Foods

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 179 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety

by Lisa I. Pilkington

Foods 2022, 11(5), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11050648 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1404

Abstract

The six research articles/communications and one review that comprise this Special Issue, which concerns studies towards natural compound use for crop protection and food safety purposes, highlight the most recent research and investigations into this exciting area [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

24 pages, 1202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Potential of Clary Sage and Coriander Essential Oils as Crop Protection and Post-Harvest Decay Control Products

by Robin Raveau, Joël Fontaine, Abir Soltani, Jouda Mediouni Ben Jemâa, Frédéric Laruelle and Anissa Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui

Foods 2022, 11(3), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11030312 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3311

Abstract

Owing to their various application fields and biological properties, natural products and essential oils (EO) in particular are nowadays attracting more attention as alternative methods to control plant pathogens and pests, weeds, and for post-harvest applications. Additionally, to overcome EO stability issues and [...] Read more.

Owing to their various application fields and biological properties, natural products and essential oils (EO) in particular are nowadays attracting more attention as alternative methods to control plant pathogens and pests, weeds, and for post-harvest applications. Additionally, to overcome EO stability issues and low persistence of effects, EO encapsulation in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) could represent a promising avenue. Thus, in this work, the EO distilled from two aromatic plants (Salvia sclarea L. and Coriandrum sativum L.) have been evaluated in vitro for their antifungal, herbicidal and insecticidal activities, against major plant pathogens and pests of agronomical importance. Both plants were grown on unpolluted and trace-element-polluted soils, so as to investigate the effect of the soil pollution on the EO compositions and biological effects. These EO are rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (clary sage and coriander seeds EO), or aliphatic aldehydes (coriander aerial parts EO), and were unaltered by the soil pollution. The tested EO successfully inhibited the growth of two phytopathogenic fungi, Zymoseptoria tritici and Fusarium culmorum, displaying IC₅₀ ranging from 0.46 to 2.08 g L⁻¹, while also exerting anti-germinative, herbicidal, repellent and fumigant effects. However, no improvement of the EO biological effects was observed in the presence of β-CD, under these in vitro experimental conditions. Among the tested EO, the one from aerial parts of coriander displayed the most significant antifungal and herbicidal effects, while the three of them exerted valuable broad-range insecticidal effects. As a whole, these findings suggest that EO produced on polluted areas can be of great interest to the agricultural area, given their faithful chemical compositions and valuable biological effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 3138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cold Smoking and Natural Antioxidants on Quality Traits, Safety and Shelf Life of Farmed Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Fillets, as a Strategy to Diversify Aquaculture Products

by Concetta Maria Messina, Rosaria Arena, Giovanna Ficano, Mariano Randazzo, Maria Morghese, Laura La Barbera, Saloua Sadok and Andrea Santulli

Foods 2021, 10(11), 2522; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112522 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3046

Abstract

Aquaculture has been playing a leading role over the years to satisfy the global growing demand for seafood. Moreover, innovative techniques are necessary to increase the competitiveness, sustainability and profitability of the seafood production chain, exploiting new species from the aquaculture, such as [...] Read more.

Aquaculture has been playing a leading role over the years to satisfy the global growing demand for seafood. Moreover, innovative techniques are necessary to increase the competitiveness, sustainability and profitability of the seafood production chain, exploiting new species from the aquaculture, such as meagre (Argyrosomus regius), to develop value-added products and diversify their production. In the present work, the effectiveness of cold smoking combined with antioxidants (SA) compared to cold smoking alone (S) on meagre fillets, the quality and shelf life were investigated. Sensory, biochemical, physical–chemical and microbiological analyses were performed on the smoked fillets during vacuum-packaged storage for 35 days at 4 ± 0.5 °C. The results showed positive effects of the SA treatment on the biochemical parameters of meagre fillets. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) in smoked meagre fillets was significantly lower in the SA treatment at the end of storage compared to the S treatment. Moreover, SA had a positive effect on lipid peroxidation. Lower values of malondialdehyde (mg MDA/kg) were observed in the SA treatment during preservation compared to the S treatment. This work will contribute to the growth of the fish production chain, producing a value-added fish product by exploiting meagre, whose production has been increasing over decades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 22177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Proteomic Analysis of Listeria monocytogenes’ Response to Linalool

by Zhipeng Gao, Weiming Zhong, Ting Liu, Tianyu Zhao and Jiajing Guo

Foods 2021, 10(10), 2449; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10102449 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2203

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is one of the most serious foodborne pathogens. Listeriosis, the disease caused by LM infection, has drawn attention worldwide because of its high hospitalization and mortality rates. Linalool is a vital constituent found in many essential oils; our previous studies [...] Read more.

