Pigments in the fruit of red-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis and Actinidia deliciosa)

Kiwifruit cultivars (Actinidia chinensis and A. deliciosa) generally have fruit with yellow or green flesh when ripe. A small number of genotypes also have red pigments, usually restricted to the inner pericarp but varying in intensity and in distribution within the fruit. Carotenoids, chorophylls, and anthocyanins were extracted from the fruit pericarp of such red-fleshed kiwifruit selections. Pigments were analyzed by HPLC and identified by comparison with authentic standards and by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy to obtain a tentative identification of the major anthocyanins in red-fleshed kiwifruit. The yellow and green colors of the outer fruit pericarp are due to different concentrations and proportions of carotenoids and chlorophylls. The red color found mainly in the inner pericarp is due to anthocyanins. In the A. chinensis genotypes tested the major anthocyanin was cyanidin 3-O-xylo(1-2)-galactoside, with smaller amounts of cyanidin 3-O-galactoside. In the A. deliciosa genotypes analyzed, cyanidin 3-O-xylo(1-2)-galactoside was not detected; instead, the major anthocyanins identified were cyanidin 3-O-galactoside and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. However, the two species did not differ consistently in anthocyanin composition.     

Variation in sugar levels and invertase activity in mature fruit representing a broad spectrum of Cucumis melo genotypes

Sugar accumulation is a very important physiological process that determines dessert-melon fruit quality. Considerable variation in the sugar content and composition in the mature flesh of Cucumis melo L. fruits was observed among 56 genotypes which represent the wide range of morphological and horticultural types found in this species. Sucrose accumulation was observed not only among 'dessert melons' of the inodorus and cantalupensis types, but also in representatives of other subgroups of C. melo, including some of the accessions from agrestis and conomon groups. Among the genotypes that accumulate sucrose, the levels of this sugar, and not of the hexoses, were correlated with the total sugar concentration. Hexose levels were correlated with total sugar levels only among low-sugar genotypes that did not accumulate sucrose. Activities of the sucrose hydrolyzing enzymes acid invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) and alkaline invertase (EC 3.2.1.27) were measured in the mature fruit flesh and the results of this survey support the hypothesis that low acid invertase activity is a prerequisite for sucrose accumulation. The sucrose accumulating, high sugar genotypes had less-acidic flesh pH values (pH> 6) than the low-sugar genotypes. The latter were characterized by a broader range of pH values, including acidic (pH< 5.5) fruit flesh.     

猕猴桃汁维生素C降解动力学的研究

以猕猴桃原汁为试材,采用控制温度、调节pH值以促使维生素C氧化降解的方法,探讨猕猴桃汁中维生素C的降解动力学,为控制猕猴桃汁加工中维生素C损失提供理论依据。结果表明：猕猴桃汁中的维生素C降解十分复杂,存在多种降解途径,但主要是有氧降解;其还原型维生素C不经氧化型维生素C生成其他产物的不可逆途径可能存在,但不占主导地位。猕猴桃汁中维生素C无氧降解速度比有氧降解速度慢,温度升高,维生素C有氧降解速度加快,无氧降解速度变化不明显。     

Changes in carotenoid and ascorbic acid contents in fruits of different tomato genotypes related to the depletion of UV-B radiation

The aim of the present study was to investigate if the depletion of UV-B radiation affected the most representative carotenoids as well as the ascorbic acid content in tomato fruits, harvested at both breaker and firm red stages. To do this, three tomato genotypes, DRW 5981, HP 1, and Esperanza, were grown inside a greenhouse either covered with polyethylene transparent to UV-B or depleted of UV-B by a special covering film. The antioxidant properties of the fruits were evaluated on the water-insoluble fractions according to the ABTS method. UV-B effect on antioxidant activity was negligible in DRW and HP 1 genotypes, whereas it was detrimental in Esperanza at both ripening stages. This genotype seems to have a negligible capability of accumulating carotenoids and a great susceptibility to detrimental effects of UV-B; conversely, the DRW genotype shows high carotenoid levels under sunlight conditions and a further promotion by UV-B. On the other hand, the HP 1 mutant displays an intermediate behavior and represents the only genotype favored by UV-B with respect to ascorbic acid accumulation.     

