Strains SU22T (TBRC 14875T) and FLA11.5, representing a novel anamorphic yeast species, were respectively isolated from a fruiting body of a Coprinus species and an inflorescence of a Coffea species collected in Thailand. Analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions showed that the two strains differed by two nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene and were identical in the ITS regions. Wickerhamiella drosophilae CBS 8459T was the most closely related species, but with 24–26 nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene and 24 nucleotide substitutions in the ITS regions. A phylogenetic analysis, based on the sequences of the D1/D2 domains, indicated that the two strains represented a species in the genus Wickerhamiella which was distinct from other recognized species of the genus. Therefore, the two strains were assigned as a novel species, for which we propose the name Wickerhamiella nakhonpathomensis f.a. sp. nov. The holotype is TBRC 14875T (isotype PYCC 8914T). The MycoBank number of the novel species is MB 840833.

No abstract

Agricultural food industry in Thailand generated incomes about 10.5% gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in 2015. The demands of agricultural food products around the world has been increased for years. Agricultural food products from Thailand could not be exported as many as the growth of market demands because of the limitation of food safety guarantees. Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a minimal requirement for exported food products to assure food safety. Not all Thai companies in agricultural food industry received HACCP certifications. There might be some challenges that obstructed the implementation of HACCP in the food industry of Thailand. The objective of this research was to identify challenges faced by companies in Thailand when implementing the HACCP in agricultural food companies. An online survey was conducted to collect data from companies in food industry. Twenty companies completed the survey. All twelve challenges proposed in the research survey were experienced by participating companies during the HACCP implementation. The challenges, identified as barriers to implement HACCP, were a lack of employee engagement in HACCP implementation, a lack of employees who understand the HACCP system, and a lack of advanced statistical knowledge. The results suggested companies to develop an effective communication plan to convey the HACCP implementation plan to employees at all levels and to provide training programs, related to HACCP and statistics, to fulfill knowledge and skills required in the HACCP implementation.

Parabolic greenhouse solar dryers have been developed to overcome product quality and postharvest loss problems. It uses solar energy, a renewable source of energy. Due to their high investment costs, economic feasibility and the potential of carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation were investigated. Owners and managers of 17 enterprises, producing several varieties of herb products, investing in different sizes of solar dryers and using various traditional drying methods before investing in solar dryers, were interviewed in depth to create a data set. The net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback period and CO2 mitigation were evaluated. The enterprises with annual production capacities higher than 1,200 kg or the annual revenues higher than solar dryer investment costs tended to have positive NPV indicating that the investments were attractive. Most enterprises showing CO2 mitigation higher than 130 tCO2e over 15 years had positive NPV. The annual production capacity, annual revenue and the amount of CO2 mitigation could be used to assess investing in greenhouse solar dryers.

This study aimed to compare the performance and economic efficiency of greenhouse solar and hot air drying. These are widely used and inexpensive techniques for preserved fruit production in Thailand. Two drying methods were used to dry mango fruit, var. Nam Dok Mai. During the process of both drying methods, the moisture content of mango slices was reduced from an average 85.6% to 12.5% wet basis. To determine the most profitable dryer system for investment, economic analyses of greenhouse solar and hot air drying, involving the main variables affecting their profitability, were investigated, including production and maintenance cost, capital costs, revenue, and drying capacities. The internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV), benefit to cost ratio (BCR) and payback period (PBP) were all evaluated. The results of economic evaluation revealed that high values of IRR, NPV, and BCR, and low value of PBP made the two drying systems cost efficient. However, when the incremental rate of return (ROR) was determined, 66% incremental ROR was much greater than the minimum attractive rate of return (MARR = 4.875%). Consequently, the greenhouse solar drying method proved to be the most suitable method for small-to-medium-scale entrepreneurs to produce crispy mango.