Lipids from banana peels help cherry tomatoes stay fresh longer

Edible coating made from lipid-rich material extracted from discarded banana peels helps in postharvest preservation of cherry tomatoes

Kyushu University

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Banana peel waste can be turned into edible coatings that help cherry tomatoes stay fresh longer. Cherry tomatoes coated with sodium alginate-based films containing different banana peel-derived components were evaluated during storage. The lipid-containing coating showed the strongest preservation performance, reducing weight loss and slowing respiration, ethylene production, softening, and other indicators of postharvest deterioration compared with uncoated tomatoes.

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Credit: Fumihiko Tanaka/Kyushu University

Fukuoka, Japan—Fruits and vegetables keep “breathing” even after they’re picked. Respiration consumes sugars and organic acids that contribute to flavor, while moisture loss and continued ripening soften the fruit. These changes shorten shelf life and contribute to food waste. Thin edible coatings can be applied to regulate gas and water transfer and preserve fresh produce. Now, food scientists are exploring whether by-products we often discard could supply ingredients for these coatings.

In a study published in Food Bioscience on October 1, 2026, a team led by Professor Fumihiko Tanaka and Associate Professor Fumina Tanaka of Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture examined banana peels for this purpose. They added proteins, polysaccharides, or lipids extracted from the peels to an edible coating and compared their effects on cherry tomatoes. The lipid-containing coating was most effective at slowing moisture loss and keeping the tomatoes firm.

“We wanted to turn one source of waste into a way to reduce another,” says Jiao Zeng, the paper’s first author and a PhD student at Kyushu University. “Banana peels account for about a third of the fruit’s weight, yet they are usually discarded despite containing valuable compounds. We explored whether these compounds could help cherry tomatoes stay fresh for longer.”

The researchers extracted proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids from discarded banana peels and added each separately to a coating made from sodium alginate and cinnamaldehyde. Sodium alginate is a substance derived from brown seaweed that forms the coating’s film structure. Cinnamaldehyde, a compound found in cinnamon, contributes antimicrobial activity.

The researchers found that the three components affected the coating in different ways. Polysaccharides helped form a more closely connected network within the coating, while proteins contributed to interactions between its components. Lipids, meanwhile, formed water-repelling regions. Among the tested formulations, the lipid-enriched coating showed the most effective preservation performance.

“Lipids enhanced the hydrophobicity of the coating and significantly improved its moisture-barrier properties, thereby reducing water loss during storage,” explains Fumina Tanaka.

The team then tested the coatings on cherry tomatoes stored at 25 °C. By day 15, uncoated tomatoes suffered over 30% weight loss and visible decay, whereas all coated variants mitigated deterioration. The lipid-based coating performed best, maintaining marketable quality for over 20 days. The researchers also observed lower respiration and reduced ethylene production, which acts as the primary chemical trigger for fruit ripening. Coated tomatoes also showed a slower loss of firmness and less juice leakage.

Sensory tests of appearance, texture, aroma, and taste showed a similar pattern. The uncoated tomatoes fell below the study’s acceptable quality by day 15, while those treated with the lipid coating remained acceptable through day 20. They also maintained higher levels of soluble solids, including sugars that contribute to sweetness.

“Our study revealed how each component contributes to preservation,” notes Fumihiko Tanaka. “We hope to develop this approach further to reduce food loss and support a circular bioeconomy, where agricultural by-products become valuable resources.”

Although the coatings have so far been tested only on cherry tomatoes under specific storage conditions, the findings suggest promise for preserving fresh produce after harvest. The researchers plan to test fruits and vegetables with different ripening and storage characteristics to determine how widely they could apply the approach.

A banana peel’s usefulness could extend beyond the fruit it once protected. That potential may also apply to other agricultural by-products, offering new ingredients for food preservation while reducing waste and environmental impact. With further development, coatings tailored to different types of produce could help maintain quality from farm to market, giving growers and retailers more time to sell their products and consumers more time to enjoy them.

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For more information about this research, see “Fraction-specific regulation of barrier properties and postharvest physiology in alginate/cinnamaldehyde edible coatings incorporating banana peel waste-derived biomolecules for cherry tomato preservation,” Jiao Zeng, Xirui Yan, Fanze Meng, DongHui Luo, Reshaka Kavindi Malawara Arachchige, Saki Ishiko, Fumina Tanaka, and Fumihiko Tanaka, Food Bioscience, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2026.109756

About Kyushu University 
Founded in 1911, Kyushu University is one of Japan's leading research-oriented institutions of higher education, consistently ranking as one of the top ten Japanese universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World Rankings. Located in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu—the most southwestern of Japan’s four main islands—Kyushu U sits in a coastal metropolis frequently ranked among the world’s most livable cities and historically known as Japan’s gateway to Asia. Its multiple campuses are home to around 19,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff. Through its VISION 2030, Kyushu U will “drive social change with integrative knowledge.” By fusing the spectrum of knowledge, from the humanities and arts to engineering and medical sciences, Kyushu U will strengthen its research in the key areas of decarbonization, medicine and health, and environment and food, to tackle society’s most pressing issues.

