Water, though vital for life, is also the route for transmission of water-borne diseases. Bottled water is consumed worldwide for its accessibility and the public perception of purity. However, this perception is usually not based on experimental results to confirm or invalidate it, especially where the sample commodity is not adequately tested for quality. In this study, different bottled water brands in Lesotho were compared to tap and well water samples sourced locally. The standard water testing methods were used to assess the physicochemical and microbiological quality of these samples. The physicochemical parameters such as hardness, alkalinity, pH, chloride, conductivity and nitrate content were below WHO acceptable limits for all water samples tested. Upon the employment of multivariate statistics, one of the bottled water samples (C) was completely indistinguishable from the two well water samples collected in the local village. On the other hand, microbiological analysis indicated that the water samples designated as C (bottle water brand), F (tap water), G (Ha-Mafefooane) and H (Roma community water) had a high microbial load and were contaminated with Escherichia coli, while A, B, D and E samples contained Staphylococcus spp. The presence of such indicator organisms suggests possible poor hygiene during processing. It is therefore recommended that stricter policy measures be taken to regularly monitor bottled water quality, before and after production and storage, to fulfil the basic water quality standards of WHO. Public awareness should also be created that bottled water may still be impure, despite appearing attractive and convenient.
Evaluation of Ethiopian plant extracts, Acacia seyal and Withania somnifera, to control green mould and ensure quality maintenance of citrus (Citrus sinensis L.). Abstract-Introduction. Green mould, Penicillium digitatum (Pers.: Fr.) Sacc., causes economically important postharvest disease in citrus. Materials and methods. Ethiopian plant extracts of Acacia seyal (Del. Var. Seyal) and Withania somnifera (L.) Dual were used to test the control of green mould in wound-inoculated fruit, stored for 21 d at 7°C and at > 85% RH. The chemical compositions of the two extracts were determined using high-performance chromatography. Thereafter, freshly harvested (naturally infected) fruit were subjected to different postharvest treatments and stored for 50 d to investigate the effects of the two plant extracts on fruit quality parameters. Treatments included (pre-wax + leaf extracts), (wax + leaf extracts incorporated into wax, Citrosol A ®), (leaf extract alone), (fruit washed in chlorinated water at 5.25%), (untreated fruit) and (commercially treated fruit). Results. Extracts of A. seyal and W. somnifera reduced the incidence of green mould by 56.1% and 50%, respectively, in wound-inoculated fruit. A. seyal extract contained a high concentration of gallic acid (60.3 mg•mL-1) whilst W. somnifera contained low concentrations of caffeic acid (8.7 mg•mL-1), salicylic acid (6.3 mg•mL-1) and 3,4 dihydroxy benzoic acid (3.8 mg•mL-1). Green mould was absent in naturally infected fruit subjected to (pre-wax + leaf extracts), (wax mixed with leaf extracts) and (leaf extracts) treatments. (Pre-wax + leaf extracts) and (wax mixed with leaf extract) treatments significantly reduced weight loss; retained firmness and colour; and they maintained eating qualities and a maturity index (SSC/TA) similar to commercial treatment. Conclusion. Both extracts of A. seyal and W. somnifera showed potential to be used as an alternative in combined applications with wax application under low temperature storage to replace synthetic fungicides, to ultimately control green mould and retain overall fruit quality. South Africa / Citrus sinensis / fruits / quality / disease control / moulds / Penicillium digitatum / biological control / plant extracts / Acacia seyal / Withania somnifera Évaluation d'extraits de plantes éthiopiennes, Acacia seyal et Withania somnifera, pour contrôler la moisissure verte et maintenir la qualité des agrumes (Citrus sinensis L.). Résumé-Introduction. La moisissure verte, due à Penicillium digitatum (Pers.: Fr.) Sacc., est la maladie après récolte des agrumes la plus importante économiquement. Matériel et méthodes. Les extraits de deux plantes éthiopiennes, Acacia seyal (Del. Var. Seyal) et Withania somnifera (L.) Dual, ont été utilisés pour étudier leur effet sur le développement de la moisissure verte sur fruits inoculés par blessure, puis stockés pendant 21 jours, à 7°C et HR > 85 %. La composition chimique des deux extraits a été analysée à l'aide d'un chromatographe liquide haute performance. Par ailleurs, des fruits natu...
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