Determination and distribution of 6-methoxymellein in fresh and processed carrot puree by a rapid spectrophotometric assay.

Isocoumarin or 6-methoxymellein (6-MM) was extracted from carrot tissue using alkali saponification to solubilize the lactone portion of its structure into an aqueous phase. Acidification and subsequent organic solvent extraction allowed isolates to be quantified and verified as 6-MM by spectrophotometric determination. 6-Methoxymellein was analyzed in carrot cross sections, as a function of depth and before and after thermal processing. A natural propensity for 6-MM accumulation was observed in root tip sections exposed to ethylene, and levels increased as a result of wounding. Consecutive layer peeling demonstrated that small-diameter roots accumulated greater amounts of 6-MM in periderm tissue compared to large roots. Processing carrots into a puree resulted in 10-25% greater extraction of 6-MM than grinding fresh carrot samples, whereas steam-cooked and thermally processed purees had 15% greater extraction than unheated purees. This analytical technique will allow carrot processors to accurately estimate raw and processed products for the bitter compound 6-MM.     

Chemical and sensory quality of processed carrot puree as influenced by stress-induced phenolic compounds

Physicochemical analysis of processed strained product was performed on 10 carrot genotypes grown in Texas (TX) and Georgia (GA). Carrots from GA experienced hail damage during growth, resulting in damage to their tops. Measurements included pH, moisture, soluble phenolics, total carotenoids, sugars, organic acids, and isocoumarin (6-MM). Sensory analysis was conducted using a trained panel to evaluate relationships between chemical and sensory attributes of the genotypes and in carrots spiked with increasing levels of 6-MM. Preharvest stress conditions in GA carrots seemed to elicit a phytoalexic response, producing compounds that impacted the perception of bitter and sour flavors. Spiking 6-MM into strained carrots demonstrated the role bitter compounds have in lowering sweetness scores while increasing the perception of sour flavor. Screening fresh carrots for the phytoalexin 6-MM has the potential to significantly improve the sensory quality of processed products.     

Radicinols and radicinin phytotoxins produced by Alternaria radicina on carrots

The phytotoxin epi-radicinol, a diastereomer of radicinol, was isolated from large cultures of Alternaria radicina grown on carrot slices and identified by GC-MS, LC-MS, (1)H NMR, and (13)C NMR. Four strains of A. radicina isolated from rotted carrot produced epi-radicinol as the major metabolite (up to 39414 microg/g) together with radicinol (up to 2423 microg/g), and, to a lesser extent, radicinin when cultured on carrot slices, whereas on rice they mainly produced radicinin (2486-53800 microg/g). Radicinin and epi-radicinol reduced root elongation of germinating carrot seeds at concentrations of 10-20 microg/mL. Carrot samples naturally infected by A. radicina contained detectable quantities of epi-radicinol also in combination with lower levels of radicinin or radicinol. Accumulation of radicinols and radicinin in stored carrots, either naturally contaminated or artificially inoculated with A. radicina, was stimulated by successive temperature rises from 1 to 10 degrees C and from 10 to 20 degrees C, reaching maximum levels of 60 microg/g epi-radicinol and 26 microg/g radicinin. This is the first report on the production of radicinols by A. radicina and its natural occurrence in carrots in association with radicinin.     

Quantitative studies and sensory analyses on the influence of cultivar, spatial tissue distribution, and industrial processing on the bitter off-taste of carrots (Daucus carota l.) and carrot products

