactive allergens were identified using sera from mango-allergic patients. Furthermore, similar sequences of the identified cross-reactive allergens were predicted by BLAST. These similar sequences were then synthesized by the solid-phase peptide synthesis method. Finally, the cross-reactive linear epitopes were determined by assessing their IgE-binding capacity using serum IgE from the same patient cohort. The results demonstrated that the sera from mango-allergic patients exhibited IgE-binding cross-reactivity with those from peanut, wheat, cashew, pistachio, and hazelnut, particularly with IgE-binding cross-reactivity to wheat and hazelnut, which has not been previously reported. The following novel cross-reactive linear epitopes were identified: the AA80–88 sequence of mango chitinase with the AA37–45 sequence of wheat Tri a 27 and the AA15–22 sequence of mango profilin with the AA65–72 sequence of pistachio Pis v 1. Furthermore, multiple cross-reactive epitopes were mapped between mango profilin and peanut Ara h 5, corresponding to the sequences AA31–51/AA31–50, AA50–65/AA52–65, AA76–96/AA76–96, and AA103–117/AA104–117, respectively. Full article

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) represents one of the most significant fruit crops cultivated across multiple regions of Mexico. In recent years, cases of stem-end rot and dieback have been observed in mango-producing areas. This research aimed to characterize the diversity of Lasiodiplodia species associated with these symptoms, determine their geographic distribution in five Mexican states, and evaluate their pathogenicity on mango fruits. During 2014, samples exhibiting dieback and stem-end rot symptoms were collected from 27 commercial orchards located in five states, resulting in the obtention of 87 Lasiodiplodia isolates. From these, 36 representative isolates were selected and identified through phylogenetic analyses (ITS, tef1-α, tub2), employing the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference approach. Eight Lasiodiplodia species were resolved: L. brasiliense, L. laeliocattleyae, L. subglobosa, L. theobromae, L. iraniensis, L. mexicanensis, L. hyalina, and L. pseudotheobromae. Among them, L. brasiliense, L. laeliocattleyae, L. subglobosa, L. iraniensis, L. mexicanensis, and L. hyalina are reported for the first time in association with mango tissues in Mexico. Pathogenicity tests conducted on detached mango fruits using the mycelial plug inoculation method demonstrated that all species were capable of inducing necrotic lesions. However, L. laeliocattleyae and L. brasiliense exhibited the highest levels of aggressiveness, while L. mexicanensis, L. hyalina, and L. pseudotheobromae were the least aggressive. Full article

To investigate the differences in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and signal transduction between the illuminated and non-illuminated surfaces of mangoes exposed to red light, this study used “Tainong No.1” mangoes as the test material, setting up three groups: mango exposed to red light, mango without red light and mango in darkness. The study measured maturity physiological indicators, ROS content, antioxidant enzyme activity, non-enzymatic substances, and combinations with DIA proteomics analysis. The results showed that red light exposure promoted the overall ripening of mangoes, and there was almost no difference in ripening between mango exposed to red light and mango without red light. Red light mainly induced rapid accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the peel of the irradiated area and stimulated the synthesis of superoxide anion in the pulp. The antioxidant capacity of both the irradiated and non-irradiated areas was enhanced. Key proteins in the ROS signaling pathways such as Rab11, LRK-RLK, and PIN3 were significantly upregulated. In summary, red light promotes synchronous ripening of mango fruits by coordinately regulating the ROS homeostasis of the tissue, and provides new insights into the use of light signals for regulating fruit metabolism. Full article

Currently, hydrogen has become an indispensable topic when discussing the energy transition. Determining the amount of hydrogen produced or lost through leaks is a critical issue. Recently, with the emergence of the low-cost MQ-8 resistive semiconductor sensor, which is sensitive to hydrogen and responds with an output voltage $V_{out}$, there has been considerable interest in its use in small laboratory experiments. The combination of the volumetric method, the MQ-8 sensor, and the BME280 sensor (for temperature, pressure, and humidity) is of significant interest and has industrial applications. This work presents an in-depth study of the combination of the traditional volumetric method with the MQ-8 and BME sensors. Sensor validation metrics were evaluated to ensure the reliability of the results. The pressure remained approximately constant due to the system configuration. The results indicate that for a current of 1 A, it is possible to determine the approximate volume of hydrogen as a function of the sensor’s output voltage. For low currents ranging from 0.76 to 250 mA, the results indicate that it is possible to determine the approximate hydrogen flow rate as a function of the voltage detected by the sensor. With further investigation, it will be possible to propose the use of MQ-8 and BME280 sensors in environments containing hydrogen. Full article

