Olaniyi Amos Fawole

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• PhD (Agric)
• Full Professor | DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Sustainable Preservation and Agroprocessing Research (SPAR) | Founding Director of Postharvest and Agroprocessing Research Centre (PARC) at University of Johannesburg

This study explores the antifungal efficacy of salicylic acid and thymol against Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia laxa , the main pathogens affecting stone fruit in South Africa. Antifungal properties of thymol and salicylic acid and their influence on the shelf life of “Angeleno” plums were investigated. Gum Arabic composite coatings infused with sa...

Pomegranate (Punica granatum), an ancient and well-recognized fruit, is highly valued in traditional medicine and the food industry for its rich composition of phytochemicals. This research investigated the effect of freeze-drying (FD) and oven-drying (OD) on the aroma profile and antibacterial activity of pomegranate seed essential oils (EOs). The...

This study investigates the metabolite diversity of twelve Japanese plum cultivars grown in South Africa to understand their differential organoleptic characteristics and nutritional properties. The goal is to differentiate or associate these plum cultivars based on their metabolic profiles. Metabolite profiling was conducted using gas chromatograp...

Significant postharvest losses and food safety issues persist in many developing nations, primarily due to fungal activities, including mycotoxin production. In this study, green synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared from leaf extracts of Syzygium cordatum (ZnO 1), Lippia javanica (ZnO 2), Bidens pilosa (ZnO 3), and Ximenia c...

Essential oils (EOs) are concentrated, volatile liquids derived from various plant parts, valued for their aromatic properties and widespread use in food flavoring, perfumery, and other applications. Despite substantial global advancements in EO research, limited attention has been given to EOs derived from South African indigenous plants. This rev...

This study investigates the synthesis, structural characteristics, and antimicrobial applications of zinc oxide (ZnO) and cobalt-doped ZnO (Co-doped ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized via a green method utilizing Platycladus orientalis aqueous extract. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micro...

Extensively utilized by indigenous communities for generations, marula products, particularly the fruit, have successfully transitioned into the commercial market. However, despite the high potential and versatile applications, the marula seeds remain under-explored. Hence, through a hybrid approach (bibliometric analysis and systematic review), th...

Bananas (Musa spp.) are among the most widely consumed fruits globally, yet their high perishability and short shelf-life pose significant challenges to the postharvest industry. To address this, edible coatings have been extensively studied for their ability to preserve the physical, microbiological, and sensory qualities of bananas. Among various...

The advancement of intelligent packaging technologies has emerged as a pivotal innovation in the food industry, significantly enhancing food safety and preservation. This review explores the latest developments in the fabrication of intelligent packaging, with a focus on applications in food preservation. Intelligent packaging systems, which includ...

Introduction: An effective and efficient drying method for preserving fresh carrots is essential in food processing. Combined drying represents a novel approach that addresses the shortcomings of conventional methods by balancing energy consumption, cost, and product quality. Methods: This study evaluated the impact of combining oven drying (OD) w...

A response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD) approach was employed to optimize the concentration of glycerol and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) in Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage (3 % OFIM) functionalized with pomegranate peel extract (1 % PPE), aiming to enhance the preservation efficacy of banana fruit. The concentratio...

To address food waste and promote sustainable food packaging, pH-sensitive edible films were developed using Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage (OM) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) incorporated with varying concentrations of the encapsulated beetroot waste extract (EB) (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%). Based on the percentages of EB, the films were labelled as...

The increasing impact of climate change and growing consumer interest in healthful foods have forced a reconsideration of indigenous plants as sustainable food resources. Parinari curatellifolia, popularly known as Mobola plum, is a prominent African underutilized plant whose natural habitat stretches from West to Southern Africa. It is an importan...

Pomegranate fruit is gaining popularity due to its health benefits, resulting in increased processing into various products and the generation of waste materials such as fruit peel and seeds. Traditionally, pomegranate processing by-products have been managed by disposal in landfills or as livestock feed, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. V...

