Helene Fotouo-M

• PostDoc Position at Tshwane University of Technology

African pear (Dacoryodes edulis (G.Don) H.J.Lam), is an underutilized tropical fruit tree, native to Central and West Africa. Its edible fruit has a high nutritional value; it is a source of protein, micronutrients, monosaturated fatty acids and high oil content, and thus has a high economic potential. There is ongoing research to select optimum va...

The demand for sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is increasing because of nutrition and quality factors. Research to improve pepper yield using plant growth regulators (PGRs) has occurred, but results are not consistent. This study evaluated the effects of the PGRs naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, K...

Preharvest application of plant growth regulators may have promise to improve product shelf-life. The study examined effects of the plant growth regulators [naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), the seaweed concentrate Kelpak®, and their combination] on postharvest quality of yellow sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in soilless culture. Seedling roo...

Antioxidant constituents such as carotenoids (capsanthin, phytoene, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin), polyphenols content (p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, and quercetin-3-glucoside) and marketable yield were investigated in 11 sweet pepper cultivars grown under controlled temperature plastic tunnel and white shade net. Ma...

There have been increased interest to propagate Moringa oleifera because of its multipurpose uses. However there are still no appropriate guidelines for long-term storage of Moringa seed because diverse results are reported in literature. Although progress has been made to understand the causes of seed deterioration, few studies have been made on n...

Moringa seed oil is known as Ben oil. Recently research by several authors illustrated the potential use of Ben oil for biodiesel production. Oil quality is directly related to the physiological condition of the seeds from which it is extracted. Oil extracted from damaged and deteriorated seed can compromise fuel quality. The aim of the study was t...

Seed ageing during storage is one of the main causes of reduction in seed quality and this results in loss of vigour and failure to thrive. Finding appropriate storage conditions to ameliorate deterioration due to ageing is, therefore essential. Ultrastructural changes in cellular organelles during storage, and seed germination rates are valuable i...