Although various reports pointed to 6-methoxymellein (1) as a key player imparting the bitter taste in carrots, activity-guided fractionation experiments recently gave evidence that not this isocoumarin but bisacetylenic oxylipins contribute mainly to the off-taste. Among these, (Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol (2), (Z)-3-acetoxy-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-8-ol (3), and (Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3,8-diol (falcarindiol, 4) have been successfully identified. In the present study, an analytical procedure was developed enabling an accurate quantitation of 1-4 in carrots and carrot products. To achieve this, (E)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3,8-diol was synthesized as a suitable internal standard for the quantitative analysis of the bisacetylenes. On the basis of taste activity values, calculated as the ratio of the concentration and the human sensory threshold of a compound, a close relationship between the concentration of 4 and the intensity of the bitter off-taste in carrots, carrot puree, and carrot juice was demonstrated, thus showing that compound 4 might offer a new analytical measure for an objective evaluation of the quality of carrot products. Quantitative analysis on the intermediate products in industrial carrot processing revealed that removing the peel as well as green parts successfully decreased the concentrations in the final carrot puree by more than 50%.     

热烫方式对胡萝卜浆品质的影响及工艺优化

为提高胡萝卜制浆的品质,以新鲜东方六寸参胡萝卜为原料,采用高效液相色谱法测定胡萝卜浆中β-胡萝卜素含量。比较了热水热烫、蒸汽热烫、维生素C热烫、柠檬酸热烫等4种不同的热烫方式对胡萝卜浆中β-胡萝卜素含量的影响,并用Box-Behnken响应面设计法优化热烫处理的工艺条件。结果表明,柠檬酸热烫为最佳热烫方式,优化得到的柠檬酸热烫工艺条件为:柠檬酸质量分数1.4%、热烫时间18min、热烫温度84℃。经验证在此条件下,β-胡萝卜素质量分数23.59mg/kg,与模型预测值吻合,建立的模型可用于工艺预测。因此,本研究结果可为改善胡萝卜制浆的品质提供技术依据。     

Contribution of tomato phenolics to antioxidation and down-regulation of blood lipids

This study was performed to understand the characteristics and biological activities of phenolics in tomatoes and to examine the effect of tomato on the regulation of blood lipids. Tomatoes of both big and small sizes were used fresh, after blanching, or after blanching and heating. Moreover, a human clinical trial was conducted to examine plasma antioxidation, status of blood lipids, and phenolic responses after ingestion of fresh tomato, tomato juice, and a lycopene drink. The contents of tomato phenolics were increased by 34% for small tomato and by 23% for big tomato after treatment by blanching and heating at 100 degrees C for 30 min. Tomato phenolics showed fair antioxidant activity (57-71%) and also synergistically promoted the antioxidation (81-100%) of tomato carotenoids. In the human clinical study, total antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents in plasma were increased after administration of fresh tomato and tomato juice, but no significant difference was found for lycopene drink consumption. Triglyceride levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased after administration of fresh tomato and tomato juice, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased.     

How to improve bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) juice color quality: effect of juice processing on bayberry anthocyanins and polyphenolics

Fresh bayberries (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) were processed into juice at an industrialized scale with four treatments: control, SO2 addition, pasteurization of the crushed pulp, and blanching before fruit crushing. Changes in anthocyanin pigments and polyphenolics (hydrobenzoic acids and flavonol glycosides) were monitored during processing. Centrifuged juice yield ranged from 73 to 78% (w/w), but only 12-27% of the anthocyanins and 20-32% of the polyphenolics were recovered in the ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) juices. Fifty-two to 58% of anthocyanins and 30-35% of polyphenolics were present in the centrifuged cakes. The initial processing steps of blanching, crushing, pasteurization, and depectinization caused a great loss of total and individual polyphenolics. Total monomeric anthocyanins were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in pasteurization- and blanching-treated samples than those in the SO2 treated samples, whereas those in the SO2-treated sample were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the control juice. Overall polyphenolic levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in pasteurization- and blanching-treated samples than in the SO2-treated and control samples after each processing step. Important changes occurred in the polyphenolic profile with a 50-150% of hydroxybenzoic acids increase due to the free gallic acid from the flavonol glycoside-gallates during the initial processing steps. Flavonol deoxyhexosides were more stable than the flavonol hexosides during bayberry juice processing.     