This review entails a critical appraisal on the potential of plants as alternatives to synthetic chemicals for crop protection, aligning with the global shift towards green-based approaches in agriculture. Utilising a defined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 235 papers were extracted from Scopus. These articles were analyzed to address spec...

Preservation of fresh-cut fruits is crucial due to their susceptibility to oxidative browning, and environmentally friendly food packaging has emerged as a promising solution. In the present study, deacetylated konjac glucomannan/carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (DKGM/CCNF) composite films were prepared through a stepwise reinforcement strategy. L...

The increasing global population has heightened the demand for food, leading to escalated food production and, consequently, the generation of significant food waste. Factors such as rapid ripening, susceptibility to physiological disorders, and vulnerability to microbial attacks have been implicated as contributing to the accelerated senescence as...

The continued use of synthetic additives in food production and preservation has raised concerns among consumers, given their potential negative health effects. Researchers and food industry experts have been exploring plants with potent functional compounds as an alternative source of natural compounds such as anthocyanins, which can be utilized t...

Green synthesis of nanomaterials harnesses naturally occurring materials, including plant extracts, to offer environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional biomedicine, agriculture, and other field applications. This study explores the green route to Fe2O3 and cerium-doped Fe2O3 (Ce-doped Fe2O3) nanoparticles synthesized for the first time u...

This research evaluated the commercial viability of using different concentrations of gum Arabic (GA) based edible coatings on ‘African Delight™’ plums in a commercial packhouse environment. The coatings tested were GA 2 %, GA 5 %, GA 10 %, GA 5 % with pomegranate seed oil, and GA 5 % with ascorbic acid. The postharvest quality was tracked during a...

Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) is highly valued in the functional food industry due to its rich fatty acid content and associated health benefits. However, its high degree of unsaturation makes it susceptible to rapid degradation when exposed to oxygen and light. This study investigates the encapsulation of PSO at 15% w/w using different blends of gum...

This study explored a novel nanocomposite comprising banana powder (BP), cellulose nanofiber (CNF), and 0.6% zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The treatment involved immersing arils in the respective nanocomposite coatings for 4 min, followed by air-drying at room temperature (25°C) and subsequent storage in polyethylene terephthalate punnets at...

This publication is a collaborative effort of development partners who have collectively contributed to the mechanization working group of the GIZ programme Green Innovation Centres for the agriculture and food sector (GICAFS), made possible through the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Exper...

An efficient and effective drying method is desired by food processors to preserve fresh carrots. The present study evaluated the impact of combining oven drying (OD) with freeze-drying (FD) on the drying behaviour, energy requirements, cost implications and physicochemical properties of dried carrots. The drying conditions were as follows: 36 h of...

Dried pomegranate arils are an increasingly popular ingredient in the beverage industry. The drying process extends the shelf life of pomegranate arils, concentrates the flavour, and increases the sweetness of dried arils. However, during drying, hot-air-dried arils are also subjected to browning, hardening, and nutrient loss. This study investigat...

This research focused on investigating the effect of blends of wall materials for developing shelf-stable anthocyanin-rich raspberry juice powder. Raspberry juice was encapsulated (10:1 v/w) with blends of gum Arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MT) at the following ratios: 1GA:1MT, 2GA:1MT, 3GA:1MT, 1GA:2MT and 1GA:3MT and freeze-dried to produce powder...

Edible coatings and films have gained substantial attention as a promising and sustainable technology for fruit preservation. This study employed a bibliometric analysis to identify core research areas, research gaps, and emerging trends, thus providing a comprehensive roadmap for future research on the use of edible coatings and films for fruit qu...

Although hematite (Fe2O3) nanoparticles are gaining attention for biomedical purposes due to their unique properties, eco-friendly synthesis using plant extracts is being explored due to toxicity concerns of the resulting material. This study explores the use of plant extracts (Dovyalis caffra leaf extracts) for the synthesis of Fe2O3 nanoparticles...

