No abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the degree of contamination caused by Cryptosporidium oocyts in regularly consumed salad vegetables sold at various wholesale and retail markets in northern part of Bangladesh. A total number of 165 samples of salad vegetables collected from different wholesale and retail markets were examined for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts using sucrose flotation medium of 1.18 specific gravity and Ziehl Neelsen staining technique with some modifications. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 47 (30%) of the total examined samples. About 40 Tomato, 35 Cucumber, 20 Lettuce, 35 Carrot and 35 Mint's leaf samples were examined while Lettuce had the highest (40%) contamination rate followed by Tomato (32.5%), Carrot (31.4%), Cucumber (25.7%), and Mint's leaf (22.8%). There was no significant difference (x2 = 2.278; p <0.05) among occurrences of Cryptosporidium oocysts in usually consumed salad vegetables sold at market. This study has shown that salad vegetables sold at wholesale and retail markets in northern part of Bangladesh are contaminated with Cryptosporidium oocysts, may pose a health risk to consumers of such products. This reveals food safety and significance of public health.

The present experiment titled "pre harvest bagging enhanced quality and shelf life of mango cv. Langra" was conducted during the year 2017 at the mango orchard near Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The research was carried out in the Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Mango fruits were bagged at 35, 45 and 55 days after fruit set with different types of bags which constituted various treatments viz.: T1: Transparent polythene bag, T2: White paper single layered bag, T3: Brown paper double layered bag, T4: control (no bagging). In fruit physical parameter result bagged at 35 days after fruit set with white paper and brown paper bag recorded maximum fruit length (97.93 and 103.5 mm), fruit diameter (79.27 and 84.85 mm), fruit weight (311.66 g and 329.2 g), pulp weight (278.9 g and 289.8 g) respectively, and minimum result was found in polythene bag and control. Meanwhile in fruit chemical parameter of total sugar, reducing and non-reducing sugars, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, pH and β-carotene were improved over control. Brown paper bag changed fruit color. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown and white paper bags were improved over control. Fruits treated with brown paper bag showed shelf life upto 11 days with lowest weight loss and good physical quality as against 6days of unbagged fruits (control). These results specify that fruit bagging can improve fruit quality through diminution in disease and insect-pest infestation and shelf life of mango cv. Langra.

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An investigation was performed for safe mango production by applying minimum use of pesticide, entitled studies on influence of bagging on physico-chemical properties and shelf life of mango cv. Mollika. Mango fruits were bagged at marble stage with different types of bags which constituted various treatments viz.: T1: Brown paper double layered bag (BPB), T2: White paper single layered bag (WPB), T3: Muslin cloth bag (MCB) and T0: Non-bagged (control). Bagging with brown paper bag and white paper bag improved fruit retention, weight of fruit, diameter of fruit, pulp weight, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, percent of citric acid, reducing sugars and β-carotene at harvest and ripe stage over control. Brown paper bag improved fruit color, texture, appearance and sweetness. In all cases, good quality, cleaner, disease and insect free fruits were harvested. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown, white and muslin cloth bags were improved over control. Fruits treated with brown paper bag showed shelf life upto 18 days with lowest weight loss and good physical quality as against 15 days of untreated fruits (control). Pre-harvest bagging also reduced occurrence of spongy tissue and the incidence of mealy bugs. Thus it is concluded that fruit bagging influenced growth and development of mango fruit by the reductionof disease and insect-pest attack and also increases shelf life of mango.