Structural and sensory characterization of compounds contributing to the bitter off-taste of carrots (Daucus carota L.) and carrot puree

Sequential application of solvent extraction, gel permeation chromatography, and HPLC in combination with taste dilution analyses revealed that not a sole compound but a multiplicity of bitter tastants contribute to the bitter off-taste of cold-stored carrots and commercial carrot puree, respectively. Among these bitter compounds, 3-methyl-6-methoxy-8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin (6-methoxymellein), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methylchromone (eugenin), 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (gazarin), (Z)-heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diin-3,8-diol (falcarindiol), (Z)-heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diin-3-ol (falcarinol), and (Z)-3-acetoxy-heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diin-8-ol (falcarindiol 3-acetate) could be identified on the basis of MS as well as 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. Due to the low concentrations of <0.1 mg/kg and the high taste thresholds found for eugenin and gazarin, these compounds could be unequivocally excluded as important contributors to the bitter taste of carrots. Calculation of bitter activity values as the ratio of their concentration to their bitter detection threshold clearly demonstrated that neither in fresh and stored carrots nor in commercial carrot puree did 6-methoxymellein contribute to the bitter off-taste. In contrast, the concentrations of falcarindiol in stored carrots and, even more pronounced, in carrot puree were found to be 9- and 13-fold above its low bitter detection concentration of 0.04 mmol/kg, thus demonstrating that this acetylenic diol significantly contributes to the bitter taste of the carrot products investigated.     

超高压对鲜榨果蔬汁的杀菌效果

为防止鲜榨果蔬汁受微生物污染而腐败变质,通过超高压加工处理降低其污染的风险,延长产品货架期,提高产品的安全性。该文通过研究超高压处理鲜榨苹果汁和胡萝卜汁及其在贮藏期的菌落总数变化,确定超高压杀菌后的鲜榨苹果汁和胡萝卜汁的生物安全性。试验结果表明：超高压对低pH值的鲜榨苹果汁的杀菌效果优于pH值偏中性的鲜榨胡萝卜汁。随着处理压力的增大和处理时间的延长,鲜榨苹果汁和胡萝卜汁中的菌落总数显著降低（P＜0.05）。经过400 MPa、15 min处理的鲜榨苹果汁可在4℃下贮藏7 d仍保持食用安全性,而鲜榨胡萝卜汁经400 MPa、45 min处理,仅能在4℃下贮藏3d。     

穿刺协同乙醇预处理对胡萝卜片热风干燥特性影响

干燥效率低导致的能耗高、品质劣变是果蔬热风干燥加工面临的严峻挑战。为改善胡萝卜热风干燥特性,该研究以横切和纵切方式获得的胡萝卜片为研究材料,对其进行穿刺（perforation pretreatment,PT）、乙醇浸渍（alcohol pretreatment,AT）和穿刺协同乙醇浸渍预处理（perforation synergistic alcohol pretreatment,PAT）。研究发现：同未预处理的胡萝卜片相比,PT、AT和PAT预处理技术的应用均显著提高了胡萝卜有效水分扩散系数及热风干燥速率,并将干燥时间缩短10.61%～50.00%,其中PAT样品干燥时间最短。相同预处理方式下,纵切的胡萝卜片相比于横切表现出较高的有效水分扩散系数、较快的干燥速率及较短的干燥时间。进一步,我们提出了PAT预处理具有较高干燥效率的“三重奏机制”：预脱水降低干燥负荷、毛细管流促进水分传质、细胞通透性的增强降低水分传质阻力。在品质方面,PAT预处理显著改善了纵切胡萝卜片的体积收缩、复水性、色泽、总类胡萝卜素和抗坏血酸含量、抗氧化活性及风味等品质特性。因此,为高效获得品质相对较优的脱水胡萝卜,可在其纵向切片后进行PAT预处理。该研究为改善胡萝卜热风干燥提供了一种简单有效的预处理技术,同时也为其他果蔬提质、增效、节能干燥提供参考。     

