Francis Appiah

Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology | KNUST · Department of Horticulture

This study explored the use of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) pulp flour (BFPF) as a filler in meatloaves, partially substituting comminuted pork. Four experimental treatments were formulated: T1 (control) with 0% BFPF, T2 with 5% BFPF, T3 with 10% BFPF, and T4 with 15% BFPF, baking them at 175 °C for 55 minutes. Data on chemical composition, cook...

Contamination of crops by aflatoxin is rampant in warm regions worldwide, including Sub-Sahara Africa. Contamination of maize and other foodstuffs with aflatoxin seriously threatens the health of humans and animals. The experimental design used was 2 × 2 × 3 factorial, laid out in a complete randomized design (CRD) consisting of two agroecological...

The presence of aflatoxin in food and feed represents a significant health hazard to both human and animal populations, hence exerting adverse effects on the environment and the global economy. The effects of maize variety, agroecological zones, and aflatoxin control measures on aflatoxin contamination were tested using a 2x2x3 factorial in a rando...

The nature of papaya fruits is intently connected with their physical characteristics. Changes during aging are critical, yet uncontrolled ripening procedure can prompt fast degradation of quality. Despite the myriads of problems during storage and transportation or distribution, it is imperative to control ripening so as to reduce losses and maxim...

Traditional leafy vegetables have been noted to supply abundant amounts of minerals and to some extent calories and proteins which are vital to the alleviation of problems of malnutrition in developing countries. An experiment was conducted to study the effects of three different rates of application of cattle dung on growth parameters, proximate a...

The rate of postharvest losses is very high in plantains due to its climacteric nature. The study sought to find out the interactive effect of three different fruit packaging materials and gamma irradiation on Apantu and Apem using the amount of ethylene and carbon dioxide produced by the packaged irradiated plantain as a measure. The unirradiated...

Controlling ethylene production and respiratory rate of climacteric fruits is reported to extend the shelf-life of those produce. The aim of this present research was to determine the effect of five (5) doses of gamma irradiation as an ethylene and respiration inhibitor on two (2) distinct varieties of plantain (Musa sp AAB) up to the onset of ripe...

Fresh Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa l.) calyces have shorter shelf life due to their high moisture content. In order to extend their shelf life, Roselle calyces are dried. However, the effect of different drying methods on mineral composition are not sufficiently reported. A study was therefore conducted to determine the influence of oven, solar and...

Seeds of three roselle accessions (HS11, HS89 and HS41) were obtained from the Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana and grown to obtain the calyces. The calyces were dried by sun (34.9°C), solar (56.5°C) and oven (60.0°C) methods. Most people consume the roselle calyces due to their nutrition...

There is growing public perception that fruits from fertilized plantain plants have their organoleptic qualities reduced during food preparations. Such perception has the potential consequence of lowering production levels of the commodity in Ghana. To ascertain the veracity of this perception, a study was conducted between July 2012 and March 2015...

Artocarpus spp. and Treculia africana are underutilized crops found widely in the tropics. In order to expand their use, their potential for use in food systems was determined by evaluating their physico-chemical properties. Standard procedures were used. Selected food products were then formulated using breadfruit flours as a substitute for conven...

One of the obstacles to cabbage production in the forest ecozone of Ghana is insect pests. These insect pests are controlled in various ways, with pesticide use prominent among them. The objectives of this study were to (1) document the various pesticides used by farmers in cabbage production, (2) assess the mode of application of these pesticides...

The study was conducted on vegetable handling practices, distribution and wholesale haulage profitability in Abinchi night market Kumasi, Ghana. Focus group discussions were held for middlemen, market queens and men, and 150 market queens and men were randomly selected and interviewed to elicit prevailing handling practices. SPSS was used to analyz...

The effort to diversify horticultural production and position for growers to take advantage of the rising demand for high value but safe horticultural commodities has been the concern to Ghana. Consumers of horticultural commodities have emphasized their concerns about safety including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns. Consequently, these...

Drying of pineapple (Ananas comosus) pulp enhances shelf life while assuring all-year-round availability of pineapple in different forms. The difficulty in selecting suitable fruit pulps for producing acceptable dried pulp needs to be addressed in order to reduce variability in dried pineapple pulps and predict consumer acceptability. MD2 and Smoot...

Different breadfruit varieties were analyzed to determine their chemical composition using standard procedures. The results were used to establish prediction equations of DDM, DMI, NEL and RFV. No significant differences were found in the tannin contents which ranged between 3.44 mg/100 g to 4.30 mg/100 g. Lignin content was highest in A. camansi (...

This study was conducted to assess the performance of three high protein beans (Parkia biglobosa, Glycine max and Treculia africana) in dawadawa (fermented condiment) production. The beans of the crops were boiled for an hour and then fermented for 72 h. Standard procedures were used to assess the proximate, mineral and functional properties of the...

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) which is an important leafy vegetable in the world is handled variedly around the world partly due to its bulkiness. In Ghana harvested cabbage heads are packaged in large sacs and usually exposed to sunlight from the farmgate to the market. Unfortunately, the quality implication of handling practices ca...