Food and beverages with healthy and functional properties, especially those that prevent chronic diseases, are receiving considerable interest among consumers and researchers. Among the products with enhanced properties, fermented beverages from non-grape wines have a high potential for growth. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a super fruit know...

The formulation of a multifunctional nanocomposite packaging material with potential against agents of food deterioration, such as free radicals and microorganisms, has emerged as a solution for shelf-life extension and food security. This study developed banana powder (BP) film infused with cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and ZnO-PPW and ZnO-PSW nanopar...

The current review examines the state of knowledge and research on machine learning (ML) applications in horticultural production and the potential for predicting fresh produce losses and waste. Recently, ML has been increasingly applied in horticulture for efficient and accurate operations. Given the health benefits of fresh produce and the need f...

In this study, 2% chitosan (Ch) (w/v) was enriched with 1% Lippia javanica, Syzygium cordatum, and Ximenia caffra extract to form Ch+L, Ch+S, and Ch+X, respectively. The control film was the chitosan (Ch) film without plant extracts. The composite films were assessed for their antifungal ability using the agar diffusion method against economically...

During the past couple of decades, commercial cultivation of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit has become more prevalent throughout semi-temperate and sub-tropical fruit regions of the world. Pomegranate consumption has increased noticeably, in part due to the distinctive sensory and nutritional qualities of the fruit, as well as its potential...

Consumers demand high-quality fresh produce; nonetheless, mechanical damage to fresh produce, such as fruit and vegetables, that occurs along the postharvest supply chain affects fresh produce quality and impedes consumer acceptance, resulting in considerable economic losses. Improper packaging and packaging materials are the leading causes of brui...

Among the most important factors influencing plant nutrient uptake and water access are soil fraction and root architecture. However, little is known about how soil fraction × root architecture interaction affects woody plants. This study considered the differentiation of soil fertility parameters on layers through the root zone of two different so...

Chitosan (Ch) was functionalized with Bidens pilosa (BP) extract at 1, 3, or 5% to form Ch-1 BP, Ch-3 BP, and Ch-5 BP, respectively. Ch without plant extract was used as a control. The composite films were characterized and tested for antifungal properties in the agar disc diffusion approach and antioxidant capacity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydr...

The sustainable management of food waste is a pressing concern, with fruit waste valorisation emerging as a viable strategy to address this challenge. This study investigated the potential of pomegranate peel waste (PPW) and pomegranate seed waste (PSW) as mediating agents for the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs); ZnO-PPW and ZnO-P...

The production of fruits and vegetables has increased globally due to the increasing demand by consumers. These commodities are rich in various phytochemical nutrients that can reduce disease occurrence and improve human health. However, a significant loss of fruits and vegetables occurs during the postharvest stage. In this sense, edible coatings...

Mechanical damage of fresh fruit occurs throughout the postharvest supply chain leading to poor consumer acceptance and marketability. In this review, the mechanisms of damage development are discussed first. Mathematical modeling provides advanced ways to describe and predict the deformation of fruit with arbitrary geometry, which is important to...

Peach being a climacteric fruit has a limited shelf life. Cold storage of peaches is an essential measure to maintain their quality. However, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures causes chilling injury in peaches, resulting in signifcant economic losses. Approximately, 40% of the produced commodity is lost in postharvest handling in which chilli...

Introduction The present study evaluated the potential of maltodextrin (MT), gum Arabic (GA), and their blends to produce functional beetroot waste extract powder (BWEP). Methods The beetroot waste extracts were produced using 50% ethanol and encapsulated using 10% (1:10, w/v) of the GA and MT carriers at different blending ratios, namely, GA:MT 1...

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) nuts are rich in functional compounds (unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, polyphenols, and tocopherols) associated with various health benefits. Commercially, pecan nuts are roasted to enhance their physical, chemical, and sensory properties. In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimi...

