Pomological and Nutraceutical Properties in Apricot Fruit: Cultivation Systems and Cold Storage Fruit Management

We have investigated the effect of cultivation systems and fruit post-harvest management on the antioxidant properties of apricot fruits. Trees of five cultivars ‘Tyrinthos’, ‘Cafona’, ‘Bella d’Italia’, ‘Vitillo’ and ‘Pellecchiella’ were cultivated under integrated and organic systems. Fruits were collected at full maturity stage and analyzed either immediately or after storage at 4±0.5 °C and 85% of relative humidity for seven and 14 days. The main pomological traits (weight, colour, flesh firmness, total soluble sugars, titratable acidity) and antioxidant properties were analyzed. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC by TEAC method), total phenols content (TP by Folin-Ciocalteu method) and carotenoid content by HPLC-DAD were monitored. Cultivar characterization by principal component analysis (PCA) indicated a large variability on pomological and antioxidant properties of apricot fruits. ‘Bella d’Italia’ showed better TAC and TP values compared to the other cultivars. ANOVA interactions between cultivar and cultivation system (organic/integrated) were found for the antioxidant properties. These interactions may help to select a set of genotypes with better performances under organic system, which in our study might be indicated in ‘Cafona’ and ‘Bella d’Italia’.     

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Selected Fruit Juices

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Fruit and fruit juices are a valuable source of bioactive compounds, which can protect our organisms from oxidative stress. The phenolic compounds and other...     

不同UV-B辐射对杧果树果实品质及其抗氧化的影响

以‘台农一号’杧果树为试验材料,自然光为对照（CK）,研究不同UV-B辐射[24、96 kJ/(m ²·d)]对杧果果实的损伤及其抗氧化的影响,并监测株产、果实品质和生理损伤、抗氧化保护机制等有关的生理生化指标的动态变化。结果表明：与CK相比,96 kJ/(m ²·d)的杧果树体株产和单果重均显著下降,其果实可溶性糖下降、可滴定酸含量升高继而糖酸比下降,导致果实品质变劣。2个UV-B辐射处理的果皮丙二醛含量与CK无显著差异,而果肉则显著高于CK。96 kJ/(m ²·d)处理的果皮维生素C和未知化合物含量均显著高于CK,而过氧化物酶（POD）活性显著低于CK,对其他抗氧化酶活性和还原性保护性成分含量则一直无显著影响。2个UV-B辐射处理的果肉抗氧化酶活性及还原型GSH含量随时间均呈先上升后下降的趋势。与CK相比,2个UV-B辐射处理的果肉超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性均显著下降,96 kJ/(m ²·d)处理的果肉POD活性、类黄酮和还原型GSH含量均显著低于CK,而24 kJ/(m ²·d)处理的POD活性与CK无显著差异,类黄酮和还原型GSH含量仅在后熟期显著低于CK,而多酚含量几乎不受影响。可见,增强UV-B辐射[96 kJ/(m ²·d)]对树体和果肉引起损伤,对果皮无损伤。     

不同果袋对‘蜜丝枣’果实品质及抗氧化酶活性的影响

以毛叶枣品种‘蜜丝枣’为试材,分析无色透明薄膜袋、白色无纺布袋、白色单层纸袋、外黄内黑双层纸袋4种果袋对‘蜜丝枣’果实品质及抗氧化酶POD、CAT活性的影响。结果表明:套袋能明显改善‘蜜丝枣’果实的外观色泽,提高果实抗氧化酶POD、CAT活性;套袋在一定程度上影响了‘蜜丝枣’果实的内在品质,降低了果实风味。套袋后,在4种果袋中,只有无色透明薄膜袋可以显著提高果实的单果重(比对照提高22.1%),而套其他3种果袋却会不同程度抑制果实生长,导致单果重不同程度下降;套无色透明薄膜袋对果实的内在品质影响程度最小,仅降低了可溶性固形物和可滴定酸,而对可溶性总糖无显著影响,对维生素C含量略有提高。综合套袋对果实品质和商品性的影响,推荐‘蜜丝枣’果实套袋材料为无色透明薄膜袋。     

