Research Article
Influence of cultivar, growth altitude and maturity stage on banana volatile compound composition
- Pierre Brat, Ahmed Yahia, Marc Chillet, Christophe Bugaud, Frederic Bakry, Max Reynes, Jean-Marc Brillouet
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- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 June 2004, pp. 75-82
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Introduction. The quantitative volatile compound composition of bananas (Musa acuminata, AAA group, Cavendish subgroup) was investigated in two different cultivars (Robusta and Grande Naine) grown at two different altitudes [(90 and 500) m], and ripened at two different maturity stages (color grades 5 and 7). Materials and methods. Volatile compounds were separated and identified by coupled capillary gas liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry. After evaluating changes in volatile composition during ripening, the effect of both growth altitude and cultivar was examined. Results and discussion. For a partially mature fruit, the growth altitude showed different effects on the two cultivars. The Robusta cv. exhibited a higher aroma volatile compound concentration at high altitude, while that of the Grande Naine cv. was higher at low altitude. At the fully mature stage, this difference still existed but was not so distinct. Conclusion. Whatever the ripening stage, Robusta cv. exhibited the highest aroma volatile compound concentration. Discriminate sensory analysis closely related to differences in the volatile composition of samples.
Potential use of rhizobacteria from the Bacillus genus to stimulate the plant growth of micropropagated bananas
- Maria del Carmen Jaizme-Vega, Ana Sue Rodríguez-Romero, Maria Sol Piñero Guerra
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- 15 June 2004, pp. 83-90
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Introduction. Soil microbiota communities have demonstrated their crucial role in maintaining the soil ecological balance and therefore the sustainability of either natural ecosystems or agroecosystems. Rhizospheric microbe-plant interactions have a great influence on plant health and soil quality since these root-associated microorganisms are able to help the host plant to deal with drought, nutritional and soil-borne pathogen stress conditions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be considered among rhizosphere-beneficial microorganisms. In a micropropagated plant system, bacterial inoculation at the beginning of the acclimatisation phase must also be observed from the perspective of the establishment of the soil microbiota rhizosphere. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a rhizobacteria consortium of Bacillus spp. on the first developmental stages of two micropropagated bananas. Materials and methods. Two varieties of banana plant cultivars (‘Grande Naine’ and a banana-derived tetraploid hybrid ‘ITC 1297’) were inoculated or not with a suspension of Bacillus spp. at the beginning of the weaning phase. Six plants were considered per treatment and cultured under greenhouse conditions in a randomised design. For both cultivars, plants were harvested (135 and 185) days after bacterial inoculation and analysed for growth parameters and nutrient contents. Results. Concerning plant development, bacterial application induced a positive effect on both cultivars although this effect showed some time differences depending on the banana cultivar. Foliar mineral contents were significantly increased only in ‘Grande Naine’ plants at 135 days. Our results demonstrated for the first time that the Bacillus spp. consortium tested was able to improve banana development (both cultivars) and foliar mineral contents in one of them. Conclusion. Therefore, this bacterial consortium can be described as PGPR for banana under these experimental conditions. This biotechnology, adaptable to the hardening phase, thus represents a prospective way to increase plant health and survival rates in commercial nurseries.
Evaluation of rootstocks for Valencia and Navel orange trees in Saudi Arabia
- Mongi Zekri, Ali Al-Jaleel
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- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 June 2004, pp. 91-100
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Introduction. Environmental conditions and cultural practices vary considerably from one region to another. Therefore, a long-term study was carried out to investigate the horticultural adaptability and performance of ‘Olinda Valencia’ and ‘Parent Washington Navel’ orange trees on nine commercial rootstocks in the Najran area of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods. The trees were planted in 1987 with a (6.0 × 6.0) m spacing and a density of 278 trees·ha–1. Fruit yield, fruit size, individual fruit weight, peel thickness, percent of juice, soluble solids and acid were measured. Results. Over the 7-year production period, trees on Volkamer lemon (VL), Citrus macrophylla (Cm) and rough lemon (RL) were the most productive and trees on Cleopatra mandarin (Cleo) and Swingle citrumelo (Sc) were the least productive. Trees on Sour orange (SO), Amblycarpa, Carrizo citrange (CC) and C. taiwanica (Ct) were intermediate in fruit production. The greatest fruit individual weight and largest fruit were found on trees budded on RL, VL and Cm, while the lowest fruit weight and smallest fruit were found on trees budded on Cleo and SO. Trees on RL had the lowest juice content. Fruit from trees on CC and SO accumulated the highest soluble solids and fruit from trees on Cm and Ct accumulated the lowest soluble solids. Valencia trees produced more fruit with higher juice content and soluble solids than Navel trees. Conclusion. Overall, trees on Swingle citrumelo and Cleopatra mandarin performed most poorly. Trees on vigorous rootstocks (Volkamer lemon, C. macrophylla, rough lemon) performed better and were more productive than trees on other rootstocks and Valencia trees were more profitable than Navel trees.