Food security has continued to be a topic of interest in our world due to the increasing demand for food. Many technologies have been adopted to enhance food supply and narrow the demand gap. Thus, the attempt to use nanotechnology to improve food security and increase supply has emerged due to the severe shortcomings of conventional technologies,...

Rapid ripening and softening due to cell wall polysaccharide degradation and disassembly pose major challenges in extending fruit storability. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of Opuntia ficus indica mucilage (OFIM) edible coating in minimizing softening in bananas under retail conditions. Mucilage was extracted from freshly harvested prick...

The study presents a comparative investigation of the composition and bioactivity of oil extracted from pomegranate seeds of sun-burned fruit (SB) and healthy fruit (HF) for the value-adding potential of pomegranate fruit waste. Seeds from SB and HF were independently freeze dried, sun dried, and oven dried before ultrasound-assisted oil extraction...

The practical application of products prepared on the basis of gelatin (GA) or pullulan (PUL) is greatly limited by their solubility in aqueous solutions and relatively poor mechanical properties. Therefore, modification by chemical cross-linking agents is often needed. However, chemical residues and cytotoxicity limit its application in the food i...

The role of phytohormones in mitigating or enhancing the incidence of non-chilling rind physiological disorder of citrus fruit is largely unknown. Therefore, this study attempted to elucidate cytokinins (CK) and auxin changes in ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin fruit rind from different canopy positions during postharvest non-chilling cold storage regar...

Carrot is an important root vegetable to the food industry and consumers due to its nutritional and health benefits. Given the high moisture content and low shelf life of fresh carrots, preserving this highly demanded vegetable is vital. This current research modelled the drying kinetics and evaluated the quality of ultrasonic-assisted gum Arabic a...

African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) is a wild plant native to many parts of tropical Africa. The sweet, pleasantly acid, fleshy fruit pulp is relished as a snack, and sometimes the fruit peel is chewed to turn it into gum. The fruit is rich in macronutrients, micronutrients and dietary phytochemicals. There is great potential for the fruit t...

The V International Symposium on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Fruits was held online from February 15 to 17, 2022. It was organised by the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Division Temperate Tree Fruits, Working Group...

A comparative study of the physicochemical attributes of dried pomegranate arils from three pomegranate cultivars ('Acco', 'Herskawitz' and 'Wonderful') was conducted. The hot-air drying experiment was carried out at 60°C, with 19.6% relative humidity and an air velocity of 1.0 m s-1. Dried pomegranate arils of each cultivar were assessed for colou...

This study evaluated the application of non-destructive technologies such as Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRs) and mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIRs) in predicting the quality attributes of pomegranate juice 'Wonderful'. Various pre-processing algorithms were applied to the spectral data, such as 1 st derivative, 2 nd derivati...

This paper investigates the current situation of postharvest losses at the primary production level for pears and grapes by reviewing data received from farms in the Western Cape, South Africa. An estimated 10-30% of fruit are lost at the primary production level globally, but these estimates are not based on measurements. Only a few articles provi...

Thymol and salicylic acid have been reported to control fungal proliferation and act as elicitors in various fruit. While the antifungal properties of these bioactive agents are widely known, their effects on other quality attributes require further investigation. The effectiveness of thymol and salicylic acid in gum arabic composite coatings to ma...

Packaging is a key step for fresh produce to extend shelf life, reduce spoilage, and ensure safety during marketing. As packaging materials, plastics are non-biodegradable and non-renewable, which lead to environmental pollution and cause serious ecological problems. Therefore, edible packaging (edible films and coatings) has attracted much attenti...

Prior to the past decade, nutritionists and processors focused more on the juice extracted from pomegranate arils. As a result, pomegranate peel, seeds, and their constituents were underutilised and wasted after processing. Literature has shown that all the fruit parts contain compounds with health benefits. For example, the juice and peels contain...

Stone fruit pathogens Monilinia laxa and Botrytis cinerea, causing brown rot and grey mould, respectively, result in major postharvest losses of plums worldwide. The alternative bioactive thymol and salicylic acid are potential antifungal compounds for brown rot and grey mould control of stone fruit. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of salic...

