The aim of our study was to evaluate physical properties of cashew nuts from the three main production areas in Côte d'Ivoire namely Bondoukou, Dabakala and Mankono after 6 months of storage in identical conditions. Sample cashew nuts have been collected from farmers randomly selected in 20 localities far enough apart and also veritable purveyors of nuts. The physical traits of the raw cashew nuts and their different parts were evaluated by standard methods. As results, our data showed that despite the similar mass (in mean 6.23 g) of cashew nuts independently of the origin, the mass of the kernels nuts from Bondoukou (2.17 g) were significantly higher than those from Dabakala (1.90 g) and Mankono (1.81 g) respectively in contrast to the shell mass indicating the best kernels yield at Bondoukou. Nuts water content diminished slowly from nuts at Bondoukou (3.86%) but rapidly at Mankono (5.68%) after 6 months of storage. For the morphometric characteristics, our results revealed that the nuts from Bondoukou were statistically shorter but the kernels were thicker (15.1 ± 0.50 mm) versus and for Dabakala (11.4 ± 0.16 mm) and Mankono (11.2 ± 0.19 mm) respectively. There is a clear correlation between the arithmetic diameter of the kernels and their sphericity (r = 0.99). Concerning the technological properties, out-turn was average ranged from 44.09 to 46.69 with defective up to 18% at Dabakala. Taken together, our results suggested that the cashew nuts presented different physical properties according to each region of production in Côte d'Ivoire requiring appropriated agricultural practices.
Abstract:The conservation of fresh kolanuts produced in Côte d'Ivoire and intended for the export, poses a veritable problem for the farmers. After 2 or 3 months of storage, the stock of kolanuts dramatically diminished occasioning high loss of economic resources. The aim of the present study was to find strategies for the best conservation for long period by investigation in appropriated nature of container, temperature of storage and in a possible fungicide adequate for kolanuts. Three (03) containers namely traditional made from the leaves of Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benn.) Benth., polyvinyl chloride (PVC) container and perforated cardboard have been studied. The temperatures of storage investigated were 26°C and 29°C while epoxiconazole is used as the fungicide. Fungi and Ochratoxin A (OTA) occurrence have been taken as bio-indicators of kolanuts healthy. Fungi were isolated by using Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and standard laboratory methods while OTA was extracted with a methanol/3% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and purified using an immunoaffinity column prior to HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection. As results, the best temperature of storage could be 26°C and the container PVC had been found more efficient in fungi reduction in kolanuts when compared to traditional container made from leaves of Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benn.) Benth. In addition, OTA levels are stayed lows after 10 months of kolanuts storage. Moreover, the fungicide epoxiconazole was able to prevent Aspergillius flavus proliferation and retarded both Penicillium sp. contamination and OTA secretion in kolanuts until 6 months of storage. Taken together, the results suggested that a combination of the using of PVC container and fungicide epoxiconazole and 26°C as temperature of storage could improve significantly the conservation of fresh kolanuts for several months.
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