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Journal

Food Bioscience

DOI

10.1016/j.fbio.2026.109756

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Fraction-specific regulation of barrier properties and postharvest physiology in alginate/cinnamaldehyde edible coatings incorporating banana peel waste-derived biomolecules for cherry tomato preservation

 

Turning coal gasification waste and corn stalks into high-strength briquettes for cleaner reuse

Higher Education Press

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Preparation of CS binder and briquetting methods.

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Credit: HIGHER EDUCATION PRESS

Coal gasification is a key technology for the clean and efficient utilization of coal, but it produces large volumes of coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) characterized by high water content and low residual carbon reactivity. Stockpiling or landfilling this waste occupies space, risks secondary environmental pollution, and wastes coal resources. Direct reuse is difficult because the ultrafine particle size prevents it from being re-fed into gasifiers.

In a study published in ENG. Chem. Eng., researchers at the East China University of Science and Technology investigated using a carbon-rich residue (CR, with a fixed carbon content of 81.21%) separated from CGFS. They combined this CR with a corn stalk (CS) powder modified by an NaOH-urea solution to act as a binder, producing briquetted carbon-rich residue (BCR) via hot-pressing.

The team systematically optimized the briquetting conditions. When the CS binder content was lower than 15%, the mixed materials exhibited severe delamination. Optimal mechanical strength was achieved at a 25% binder content. Two-factor orthogonal experiments revealed that the optimal hot-pressing temperature was 175 °C and the optimal pressure was 7.5 MPa. Under these conditions, all BCR samples exhibited drop strengths exceeding 99.7%.

The height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio significantly affected the briquettes' properties. The BCR-0.8 sample exhibited the best mechanical strength, with a compressive strength of 620.8 N. However, increasing the H/D ratio compressed the internal pores and weakened gasification reactivity. Therefore, the BCR-0.4 sample, with a compressive strength of 333.0 N, was identified as having the optimal comprehensive performance, balancing mechanical strength and gasification reactivity.

The briquetting process also improved gasification performance. At 1000 °C, the raw CR required 13.9 minutes to reach a 90% carbon conversion rate, whereas the BCR-0.2 sample required only 8.9 minutes, a reduction of 5.0 minutes.

Mechanistic analysis showed that during binder preparation, NaOH disrupts the intermolecular hydrogen bond network of the corn stalk, releasing lignin, while urea undergoes an amidation reaction to generate viscous amide-N active substances. During hot-pressing at 175 °C, the softened lignin coats the CR particles, and the amide components bind tightly to them, forming a dense structure through chemical bonding, physical filling, and hot-pressing synergy.

The authors note that the proposed hot-pressing route is compatible with existing coal chemical solid waste treatment lines. Laboratory-scale equipment can be scaled up to industrial continuous roller-molding units without modifying the main gasifier, significantly reducing equipment renovation costs. This strategy also reduces both solid waste landfill costs and raw material procurement costs.

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Journal

ENGINEERING Chemical Engineering

DOI

10.1007/s11705-026-2707-x

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Hot-press briquetting of carbon-rich coal gasification residues using a corn-based biomass binder: mechanical strength, gasification reactivity, and binding mechanism

 

Deeper straw incorporation helps protect maize from ear rot and fungal toxins

Maximum Academic Press

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Analysis of maize disease and mycotoxin contamination.

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Credit: Agricultural Ecology and Environment

A research team has found that burying maize straw deeper in the soil can reduce ear rot and fungal toxin contamination while improving soil quality. In a three-year field experiment in northeastern China, incorporating straw at depths of 20–40 centimeters reduced ear rot incidence by 33.3%–66.7% compared with shallow incorporation. The findings suggest that adjusting the depth of an established farming practice could help growers manage disease, support beneficial soil microorganisms, and produce safer maize, with 20–30 centimeters emerging as a promising practical option.
 

Returning crop straw to farmland is widely used to replenish organic matter, recycle nutrients, and improve soil conditions. Research also shows that soil microorganisms influence plant growth and disease, making them important partners in sustainable agriculture. However, crop residues can carry pathogens, and their effects depend on how they are managed. Most previous studies have emphasized soil fertility and crop yield or compared broad tillage systems. Less is known about how specific straw burial depths alter microorganisms around and inside maize roots, or how those changes relate to ear rot and the accumulation of harmful fungal toxins in grain.

A study (DOI: 10.48130/aee-0026-0019) published in Agricultural Ecology and Environment on 18 August 2026 by Yanpo Yao's team, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, found that deeper straw return improved soil conditions and shifted microbial communities toward potentially protective groups, alongside lower disease incidence and toxin contamination.