This study investigated the cultivar-dependent variation of metabolites in 12 plum cultivars grown in South Africa. Individual sugars, total phenolic content (TPC) and radical scavenging activity (RSA) were investigated in fruit at harvest and end of shelf life. Individual sugars were profiled using gas chromatography, while TPC and RSA were measur...

‘Herskawitz’ (Punica granatum L.) is the pomegranate cultivar with the second largest distribution in South Africa (9%). The cultivar is one of the largest contributors of fruit waste (seed and peel) at approximately 703,000 t in packhouses in 2020. The fruit peel is known for its high phytochemical content and strong biological activity. Yet, it i...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various concentrations of gum arabic used as pretreatments on the quality attributes of dried whole raspberries. Whole raspberry fruits were dipped in concentrations of gum arabic of 3, 5 and 10% before oven drying at 60±0.1°C until a moisture content less than 8% was achieved. Whole dried...

Minimally processed/fresh-cut produce, including pomegranate aril sacs, deteriorate rapidly during storage due to enzymatic browning reactions, accelerated ripening rate, and senescence resulting from the cutting process. Edible coatings have been shown to maintain quality and extend the shelf life of minimally processed horticultural produce by pr...

This research focused on the value-adding potential of raspberry juice into shelf-stable polyphenolic-rich powder for potential application in the food industry. Raspberry juice obtained from raspberry fruits was encapsulated separately using gum arabic (GA), maltodextrin (MT), and waxy starch (WS) (1:10) w/v and freeze-dried to develop raspberry j...

Edible films are known to have poor mechanical and limited functional properties. Plant extracts carry essential compounds that can be used to improve the characteristics of these films. Bidens pilosa is known for its antioxidant capacity that prevents the formation of free radicals. In this study, chitosan (Ch) was blended with 0.1 mg L-1 of B. pi...

In this study, we investigated the usage of Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy as a fast, non-destructive method. FT-NIR spectroscopy was used over a spectral range of 800-2500 nm to develop multivariate prediction models for physical, chemical, and phytochemical parameters of dried pomegranate arils ('Wonderful'). Results from t...

Soaring demand for high-quality pomegranate seed oil because of the health benefits associated with its consumption has gained global attention. The assessment of quality characteristics associated with pomegranate oil is known to be expensive, labor intensive and impractical on a commercial scale. Alternative ways of assessing quality attributes o...

Reducing postharvest losses in raspberries is mandatory to increase their marketability. Due to health concerns, excessive use of postharvest fungicides to reduce postharvest losses has become a global concern. This study investigated the potential of chitosan composite coating functionalized with Bidens pilosa extract in maintaining the quality an...

This study aimed to examine the effect of methylcellulose-zinc oxide nanoparticle (MC-ZnONP) composite coatings reinforced with cellulose nanofibre (CNF) to improve the shelf life of pomegranate aril sacs extracted from whole fruit subjected to prolonged storage before processing. Pomegranate fruit were stored at 5°C for 2 months before processing...

This study aimed to investigate the effect of methylcellulose-based coatings functionalized with zinc oxide nanoparticles to improve the shelf life of pomegranate aril sacs. Fresh pomegranate aril sacs were dipped into six formulations of methylcellulose coatings functionalized with ZnONP at 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1%. Distilled water was used as a c...

Rind pitting disorder (RPD) development in 'Kinnow' mandarin at ambient conditions after lower temperature storage or during shipping conditions is of major concern since it affects the fruit's overall quality and shelf life and thus reduces its market value. This study evaluated the potential application of newly formulated Aloe ferox gel (AFG) ed...

Message from the Guest Editors Food packaging, which plays a crucial role in the food industry, is in fact very complex in nature. In addition to meeting the food regulations, the new packaging materials should also respond to increased food production demands, in addition to satisfying the increased consumers’ awareness and requirements mainly di...