Effet de la salinité de l'eau d'irrigation sur la colonisation des racines des porte-greffes d’agrumes par Phytophthora parasitica
- Hamid Benyahia, Mustapha Ait Haddou Mouloud, Ahmed Jrifi, Yamna Lamsettef
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- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 June 2004, pp. 101-108
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Introduction. Au Maroc, le porte-greffe d’agrumes le plus utilisé est le bigaradier (Citrus aurantium L.). Il confère aux arbres une résistance acceptable vis-à-vis de la pourriture racinaire causée par Phytophthora parasitica. Cependant, la salinité des sols et des eaux d’irrigation observée dans la majorité des régions productrices d’agrumes au Maroc peuvent affecter cette résistance. L’objectif de notre expérimentation a été d’évaluer l’effet de la salinité sur la colonisation des racines de quelques porte-greffes d’agrumes par P. parasitica. Matériel et méthodes. Des plants de bigaradier, citrange Troyer (Poncirus trifoliata × Citrus sinensis) et Rough lemon (C. jambhiri) âgés de 6 mois ont été irrigués pendant 21 jours avec une solution de Hoagland à 50 % de potentiel osmotique variable, car ajusté à (–1,28, –2,32 et –3,11) bars par addition soit de chlorure de sodium (NaCl), soit de sulfate de sodium (Na2SO4). Une inoculation a alors été faite par trempage des systèmes racinaires dans une suspension de spores de P. parasitica pendant 24 h. Résultats. L’augmentation du potentiel osmotique de la solution d’irrigation par addition de NaCl ou de Na2SO4 a favorisé le développement d’une pourriture racinaire chez les trois porte-greffes. En outre, l’augmentation du potentiel osmotique de la solution d’irrigation par addition de NaCl a prédisposé les systèmes racinaires à une colonisation intense par P. parasitica. Discussion. L’effet spécifique de la salinité serait à l’origine de l’augmentation de la colonisation des racines des porte-greffes par P. parasitica.
Variabilité des caractères physico-chimiques des fruits de trois espèces ligneuses de cueillette récoltés au Sénégal: Adansonia digitata, Balanites aegyptiaca et Tamarindus indica
- Pierre Soloviev, Thierno DaoudaNiang, Abibou Gaye, Anne Totte
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- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 June 2004, pp. 109-119
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Introduction. Adansonia digitata L., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. et Tamarindus indica L. figurent parmi les espèces fruitières de cueillette les plus appréciées par les populations sahélo soudaniennes. Leur rôle sur le plan nutritionnel et sur la génération de revenus est important. La dégradation des écosystèmes constitue une menace sur la ressource en fruits de cueillette et sur la diversité génétique de ces espèces. La première étape du programme de domestication mis en œuvre au Sénégal consiste à en caractériser la variabilité naturelle, dans le cadre d’une démarche participative visant la sélection d’accessions intéressantes pour la qualité des fruits. L’objet de cette étude a été de comparer, pour chacune des espèces, les fruits de différentes accessions. Matériel et méthodes. Les analyses ont porté sur une caractérisation biométrique des fruits, complétée par une analyse chimique sommaire (eau, sucres solubles totaux, acidité libre totale). Résultats et discussion. Pour la totalité des critères étudiés, l’exploitation des données a montré des différences significatives entre les accessions au sein de chaque espèce. Pour les caractères biométriques, un gradient décroissant de variabilité apparaît selon la séquence : Adansonia vers Tamarindus vers Balanites. Le critère de « valeur réelle de la pulpe » a permis de cibler des accessions plus intéressantes que d’autres. Les caractères chimiques ont présenté une moindre variabilité. Conclusions. Les différentes accessions étudiées présentent une variabilité exploitable pour la diffusion aux populations locales de variétés performantes d’espèces fruitières répondant à leurs besoins et à leurs moyens.