小麦不同光合器官对穗粒重的作用及基因差异研究

通过剪叶、包穗、包秆等处理研究了小麦不同器官对粒重的作用，并对其基因型差异进行了分析。结果表明，不同器官对千粒重的贡献在器官之间有极显著的差异，而在基因型间差异不显著，对穗粒重的贡献在器官之间及基因型与器官的互作间呈极显著差异（穗和叶之间差异不显著），而基因型之间的差异不显著。各器官对粒重的 贡献与株高有一定的关系。在一定株高范围内，叶片对粒重的贡献随穗面积的增大而增加，穗对粒重的贡献随穗面积的增大而有减小的趋势，茎鞘光合的贡献与穗面积和株高呈正相关，贮藏物质的贡献与叶片的贡献呈显著负相关。株高与千粒重间呈极显著正相关，与穗粒数呈显著负相关；单茎叶面积与穗粒重呈显著正相关，穗面积、穗粒重与穗粒数呈显著正相关。     

Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolics Content of Apricot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus armeniaca</Emphasis> L.) Kernel as a Function of Genotype

Fourteen apricot genotypes grown under similar cultural practices in Trans-Himalayan Ladakh region were studied to find out the influence of genotype on antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content (TPC) of apricot kernel. The kernels were found to be rich in TPC ranging from 92.2 to 162.1 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g. The free radical-scavenging activity in terms of inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) ranged from 43.8 to 123.4 mg/ml and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) from 154.1 to 243.6 FeSO₄.7H₂O μg/ml. A variation of 1–1.7 fold in total phenolic content, 1–2.8 fold in IC₅₀ by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 1–1.6 fold in ferric reducing antioxidant potential among the examined kernels underlines the important role played by genetic background for determining the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of apricot kernel. A positive significant correlation between TPC and FRAP (r = 0.671) was found. No significant correlation was found between TPC and IC₅₀; FRAP and IC₅₀; TPC and physical properties of kernel. Principal component analysis demonstrated that genotypic effect is more pronounced towards TPC and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) content in apricot kernel while the contribution of seed and kernel physical properties are not highly significant.     

竹荪提取物体内抗氧化活性

利用D-半乳糖制造衰老模型小鼠,研究竹荪提取物在衰老模型小鼠体内的抗氧化作用。结果表明:在低剂量,中剂量和高剂量(50、100、200mg/kg.d)3个剂量条件下,小鼠的体重增量与空白组相比不显著,说明竹荪提取物在实验剂量下没有明显的毒、副作用;中剂量和高剂量下,小鼠肝重、脾重与空白组差异均不显著,与模型组差异分别为显著和极显著,说明竹荪提取物可以有效保护受损内脏,防止氧化损伤;竹荪提取物可明显提高衰老模型小鼠血清中SOD酶活力,降低衰老模型小鼠血清中MDA含量,并且竹荪提取物与小鼠血清中SOD酶活力和MDA含量呈明显的剂量效应关系,说明竹荪提取物具有较强的体内抗氧化活性。     

越南椰子资源果实品质分析及评价

以6份越南椰子资源、文椰3号和海南本地高种椰子为材料,对其果实品质相关的指标,如椰子单果重、果形指数、果实风味、可溶性固形物（TSS）等10个重要品质指标进行测定及分析。结果表明,不同资源的品质指标变化幅度较大,其中资源编号为1（YXS）和2（YTS）品质指标总体表现较好,可以作为椰子资源引进或重点培育的对象。经相关性分析可知,果实风味与TSS、果实风味与固酸比、TSS与固酸比、总糖与总糖/总酸比都呈极显著正相关（p<0.01）,总糖/总酸比与固酸比呈显著正相关（p<0.05）。结合聚类分析,可将果实品质评价指标简化为单果重、果实风味或TSS、脂肪含量和固酸比4个主要指标,有助于越南椰子优良果实性状品种的评价和筛选。     

Phlorotannin Extracts from Fucales Characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn: Approaches to Hyaluronidase Inhibitory Capacity and Antioxidant Properties