Working in Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, the researchers compared four straw incorporation depths: 0–5, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 centimeters. Each treatment had three replicate plots, and the experiment included two maize varieties, Fumin 985 and Xianyu 335, with contrasting disease susceptibility. Investigators assessed ear rot incidence and severity, measured deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in kernels using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and examined soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties. DNA sequencing characterized bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil, soil surrounding roots, and internal root tissues. Quantitative PCR independently measured the abundance of Fusarium and Aspergillus, while network analysis and structural equation modeling explored relationships among soil conditions, microorganisms, and crop health. The measurements revealed substantial changes under deeper incorporation. At 30–40 centimeters, total soil pore area increased by 162.5%, organic carbon by 22.5%, and available phosphorus by 152.1% relative to shallow return. The soil quality index was approximately four times higher, although bulk density also rose modestly. Microbial indicators contributed more than 35% of the index under the deepest treatment. Sequencing showed enrichment of groups containing beneficial microorganisms, including Trichoderma and Enterobacteriaceae, under deeper treatments. PCR confirmed lower absolute abundances of Fusarium and Aspergillus around roots and within root tissues. Microbial networks also showed altered organization and more positive associations, consistent with a potentially more resilient community. These changes accompanied reductions of 20.0%–50.0% in the ear rot disease index under the two deepest treatments. The deepest treatment kept both measured toxins below the food safety thresholds used in the study. Importantly, some visually healthy kernels contained elevated toxin levels, showing that appearance alone cannot establish grain safety. Statistical modeling supported an indirect pathway linking incorporation depth to improved soil conditions, microbial shifts, and reduced disease and contamination, although the proposed biological mechanisms require further experimental testing to establish specific causal microbial roles.

Overall, the research connects residue management with soil ecology and grain safety. The authors propose 20–30 centimeters as a useful balance between disease control and the likely additional energy demands of deeper tillage, rather than a proven economic optimum. Further work should test performance across environments, quantify costs, and sample deeper soil layers to clarify how buried straw influences the wider root zone.

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References

DOI

10.48130/aee-0026-0019

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/aee-0026-0019

Funding information

This work was financially supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2025M773816), the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Grade C) of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. GZC20251849), the National Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Risk Assessment Project (Grant No. 20254019), the Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Grant Nos ZHJGCGX202507; CAAS-ZDRW202416), and the Project of Science and Technology Program of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Grant No. 2025YFHH0180).

About Agricultural Ecology and Environment

Agricultural Ecology and Environment (e-ISSN 3070-0639) is a multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on the agroecological environment, focusing on the interactions between agroecosystems and the environment. It is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the complex interactions between agricultural practices and ecological systems. The journal aims to provide a comprehensive and cutting-edge forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders from diverse fields such as agronomy, ecology, environmental science, soil science, and sustainable development.

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Journal

Agricultural Ecology and Environment

DOI

10.48130/aee-0026-0019

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Deep straw incorporation reduces maize ear rot and mycotoxin contamination by improving soil health and microbial community

GLOBAL WAR ON LGBTQ RIGHTS

Perceiving greater discrimination in healthcare, the LGBTQIA+ community delays seeking medical appointments

University of Córdoba

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reserachers who carried out the study

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Credit: University of Cordoba

Perceiving greater discrimination in healthcare, the LGBTQIA+ community delays seeking medical appointments

A University of Córdoba study compares the perceived discrimination in healthcare among young people ages 18 to 40 forming part of the LGBTQIA+ community and their cisgender peers

People in the LGBTQ+ community face extra barriers in their daily lives due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. One of the areas where these individuals sometimes suffer discrimination is in healthcare. In fact, a survey by the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, Bisexual, and Intersex People found that more than 20% of the trans people surveyed had felt discriminated against when visiting primary care providers.

In this context, researchers Andrea Miranda and Judith Velasco, along with their colleague Francisco Javier Sanmartín, with the Department of Psychology at the University of Córdoba (UCO), sought to conduct research on young LGBTQ+ individuals' perception of discrimination by exploring several questions: Do these individuals feel more discriminated against than cisgender individual? Does this affect their trust in healthcare providers and cause them to attend appointments less often?

"We conducted a study combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches," explained researcher Francisco J. Sanmartín. "The quantitative data, gathered through closed-ended questionnaires, showed us that gay, bisexual, lesbian, and trans individuals reported higher rates of perceived discrimination than cisgender individuals, although the latter also felt discriminated against," continued researcher Judith Velasco. Specifically, 217 people between the ages of 18 and 40 took part in the study.

