Starch-based films affected by the addition of collagen from Prochilodus magdalenae residues and HPMC: Application in Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth) coatings.

Starch-based films offer the advantages of biodegradability, edibility, barrier properties, flexibility, and adaptability. This study compared the physicochemical properties of starch-based films by adding raw fish collagen and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). The tensile properties were evaluated, and the interaction with water was analyzed. Barrier properties, such as water vapor and oxygen permeability, were examined, and optical properties, such as gloss and good internal transmittance, were evaluated. The films were evaluated as coatings on Andean blackberries (Rubus glaucus Benth) for 2 weeks at 85% RH and 25°C. The results showed that the inclusion of collagen caused a reduction in the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the films. Also, the formulation with the highest collagen concentration (F7) exhibited the lowest weight loss and water vapor permeability, also it had the highest collagen concentration and showed the highest reduction in Xw and WAC, with values of 0.048 and 0.65 g water/g dry film, respectively. According to analyzing the optical properties, F1 presented the highest bright-ness and transmittance values, with 18GU and 82 nm values, respectively. In general, the films and coatings are alternatives to traditional packaging materials to prolong the shelf life of these fruits.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Andean blackberry fruit extract.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using various plant materials opens a new scope for the phytochemist and discourages the use of toxic chemicals. In this article, we report an eco-friendly and low-cost method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Andean blackberry fruit extracts as both a reducing and capping agent. The green synthesized AgNPs were characterized by various analytical instruments like UV-visible, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The formation of AgNPs was analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy at λmax = 435 nm. TEM analysis of AgNPs showed the formation of a crystalline, spherical shape and 12-50 nm size, whereas XRD peaks at 38.04°, 44.06°, 64.34° and 77.17° confirmed the crystalline nature of AgNPs. FTIR analysis was done to identify the functional groups responsible for the synthesis of the AgNPs. Furthermore, it was found that the AgNPs showed good antioxidant efficacy (>78%, 0.1 mM) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The process of synthesis is environmentally compatible and the synthesized AgNPs could be a promising candidate for many biomedical applications.

Ultrasound as pretreatment to convective drying of Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth).

In this study, we evaluated the use of ultrasound as a pretreatment for convective drying of Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth). For this, a Box-Behnken experimental design was used to study the effect of ultrasound vibration amplitude (0-90µm), time of sonication (10-30min) and air temperature (40-60°C) on the retention of antioxidant compounds and on the kinetics of convective drying. The results showed that the antioxidant activity on fruit was reduced as the vibration amplitude and time of sonication increased, while was found that vibration amplitude ultrasound and air drying temperature were the variables that more affect the drying rate of blackberries. The drying rate increased by almost five times when samples were treated with ultrasound at 90µm for 20min. They were then dried using air at 60°C. It is concluded that the application of ultrasound in blackberry processing allows to obtain a dehydrated product with better functional quality and shows to be effective in reducing the time necessary to achieve a given value of moisture during convective drying.

Propagación in vitro de materiales seleccionados de Rubus glaucus Benth (mora de Castilla) en la provincia de Pamplona, región nororiental de Colombia / Propagation in vitro of selected materials of Rubus glaucus Benth (mora de Castilla) in the province of Pamplona, northeastern Colombia

En este estudio los materiales fueron seleccionados en 53 fincas pertenecientes a cuatro asociaciones de cultivadores de mora en los municipios de Pamplona y Chitagá (Norte de Santander, Colombia). Se emplearon como explantes segmentos nodales, los cuales permitieron obtener en poco tiempo brotes adventicios adecuados para la multiplicación masiva. Para la etapa de establecimiento se empleó el medio de cultivo Murashige y Skoog, (MS 1962), suplementado con ácido giberélico (GA3) (0.0-0.1 mg/L) y 6-benzil aminopurina (BAP) (0,0-2,0 mg/L), en la etapa de multiplicación MS ,suplementado con GA3 (0,0-0,03 mg/L-1) y BAP (0,0-2,5 mg/L) y para la etapa de enraizamiento MS, suplementados con ácido indolbutírico (AIB) (0,0-1,0 mg/L). A los datos generados en las tres etapas, se les aplicó un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar y se analizaron estadísticamente los promedios de los tratamientos mediante una prueba de Tukey. Los resultados alcanzados indicaron tasas promedio de contaminación (16,5-49,7 %) multiplicación (3,8-4,3 brotes/explante) y enraizamiento (3,3-4,3 raíces/planta) in vitro para los diferentes materiales seleccionados y evaluados. Estos resultados, logrados por primera vez en la región Nororiental de Colombia, son importantes por cuanto se contara con materiales seleccionados disponibles para los cultivadores de mora de la región.

In this study plant materials were selected in 53 farms belonging to four growers associations of blackberry in the municipalities of Pamplona and Chitagá (North of de Santander, Colombia). Nodal segments were used as initial explants of R. glaucus. For the establishment stage Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) media was used and, supplemented with of gibberellic acid (GA3) (0.0 -0.1 mg/L) and 6-aminopurine (BAP) (0.0 -2.0 mg/L); for the multiplication stage MS was supplemented with GA3 (0.0 -0.03 mg/L) and BAP, (0.0 -2.5 mg/L) and for the rooting stage MS was supplemented with acid indolbutirico (0.0 -1.0 mg/L). From the data generated during the three stages, an experimental design of incomplete blocks was randomly applied and the treatments averages were statistically analyzed using the Tukey Test. The results indicated average rates of contamination (16.5-49.7 %), multiplication (3.8-4.3 shoots/explant) and in vitro rooting (3.3-4.3 roots/plant) for the different evaluated materials. These results, achieved first in the Northeastern region of Colombia, are important in that they will feature selected materials available for blackberry growers in the region.