One of the setbacks to cabbage production in the forest ecozone of Ghana is insect pests. These insect pests are controlled in various ways, prominent among them being the use of pesticides. The objectives of this research were to document the various pesticides used by farmers in cabbage production and assess the mode of application of the pestici...

Keitt Mango fruits are popular mango varieties that are dried for consumption using different technologies. The influence of different drying methods on nutritional composition needs to be assessed. This study therefore assessed the effect of solar and oven drying technologies on nutritional composition. Standard methods were used to determine the...

The youth, who form the main active working force, constitute more than 30% of Ghana's population. The Ghana Institute of Horticulturists (GhIH) has over the last decade been working to address some of the main aspirations of the youth, which include improved nutrition, increased income and employment opportunities. This paper discusses the methodo...

Mango (Mangifera indica) fruits are consumed, among other reasons, for their pleasant flavour. They are rich sources of vitamins A, B6 and C. Mango fruits are being increasingly processed into products such as dried mango slices (chips). These products have longer shelflife and, therefore, assure all year round availability of mango in different fo...

Mango (Mangifera indica) is consumed, among other reasons, for its pleasant taste and flavour. Mango fruits are rich sources of vitamins A, B and C. They are being increasingly processed into products such as dried mango slices (chips). These products have longer shelf life than fresh fruit and therefore assure all year round availability of mango...

Cowpea, an important protein food, is used for its nutritional and functional properties. A study was carried out to determine the physicochemical and functional properties of seeds of 3 local cowpea cultivars ('Nhyira', 'Adom' and 'Tona') in Ghana to assess their potential use in the food industry. Seed length, minor diameter, major diameter, and...

A ten year project (2001 – 2011) was conducted in four villages in the Upper West Region of Ghana to increase vegetable production and consumption during the long dry season. Training programs on irrigated dry season vegetable production were developed by the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists research team and were delivered through Train the Trai...

A study was carried out on to assess the effect of fermentation on proximate composition of Artocarpus altilis pulp flour with the aim of expanding its use. Flours of unfermented and fermented A. altilis pulp were produced and standard procedures used to determine their proximate and mineral composition. Fermentation resulted in marginal increase i...

Mango anthracnose, a major postharvest disease, induces huge losses in mangoes and threatens mango export and consumption. The effectiveness of hot water treatment as a postharvest disease control measure on Keitt cultivar of mango was assessed over a 21-day storage period. Batches of fruits were subjected to various degrees of hot-water treatments...

A study was carried out to assess the effect of fermentation on functional properties of Artocarpus altilis pulp flour with the aim of expanding its use. Flours of unfermented and fermented A.altilis pulp were produced and standard procedures used to determine their functional properties. Fermentation resulted in significant decrease in bulk densit...

Estimation of postharvest losses of rice ( Oriza sativa ) from harvesting to milling was carried out in Ejisu Juabeng District of Ghana to provide basic information important regarding the losses. Harvesting losses were higher (2.93%) in sickle-harvesting than in panicle harvesting method (1.39%). Threshing losses were also higher (6.14%) in the ‘b...

Treculia africana (African breadfruit) of the family Moraceae is an underutilized and neglected fruit plant. The seeds of the plant are edible. However, T.africana is not commonly used as food in Ghana. In order to promote its use as food, this study was conducted to determine the pasting properties of the flour derived from the seeds. Treculia afr...

Cowpea, an important protein food, is used for its nutritional and functional properties. A study was carried out to determine the physicochemical and functional properties of seeds of 3 local cowpea varieties ('Nhyira', 'Adom' and 'Tona') in Ghana to assess their potential use in the food industry. Seed length, minor diameter, major diameter, and...

The effect of time of harvest and drying method on nutritional composition of Spider flower (Cleome gynandra L) was studied. Spider flower was harvested at six weeks and seven weeks after planting. Drying was done using oven and sun drying methods. The results showed that crude protein (28.85 g/100 g), ash (10.75 g/100 g) and carbohydrate (32.13 g/...

Fruits and vegetables belong to an important class of foods that supply human diet with nutritive requirements including vitamins and minerals which are essential for normal body health and function. The study was carried out to determine the physico-chemical properties and sensory qualities of tomato juice and cocktail juice produced from oranges,...

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata), carrot (Daucus carota) and garden egg (Solanum melongena) are important vegetables in Ghana They are used in foods such as salads, stews and soups to provide flavour, aesthetics and nutrition providing minerals and vitamins. In spite of their nutritional importance, the vegetables are perishable. Appropriat...

Fruits of Cavendish, Mysore (Alata kwadu, local variety), and Gros Michel varieties of banana were assessed to determine their relative differences in quality, shelf life and consumer preference. A general survey was conducted in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Ashanti and Western Regions of Ghana to assess the consumer and seller preference o...

A study was carried out to assess the quality of oil from T. africana seeds. Fresh dried seeds were dehusked and milled. Oil was extracted using the Soxhlet extraction procedure and the yield and quality characteristics of the oil evaluated. Parameters assessed included specific gravity, acid value, saponification value, peroxide value, iodine valu...