Purified phlorotannin extracts from four brown seaweeds (Cystoseira nodicaulis (Withering) M. Roberts, Cystoseira tamariscifolia (Hudson) Papenfuss, Cystoseira usneoides (Linnaeus) M. Roberts and Fucus spiralis Linnaeus), were characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSⁿ. Fucophloroethol, fucodiphloroethol, fucotriphloroethol, 7-phloroeckol, phlorofucofuroeckol and bieckol/dieckol were identified. The antioxidant activity and the hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibitory capacity exhibited by the extracts were also assessed. A correlation between the extracts activity and their chemical composition was established. F. spiralis, the species presenting higher molecular weight phlorotannins, generally displayed the strongest lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 2.32 mg/mL dry weight) and the strongest HAase inhibitory capacity (IC₅₀ = 0.73 mg/mL dry weight). As for superoxide radical scavenging, C. nodicaulis was the most efficient species (IC₅₀ = 0.93 mg/mL dry weight), followed by F. spiralis (IC₅₀ = 1.30 mg/mL dry weight). These results show that purified phlorotannin extracts have potent capabilities for preventing and slowing down the skin aging process, which is mainly associated with free radical damage and with the reduction of hyaluronic acid concentration, characteristic of the process.     

Application of Tamarind Waste Extracts to Improve the Antioxidant Properties of Tamarind Nectars

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Tamarind fruits are consumed worldwide and their seeds have an underexploited potential. We assessed the effect of the addition of a freeze-dried aqueous of...     

The Biochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Fucus vesiculosus from the Arctic Region

Fucus vesiculosus is one of the most prominent brown algae in the shallow waters of the seas of the Arctic region (Barents (BS), White (WS), Norwegian (NS), and Irminger (IS)). The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical composition of F. vesiculosus from the Arctic at different reproductive phases, and to evaluate the antioxidant properties of F. vesiculosus extracts. The amounts of monosaccharides, phlorotannins, flavonoids, and ash and the mineral composition significantly varied in the algae. A strong correlation was established between monosaccharide, phlorotannin, and flavonoid accumulation and water salinity (Pearson’s correlation coefficients r = −0.58, 0.83, and 0.44, respectively; p < 0.05). We noted a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and the amount of the structural monosaccharides of fucoidan (r = −0.64). A positive correlation of phlorotannins and flavonoids with antioxidant power was confirmed for all samples. The ash accumulation was relatively lower in the sterile phase for the algae from the BS and WS. The correlation between the Metal Pollution Index (MPI) and the reproductive phases was medium with high fluctuation. Meanwhile, the MPI strongly correlated with the salinity and sampling site. The gradient of the MPI values across the sea was in the following ranking order: BS < WS < NS < IS. Taken together, and based on our data on the elemental contents of F. vesiculosus, we believe that this alga does not accumulate toxic doses of elements. Therefore, the Arctic F. vesiculosus could be safely used in food and drug development as a source of active biochemical compounds and as a source of dietary elements to cover the daily nutritional requirements of humans.     

Rice in Thailand: The Archaeobotanical Contribution

There are few archaeological projects incorporating archaeobotanical sampling and even fewer published archaeobotanical studies in Thailand. Available data show that rice was the ubiquitous cereal in prehistory and particularly during the Metal/Iron Age. This either signifies the importance of rice as a crop or signals a preservation bias; both topics are considered in this paper. The site Khao Sam Kaeo in Peninsular Thailand (ca. 400–100 BCE) is strategically located between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea providing evidence of Indian, Han Chinese and locally produced cultural material. The archaeobotanical assemblage attests to South Asian and East Asian influence as well: the mungbean and horsegram of Indian origin and the northern Chinese cereal foxtail millet. But the site has also yielded the greatest amount of rice from Thai archaeology and provides information on the domestication of rice and the cultivation practices during this Late Prehistoric period.     

