Search results for "PEAR"
showing 10 items of 442 documents
Effect of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller) on the antioxidant capacity of donkey milk
2017
The cladodes of Opuntia ficus‐indica (L.) Miller were fed to lactating donkeys as an alternative food, in order to evaluate effects on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of their milk. Lactating donkeys were divided into two groups: standard feeding and alternative feeding. With regard to chemical composition, no differences were observed. Total antioxidant capacity was constant in the standard feeding group, while it increased in the alternative feeding group: the radical scavenging activity increased from 95.53% to 96.62% in the ABTS test and from 28.40% to 33.33% in the DPPH test. This indicated that alternative feeding affects the antioxidant capacity of milk.
Effect of opuntia ficus-indica mucilage edible coating on quality, nutraceutical, and sensorial parameters of minimally processed cactus pear fruits
2021
Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) is a non-climacteric fruit with a relatively short postharvest life span, being very sensitive to water loss, darkening and decay. Cactus pear is a spiny fruit, and the presence of glochids limits fruit consumption and diffusion
Quality attributes of cactus pear fruit and their role in consumer choice
2015
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to detect what experience and credence quality attributes contribute to the consumer decision to consume cactus pear fruit. The authors therefore try to measure the effect of each quality attribute on consumer choice. Design/methodology/approach – As a theoretical basis, two principal quality attributes emphasised in the literature on consumer behaviour were analysed and adjusted to the specific fruit features. The empirical strategy was carried out by administering a telephone questionnaire survey of 270 interviewees who consume cactus pears in Italy. The questionnaire, consisting of 14 items expressed on a metric scale (five-point Likert scale), was…
Research strategies for the improvement of cactuspear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit quality and production
1995
Abstract Cactus pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica L.) is cultivated worldwide for fruit production either in the subsistence agriculture of dryland areas or as a cash crop. However, little horticultural research has been devoted to this species so far. Research needs related to reproductive biology as well as productivity and orchard management are outlined. A better knowledge of the environmental influence on reproductive biology and fruit quality, the control of fluctuations in plant cropping, as well as the reduction of seed number and size, are the major challenges for future research. Cactus pear will transcend the ethnical markets only if adequate marketing strategies can be promoted and fr…
Physiological and Technical Aspects of Cactus Pear [Opuntia ficus-indica(L.) Mill.] Double Rellowering and Out-of-Season Winter Fruit Cropping
2007
Abstract A commercial cactus pear plantation in Sicily, Italy was manipulated to induce late cropping. The spring flush of flowers and cladodes were removed as was the second induced bloom of flowers and cladodes. The third induced bloom was harvested for a late out-of-season crop of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.). The double removal induced a third flush of flowers and cladodes during late August with a fruit production that ripened the following winter (to March). The number of flowers per fertile cladode was halved after the double removal and the length of the fruit development period increased from 100-120 days to 160-190 days for the out-of-season crop. Polyethylene covering…
Costs, revenues and incomes of Sicilian farms that cultivate cactus pear
2015
Sicily, placed at the center of the Mediterranean, for its favorable soil and climatic conditions, represents the main production area of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Miller) in Italy. In this context, the paper aims to estimate production costs, revenues and incomes of the Sicilian farms that cultivate cactus pear. The economic analysis has been carried out in the area of Santa Margherita Belice (AG), where the cultivation of cactus pear assumes a significant importance for the economy of the territory and where in last years many farmers have implanted specialized plantations also for the support granted by the EU agricultural policy. Economic analysis has involved 20 farms specia…
Study of the Importance of Emotional Factors Connected to the Colors of Fresh-Cut Cactus Pear Fruits in Consumer Purchase Choices for a Marketing Pos…
2015
Cactus pear has always aroused curiosity because of its shape and its particular structural characteristics (plate and spiny clatodes, oval fruits of different colors and flowers of an enchanting beauty). This plant evocates the territory where it grows, characterized by a sub-tropical climate, which in Europe is represented by the region of Sicily (Southern Italy), that is one of the main producers of the Mediterranean area. Sicily has three native cultivars with different colors of the fruit: red, yellow and white. The variety with the yellow fruit is the most widespread, although all of them are commercialized. The chromatic variety of these fruits might be an important element of attrac…
The influence of harvest period and fruit ripeness at harvest on minimally processed cactus pears (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill.) stored under passiv…
2015
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of (a) harvest season (summer and late crop), (b) fruit ripening stage at harvest and (c) time of storage, on the quality of minimal processed cactus pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica ). Fresh cut peeled cactus pears harvested at commercial harvest stage or when ripe on tree in August (summer crop) and October (late crop), were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 d at 5 °C and 95% RH in polyethylene terephthalate ( PET) packages under passive atmosphere conditions. Visual quality and crunchiness score, flesh color, microbiological analysis, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), total phenolics, ascorbic acid and β-carotene contents were…
Reducing postharvest decay in cactus pears by dip treatment with imazalil or azoxystrobin
2019
Postharvest decay in cactus pear is a minor problem in fruit marketed directly after harvest, while it may represent a major cause of losses when fruit are cold stored or subjected to cold quarantine treatments. Unfortunately, to date, no postharvest fungicide has been registered to control postharvest decay of cactus pears. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two globally known fungicides, imazalil (IMZ) and azoxystrobin (AZO), registered for postharvest treatment of various fresh produce species, to control decay on cactus pears. Second-crop cactus pears ‘Gialla’ fruits were dipped in 500 mg L(‑1) IMZ or AZO and stored at 1 or 8°C and 90-95% RH for 2 or 3 wee…
The effect of different amounts of cladode removal on reflowering of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica(L.) Miller)
1994
SummaryThe removal of the spring flush of flowers and cladodes at bloom promotes reflowering in cactus pear. Studies were conducted to investigate the influence of different amounts of spring flush cladode removal (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%) on cactus pear reflowering. A positive linear correlation between the severity of spring flush cladode removal and the degree of reflowering was found. Primary (spring flush) and secondary (second flush) cladodes showed the same fertility in the year after formation. Two year old cladodes showed a significantly lower fertility and have only a marginal effect on plant yield.