It was in-depth qualitative interviews with 23 of these individuals that brought the issue to light: while cisgender people felt discriminated against because their explanations were overlooked,  or because of the clash between medical authority and their personal experiences, members of the LGBTQIA+ community perceived higher levels of discrimination, which they linked directly to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The main discriminatory experiences suffered by these individuals included the use of "dead names" for trans people (the ones they had before transitioning), the incorrect use of pronouns despite an explicit request to use the appropriate ones, and the application of biases related to promiscuity, paternalism, or moral judgments toward gay, lesbian, and bisexual people.

"Perceived discrimination was associated with greater psychological distress and lower trust in healthcare professionals," Velasco noted. Thus, this perceived discrimination led these individuals from the community to seek medical consultations less often and also to resort to strategies such as concealing their sexual orientation or gender identity. This concealment can lead to misdiagnoses or less effective treatments, but people also associated the visibility of these issues during consultations with prejudices, biases, and the linking of pathologies to their identity or orientation without exploring other issues. Thus, the study demonstrates that delays in LGBTQ+ individuals seeking medical care can lead to worse prognoses for their illnesses, whether physical or psychological.

For the research team, this study highlights a lack of training, as "medical staff do not act with ill intent; rather, there is a lack of training and of updated protocols that promote sensitivity toward these individuals and ensure that they receive individualized care," concluded Sanmartín. According to the team, this training should begin in the university setting, with content that cuts across all subjects, with a view to improving healthcare later at the doctor's office.

Reference:

Miranda-Tena, A., Sanmartín, F.J. & Velasco, J. Perceived Healthcare Discrimination and Its Impact on Mistrust and Delayed Care Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults in Spain. Arch Sex Behav 55, 2817–2828 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-026-03516-z

 

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Journal

Archives of Sexual Behavior

DOI

10.1007/s10508-026-03516-z

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Perceived Healthcare Discrimination and Its Impact on Mistrust and Delayed Care Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults in Spain

 

Is camouflage a form of communication?

New theory proposes that camouflage is a communication “signal”

Tokyo Metropolitan University

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Masquerading as camouflage. The Uropyia meticulodina (a type of moth) looks much like a dead leaf. The act of adopting the appearance of an inedible object is known as masquerading.

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Credit: Hidemori YAZAKI/Tokyo Metropolitan University

Tokyo, Japan – A researcher from Tokyo Metropolitan University has proposed a new interpretation of camouflage in nature. Most theories dismiss it as a form of communication, since there is no apparent “signal,” but rather a lack of one. Here, in an information-theoretic approach, it is shown that camouflage can be framed as an “information-masking” signal, one which disrupts the flow of information. The same idea might be applied to the wider field of communication, where signals may be present which proactively do not convey information.

 

Camouflage is a ubiquitous part of the natural world, from octopuses to chameleons, where creatures adopt colors and behaviors that help them blend into the background. This can help them avoid detection from predators or even be an essential hunting strategy. A conventional understanding of camouflage would suggest that there is not much to connect camouflage to communication. After all, it is all about adopting states which do not convey anything to other creatures.

In a challenge to orthodoxy in the subject, Assistant Professor Minato Asari from Tokyo Metropolitan University proposes that this is not the case. Existing definitions of what constitutes a “signal” for communication suggest that it needs to be detected by other creatures and modify their behavior; since camouflage is used to avoid detection, this disqualifies it as a signal. In a departure from this framework, the new research suggests that a closer investigation of detection is required. The key idea is that other creatures do, in fact, detect the camouflaged animal, but as a signal which it chooses to ignore or treat as something else. Existing theories which suggest that camouflage is the absence of a signal may be overly simplistic.

Recent experiments cited in the work support this view. For example, a group of chickens was given some exposure to twigs, while others were not. When they were given caterpillars which camouflage themselves as twigs, the group which had prior exposure to twigs took significantly longer to attack the caterpillars. Thus, the act of ignoring them is a learned behavior; the act of camouflage is therefore modifying the behavior of predators, qualifying it as a signal.

This changes how the problem of communication is treated from the perspective of information theory. On top of an information-transmitting signal, there is also an information-masking signal. This is distinct from deception or misinformation; while deception is all about sending a signal which contains the wrong information, camouflage is about ensuring that the true information remains concealed.

While Dr. Asari’s work has been presented to study camouflage, he proposes that the concept of an information-masking signal can be adopted into the wider study of communication. This extends beyond animal signaling to how information theory can be applied when information is being both transmitted and masked.

This work was supported by the Suntory Foundation’s “Grant for Groundbreaking Young Researchers” and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 25K21835.

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Journal

Philosophy of Science

DOI

10.1017/psa.2026.10294

Article Title

From Concealment to Communication: Integrating Camouflage into Animal Signaling Research

Camouflage in different environments. These frogs have appearances which match their environment. While camouflage may involve looking like specific objects, it might simply act to help a creature blend into the surroundings.

Credit

Tokyo Metropolitan University