基于图像处理的胡萝卜青头须根与开裂的检测方法

为了实现基于计算机视觉的胡萝卜外观品质自动分级系统,基于图像处理的方法,参照国家标准(SB/T10450-2007),该文提出影响胡萝卜外观等级的须根、青头、开裂等关键参数的提取算法.须根检测算法通过提取骨架检测端点数来实现,青头检测算法通过R分量上二值化得到,开裂检测算法使用S分量结合区域标记的方法完成,在此基础上构建了须根数、青头比和开裂度3个量化标准,对试验随机采集的520个胡萝卜图像的青头、须根和开裂进行检测,正确率分别达到了97.5%,81.8%,92.3%,总体识别率91.3%.该文所构建的胡萝卜关键特征检测方法,对研究机器视觉的胡萝卜外观品质自动检测装置与分级生产线具有积极意义.     

Particle size reduction leading to cell wall rupture is more important for the β-carotene bioaccessibility of raw compared to thermally processed carrots

The amount of nutrients that can be released from food products (i.e., nutrient in vitro bioaccessibility) is often studied as it is a starting point for investigating nutrient bioavailability, an indicator for the nutritional value of food products. However, the importance of mastication as a particle size reduction technique is poorly understood and is often neglected during in vitro procedures determining bioaccessibility. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to study the effect of mechanical breakdown on the β-carotene bioaccessibility of carrot samples, having different textural/structural characteristics (as a result of thermal processing). In the first part of this study, the all-E-β-carotene bioaccessibility of carrot particles of different sizes (ranging from cell fragments up to large cell clusters), generated from raw as well as from gently and intensely cooked carrot samples, was determined. In the second part of the study, the effect of human mastication on the particle size reduction of raw as well as of gently and intensely cooked carrot samples was investigated in order to allow identification and validation of a technique that could mimic mastication during in vitro procedures. Results showed a strong dependency of the all-E-β-carotene bioaccessibility on the particle size for raw and gently cooked carrots. After intense cooking, on the other hand, a considerable amount of all-E-β-carotene could be released from cell fragments (smaller than a cell) as well as from small and large cell clusters. Hence, the importance of mechanical breakdown, and thus also of (in vitro) mastication, is dependent on the carrot sample that is considered (i.e., the extent to which the carrot sample has been thermally processed prior to the particle size reduction). Structural changes occurring during mechanical and thermal processing are hereby key factors determining the all-E-β-carotene bioaccessibility. The average particle size distribution curves of raw and cooked carrots, which were chewed by 15 persons, could be mimicked by mixing 50 g of carrots using a Grindomix (Retsch) at 2500 rpm during 5 s. Based on this scientific knowledge, the identified in vitro mastication technique was successfully integrated in the in vitro digestion procedure determining the all-E-β-carotene bioaccessibility of carrot samples.     

Quantitative analysis of aroma compounds in carrot (Daucus carota L.) cultivars by capillary gas chromatography using large-volume injection technique

Dynamic headspace sampling was used to collect aroma compounds from raw samples of four carrot (Daucus carota L.) cultivars (Brasilia, Duke, Fancy, and Cortez). The collected volatiles were analyzed by capillary GC-FID and GC-MS using large-volume cool on-column injection (LVI-COC). Of the 36 compounds identified, 6 had not been previously detected in carrots. Significant differences between the carrot cultivars were found for 31 of the identified volatiles as well as for total monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and total volatile content. Mono- and sesquiterpenes accounted for about 98% of the total volatile mass in all cultivars. LVI-COC injection was used to determine the loss of carrot volatiles during concentration of headspace samples under a stream of nitrogen. The loss among major monoterpenes in the concentrated samples varied from 16% for p-cymene to >40% for alpha-pinene as compared to nonconcentrated samples. The loss among high-boiling sesquiterpenes varied from not detectable (beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, and caryophyllene oxide) to approximately 7% for (E)- and (Z)-gamma-bisabolene.     

