Introduction. A comparative study of antinutrients and heavy metals in the peels of five improved varieties of plantain and banana hybrids was investigated. Our aim was to provide information on plantain and banana peels that may circumvent huge losses during fruit processing by converting waste into wealth and health. Materials and methods. Four new plantain hybrids developed at the IITA, Nigeria, named PITA 14, PITA 17, PITA 24 and PITA 26, one cooking banana hybrid (BITA 3) and an African plantain landrace, Agbagba, were investigated. Antinutrient and heavy metal contents of the dried peels from the different cultivars were determined and the data were statistically analyzed. Results and discussion. The plantain hybrid PITA 14 differed significantly from other cultivars in saponin, tannin and oxalate. A significant difference was observed between PITA 17 in phytate compared with other cultivars. Cyanogenic glucosides found in PITA 17, PITA 26 and BITA 3 differed significantly from the values obtained in other cultivars. Both BITA 3 and Agbagba are significantly different from other cultivars in phenolic content, while PITA 24 and Agbagba differed significantly from other cultivars in lead. PITA 24 peels differed significantly from other cultivars in cadmium, but no significant difference was found among the different Musa varieties in mercury. Conclusion. In spite of the antinutritional properties ascribed to the various constituents investigated, the levels found in the peels of new Musa hybrids suggest that new varieties might not constitute a health hazard when ingested. Plantain and banana peels may be converted into livestock feeds, which will eventually provide protein and other nutrients to humans from consumption of meat and other products derived from the animals.

Introduction. Consumption of citrus fruits and their juice has strongly grown in the last few decades. However, at the present time, the traceability of these fruits is only documentary. In case of doubt or fraud, no standardized analysis makes it possible to discriminate or determine the geographical origin of culture of the fruit. Materials and methods. A method of bacterial ecology, PCR-DGGE, was used to characterize the bacterial flora of clementines imported into France from Spain and Morocco in order to show that there is a relation between the bacterial communities of the fruits and their geographical origins. The principle rests on the determination of specific biological markers for a given region. Protocols of microbial extraction and DNA amplification were optimized. Results. DGGE profiles analyzed by multivariate analysis permitted us to distinguish microbial communities from different origins. Conclusion. We propose the PCR-DGGE method as a new tool for traceability that provides citrus products with a unique bar code and makes it possible to trace back the citrus fruit to their original location.

Introduction. L’acarien Oligonychus afrasiaticus, localement appelé « Boufaroua », est un ravageur des palmeraies algériennes. Pour se nourrir, il pique les dattes qui se dessèchent ensuite en fin de maturité et deviennent impropres à la commercialisation et à la consommation humaine. Des pertes économiques importantes sont alors enregistrées. Les dégâts les plus spectaculaires ont été notés sur la variété Deglet-Nour à haute valeur marchande. Matériel et méthodes. Le taux d’infestation des arbres d’une palmeraie de la région d’Ouargla a été évalué. Quatre stades phénologiques ont été considérés. Une coccinelle très vorace, Stethorus punctillum, a été récoltée dans six palmeraies puis lâchée sur des arbres expérimentaux afin de vérifier son efficacité prédatrice sur le « Boufaroua ». Résultats. L’infestation des arbres a été très variable et a augmenté au fur et à mesure de la maturité des dattes. L’efficacité de la coccinelle lâchée a été significative, et cela a été d’autant plus constaté que les arbres étaient fortement infestés. Discussion et conclusion. Stethorus punctillum joue un rôle important dans le contrôle de l’acarien O. afrasiaticus. D’autres prédateurs seraient toutefois présents en Algérie ; ils devront être testés afin d’établir une méthode de lutte biologique apte à protéger suffisamment les palmeraies contre O. afrasiaticus.