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is one of the most serious foodborne pathogens. Listeriosis, the disease caused by LM infection, has drawn attention worldwide because of its high hospitalization and mortality rates. Linalool is a vital constituent found in many essential oils; our previous studies have proved that linalool exhibits strong anti-Listeria activity. In this study, iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics analysis was performed to explore the response of LM exposed to linalool, and to unravel the mode of action and drug targets of linalool against LM. A total of 445 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened out, including 211 up-regulated and 234 down-regulated proteins which participated in different biological functions and pathways. Thirty-one significantly enriched gene ontology (GO) functional categories were obtained, including 12 categories in “Biological Process”, 10 categories in “Cell Component”, and 9 categories in “Molecular Function”. Sixty significantly enriched biological pathways were classified, including 6 pathways in “Cell Process”, 6 pathways in “Environmental Information Processing”, 3 pathways in “Human Disease”, 40 pathways in “Metabolism”, and 2 pathways in “Organic System”. GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) enrichment analysis together with flow cytometry data implied that cell membranes, cell walls, nucleoids, and ribosomes might be the targets of linalool against LM. Our study provides good evidence for the proteomic analysis of bacteria, especially LM, exposed to antibacterial agents. Further, those drug targets discovered by proteomic analysis can provide theoretical support for the development of new drugs against LM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 605 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide Use to Control Dried Apricot Pests, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, and Assessing the Qualitative Traits of Dried Pieces of Treated Apricot

by Reza Sadeghi, Fereshteh Heidari, Asgar Ebadollahi, Fatemeh Azarikia, Arsalan Jamshidnia and Franco Palla

Foods 2021, 10(6), 1190; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061190 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1978

Abstract

One of the new ways of warehouse pest control is the carbon dioxide treatment, which had no residues on the target products. In the present research, at first, CO₂ gas was applied to control two important pest species infesting dried apricots. Dry [...] Read more.

One of the new ways of warehouse pest control is the carbon dioxide treatment, which had no residues on the target products. In the present research, at first, CO₂ gas was applied to control two important pest species infesting dried apricots. Dry apricots infested with adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) or Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) were exposed to CO₂ gas pressures correspond to 9.1, 16.7, 23.1, 28.6, and 33.4 mol% for 24 h. The results showed higher mortality rates with increasing the gas pressures in all the experiments. The minimum and maximum losses of the pests were determined at concentrations of 9.1 and 33.4 mol%, respectively. Evaluation of CO₂ gas effects on the quality characteristics of dried apricots showed no impacts on the color, brittleness, hardness, sweetness, sourness, and general acceptance of products. CO₂ gas treatments at the concentration of 33.4 mol% showed no significant influences on the chemical features of dried apricots, including pH, acidity, Brix, humidity percentage, reducing sugar, and total sugar. It was concluded that CO₂ gas had the potential to control T. castaneum and R. dominica in warehouses of dried apricots, without any significant impacts on product qualities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biostimulation as a Means for Optimizing Fruit Phytochemical Content and Functional Quality of Tomato Landraces of the San Marzano Area

by Youssef Rouphael, Giandomenico Corrado, Giuseppe Colla, Stefania De Pascale, Emilia Dell’Aversana, Luisa Ida D’Amelia, Giovanna Marta Fusco and Petronia Carillo

Foods 2021, 10(5), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10050926 - 23 Apr 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2467

Abstract

The effect of plant biostimulation on fruits of traditional tomato germplasm is largely unknown. We examined how a tropical plant-derived biostimulant impacts the nutritional, functional, and compositional characteristics of tomato fruits from four landraces, collected in the San Marzano (SM) tomato Protected Designation [...] Read more.