La mangue en Afrique de l’Ouest francophone
- Jean-Yves Rey, Thierno Mamadou Diallo, Henri Vannière, Christian Didier, Sidiki Kéita, Morodjan Sangaré
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- 15 June 2004, pp. 121-129
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Introduction. Le manguier aujourd’hui très apprécié en Afrique de l’Ouest pour ses fruits et son ombrage est pourtant d’introduction récente en Afrique. L’article retrace l’historique de son expansion dans la zone. L'expansion du manguier en Afrique de l’Ouest. Originaire d’Inde, le manguier a été signalé pour la première fois en Afrique de l’Ouest, au Sénégal, en 1824. C’est à la fin du xixe siècle que les manguiers ont commencé à connaître une diffusion significative, surtout dans les zones côtières. Leur extension deviendra importante pendant la première moitié du xxe siècle. Un manguier Amélie introduit au Mali vers 1890 fut à l’origine de nombreux plants greffés qui furent largement diffusés dans les pays limitrophes. Dès la fin des années 1940, des collections furent établies progressivement dans toute la zone et, au cours de la décennie 1970–1980, chaque pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone possédait au moins une collection de manguiers. l'évolution des exportations. Le Mali fut le premier pays à exporter, vers la fin des années 1960, des mangues vers l’Europe. Il fut suivi par le Burkina, la Guinée, le Sénégal, et surtout la Côte d’Ivoire, dont les exportations, d’environ 2 500 t au début des années 1990, ont été multipliées par 4,5 en 2000. Cette croissance rapide des exportations ivoiriennes a bénéficié de la présence d’une façade maritime et d’un effet de masse créé par les exportations de bananes et d’ananas. Amélie a longtemps constitué l’essentiel des exportations du Mali, du Burkina Faso et de la Côte d’Ivoire. Cependant dès 1971, des expéditions expérimentales de mangues colorées furent réalisées avec succès. La consommation de mangues se démocratisant en Europe, le choix variétal s’est progressivement resserré : Amélie, en début de campagne, puis Kent, Keitt et Palmer. Parallèlement à cette évolution variétale, les techniques de conditionnement se sont progressivement modernisées.
Effects of different pectolase concentration and yeast strains on carambola wine quality in Trinidad, West Indies
- Vidya Bridgebassie, Neela Badrie
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- 15 June 2004, pp. 131-140
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Introduction. The fruit of Averrhoa carambola L., or carambola, is an attractive tropical fruit of the Oxalidaceae family. As most of the carambola crop is consumed fresh, very few carambolas are processed. However, the high variability in fruit quality produced by Caribbean countries is a major limitation to market penetration. Processing of carambolas could allow the utilization of low quality fruits, which cannot be marketed, to reduce waste, improve on the economic returns of farmers and increase the value of the crop. Our work thus aimed at studying carambola wine quality in relation to certain treatments applied before the fermentation of the must. Materials and methods. Pectolase was added to the pasteurized carambola pulp to the concentrations of (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3)%. Another treatment used pectolase to 0.3% with addition of 1% of citric acid and 0.25% of ascorbic acid and associated with the use of various yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from various wines (Super, Chablis and Sweet Mead). The must was adjusted to 25 °Brix and pH 3.0–3.5. The carambola wine quality obtained at the end of each treatment was assessed using physicochemical characteristics and sensory evaluations. Results and discussion. Addition of pectolase improved the carambola wine’s light transmittance, sensory color, sensory clarity and overall acceptability. Addition of 1% citric acid and 0.25% ascorbic acid to the must resulted in less dark and yellow wines with a more acceptable color. Wines fermented with the Chablis yeast strain had the highest clarity (88.55% of light transmittance). The wines were microbiologically stable. Conclusion. Carambola wine treated with 0.3% pectolase with the inclusion of 1% citric acid and 0.25% ascorbic acid with different yeast strains had (7.35 to 7.65) °Brix, (10.25 to 11.50)% alcohol, pH 3.01 to 3.02, (79.20 to 88.55)% of light transmittance and (17.50 to 17.76) mg ascorbic acid·100 mL–1. These wines had overall acceptability rating from slightly to moderately liked and they were judged as superior.
Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of Saissetia spp. (Homoptera: Coccidae) in Mexico
- Svetlana Nikolaevna Myartseva, Enrique Ruíz-Cancino, Juana María Coronado-Blanco
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- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 June 2004, pp. 141-150
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Introduction. The genus Saissetia has 47 described species in the world, four of them in Mexico (S. oleae, S. miranda, S. neglecta and S. tolucana). These species attack different crops, including citrus, olives and ornamentals. Most introductions of natural enemies against S. oleae have been undertaken in North and South America, Australia and the Mediterranean countries. However, no natural enemy species have been purposedly introduced into Mexico against Saissetia spp. Materials and methods. During 1998–2003, samples of Saissetia spp. were collected in the States of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Guanajuato; all the emerged parasitoids were determined. Appropriate scientific publications were consulted to find out about any other Saissetia parasitoids recorded from Mexico. Results and discussion. Seventeen parasitoid species from five families of Chalcidoidea (Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Eupelmidae, Pteromalidae and Signiphoridae) were reared from Saissetia spp. in Mexico. Conclusions. In Mexico, the species of Saissetia prefer ornamental plants and are usually heavily parasitized by several chalcidoids. Native biological control of Saissetia spp. by different parasitoids has been effective for many years in Mexico. As a result, the species of Saissetia are not considered as primary or secondary pests of citrus and ornamentals.