The current manuscript overviews the potential of inimitable zero dimensional carbon nanoentities, i.e., nanodiamonds, in the form of hybrid nanostructures with allied nanocarbons such as graphene and carbon nanotube. Accordingly, two major categories of hybrid nanodiamond nanoadditives have been examined for nanocompositing, including nanodiamond-graphene or nanodiamond/graphene oxide and nanodiamond/carbon nanotubes. These exceptional nanodiamond derived bifunctional nanocarbon nanostructures depicted valuable structural and physical attributes (morphology, electrical, mechanical, thermal, etc.) owing to the combination of intrinsic features of nanodiamonds with other nanocarbons. Consequently, as per literature reported so far, noteworthy multifunctional hybrid nanodiamond-graphene, nanodiamond/graphene oxide, and nanodiamond/carbon nanotube nanoadditives have been argued for characteristics and potential advantages. Particularly, these nanodiamond derived hybrid nanoparticles based nanomaterials seem deployable in the fields of electromagnetic radiation shielding, electronic devices like field effect transistors, energy storing maneuvers namely supercapacitors, and biomedical utilizations for wound healing, tissue engineering, biosensing, etc. Nonetheless, restricted research traced up till now on hybrid nanodiamond-graphene and nanodiamond/carbon nanotube based nanocomposites, therefore, future research appears necessary for further precise design varieties, large scale processing, and advanced technological progresses.
Studies to evaluate the response of passion fruit seedlings in terms of emergence, nursery, and early field growth to growing media and mulching were carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi between July and December 2018. Treatments consisted of five media, composted from readily available substrates. The five nursery media were; medium 1:1:2:3 (SB) composed of top soil + poultry manure + river sand; medium 2:1:2:3 (RHB) – rice hull + poultry manure + river sand; medium 3:2:3:1 (RHB) – rice hull + poultry manure + river sand; medium 4:1:4:3 (SDB) – sawdust + poultry manure + river sand and medium 5:1:2:3 (SDB) – sawdust + poultry manure + river sand. For the nursery experiment, treatments were the five potting media, while the field trial was a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of the five growing media and mulching status (mulch and no mulch). In both cases, treatments were laid out in randomized designs that were replicated three times. Results showed that there were no significant differences in all the emergence traits evaluated. However, medium M5 (sawdust based) showed superior performance in most of the seedling characters evaluated. Under field conditions, the sawdust based media (M4 and M5) gave the best growth of passion fruit seedlings compared to the other potting media. Application of mulch, however, did not elicit any significant response in plant growth. It is therefore conclusive that sawdust based growing media could be used to produce high quality passion fruit seedlings with the prospect of excellent performance under field conditions.
Mangifera indica L. (Mango, Anacardiaceae) is a popular tropical evergreen tree known for its nutritional and medicinal values. It is native to India and Southeast Asia and is known as the “king of fruits” in India and the Philippines. It is considered important in Ayurveda and other systems of medicine. Mango fruit is unique in its taste, colour, aroma, and nutritional qualities. Mangoes are a rich source of polyphenols (Mangiferin, Gallotannins, Quercetin, Isoquercetin, Ellagic acid, Glucogallin, Kaempferol, Catechins, Tannins, and the unique Xanthonoid), phenolic acids (Hydroxybenzoic acids- Gallic, Vanillic, Syringic, Protocatechuic, and p-Hydroxybenzoic acids, Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives-p-Coumaric, Chlorogenic, Ferulic, and Caffeic acids), flavonoids (β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and Lutein), Vitamin A, Vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin-C, Vitamin-E, Carbohydrates, Amino acids, Organic acids, micronutrients (Potassium, Copper), fats (Omega-3 and 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids), dietary fibre and certain volatile compounds. About 25 different types of carotenoids have been isolated from the fruit pulp, which contributes to the colour of the fruit. Phytochemical and nutrient content may vary depending on the cultivar. Mangoes possess potential medicinal properties such as antioxidant, gastro-protective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunomodulatory, anti-microbial, and many more. Mango fruit is an abundant source of all essential nutrients and phytochemicals; it could be ultilized as a nutritional supplement in the prevention and cure of several diseases. A comprehensive report on the nutritional and medicinal properties of fruit is presented below.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a tropical vegetable and a source of vitamins such as K, C, and B. It is commonly grown and sold for daily consumption, but picking the right fruit size is more profitable. Therefore, a method for estimating the fruit weight is highly recommended. This paper aimed to determine the dimensions of cucumber fruit based on its usual harvesting size and to establish a model to show the relationship between fruit weight, fruit length, and fruit diameter. Cucumber was planted in the experimental field belonging to the Faculty of Agricultural Biosystems Engineering, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from January to June 2022. In the study, 48 market-size fruits were randomly selected from the plots to measure their weight, length, and diameter. The result shows that fruit length and fruit diameter had a positive relationship (P < 0.001; R = 0.70). Fruit weight was 3.38 fruit length × fruit diameter (P <0.001; R = 0.95). Nevertheless, L/D ratio negatively affected fruit weight, when it exceeded 3:1. Fruit weight was greater than 100 g when fruit diameter was over 4 cm and fruit length was over 10 cm. Therefore, when picking cucumber fruits, one must consider fruit length and diameter to be profitable. Further studies will focus on measuring cucumber fruit already available on the market to understand more about actual consumer preferences.
The cambucizeiro (Campomanesia phaea), belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is a native plant of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The description of the characteristics of the cambucizeiro fruits is important to support new genetic improvement works and its commercial exploitation, especially regarding the processing of the fruit. The present work aimed to perform the morphological and chemical characterization of the cambucizeiro fruits. Fifty-eight accessions, from different locations in the Atlantic Forest and Serra do Mar in the state of São Paulo, were collected, propagated by seeds and one specimen of each accessory is at the Seedling Production Center in São Bento do Sapucaí (SP). Forty fruits from each access were collected in May and submitted to the following analyses: longitudinal and transversal diameter, total fruit fresh mass, number and mass of seeds, total soluble solids, % citric acid, ratio, firmness, vitamin C and coloration. Fruit conformation varies intensely among accessions. The number of seeds is not a good indicator for the relation with the fruit mass, but the mass of one thousand seeds. Some accessions have high soluble solids content, but, on the other hand, the vast majority have fruits with high acidity. Cambuci is an excellent source of vitamin C. The fruits of the accessions are green in color, persisting an opaque shade when ripe.
Hydroponics is a modern agricultural system that enables year-round plant growth. Biochar, derived from apple tree waste, and humic acid were investigated as a replacement for the Hoagland nutrient solution to grow strawberries in a greenhouse with three replications. Growth parameters, such as leaf area, the average number of fruits per plant, maximum fruit weight, and the weight of fresh and dry fruits, were measured. A 50% increase in fresh and dry fruit weight was observed in plants grown using biochar compared to the control. Additionally, the use of Hoagland chemical fertilizer led to a 25% increase in both fresh and dry weight. There was a 65% increase in the number of fruits per plant in the biochar-grown sample compared to the control. Moreover, biochar fertilizer caused a 100% increase in maximum fruit weight compared to the control and a 27% increase compared to the Hoagland chemical fertilizer. Biochar had a higher pH compared to the Hoagland solution, and such pH levels were conducive to strawberry plant growth. The results indicate that biochar has the potential to enhance the size and weight of fruits. The findings of the study demonstrate that biochar, when combined with humic acid, is a successful organic hydroponic fertilizer that improves the quality and quantity of strawberries. Moreover, this approach enables the more efficient utilization of garden waste.
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