Iris Publishers Agriculture Soil Science

Antimicrobial Effects of Herb Extracts Against Foodborne Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in Vitro Authored by Hua Yang Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive foodborne pathogen that is widely distributed during food preparation, storage, and distribution. A variety of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as milk, cheeses, ice cream, raw meat, fresh vegetable and fruits may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes [1,2]. Consumption of foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes is linked to an increased risk of listeriosis. To control L. monocytogenes in food products, meat industry uses chemical preservatives such as sodium acetate, sodium lactate and various nitrites. However, it is acknowledged that uses of chemical antimicrobials have increased the consumer concerns and created a demand for “natural” and “minimally processed” food. As a result, there has been a great interest in natural antimicrobial agents. Plant-derived extracts have been used since ancient times, especially in Chin...

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Pectinase Producers from Agro Wastes (Citrus sinensis and Ananas comosus) Authored by Ebuehi OAT When fruit is detached from the living plants it cannot repair its cells or defend its tissues against natural deterioration. There are many reasons of fruit destruction, but main cause of fruit spoilage is invasion by microorganisms such as mould, yeast and bacteria. Fruits contain high levels of sugars and nutrients and their low pH make fruits particularly desirable to fungal decay [1]. During postharvest handling, mechanical damage causes the release of enzymes present in the cell tissues. These enzymes break down the cellular material. Pectinases are the first enzymes to be secreted by fungal pathogens when they attack plant cell walls, weaken the plant cell wall and expose other polymers to degradation by hemicellulases and cellulases [2]. Pectinases are one of the most widely distributed enzymes in bacteria, fungi and plants insects,...

Exploring Indicators of Food Choice for Chimpanzees at Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire: Aroma and Antioxidants Authored by Chahan Yeretzian Taï National Park in the southwest of Côte d’Ivoire is the largest remaining tropical rain forest in West Africa and covers 555,000 ha. While it is recognized as a “Biodiversity Hotspot”, with a rich natural flora and fauna, it is also one of the last remaining habitats of many endangered species. The Taï Forest reserve was created in 1926 and promoted to National Park status in 1972. It was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and added to the list of Natural World Heritage Sites in 1982. Among the many endangered species living in the Taï National park, one species of particularly concern is the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus Blumenbach 1779), a member of the great ape family. Chimpanzees have already disappeared from four African countries, and are nearing extinction in many others, such as the Côte d’Ivoire where a survey revea...

Ailanthus Altissima (Mill.) and Varroa Destructor (Anderson & Trueman) - Two Alien and Invasive Species with Impact on the Environment and on the “Hive System” Authored by T Gardi Ailanthus altissima (Mill.), Is a genus of plants of the Simaroubaceae family, which includes seven species of trees originating in the tropical areas of Asia and Australia, which can reach heights just over 25m. The common name is ailanthus or tree of paradise. Introduced in Italy also for ornamental purposes, it has proved over time to be a highly infesting, very aggressive plant, with a very rapid proliferation, whose roots extend in width up to thirty meters from the trunk, giving rise to colonies of new daughter plants both for root suckers than via gamic (from seed). The bad smell emanating from its leaves is known. The stem, of very little commercial value, as it is soft and not durable wood, is generally erect and very branched with a lighter brown-gray bark on the young branches. The leaves ...

Soil Fertility Management and Cropping System Function in Ameliorating Maize Productivity in Ethiopia Authored by Derib Kifle Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal worldwide [1] that belongs to the family Poaceae. It is a C4 plant, short duration and quick growing crop. It is globally ranks the third position among cereal crops after wheat and rice and it is important staple food in many countries. Grains of maize contain 13% moisture, 10% crude protein and 70.3 carbohydrates [2] is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals because it has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. Maize is cultivated throughout the world (58°N latitude to 40°S latitude) in an area of 179.9 m.ha across 165 countries with a production of 1013.6 m.t and average productivity of 5.63 t/ha. Only the USA, China and Brazil contribute 63% to the global maize production whilst Mexi...