Voltammetric iodometric titration of ascorbic acid with dead-stop end-point detection in fresh vegetables and fruit samples

The present work describes a method for determining ascorbic acid, which combines iodometry with a voltammetric technique to detect the end point of the titration. In addition, the validity of the method applied to natural vegetable or fruit samples was assessed. The results were compared with those obtained by an accurate method such as HPLC using UV detection. Similar values of ascorbic acid for different natural samples were obtained by means of this approach (p > 0.05). The limit of quantification was 0.1 mg. This technique presents the advantage of other electroanalytical methods such as avoiding filtration or ultracentrifugation steps, with the additional benefit of using the platinum electrodes, which are routinely used in the laboratory. These facts allow a rapid and efficient quantification of ascorbic acid with very low cost of reagents and equipment.     

Protective effect of ascorbic acid against the browning developed in apple fruit treated with high hydrostatic pressure.

Apple Reineta variety was used as an apple dessert. The 1-1.5-cm cubes were immersed in a sucrose solution (30% w/v) and subjected to high pressure (HP) of 400 MPa for 30 min at 5 degrees C. Different ascorbic acid concentrations were used to protect the fruit from the browning developed after the HP treatment. After 2 months of storage at 5 degrees C, no brown color was observed in the samples treated with 20 mM ascorbic acid, and they were acceptable to consumers. However, untreated samples presented fermentation, and they were not acceptable to consumers. The electric conductivity and potassium content were found to be good indicators of the metabolites released from the fruit to the solution in samples treated with high pressure. HP did not affect the peroxidase activity but eliminated the microbial population.     

Geographical distribution and morphological diversity of red-fleshed kiwifruit germplasm (Actinidia chinensis Planchon) in China

The fruit flesh color of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is generally green or yellow when ripened. Developing kiwifruit cultivars with new fruit flesh color such as red-fleshed color has stimulated much interest for kiwifruit breeders and researchers recently due to its potentially importance for meeting the increasing and changing markets and consumers. In the present study, the whole geographical distribution and morphological variation of wild red-fleshed kiwifruit in China were investigated. In total of 56 accessions of red-fleshed kiwifruit were found across 19 separated localities, representing different ecological and climatic conditions throughout South and Central China. Characterization of nine horticulturally important fruit traits of all accessions showed that there are extensive variations in fruit shape, fruit hairs and as to red intensity, spread of the red pigments and background flesh color. The results presented here have updated the current knowledge on the natural distribution and ecological adaptation of wild red-fleshed kiwifruit resource, which should be valuable for kiwifruit agriculture such as the determination of planting areas of red-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars. The accessions with extensive morphological variation can also contribute to kiwifruit breeding in future such as developing new cultivars with red color flesh.     

Browning in ethanolic solutions of ascorbic acid and catechin

Nonenzymatic browning occurs readily in alcoholic beverages and degrades their color quality. Ascorbic acid degradation in the presence of phenolic compounds is a major browning pathway in alcoholic beverages with fruit or fruit juice as the raw material or an ingredient. In the present study ethanolic solutions of ascorbic acid and catechin were prepared to simulate the alcoholic beverages. Ascorbic acid degradation and browning in these model solutions were investigated. Glycerol solutions with the same water activity (A(w)) values as those of the ethanolic model solutions were used as controls in the evaluation of browning rate. Results showed that the aerobic degradation of ascorbic acid dominates over the anaerobic one in ethanolic solutions, that the browning rate decreases as the ethanol concentration increases, that the compound 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone may not be a good indicator of browning in ethanolic ascorbic acid-catechin solutions, and that A(w) is a major factor responsible for the difference in the browning rate among ascorbic acid-catechin solutions with different ethanol concentrations.     