The presence of soil hydrocarbon parameters (SHPs), including total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), total organic carbon (TOC; %), and soil toxicity (EC50; mg L⁻¹), can affect vegetation in several ways. This study assessed the impact of SHPs on vegetation in the Niger Delta using field-measured, leaf-scale hyperspectral data acquired across the region. Red-edge position (REP) and four hyperspectral vegetation indices (HVIs)—mND705, photochemical reflectance index (PRI), Normalised Difference Vegetation Vigour Index (NDVVI₈₄₄,₄₄₇; a vegetation vigour index), and modified DATT (MDATT; a chlorophyll-sensitive red-edge index)—were used to quantify chlorophyll content in the vegetation types of Awolowo grass, elephant grass, mango trees, oil palm trees, and mangrove vegetation and to explore their variation with SHPs. The results show that mangrove vegetation was the most impacted by TPHs (R = −0.683), while mango vegetation was the most impacted by TOC (R = −0.725), based on Pearson correlation coefficients derived from the mND705 index. Similarly, mango and mangrove vegetation showed the strongest responses to soil toxicity (EC50; mg L⁻¹), based on Spearman correlation coefficients (r_s = 0.657 and r_s = 0.870, respectively) using the MDATT index. These findings highlight species-specific physiological responses to soil hydrocarbon contamination and demonstrate the applicability of red-edge-based hyperspectral techniques for assessing vegetation stress in complex coastal ecosystems such as the Niger Delta. Full article

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.), a renowned tropical fruit crop, is increasingly cultivated in the Hainan Province of China. In June 2025, symptoms of postharvest fruit rot were observed on durian fruits from a commercial orchard in Sanya City, Hainan Province, with a disease incidence of approximately 5.2%. Three fungal isolates were obtained and identified as Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae and L. lignicola based on morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (combining ITS, TUB2, and EF1-α gene sequences). Pathogenicity assays confirmed both species as causal agents of durian postharvest rot, with rapid lesion expansion and eight tropical fruit hosts, including banana and mango, posing a threat to postharvest storage. Fungicide sensitivity tests showed imazalil and imazalil sulfate with mean EC₅₀ values of 0.07 µg/mL and 0.08 µg/mL as most effective, followed by prochloraz, iprodione, and prochloraz-Mn. L. lignicola was more sensitive to most fungicides than L. pseudotheobromae. These findings underscore the need for species-specific fungicide strategies in disease management. This is the first report of L. pseudotheobromae and L. lignicola causing durian postharvest rot in this preliminary study from Hainan. With Hainan emerging as a key production region, further research is essential to develop effective control measures against this economically significant disease. Full article

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum sp. isolate XCC1, is a major postharvest disease causing significant quality deterioration and economic losses in ‘Cat Chu’ mango during storage. This study evaluated the effectiveness of sodium alginate–carboxymethyl cellulose (SA-CMC) coating with natamycin for controlling anthracnose and maintaining postharvest fruit quality. Mango fruits were treated with the SA-CMC-Natamycin coating and stored under controlled conditions (25 ± 2 °C; RH = 60 ± 5%) to assess disease development, plant defense enzyme activities, and fruit quality attributes. Natamycin inhibited spore germination of Colletotrichum sp. isolate XCC1 with a Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 6.25 µg mL⁻¹. The SA-CMC-Natamycin coating significantly reduced anthracnose development, resulting in a three-fold decrease in disease incidence and a 3.86-fold reduction in disease severity compared with the control on day 9 of storage. However, the persistence of the treatment was limited since no significant disease incidence reduction was observed after 15 days. The treatment also enhanced chitinase (CHI) and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU) activities and increased phenolic compound accumulation. In addition, the coating delayed fruit ripening by maintaining firmness, titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, and chlorophyll while suppressing increases in color change and total soluble solids (TSS). These results demonstrate that SA-CMC-Natamycin coating is a promising eco-friendly strategy for controlling anthracnose and preserving postharvest quality of ‘Cat Chu’ mango. Full article