Effect of mash maceration on the polyphenolic content and visual quality attributes of cloudy apple juice

The effects of enzymatic mash treatments on yield, turbidity, color, and polyphenolic content of cloudy apple juice were studied. Using HPLC-ESI-MS, cryptochlorogenic acid was identified in cv. Brettacher cloudy apple juice for the first time. Commercial pectolytic enzyme preparations with different levels of secondary protease activity were tested under both oxidative and nonoxidative conditions. Without the addition of ascorbic acid, oxidation substantially decreased chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2 contents due to enzymatic browning. The content of chlorogenic acid as the major polyphenolic compound was also influenced by the composition of pectolytic enzyme preparations because the presence of secondary protease activity resulted in a rise of chlorogenic acid. The latter effect was probably due to the inhibited protein-polyphenol interactions, which prevented binding of polyphenolic compounds to the matrix, thus increasing their antioxidative potential. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the advantage of the nonoxidative mash maceration for the production of cloud-stable apple juice with a high polyphenolic content, particularly in a premature processing campaign.     

Polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of vegetables under fresh and frozen conditions

The phenolic and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values have been measured in six fresh and frozen vegetables (beet green, spinach, broccoli, carrot, onion, and celery) from the same cultivar by analyzing the whole juice (WJ) and the acetonic extract of the squeezed pulp. To exploit the effect of the acid environment on the stability and recovery of the phenolics, perchloric acid (PCA) was added directly to WJ and to the pulp before the extraction with acetone. In both fresh and frozen vegetables, PCA markedly increased the recovery of phenolics extracted from the pulp, but PCA had no effect on the WJ. Four of six frozen vegetables showed lower phenolic and ORAC values than the fresh vegetables, whereas in the other two cases, values were significantly higher compared to fresh samples. Among the fresh vegetables, beet green showed the highest ORAC and phenolic values; however, when measured in two different cultivars of beet green, the ORAC value showed as much as 4.5-fold variation, whereas total phenolics and flavonoids showed 1.2- and 3.5-fold variations, respectively. The results show that total phenolics and ORAC, compared in fresh and frozen vegetables, represent an index of the mildness of blanching in the industry of frozen vegetables and provide a measure of the gap in antioxidants in the diet of people who consume frozen instead of fresh vegetables. The plant genotype is an important source of variability in the ORAC value, which can be conveniently used to increase the intake of antioxidants from vegetables.     

Phenolic autoxidation is responsible for color degradation in processed carrot puree.

Strained carrots were thermally processed with reduced oxygen pretreatments and exposed to elevated storage temperatures to accelerate physicochemical changes (40 degrees C for 4 weeks). Strained carrot pretreatments prior to processing included a nitrogen sparge (N(2)), blanch/frozen with nitrogen sparge (BFN(2)), oxygen sparge (O(2)), and a control (C) that received no pretreatment. Changes in color, total soluble phenolics, total carotenoids, phenolic acid molecular weight, sugars, and pH were monitored during storage. Greater losses of color, total soluble phenolics, and total carotenoids occurred in control and O(2)-sparged samples as compared to N(2)-sparged and BFN(2) samples. Molecular weight of phenolic acids was lower in nitrogen-sparged samples than control and oxygen-sparged samples. Phenolic polymerization due to autoxidation was responsible for color loss in processed strained carrots. Processing treatments that reduce residual oxygen may result in better color retention after processing and during storage. Determining the mechanism(s) and magnitude of these reactions are important for devising strategies to prevent quality loss in strained carrots.     

