Inderscience is a global company, a dynamic leading independent journal publisher disseminates the latest research across the broad fields of science, engineering and technology; management, public and business administration; environment, ecological economics and sustainable development; computing, ICT and internet/web services, and related areas.

Gray mould disease, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is a significant threat to tomato production. This study investigates the effects of Vernonia amygdalina nanoemulsions (VNFs) on defense enzyme activities in tomatoes under postharvest conditions (25 ± 2°C and RH 85%). Two formulations, F5 and F7, were applied to artificially inoculated fruits and compared with benomyl-treated and untreated controls. F5 demonstrated superior efficacy, inducing elevated activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), with sustained levels throughout storage. F7 exhibited prolonged phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, indicating systemic resistance. VNFs outperformed synthetic fungicides by combining antifungal properties with host defense priming, reducing fungal growth and enhancing tomato immunity. This study highlights the potential of VNFs as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides, offering sustainable strategies for postharvest disease management. Future work should focus on molecular pathways and field-scale validation of these promising formulations.

The present study aimed to develop chitosan-sodium alginate composite coating (0.2 g/mL) and films encapsulated with clove nanoemulsion for sustainable food packaging application. The results demonstrated that all the prepared films forming solution showed particle size (1722 nm-2879 nm) with 28-54.10% polydispersity index and contact angle on guava skin (54.20°-63.21°) and eggplant skin (58.11°-68.19°), respectively. All the films showed good antioxidant activity and mechanical strength, water barrier and thermal stability, whereas the higher lowest WVP value was determined in F3 films (2.47g.mm/h.m2.kPa) followed by F2. Thermal properties results demonstrated higher peak value was in the F3 composite films (91.5°C) as compared to the other films. The composite films F2 and F3 exhibited the smoothest surface and the most homogenous distribution and antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens. Composite films F3 and F2 were found more suitable films for food packaging applications.

Assessment of on-farm sorghum grain loss under farmers' traditional postharvest practices was conducted in East Hararghe Lowlands in Ethiopia to determine grain loss magnitudes at on-field operation stages. The study used split-plots design with three sorghum varieties and three harvesting times assigned to whole plots and sub-plots, respectively. Harvesting grain loss means were varied from 2.25% to 7.33% with harvesting time. The highest grain loss was recorded at threshing stage with significant differences among the varieties ranging from minimum of 4.40% for Makko to the maximum of 8.52% for Qaqqaba. The total on-farm loss increased from 15.44% for Makko to 18.89% for Malkam harvested at first and last time, respectively. Harvesting on 10 days after days to maturity indicated reduced total on-farm loss for all varieties. On-farm sorghum grain loss causes an estimate of $545.80 million loss to the country, annually.

Assessment of on-farm sorghum grain loss under farmers' traditional postharvest practices was conducted in East Hararghe Lowlands in Ethiopia to determine grain loss magnitudes at on-field operation stages. The study used split-plots design with three sorghum varieties and three harvesting times assigned to whole plots and sub-plots, respectively. Harvesting grain loss means were varied from 2.25% to 7.33% with harvesting time. The highest grain loss was recorded at threshing stage with significant differences among the varieties ranging from minimum of 4.40% for Makko to the maximum of 8.52% for Qaqqaba. The total on-farm loss increased from 15.44% for Makko to 18.89% for Malkam harvested at first and last time, respectively. Harvesting on 10 days after days to maturity indicated reduced total on-farm loss for all varieties. On-farm sorghum grain loss causes an estimate of $545.80 million loss to the country, annually.

The present study aimed at the evaluation of postharvest quality of guava fruit (cv. Gola) stored under different packaging materials at room temperature. Transition in multiple quality parameters was quantified at fixed intervals (4-days) during the storage period of 20 days. Each packaging material had significant effect upon fruit quality as compared to control samples. The values of firmness, ascorbic acid and total phenolics inclined to retain in the packaged fruit samples as compared to control. Respiratory gases (ethylene and CO2) were hindered under HDPE and BDP packaging's materials. In terms of enzyme dynamics, catalase (CAT) was high with the passage of storage; however, lower activity of poly phenol oxidase (PPO) was observed in packed samples as compared to unpacked one. Biodegradable, PP and HDPE packaging showed promising results to maintain better fruit quality and revealed higher values for phenolics and vitamin C contents during storage.

Galactomannan is a filmogenic polysaccharide suitable for edible coatings. The addition of nanoencapsulated active ingredients improves its antifungal activity. In this way, nanocomposite materials were developed based on galactomannan and nanoencapsulated essential oil and polyphenols, extracted, respectively from Lippia grata and grape skin by-products. The size of chitosan nanoparticles increased after encapsulation, varying from 42 ± 24 to 295 ± 0 nm for polyphenols. Overall, the nanoparticle suspension was stable, with encapsulation efficiency close to 20% for the essential oil and 90% for polyphenols. Nanocomposite films were isolated by casting and characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), water vapour permeability, mechanical properties, release profile, and antifungal activity. By SEM, the films showed good nanoparticle dispersion in the matrix and improved mechanical properties compared to the non-added film. The sample based on essential oil showed good antifungal activity against Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Such properties make these films adequate for postharvest coating applications.

Postharvest losses still pose serious challenges to the maize value chain in Ghana despite the effort by the government to encourage the use of modern technologies to curb it. Meanwhile, the literature on innovative technologies abounds. However, very little of it covers the north of Ghana and particularly the Yendi Municipal area where different indigenous maize storage strategies are still extensively used. In a multistage sample procedure, 120 farmers were obtained from the Yendi Municipal area of the Northern Region of Ghana. A multivariate analysis of variance technique was used in a quantitative study and the result shows a statistically non-significant difference between male and female farmers' utilisation of indigenous storage strategies for maize. We also find higher technology use among female farmers, predominantly by the most active generation. We suggest an intervention policy to subsidise modern environmentally friendly technologies that will easily blend with the indigenous storage knowledge.