Thermal stability of ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid oxidase in african cowpea leaves ( Vigna unguiculata ) of different maturities

Cowpea, an African leafy vegetable ( Vigna unguiculata ), contains a high level of vitamin C. The leaves harvested at 4-9 weeks are highly prone to vitamin C losses during handling and processing. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to study the effect of thermal treatment on the stability of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO), total vitamin C content (l-ascorbic acid, l-AA), and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) and l-AA/DHAA ratio in cowpea leaves harvested at different maturities (4, 6, and 8 weeks old). The results showed that AAO activity, total vitamin C content, and l-AA/DHAA ratio in cowpea leaves increased with increasing maturity (up to 8 weeks). Eight-week-old leaves were the best source of total vitamin C and showed a high ratio of l-AA/DHAA (4:1). Thermal inactivation of AAO followed first-order reaction kinetics. Heating at temperatures above 90 °C for short times resulted in a complete AAO inactivation, resulting in a protective effect of l-AA toward enzyme-catalyzed oxidation. Total vitamin C in young leaves (harvested at 4 and 6 weeks) was predominantly in the form of DHAA, and therefore temperature treatment at 30-90 °C for 10 min decreased the total vitamin C content, whereas total vitamin C in 8-week-old cowpea leaves was more than 80% in the form of l-AA, so that a high retention of the total vitamin C can be obtained even after heating and/or reheating (30-90 °C for 10 min) before consumption. The results indicated that the stability of total vitamin C in situ was strongly dependent on the plant maturity stage and the processing conditions applied.     

Bioaccessibility of tocopherols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid from milk- and soy-based fruit beverages: influence of food matrix and processing

A study was made of the effect of high-pressure processing (HPP) and thermal treatment (TT) on plant bioactive compounds (tocopherols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid) in 12 fruit juice-milk beverages and of how the food matrix [whole milk (JW), skimmed milk (JS), and soy milk (JSy)] modulates their bioaccessibility (%). HPP (400 MPa/40 °C/5 min) produced a significant decrease in carotenoid and ascorbic acid bioaccessibility in all three beverages and maintained the bioaccessibility of tocopherols in JW and JS while decreasing it in JSy. TT (90 °C/30 s) produced a significant decrease in tocopherol and carotenoid bioaccessibility in all three beverages and increased the bioaccessibility of ascorbic acid. With regard to the food matrix, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid bioaccessibility was greatest in JW beverages and lowest in JSy beverages, whereas no significant differences were found among the three beverages in terms of carotenoid bioaccessibility. HPP-treated samples showed higher tocopherol and carotenoid bioaccessibility than TT-treated samples, thus indicating that HPP combined with a milk matrix positively modulates the bioaccessibility of certain types of bioactive components of food, mainly those of a lipophilic nature.     

Effect of titanium leaf spray treatments on ascorbic acid levels of Capsicum annuum L. fruits

Ascorbic acid content is an important quality factor in Capsicum fruits for paprika obtention because its role as natural protector of the pigment stability due to its antioxidant properties. For increase its natural fruit levels, four Capsicum cultivare, growing in both greenhouse and field conditions were treated with titanium (Ti) via leaf spray. In all the cases, the fruits from Ti‐treated plants increased the ascorbic acid contents against its corresponding untreated controls. In the most of the cases, the highest ascorbic acid levels were obtained in fruits from plants that received two Ti‐treatments. Fruit response to Ti was more marked in the field experiments than for the greenhouse crops.     

Anthocyanin and ascorbic acid degradation in sonicated strawberry juice

Strawberry juice samples were sonicated at amplitude levels ranging from 40 to 100% at a constant frequency of 20 kHz for treatment times (2-10 min) and pulse durations of 5 s on and 5 s off. Sonication was found to reduce anthocyanin and ascorbic acid contents by 3.2 and 11%, respectively, at the maximum treatment conditions. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a two-factor, five-level central composite design was employed to determine the effect of amplitude level and treatment time on anthocyanins (P3G), ascorbic acid (AA) content, and color values (L*, a*, and b*). The model predictions for the selected nutritional and quality parameters were closely correlated to the experimental results. RSM was demonstrated to be an effective technique to model the effect of sonication on strawberry juice quality while minimizing the number of experiments required.     

Interaction between ascorbic acid and chlorogenic acid during the formation of nitric oxide in acidified saliva

When saliva and gastric juice are mixed, salivary nitrite is transformed to nitrous acid to produce nitric oxide (NO). The NO formation in acidified saliva was enhanced by ascorbic acid and chlorogenic acid. Thiocyanate ion (SCN(-)) also enhanced the transformation of nitrous acid to NO. During the NO formation in the presence of both ascorbic acid and chlorogenic acid, ascorbic acid was preferentially oxidized. Chlorogenic acid was oxidized after ascorbic acid had been oxidized. Ascorbyl radical was detected during the oxidation of ascorbic acid, and the radical intensity was decreased by chlorogenic acid. The decrease is discussed to be due to the reduction of the oxidation intermediate or product of chlorogenic acid by ascorbyl radical. The result obtained in this study suggests that ascorbic acid was preferentially oxidized and that not only ascorbic acid but also ascorbyl radical could interact with the oxidation intermediate or product of chlorogenic acid when chlorogenic acid was added to the mixture of saliva and gastric juice that contained ascorbic acid.     

Ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate induced oxidation in egg yolk dispersions

The oxidation in aqueous dispersions of egg yolk powder and the influence of addition of the proposed antioxidants ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate indicate that both ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate propagated the oxidation of egg yolk powder dispersions. Ascorbic acid 6-palmitate was found to be more prooxidative than ascorbic acid. Moreover, it was found that addition of ascorbic acid or ascorbic acid 6-palmitate gave rise to an increase in the amount of free iron Fe(II) in the egg yolk dispersions. It is proposed that ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate react with the phosvitin-Fe(III) complex found in egg yolk and release Fe(II), which subsequently propagates lipid oxidation. It appears that less oxidation occurs in egg yolk dispersions exposed to high concentrations of peroxy radicals with added ascorbic acid than egg yolk dispersions with added ascorbic acid without exposure to peroxy radicals.     

Spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid in canned fruit juices, cordials, and soft drinks with iron(III) and 1,10-phenanthroline as reagents

A simple and accurate spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of ascorbic acid in canned fruit juices, cordials, and soft drinks, based on the reduction of iron(III) by ascorbic acid to iron(II), which is then complexed with 1,10-phenanthroline. Background correction is necessary for most samples and can be achieved by copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation of the acid. The calibration graph was linear from 0 to 8 micrograms/mL of ascorbic acid with a slope of 0.12/ppm. The precision for the determination of ascorbic acid in a lemon drink containing 210 micrograms/mL of the acid was 0.9%. Many ingredients commonly found in fruit juices, cordials, and soft drinks do not interfere; however, tannic acid, pyrogallol, and sulfite interfere with the method. A wide range of samples was analyzed for ascorbic acid content by the proposed method. The samples included mango and lemon tea drinks and also grapefruit juices, for which no background correction is needed.     

Variation of polyphenols and betaines in aerial parts of young, field-grown Amaranthus genotypes

Amaranthus hybridus and Amaranthus mantegazzianus are commonly cultivated and the entire young fresh plants consumed as vegetables in regions of Africa and Asia. A. hybridus and A. mantegazzianus were cultivated at four sites in three climate regions of the world: Santa Rosa, Argentina; Lleida, Spain; and Prague and Olomouc, both in the Czech Republic. The contents of flavonoids (isoquercitrin, rutin, nicotiflorin), hydroxybenzoic acids (protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid), hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid), hydroxycinnamyl amides (N-trans-feruloyltyramine, N-trans-feruloyl-4-O-methyldopamine), and betaines (glycinebetaine, trigonelline) were determined. The variation in phytochemical content due to species and cultivation site was analyzed utilizing the multivariate statistical methods of principal component analysis (PCA) and graphical model (GM). The Argentinean samples differed from the three other locations due to higher contents of most compounds. The samples from Spain and the Czech Republic differed from each other in the content of the negatively correlated metabolites trigonelline and the flavonoids. The two amaranth species were separated primarily by a higher content of trigonelline and the two hydroxycinnamyl amides in A. mantegazzianus. The GM showed that the quantities of the different analytes within each compound group were intercorrelated except in the case of the betaines. The betaines carried no information on each other that was not given through correlations with other compounds. The hydroxycinnamic acids were a key group of compounds in this analysis as they separated the other groups from each other (i.e., carried information on all of the other groups). This study showed the contents of polyphenols and betaines in the aerial parts of vegetable amaranth to be very dependent on growth conditions, but also revealed that some of the compounds (trigonelline and the two hydroxycinnamyl amides) may be useful as features of a taxonomic classification.     

柑橘果实发育中果胶酸钙、草酸钙和果胶动态的研究

以单性结实的龟井蜜柑和自花结实的鄂柑1号橘为试材,对整个果实发育期的子房(幼果)、果皮和果肉的果胶酸钙、草酸钙和果胶含量变化进行了测定。结果表明,1)两品种子房(幼果)果胶酸钙含量呈类似的下降趋势;草酸钙则相反,龟井花后趋下降,而鄂柑1号却明显上升;而且鄂柑1号子房(幼果)果胶酸钙、草酸钙和果胶含量均相对较高。2)在果实增大期内,两品种果皮和果肉的果胶酸钙含量均出现显著上升,对应果皮草酸钙含量虽有波动但居相对较高水平,而果肉草酸钙则趋明显下降。3)两品种果皮和果肉水溶性果胶含量均在增大期内呈显著上升,对应原果胶含量均相对较高,进入增大后期均明显下降。     

猕猴桃AdMSD1和AdMSD2的克隆及其在果实后熟软化中的表达

锰超氧化物歧化酶(MnSOD)在植物生长发育与衰老及应对逆境胁迫中发挥重要作用。为探究MnSOD基因在猕猴桃果实后熟软化及采后贮藏过程的作用,本研究以米良1号猕猴桃为试材,克隆了2个MnSOD基因,分别命名为AdMSD1和AdMSD2。AdMSD1包含675 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码224个氨基酸,登录号为KY471358;AdMSD2包含690 bp的ORF,编码229个氨基酸,登录号为KY471359。生物信息学分析结果表明,AdMSD1和AdMSD2均编码稳定的碱性亲水蛋白,包含保守金属结合域DVWEHAYY、Mn²⁺金属结合位点和特征氨基酸。AdMSD1和AdMSD2均由6个外显子和5个内含子组成。进化树结果显示,2个蛋白聚在双子叶植物组的不同分支,属于MnSOD家族的不同成员。定量分析结果表明,AdMSD1在叶片的转录水平最高,在花中的转录水平最低;AdMSD2在花中的转录水平最高,在成熟果中的转录水平最低。2个基因在果实后熟软化过程的转录呈动态变化,但均在软化初期上调,软化Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期下调,进入软化Ⅲ期后再次回升。果实中AdMSD1和AdMSD2的转录水平均在低温贮藏过程中下降。AdMSD1在脱落酸处理的第1和第5天表达上调,而AdMSD2在脱落酸处理后表达下调;AdMSD1在赤霉素处理后表达下调,而AdMSD2在赤霉素处理的第1天表达上调,之后下调。研究结果表明,AdMSDs基因参与猕猴桃果实的后熟软化和采后贮藏过程,为进一步研究SOD在猕猴桃果实采后品质调控中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

Effect of organic and conventional cropping systems on ascorbic acid, vitamin C, flavonoids, nitrate, and oxalate in 27 varieties of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

This study was undertaken to compare the levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin C, flavonoids, nitrate, and oxalate in 27 spinach varieties grown in certified organic and conventional cropping systems. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-(ESI)MS/MS) of methanolic extracts of spinach demonstrated 17 flavonoids, including glucuronides and acylated di- and triglycosides of methylated and methylenedioxyderivatives of 6-oxygenated flavonoids. The mean levels of ascorbic acid and flavonoids were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the organically grown [40.48 ± 6.16 and 2.83 ± 0.03 mg/kg of fresh weight (FW)] spinach compared to the conventionally grown spinach (25.75 ± 6.12 and 2.27 ± 0.02 mg/kg of FW). Conversely, the mean levels of nitrate were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the conventionally grown spinach compared to the organically grown spinach. No significant effects were observed in the oxalate content of spinach from either production system. The levels of nitrate correlated negatively with those of ascorbic acid, vitamin C, and total flavonoids and showed a positive correlation with the oxalate content. These results suggest that organic cropping systems result in spinach with lower levels of nitrates and higher levels of flavonoids and ascorbic acid.