Origin and importance. Acerola, or Malpighia emarginata D.C., is native to the Caribbean islands, Central America and the Amazonian region. More recently, it has been introduced in subtropical areas (Asia, India and South America). The vitamin C produced by acerola is better absorbed by the human organism than synthetic ascorbic acid. Exportation of acerola crops is a potential alternative source of income in agricultural businesses. In Brazil, the commercial farming of acerola is quite recent. Climatic conditions. Acerola is a rustic plant. It can resist temperatures close to 0 °C, but it is well adapted to temperatures around 26 °C with rainfall between (1200 and 1600) mm per year. Fruit characteristics. Acerola fruit is drupaceous, whose form can vary from round to conic. When ripe, it can be red, purple or yellow. The fruit weight varies between (3 and 16) g. Maturation. Acerola fruit presents fast metabolic activity and its maturation occurs rapidly. When commercialised in ambient conditions, it requires fast transportation or the use of refrigerated containers to retard its respiration and metabolism partially. Production and productivity. Flowering and fruiting are typically in cycles associated with rain. Usually, they take place in 25-day cycles, up to 8 times per year. The plant can be propagated by cuttings, grafting or seedlings. Harvest. Fruits produced for markets needs to be harvested at its optimal maturation stage. For distant markets, they need to be packed in boxes and piled up in low layers; transportation should be done in refrigerated trucks in relatively high humid conditions. Biochemical constituents. Acerola is the most important natural source of vitamin C [(1000 to 4500) mg·100–1 g of pulp], but it is also rich in pectin and pectolytic enzymes, carotenoids, plant fibre, vitamin B, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, proteins and mineral salts. It has also shown active anti-fungal properties. Products and market. Acerola is used in the production of juice, soft drinks, gums and liqueurs. The USA and Europe are great potential markets. In Europe, acerola extracts are used to enrich pear or apple juices. In the USA, they are used in the pharmaceutical industry. Conclusions. The demand for acerola has increased significantly in recent years because of the relevance of vitamin C in human health, coupled with the use of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant in food and feed. Acerola fruit contains other significant components, which are likely to lead to a further increase in its production and trade all over the world.

Introduction. Under the sub-tropical climate of India, ‘Sweet Charlie’ strawberry is being grown on a large scale. However, under such climatic conditions, it is not possible to transplant runners before mid-October, because the environmental temperature is very high, and planting after mid-October is also not good because then winter sets in and affects growth, development, flowering and fruiting of strawberry. Under such circumstances, covering of strawberry beds with row covers and mulching with plastic mulch can be useful for early and high production by way of modifying the leaf physiology and producing marketable berries in high number. Materials and methods. Row covers of transparent polyethylene (100-µm thickness) were erected over beds after one month of transplanting of the runners. Mulching (black polyethylene, white polyethylene and paddy straw) was also applied after one month of transplanting of the runners; it was removed only after fruiting was over. Observations on different leaf physiological parameters were made. Results. Row covers and mulching individually or in combination significantly influenced plant physiology, growth, berry yield attributes and albinism incidence. Plants showed better growth and physiological attributes under row covers than without row covers. Plants had the best growth and physiological attributes under black polyethylene mulch. Berry weight and yield were the highest in plants under row covers and black polyethylene mulch. Although the [row covers × mulching] interaction showed the highest incidence of albinism, berry yield per plant (excluding albino fruit) was significantly the highest with that combination. Conclusion. Erection of row covers and mulching in winter is highly useful for better growth and production of strawberry under a sub-tropical climate.

Introduction. This protocol describes a method for obtaining in vitro germination of zygotic embryos from open-pollinated wild seedy bananas and controlled hybridizations. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. This part describes the required laboratory materials, medium preparation, embryo extraction and culture. Results. Embryos typically begin germination in the dark about 15 days after inoculation on germinating medium. After 30––40 days of culture, plantlets are subcultured on a plant growth medium and placed in the light to achieve plant growth and rooting. The ratios of zygotic embryos obtained vary with the types of crosses achieved between Musa sp. genotypes.

Introduction. The technique presented provides molecular markers for DNA methylation studies in the Musa sp. genome. This technique can be used for studying DNA methylation in natural populations, in mapping populations, and also in plant organs or during plant development. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. This part describes the required materials, and the protocols for producing MSAP autoradiography with HpaII / MspI (CCGG methylation) and for EcoRII / PspGI (CCWGG methylation). It mentions the main problems which can occur. Results. The protocol makes it possible to detect CCWGG and CCGG methylated sites.

Introduction. This protocol aims at measuring the storage life potential of banana fruit, and at determining the physiological age of fruit. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. This part describes the required laboratory materials and the five steps necessary for calculating the banana green life duration, which corresponds to the number of days between the fruit harvest and climacteric crisis. Results. The measurement of O2 and CO2 concentrations allows one to detect the climacteric peak which marks the end of the banana green life.

Introduction. This protocol aims at detecting and quantifying quiescent infections of Colletotrichum musae on bananas. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. The materials required and details of the three steps of the protocol (fruit sampling, fruit ripening and anthracnose lesion quantification) are described. Possible troubleshooting is discussed. Results. The protocol results in the quantification of anthracnose lesions on the fruits, which makes it possible to predict postharvest losses due to anthracnose (peel rot), and also to propose a better management of postharvest fungicide applications.