自走式双行胡萝卜联合收获机的研制及试验

为了提高中国胡萝卜机械化作业水平,结合国内胡萝卜的种植模式和农艺要求,设计了自走式双行胡萝卜联合收获机,该设备可同时完成2行胡萝卜的挖掘、夹持输送、根叶分离、去土和集收等功能。收获机由自走式橡胶履带底盘带动,主要工作部件由传动系统、挖掘装置、夹持输送装置、根叶分离装置、去土集收装置等组成。挖掘铲设计成两翼张开的三角状,可有效降低挖掘阻力;根叶分离前,胡萝卜植株在一拉紧装置作用下使根部对齐,然后转入水平夹持带输送装置经一对圆盘刀完成切割,保证了切口整齐且贴近根部顶端。经田间样机收获试验检测表明,机器收净率达到了98.2%,损伤率为2.5%,生产率达到了0.11hm2/h。该研究为胡萝卜收获机械的深入研究和发展提供了参考。     

Comparison of volatiles, phenolics, sugars, antioxidant vitamins, and sensory quality of different colored carrot varieties

Four different colored carrots, orange, purple with orange core, yellow, and white, were examined for their content of phenolics, antioxidant vitamins, and sugars as well as their volatiles and sensory responses. A total of 35 volatiles were identified in all carrots, 27 positively. White carrot contained the highest content of volatiles, followed by orange, purple, and yellow. In total, 11, 16, 10, and 9 phenolic compounds were determined for the first time in orange, purple, yellow, and white carrots, respectively. Of these, chlorogenic acid was the most predominant phenolic compound in all carrot varieties. Differences (p < 0.05) in relative sweetness, the contents of vitamin C and alpha- and beta-carotenes, and certain flavor characteristics were observed among the colored carrot varieties examined. Purple carrots contained 2.2 and 2.3 times more alpha- and beta-carotenes (trace in yellow; not detected in white) than orange carrots, respectively. Purple carrot may be used in place of other carrot varieties to take advantage of its nutraceutical components.     

The Effect of Nitrogen Catch Crops on the Nitrogen Nutrition of a Succeeding Crop: I. Effects through Mineralization and Pre-emptive Competition

Abstract

The effects of catch crops on the nitrogen nutrition of a succeeding carrot crop were investigated. An attempt was made to distinguish the effects of growth and nitrogen uptake by the catch crop from the effect of mineralization of its residues. It was found that growth and nitrogen uptake by catch crops could reduce the nitrogen supply to the succeeding carrot crop through pre-emptive competition, whereas mineralization of nitrogen from the catch crop residues increased the nitrogen supply to the carrot crop. Nitrogen uptake by the carrots was thus highest where catch crop residues were incorporated on plots where no catch crop had been grown. The effect of the mineralization was found mainly to influence topsoil mineral nitrogen contents and the early nitrogen uptake by carrots, whereas the effect of pre-emptive competition was to reduce subsoil mineral nitrogen content and the nitrogen uptake by carrots late in the growing season. The apparent recovery of catch crop nitrogen by carrots was between 8 and 33%.     

U.S. market basket study to determine residues of the insecticide chlorpyrifos.

A market basket study was conducted to measure residues of the insecticide chlorpyrifos in samples of apples, applesauce, apple juice, fresh orange juice, tomatoes, peanut butter, whole milk, ground beef, and pork sausage collected during a 12-month period from 200 grocery stores across the United States. Approximately 90% of the samples contained no detectable levels of chlorpyrifos, and all residues detected were below tolerances, the legal limits for the United States. No values greater than the limit of quantitation (LOQ) were found in applesauce (LOQ = 0.008 ppm), apple juice (LOQ = 0.003 ppm), whole milk (LOQ = 0.006 ppm), ground beef (LOQ = 0.005 ppm), or pork sausage (LOQ = 0.007 ppm) samples. Only one fresh orange juice sample contained residues greater than the LOQ at 0.015 ppm. Only about 20% of the apples (maximum = 0.052 ppm), 20% of the tomato samples (maximum = 0.058 ppm), and 50% of the peanut butter samples (maximum = 0.021 ppm) contained quantifiable residues.