The effect of plant biostimulation on fruits of traditional tomato germplasm is largely unknown. We examined how a tropical plant-derived biostimulant impacts the nutritional, functional, and compositional characteristics of tomato fruits from four landraces, collected in the San Marzano (SM) tomato Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) region, by profiling primary and secondary metabolites. Biostimulation was not able to completely reshuffle the morpho-physiological and nutritional profile of the four landraces. Their distinct phytochemical profile indicated a genotype-specific tuning of the analyzed traits, which also included an improved yield and fruit quality. Biostimulation of SM1 and SM3 increased photosynthetic accumulation of carbohydrate reserves, improved mineral nutrient use efficiency and consequently, yield (+21% and 34%, respectively). Moreover, biostimulation augmented the nutraceutical properties of the SM2 landrace. Interestingly, the plant-derived product increased in all genotypes lycopene, but not polyphenol accumulation in fruits. Our results show the potential of biostimulatory applications towards optimizing the fruit quality of the acclaimed SM landraces, which is suitable to satisfy both the rising consumer demand for premium traditional tomatoes and the technological needs of the food industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bacterial Fertilizers Based on Rhizobium laguerreae and Bacillus halotolerans Enhance Cichorium endivia L. Phenolic Compound and Mineral Contents and Plant Development

by Alejandro Jiménez-Gómez, Ignacio García-Estévez, M. Teresa Escribano-Bailón, Paula García-Fraile and Raúl Rivas

Foods 2021, 10(2), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020424 - 15 Feb 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3398

Abstract

Today there is an urgent need to find new ways to satisfy the current and growing food demand and to maintain crop protection and food safety. One of the most promising changes is the replacement of chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers, which include plant [...] Read more.

Today there is an urgent need to find new ways to satisfy the current and growing food demand and to maintain crop protection and food safety. One of the most promising changes is the replacement of chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers, which include plant root-associated beneficial bacteria. This work describes and shows the use of B. halotolerans SCCPVE07 and R. laguerreae PEPV40 strains as efficient biofertilizers for escarole crops, horticultural species that are widely cultivated. An in silico genome study was performed where coding genes related to plant growth promoting (PGP) mechanisms or different enzymes implicated in the metabolism of phenolic compounds were identified. An efficient bacterial root colonization process was also analyzed through fluorescence microscopy. SCCPVE07 and PEPV40 promote plant development under normal conditions and saline stress. Moreover, inoculated escarole plants showed not only an increase in potassium, iron and magnesium content but also a significant improvement in protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid or kaempferol 3-O-glucuronide plant content. Our results show for the first time the beneficial effects in plant development and the food quality of escarole crops and highlight a potential and hopeful change in the current agricultural system even under saline stress, one of the major non-biological stresses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

26 pages, 1506 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Essential Oils and Their Major Components: An Updated Review on Antimicrobial Activities, Mechanism of Action and Their Potential Application in the Food Industry

by Manasweeta Angane, Simon Swift, Kang Huang, Christine A. Butts and Siew Young Quek

Foods 2022, 11(3), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11030464 - 4 Feb 2022

Cited by 179 | Viewed by 15312

Abstract

A novel alternative to synthetic preservatives is the use of natural products such as essential oil (EO) as a natural food-grade preservative. EOs are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), so they could be considered an alternative way to increase the shelf-life of highly [...] Read more.

A novel alternative to synthetic preservatives is the use of natural products such as essential oil (EO) as a natural food-grade preservative. EOs are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), so they could be considered an alternative way to increase the shelf-life of highly perishable food products by impeding the proliferation of food-borne pathogens. The mounting interest within the food industry and consumer preference for “natural” and “safe” products means that scientific evidence on plant-derived essential oils (EOs) needs to be examined in-depth, including the underlying mechanisms of action. Understanding the mechanism of action that individual components of EO exert on the cell is imperative to design strategies to eradicate food-borne pathogens. Results from published works showed that most EOs are more active against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria due to the difference in the cell wall structure. In addition, the application of EOs at a commercial scale has been minimal, as their flavour and odour could be imparted to food. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research carried out on EOs, emphasizing the antibacterial activity of fruit peel EOs, and the antibacterial mechanism of action of the individual components of EOs. A brief outline of recent contributions of EOs in the food matrix is highlighted. The findings from the literature have been encouraging, and further research is recommended to develop strategies for the application of EO at an industrial scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Towards the Use of Natural Compounds for Crop Protection and Food Safety

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI