Carotenoid biosynthesis changes in five red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars during ripening. Cultivar selection for breeding

Changes in the biosynthesis of individual carotenoid pigments have been investigated during fruit ripening of five cultivars of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Mana, Numex, Belrubi, Delfin, and Negral (a chlorophyll-retaining mutant when ripe). The study was carried out throughout the ripening process, and with special emphasis on the ripe stage, to discover possible differences between cultivars and to characterize these by their carotenoid pattern and content for selecting the best varieties for breeding programs. Ripening fruit of the five cultivars showed the typical and characteristic pattern of carotenoid biosynthesis for the Capsicum genus. In the five cultivars, lutein and neoxanthin, both characteristic chloroplast pigments, decreased in concentration with ripening and eventually disappeared. beta-Carotene, antheraxanthin, and violaxanthin increased in concentration, and other pigments were biosynthesized de novo: zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, capsanthin, capsorubin, capsanthin-5,6-epoxide, and cucurbitaxanthin A. A pool of zeaxanthin stands out of the rest of pigment during ripening, which reveals the importance of this pigment as a branching point in the carotenoid biosynthesis in Capsicum. Quantitatively, Negral cultivar showed the highest increase in total carotenoid content (48. 39-fold), followed by Mana and Delfin with 38.03- and 36.8-fold, respectively, and by Belrubi and Numex with 28.03- and 23.48-fold, respectively. In all the red varieties, there was an inverse relationship between total carotenoid content and the red to yellow isochromic pigment fraction ratio (R/Y) and the capsanthin-to-zeaxanthin ratio (Caps/Zeax). This seems to be related to the carotenogenic capacity of the cultivar, and thus selection and breeding should not only seek a higher total carotenoid content but also attempt to increase these ratios. In the present study, the cultivar Mana had the highest total carotenoid content (13 208 mg/kg dwt), but the lowest R/Y (1.25) and Caps/Zeax (3.38) ratios, which are therefore the parameters to improve. The cultivar Negral had a high carotenoid content (8797 mg/kg dwt) and high R/Y and Caps/Zeax ratios and could be used for transfer of these characters in direct crosses with the cultivar Mana. The cultivar Numex had the highest Caps/Zeax ratio (7.17) and is thus an ideal progenitor for this character.     

Changes in the carotenoid metabolism of capsicum fruits during application of modelized slow drying process for paprika production

A temperature profile simulating the traditional slow drying process of red pepper fruits, which is conducted in La Vera region (Spain) for paprika production, was developed. Carotenoid and ascorbic acid content, as well as moisture of fruits, were monitored during the slow drying process designed. Data obtained suggested that the evolution of carotenoid concentration, the main quality trait for paprika, directly depend on the physical conditions imposed. During the drying process, three different stages could be observed in relation to the carotenoids. The first stage corresponds to a physiological adaptation to the new imposed conditions that implied a decrease (ca. 20%) in the carotenoid content during the first 24 h. After that short period and during 5 days, a second stage was noticed, recovering the biosynthetic (carotenogenic) capability of the fruits, which denotes an accommodation of the fruits to the new environmental conditions. During the following 48 h (third stage) a sharp increase in the carotenoid content was observed. This last phenomenon seems to be related with an oxidative-thermal stress, which took place during the first stage, inducing a carotenogenesis similar to that occurring in over-ripening fruits. Results demonstrate that a fine control of the temperature and moisture content would help to positively modulate carotenogenesis and minimize catabolism, making it possible to adjust the drying process to the ripeness stage of fruits with the aim of improving carotenoid retention and therefore quality of the resulting product. In the case of ascorbic acid, data demonstrated that this compound is very sensitive to the drying process, with a decrease of about 76% during the first 24 h and remaining only at trace levels during the rest of the process. Therefore, no antioxidant role should be expected from ascorbic acid during the whole process and in the corresponding final product (paprika), despite that red pepper fruit is well-known to be rich on this compound.     

Changes in chloroplast pigments of olive varieties during fruit ripening

Changes in chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments of five olive (Olea europaea L.) varieties destined for milling were investigated at six consecutive ripening stages. There was a manifest dependence between olive variety, moment of picking, and chloroplast pigment composition of the fruits. Although the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids differed with fruit variety, ripening always involved their gradual loss, which becames more pronounced with increased presence of anthocyanin compounds. The relative rates of disappearance of chlorophylls and carotenoids were markedly different between varieties, implying that the catabolism of these pigments takes place at a relative rate inherent to each variety. The varieties less rich in pigments showed the most extreme behavior. The highest relative rate of disappearance was observed in fruits of the Blanqueta variety, and the lowest was observed in those of Arbequina. The chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio remained practically constant during ripening, with a value very similar for Hojiblanca, Picual, Cornicabra, and Blanqueta, but much higher for Arbequina, implying that the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus is different in the latter variety. In the five varieties studied, lutein was the slowest carotenoid to be degraded, so that its percentage in the fruits increased with ripening, whereas beta-carotene was the fastest to disappear. In ripe fruits covered with anthocyanins, chloroplast pigments were retained in both skin and pulp, with the rate of disappearance being much higher in the latter.     

Quantitaive and qualitative changes associated with heat treatments in the carotenoid content of paprika oleoresins.

Quantitative changes in the red and yellow carotenoid pigment fractions of four paprika oleoresins were studied at four storage temperatures. At all four temperatures, there was an overall loss of pigmentation, which was more marked with increasing temperature. However, pigmentation loss was not qualitatively uniform. At temperatures below 60 degrees C, the rate of destruction of the yellow pigment fraction was higher than that of the red pigments. Above 60 degrees C, the order of lability of the two fractions was inverted and the red pigment fraction became the more unstable. Thus, treatments above this temperature increase the proportion of yellow pigments. Any heat treatment results in a decrease in the total pigment concentration, with the initial proportion of red and yellow pigments switching in favor of one or the other depending on the temperature used.     

Xanthophyll esterification accompanying carotenoid overaccumulation in chromoplast of Capsicum annuum ripening fruits is a constitutive process and useful for ripeness index

Changes in xanthophyll esterification degree during pepper fruit ripening have been studied in five cultivars (Numex, Mana, Belrubi, Delfin, and Negral). Esterification of xanthophylls with fatty acids is seen to be a process that is contemporary with and directly linked to the transformation of chloroplast (present in the green fruit) into chromoplast (present in the red fruit). Changes in the fractions of free and partially and totally esterified carotenoids are similar between varieties, reflecting the constitutive nature of esterification as part of the ripening process and being controlled by it. From the first stages of ripening, the fraction of totally esterified pigments (zeaxanthin diester, beta-cryptoxanthin diester, capsanthin diester, and capsorubin diester) makes up almost 50% of the total carotenoid content. The proportion of the partially esterified pigment fraction (zeaxanthin monoester, capsanthin monoester, and capsorubin monoester) in the total carotenoid content increases, with a gradual decrease in the fraction of free pigments (beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, capsanthin, and capsorubin). In the fully ripe stage, a balance is reached between the three esterification fractions (free, partially esterified, and totally esterified), with mean values of 24.17 +/- 4.06, 31.48 +/- 4. 61, and 44.36 +/- 5.05, respectively, which seems to be largely independent of variety. This suggests a marked control of the carotenoid composition of the totally developed chromoplast, indicating its use as an index of ripeness. The inclusion in the present study of a variety (Negral) that retains chlorophylls when ripening, and which shows the same esterification behavior, supports the idea that carotenogenesis is normal and independent of chlorophyll catabolism.     

Identification and quantification of betalains from the fruits of 10 mexican prickly pear cultivars by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of betalain pigments in 10 cultivars/lines of prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) fruit grown in Mexico were conducted with reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Betacyanins and betaxanthins were identified by comparison with the UV/vis and mass spectrometric characteristics as well as the retention times of semisynthesized reference betaxanthins. Data revealed that the ratio and concentration of betalain pigments are responsible for the color in the different cultivars, showing the highest betalains content in the fruit of purple colored Camuesa (O. robusta Wendl.) (8.1 mg/g dry fruit), which is comparable to that found in red beet Beta vulgaris L. ssp. Var. Pablo) (8.6 mg/g dry tissue). Yellow betalains were absent in Reyna (O. alba-carpa) prickly pear cultivar. A total of 24 known/unknown betalains were present in the prickly pear fruit samples studied, including 18 betaxanthins and 6 betacyanins. Our results indicate that prickly pear cultivars can be considered as a potential source of yellow and red natural colorants.     

Chlorophyll and carotenoid patterns in olive fruits, Olea europaea Cv. arbequina

In olive fruits of the cultivar Arbequina, the chlorophyll pigments decrease significantly throughout ripening, while the carotenoids decrease more gradually and discontinuously. There is no degradation of the carotenoid fraction in stages before complete ripeness. The presence of esterified xanthophylls exclusively in this variety suggests that the chloroplast pigment metabolism is different from that in other olive varieties studied previously. There are increases of specific carotenoids, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein epoxide, and esterified xanthophylls between the light green and yellowish green ripening stages. Such increases are related to the detection of precursor carotenoids (phytofluene and xi-carotene) in the yellowish green stage. Chlorophyllides (a and b) and alpha-carotene have also been detected exclusively in this variety. Quantitatively, the drastic change in color between light green and yellowish green ripening stages characteristic of this variety can be explained by the considerable reduction found in the chlorophylls/carotenoids ratio. The study of the pigments present in skin and pulp has shown that the pattern of carotenoid distribution differs depending on the fruit part concerned.     

Change in the carotenoid and antioxidant content of spice red pepper (paprika) as a function of ripening and some technological factors

A study was conducted to investigate the change in quality attributes of red pepper (paprika) (Capsicum annuum L. var. Km-622) as a function of ripening and some technological factors. Of quality attributes, carotenoids and bioantioxidants (ascorbic acid and tocopherols) have been studied. It was found that the dynamics of fruit ripening with regard to carotenoids and bioantioxidants was influenced to a considerable extent by weather conditions of the production season. A rainy and cool season yielded fruits with more beta-carotene but less diesters of red xanthophylls as compared to those produced in a relatively dry and warm season. The ripening stage at harvest was found to affect the quality of paprika. Harvest at unripe stages (color break or faint red) resulted in a high accumulation of dehydroascorbic acid in the overripe fruits, whereas de novo biosynthesis of carotenoids and tocopherols was partially retarded. Application of pre-drying centrifugation resulted in a marked loss of ascorbic acid, and as a consequence, carotenoid stability was impaired during the storage of ground paprika. Sugar caramelization caused dry pods and ground paprika to retain more pigments and tocopherol as compared to those from control or centrifuged red pepper samples. During the storage of ground paprika, color stability was improved by grinding the seeds with the pericarp.     

套袋对马家柚果实外观及内在品质的影响

为提升江西省特色品种马家柚果实品质,以不套袋处理为对照(CK),研究了5种纸袋类型[单层黄色纸袋(T1)、双层外黄内黑纸袋(T2)、三层外黄内黑纸袋(T3)、双层外红内黑纸袋(T4)、三层外红内黑纸袋(T5)]和4个摘袋时期[9月25日(Z1)、10月10日(Z2)、10月25日(Z3)、11月10日(Z4)]对马家柚果实外观及内在品质的影响。结果表明,使用双层或三层纸袋套袋的马家柚果实外观品质(CCI值为-0.38~-0.08)显著高于不套袋和套单层纸袋处理(CCI值为-1.69~-1.40),但不同颜色对品质的影响差异较小。套袋对马家柚的果型、可食率和果实主要内含物(总糖、可滴定酸、Vc等)含量无显著影响,而T2、T3、T4在增加主要类胡萝卜素含量方面效果更好,其中T3的果实β-胡萝卜素含量最高(22.64 μg·g^-1),T2的番茄红素含量最高(29.06 μg·g^-1)。不同摘袋时期处理并不会显著改变马家柚原有的果型、可食率和果实主要内含物含量,但对果皮和果肉的色泽以及主要类胡萝卜素含量会产生影响,其中Z3的果实果皮色泽最佳(CCI值为26.44),且果实β-胡萝卜素(23.17 μg·g^-1)和番茄红素含量(29.14 μg·g^-1)最高,但与带袋采收(Z4)无显著差异。综合劳动力考虑,以套袋后带袋采收为佳。本研究结果为改善马家柚的果实品质提供了理论依据。     

Carotenoid pigmentation affects the volatile composition of tomato and watermelon fruits, as revealed by comparative genetic analyses

Tomato near-isogenic lines differing in fruit carotenogenesis genes accumulated different aroma volatiles, in a strikingly similar fashion as compared to watermelon cultivars differing in fruit color. The major volatile norisoprenoids present in lycopene-containing tomatoes and watermelons were noncyclic, such as geranial, neral, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 2,6-dimethylhept-5-1-al, 2,3-epoxygeranial, (E,E)-pseudoionone, geranyl acetone, and farnesyl acetone, seemingly derived from lycopene and other noncyclic tetraterpenoids. Beta-ionone, dihydroactinodiolide, and beta-cyclocitral were prominent in both tomato and watermelon fruits containing beta-carotene. Alpha-ionone was detected only in an orange-fleshed tomato mutant that accumulates delta-carotene. A yellow flesh (r) mutant tomato bearing a nonfunctional psy1 gene and the yellow-fleshed watermelon Early Moonbeam, almost devoid of carotenoid fruit pigments, also lacked norisoprenoid derivatives and geranial. This study provides evidence, based on comparative genetics, that carotenoid pigmentation patterns have profound effects on the norisoprene and monoterpene aroma volatile compositions of tomato and watermelon and that in these fruits geranial (trans-citral) is apparently derived from lycopene in vivo.     

线辣椒新品种天椒17号选育报告

为了保障甘谷辣椒产业健康发展,选育出适宜当地栽培的辣椒新品种,天水市农业科学研究所对甘谷线辣椒生产田发现的制干优良单株采用网室选育和日光温室加代选育相结合的系谱选育方法,育成了制干线辣椒新品种天椒17号。在2015 — 2016年进行的甘肃省线辣椒新品种多点区域试验中,天椒17号2 a 12点(次)干椒平均折合产量为5 011.80 kg/hm2,较对照品种甘谷线椒增产14.71%。天椒17号为早中熟制干线辣椒,定植到红果成熟历时100 d左右。株高84.5 cm,生长势较强。果线型,果顶尖,果面皱,果长20.40 cm,果粗1.20 cm,果肉厚0.12 cm,单果重7.4 g,单株结果51个左右,青熟果深绿色,红熟果深红色,辣味强。椒果辣椒素含量为0.091 g/kg,二氢辣椒素含量为0.063 g/kg,可溶性固形物含量为148.300 g/kg,抗坏血酸含量为744 mg/kg,斯科维尔指数(SHU)为2 650,辣度为18度。中抗烟草花叶病毒病、疫病,高抗黄瓜花叶病毒病。适宜在甘肃省河西、陇中、陇东南地区及气候条件相近地区栽培。     

Antioxidant activities and anthocyanin content of fresh fruits of common fig (Ficus carica L.)

Fig fruit has been a typical component in the health-promoting Mediterranean diet for millennia. To study the potential health-promoting constituents of fig fruits, six commercial fig varieties differing in color (black, red, yellow, and green) were analyzed for total polyphenols, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and amount and profile of anthocyanins. Using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC), various concentrations of anthocyanins but a similar profile was found in all varieties studied. Hydrolysis revealed cyanidin as the major aglycon. Proton and carbon NMR confirmed cyanidin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside (cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside; C3R) as the main anthocyanin in all fruits. Color appearance of fig extract correlated well with total polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity. Extracts of darker varieties showed higher contents of phytochemicals compared to lighter colored varieties. Fruit skins contributed most of the above phytochemicals and antioxidant activity compared to the fruit pulp. Antioxidant capacity correlated well with the amounts of polyphenols and anthocyanins (R2 = 0.985 and 0.992, respectively). In the dark-colored Mission and the red Brown-Turkey varieties, the anthocyanin fraction contributed 36 and 28% of the total antioxidant capacity, respectively. C3R contributed 92% of the total antioxidant capacity of the anthocyanin fraction. Fruits of the Mission variety contained the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins and exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity.     

真空冷冻预干燥对压差膨化干燥果蔬脆片质地特性的影响

为探索预干燥处理对不同果蔬脆片结构及质地特性的影响,该研究采用真空冷冻干燥作为预干燥,并选取了3个水分转换点（60%、45%、30%）,对预干燥过程中6种典型果蔬(苹果,梨,桃,山药,马铃薯,青萝卜)水分状态、细胞结构、收缩率、孔隙度、应力-松弛特性与质地特性进行测定与分析。结果表明,随着预干燥的进行,水分含量逐渐降低,自由水逐渐散失,以不易流动水为主,收缩率逐渐减小,孔隙度逐渐增大,硬度、咀嚼性、弹性模量逐渐增加;水分转换点为60% 时不同果蔬脆片具有较高的硬脆度,其中马铃薯与山药脆片硬度较高,桃与梨的脆片脆度较高;水分转换点为30%时,6种果蔬的孔隙度最高,且青萝卜的孔隙度显著高于其他果蔬（P < 0.05）;在干燥后期,果蔬样品骨架基本形成,且收缩率较低,致使内部孔隙度变大;由相关性分析可知真空冷冻预干燥过程中水分转换点、孔隙度与果蔬脆片质地特性极显著相关（P < 0.05）,研究结果可为预干燥对果蔬脆片质地影响提供参考。     

黄杨叶色特性初步研究

通过对3个黄杨品种(大叶黄杨、金心黄杨、金边黄杨)的叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、花色苷进行测定和分析,认为金心黄杨和金边黄杨的黄色部分不是由类胡萝卜素的绝对含量增加或类胡萝卜素与叶绿素比值的提高形成的,而是由于黄色部分总色素特别是叶绿素含量降低而造成的。     

Antioxidant activities of sicilian prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) fruit extracts and reducing properties of its betalains: betanin and indicaxanthin

Sicilian cultivars of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) produce yellow, red, and white fruits, due to the combination of two betalain pigments, the purple-red betanin and the yellow-orange indicaxanthin. The betalain distribution in the three cultivars and the antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts from edible pulp were investigated. In addition, the reducing capacity of purified betanin and indicaxanthin was measured. According to a spectrophotometric analysis, the yellow cultivar exhibited the highest amount of betalains, followed by the red and white ones. Indicaxanthin accounted for about 99% of betalains in the white fruit, while the ratio of betanin to indicaxanthin varied from 1:8 (w:w) in the yellow fruit to 2:1 (w:w) in the red one. Polyphenol pigments were negligible components only in the red fruit. When measured as 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) equivalents per gram of pulp, the methanolic fruit extracts showed a marked antioxidant activity. Vitamin C did not account for more than 40% of the measured activity. In addition, the extracts dose-dependently inhibited the organic hydroperoxide-stimulated red cell membrane lipid oxidation, as well as the metal-dependent and -independent low-density lipoprotein oxidation. The extract from the white fruit showed the highest protection in all models of lipid oxidation. Purified betanin and indicaxanthin were more effective than Trolox at scavenging the [2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] diammonium salt cation radical. Cyclic voltammetric measurements show two anodic waves for betanin and indicaxanthin, and differential pulse voltammetry shows three anodic waves for betanin, with calculated peak potentials of 404, 616, and 998 mV, and two anodic waves for indicaxanthin, with peak potentials of 611 and 895 mV. Betanin underwent complex formation through chelation with Cu(2+), whereas indicaxanthin was not modified. These findings suggest that the above betalains contribute to the antioxidant activity of prickly pear fruits.     

Dual role of the pigmentation gene B in affecting carotenoid and vitamin E content in squash (Cucurbita pepo) mesocarp

The yellow and orange colorations of the mesocarp of pumpkins and squash of Cucurbita pepo are due to the presence of carotenoid pigments that also greatly contribute to their nutritional value. Carotenoids, as well as tocopherols (vitamin E), are isoprenoid compounds formed by branches of a common biosynthetic pathway. Photodiode array HPLC analysis was used to simultaneously determine the content and composition of fruit-flesh carotenoids and tocopherols in five pairs of near-isogenic lines differing in the allelic state of genes previously identified as having profound effects on fruit color. The dominant B allele promoted carotenoid accumulation up to 5-fold and prevented tocopherol accumulation in all genetic backgrounds. The dominant L-2 allele doubled carotenoid content and, in combination with the dominant B allele, increased carotenoid content by 10-15-fold as compared to the recessive l-2 allele. The genes D and L-1 had no significant effects on mesocarp tocopherols or carotenoids content. These results indicate that the B gene, which affects both carotenoids and tocopherols, may play a regulatory role in the flux of the isoprenoid pathway products.     

桃PpNAC19的克隆及其对PpCCD4启动子活性的调节分析

为探究桃NAC基因对类胡萝卜素积累的调控作用,本研究从桃中克隆得到PpNAC19基因。序列分析表明,PpNAC19(XP_007223324.1)开放阅读框为867 bp,编码288个氨基酸,预测蛋白质分子量为33.2 kDa,平均疏水系数为-0.719,属于亲水性蛋白,含有一个典型的NAM结构域。亚细胞定位预测PpNAC19蛋白定位在细胞核中。氨基酸序列比对与聚类分析表明,PpNAC19与巴旦杏(Prunus dulcis,VVA20514.1)亲缘关系较近。荧光定量PCR结果表明,PpNAC19在桃不同组织中均有表达,且在硬核期果实中表达量最高。在果实成熟过程中,黄肉桃果实中类胡萝卜素含量显著高于白肉桃果实。PpNAC19基因在黄肉桃中表达量较高,类胡萝卜素降解基因PpCCD4在黄肉桃中表达量显著低于白肉桃。双荧光素酶试验结果表明,PpNAC19能够转录抑制PpCCD4启动子活性。本试验为进一步研究PpNAC19基因在桃果实类胡萝卜素代谢过程中的功能提供了理论依据。     

Color in fruit of the genus actinidia: carotenoid and chlorophyll compositions.

The carotenoid and chlorophyll contents in the fruit of four species of Actinidia were measured to determine the chemical basis of color in kiwifruit and related Actinidia species. The species studied were the two commercial fruits Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward and a yellow-fleshed genotype Actinidia chinensis cv. Hort16A (known commercially as ZESPRI Gold kiwifruit), the yellow fruit of Actinida polygama, and the orange fruit of Actinida macrosperma. As reported previously, ripe fruit of A. deliciosa contain chlorophylls a and b and the carotenoids normally associated with photosynthesis, beta-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, and 9'-cis-neoxanthin. The carotenoids in A. chinensis were similar to those in A. deliciosa but also contained esterified xanthophylls. Only trace amounts of chlorophyll were present in A. chinensis. The major carotenoid in both A. macrosperma and A. polygama was beta-carotene, with no chlorophyll detected. The yellow color of A. chinensis was mostly due to the reduction of chlorophyll rather than an increase in carotenoid concentration. In contrast to the three yellow/orange species, the green fruit of A. deliciosa retains chlorophyll during maturation and ripening, and esterified xanthophylls are not produced. This suggests that in fruit of A. deliciosa chloroplasts are not converted to chromoplasts as is typical for ripening fruit.     

Efficiency of DNA typing methods for detection of smoked paprika "pimenton de la vera" adulteration used in the elaboration of dry-cured Iberian pork sausages

The purpose of this work was to develop a PCR method for the identification of smoked paprika "Pimento?n de la Vera" adulteration with paprika elaborated from varieties of pepper foreign to the la Vera region, in central western Spain. Three autochthonous varieties of pepper, Jaranda, Jariza, and Bola, and the varieties Papri Queen, Papri King, Sonora, PS9794, and Papri Ace, foreign to the La Vera region, were used in the study. Analyses of the ITS and 5.8S rDNA, RAPD-PCR, SSR, and ISSR were tested. RAPD-PCR, SSR, and ISSR analyses allowed differentiation among the varieties of paprika analyzed. There was no difference in the sequence of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2. In addition, with the RAPD-PCR primers S13 and S22, two molecular markers were obtained of 641 and 704 bp, respectively, which allowed all of the smoked paprika varieties to be differentiated from paprikas elaborated with the five foreign varieties. These two molecular markers were investigated as a basis for detecting the adulteration of smoked paprika with paprika elaborated from foreign varieties of pepper.     

Change in carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins in tomato as a function of varietal and technological factors

The change in the carotenoid and bioantioxidant content of tomato as a function of varietal and technological factors was investigated in the present work. No great differences were found between cultivars for fresh consumption (salad tomatoes) and those for processing in ascorbic acid content. The concentration of ascorbic acid ranged between 14.6 and 21.7 mg/100 g fresh weight of ripe tomato fruit. Processing cultivars contained higher amounts of tocopherols, particularly alpha-tocopherol than tomatoes for fresh consumption. Significant differences could be obtained between the examined varieties with regard to carotenoid concentration. The different tomatoes varied not only in the total carotenoid content but also in the qualitative distribution of some pigments such as lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein. During heat-based processing, ascorbic acid, tocopherols, and carotenoids showed different role and response. Ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol quinone, and beta-carotene were the most susceptible components toward thermal degradation.