This research was carried out to determine the pollination abilities of Domat, Gemlik and Sarı Ulak olive cultivars. Pollen viability rate, germination rate and amount of pollen production were examined during the periods when 25%, 50% and 75% of the flowers were opened.  According to the results obtained from three years’ experimental study, the highest percentages of pollen viability were found in Gemlik (81.51%) and Domat (81.50%), whereas Sarı Ulak cultivar (77.41%) showed the lowest viability. In pollen germination percentages, the highest values on the basis of cultivars were determined 59.85% (Domat), 59.74% (Gemlik) and 52.12% (Sarı Ulak). The highest amount of pollen production in a flower was found in the Sarı Ulak cultivar (329,046) while it was followed by Domat (319,693) and Gemlik (306,385). Despite the high pollen production in Sarı Ulak cultivar, the pollen viability and germination rates were found to be low. In Gemlik and Domat cultivars, all values were obtained relatively near. In addition, it had been noted that the values related to pollen viability, germination and production amount were higher during 50% and 75% flowering periods than 25%.

In this work, two methods based on microwave-assisted extraction techniques for the extraction of both anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from açai have been developed. For that, a full factorial design (Box-Behnken design) has been used to optimize the following four variables: solvent composition (25–75% methanol in water), temperature (50–100 °C), pH (2–7), and sample/solvent ratio (0.5 g: 10 mL–0.5 g: 20 mL). The anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds content have been determined by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The optimum conditions for the extraction of anthocyanins were 38% MeOH in water, 99.63 °C, pH 3.00, at 0.5 g: 10 mL of ratio, while for the extraction of total phenolic compounds they were 74.16% MeOH in water, 99.14 °C, pH 5.46, at 0.5 g: 20 mL of ratio. Both methods have shown a high repeatability and intermediate precision with a relative standard deviation lower than 5%. Furthermore, an extraction kinetics study was carried out using extraction periods ranging from 2 min until 25 min. The optimized methods have been applied to açai-containing real samples. The results with such real samples have confirmed that both methods are suitable for a rapid and reliable extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds.

In this work, two methods based on microwave-assisted extraction techniques for the extraction of both anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from acai have been developed. For that, a full factorial design (Box-Behnken design) has been used to optimize the following four variables: solvent composition (25-75% methanol in water), temperature (50-100 degrees C), pH (2-7), and sample/solvent ratio (0.5 g: 10 mL-0.5 g: 20 mL). The anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds content have been determined by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The optimum conditions for the extraction of anthocyanins were 38% MeOH in water, 99.63 degrees C, pH 3.00, at 0.5 g: 10 mL of ratio, while for the extraction of total phenolic compounds they were 74.16% MeOH in water, 99.14 degrees C, pH 5.46, at 0.5 g: 20 mL of ratio. Both methods have shown a high repeatability and intermediate precision with a relative standard deviation lower than 5%. Furthermore, an extraction kinetics study was carried out using extraction periods ranging from 2 min until 25 min. The optimized methods have been applied to acai-containing real samples. The results with such real samples have confirmed that both methods are suitable for a rapid and reliable extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds.

Dahi is a fermented milk product containing probiotic lactic acid bacteria. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize lactic acid-producing bacteria from native Dahi and evaluate their viability in orange juice using natural prebiotics. Dahi samples were obtained from local shops in Chattogram and Bogura, Bangladesh. Lactic acid-producing bacteria were isolated using MRS (de Mann Rogosa and Sharpe) medium. The isolated bacteria were identified through colony morphology, biochemical tests, and probiotic characteristics. Molecular identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting conserved 16S rDNA regions. Isolates of the genus Lactobacillus and Lactococcus lactis sp. Lactis were confirmed and used to develop probiotic orange juice. Prebiotics (Asparagus falcatus and Zingiber officinale) were added to the juice to support probiotic growth. The inoculated cell’s viability and the juice’s physicochemical parameters were evaluated during fermentation (48 hours) and storage (28 days). All fruit juice samples showed a mean number of viable cells of at least 1×105 CFU/mL during the 48-hour fermentation and 28-day storage in the refrigerator. Using natural prebiotics positively affected the survival of lactic acid bacteria, as demonstrated by bacterial colony growth on Petri dishes. Developing probiotic fruit juice enriched with prebiotics could be an effective alternative for individuals allergic or intolerant to milk-based products. Incorporating lactic acid bacteria from native Dahi into orange juice, combined with natural prebiotics, resulted in viable probiotic cells throughout fermentation and storage.

Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, is a multipurpose vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world for its immature seed pods and leaves. The crop seldom reaches its yield potential in most of these areas, primarily due to a decline in soil fertility. As a result, a field experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources Demonstration Farm, KNUST-Kumasi to assess the effect of NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser and Leucaena leucocephala leafy biomass application on the growth and yield of okra. The treatment combinations were laid out in a 3 × 3 factorial randomised complete block design with 9 treatments replicated 4 times for a total of 36 experimental units. Leucaena leafy biomass and NPK were evaluated solely and in combinations at a rate of 75 kg N/ha on a weight basis. The treatment combinations were applied as follows: T1 = Control; T2 = 0.14 kg NPK (15:15:15); T3 = 0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15); T4 = 0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass; T5 = 0.25 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass; T6 = T2 + T4; T7 = T3 + T5; T8 = T2 + T5; T9 = T3 + T4. The number of days from planting to the first anthesis of okra differed significantly (p ˂ 0.05). T3 showed the least number of days to the first anthesis observation (47 days), while T9 had the highest number of days to the first anthesis (49.3 days). On a weekly basis (starting with 5 weeks after planting, WAP), height was not significantly different among the various treatments. Stem diameter followed a sequence similar to plant height, starting from 5 to 10 WAP, where no significant differences occurred between treatment means. However, mean values revealed that okra plants varied significantly in height; T9 had the tallest plants (27.2 cm), while T2 and T8 had the shortest plants (21.2 and 21.2 cm, respectively). There was a significant difference between the treatment means and stem diameter. In the same advanced line, T9 had the highest stem diameter (9.9 mm), with T5 having the lowest stem diameter (6.9 mm). Fruit yield was also significantly different, with T4 having the most fruit (39,259 fruits per ha) and T8 having the least (19,259 fruits per ha). The fruit dry weight was significantly different, as the highest weight was recorded in T7 (12.5 tonnes/ha) and the lowest was recorded in T9 (5.3 tonnes/ha). The combination treatment T9 [0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser + 0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot] had a significantly improved height and diameter compared to the other treatments. The highest fruit yield of okra was recorded in T4 (0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot), and the highest dry weight of okra was registered in T7 (0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser + 0.25 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot). Therefore, it is recommended that sole L. leucocephala leafy biomass (T4) and its combination with NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser (T9) be adopted by smallholder farmers to cultivate okra in the tropics.