Exploring the Mangrove Fruit: From the Phytochemicals to Functional Food Development and the Current Progress in the Middle East

Nowadays, the logarithmic production of existing well-known food materials is unable to keep up with the demand caused by the exponential growth of the human population in terms of the equality of access to food materials. Famous local food materials with treasury properties such as mangrove fruits are an excellent source to be listed as emerging food candidates with ethnomedicinal properties. Thus, this study reviews the nutrition content of several edible mangrove fruits and the innovation to improve the fruit into a highly economic food product. Within the mangrove fruit, the levels of primary metabolites such as carbohydrates, protein, and fat are acceptable for daily intake. The mangrove fruits, seeds, and endophytic fungi are rich in phenolic compounds, limonoids, and their derivatives as the compounds present a multitude of bioactivities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant. In the intermediary process, the flour of mangrove fruit stands as a supplementation for the existing flour with antidiabetic or antioxidant properties. The mangrove fruit is successfully transformed into many processed food products. However, limited fruits from species such as Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia caseolaris, and Avicennia marina are commonly upgraded into traditional food, though many more species demonstrate ethnomedicinal properties. In the Middle East, A. marina is the dominant species, and the study of the phytochemicals and fruit development is limited. Therefore, studies on the development of mangrove fruits to functional for other mangrove species are demanding. The locally accepted mangrove fruit is coveted as an alternate food material to support the sustainable development goal of eliminating world hunger in sustainable ways.     

The Bright Side of Gelatinous Blooms: Nutraceutical Value and Antioxidant Properties of Three Mediterranean Jellyfish (Scyphozoa)

Jellyfish are recorded with increasing frequency and magnitude in many coastal areas and several species display biological features comparable to the most popular Asiatic edible jellyfish. The biochemical and antioxidant properties of wild gelatinous biomasses, in terms of nutritional and nutraceutical values, are still largely unexplored. In this paper, three of the most abundant and commonly recorded jellyfish species (Aurelia sp.1, Cotylorhiza tuberculata and Rhizostoma pulmo) in the Mediterranean Sea were subject to investigation. A sequential enzymatic hydrolysis of jellyfish proteins was set up by pepsin and collagenase treatments of jellyfish samples after aqueous or hydroalcoholic protein extraction. The content and composition of proteins, amino acids, phenolics, and fatty acids of the three species were recorded and compared. Protein content (mainly represented by collagen) up to 40% of jellyfish dry weight were found in two of the three jellyfish species (C. tuberculata and R. pulmo), whereas the presence of ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was significantly higher in the zooxanthellate jellyfish C. tuberculata only. Remarkable antioxidant ability was also recorded from both proteinaceous and non proteinaceous extracts and the hydrolyzed protein fractions in all the three species. The abundance of collagen, peptides and other bioactive molecules make these Mediterranean gelatinous biomasses a largely untapped source of natural compounds of nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmacological interest.     

不同干燥方法对番木瓜粉品质及抗氧化活性的影响

比较不同干燥方法对番木瓜粉品质和抗氧化活性的影响,为番木瓜干燥加工提供理论基础和依据。本研究以水分活度、玻璃化转变温度、晶体形态、微观结构和抗氧化活性为评价指标,分别对热风干燥(HAD)、微波泡沫干燥(MFD)和真空冷冻干燥(VFD)所得番木瓜粉进行分析。结果表明:VFD样品的水分活度与褐变程度最低,而MFD样品的水分活度与褐变程度最高。MFD样品的玻璃化转变起始温度为(34.9±1.1)℃,显著高于HFD、VFD样品的(13.6±0.4)、(16.5±0.7)℃。VFD样品呈现出相对稳定的非晶体结构特征,而其他两种干燥样品则为晶体结构。VFD番木瓜粉的微观结构呈骨骼状和多孔结构,MFD样品呈不规则形态,边缘锋利,HFD样品呈光滑片状结构。在抗氧化活性方面,HFD、MFD、VFD样品的多酚含量分别为(6.11±1.01)、(4.36±0.62)、(4.32±0.87)mg/g,从ABTS自由基清除能力来看,MFD>HFD>VFD,从DPPH自由基清除能力来看,HFD>MFD>VFD,VFD样品中多酚的含量最低且抗氧化活性相对最差。综合比较,MFD能生产出较高品质的产品,可以作为一种新型的番木瓜粉干燥方法。     

Erratum to: Antioxidant Properties of Extracts Obtained from Raw, Dry-roasted, and Oil-roasted US Peanuts of Commercial Importance

Raw, skinless peanut kernels from US commercial production lines were dry- and oil-roasted according to standard industrial practices. Eighty percent (v/v) methanolic extracts from the peanut cultivars were prepared and characterized by RP-HPLC: five predominant compounds were found comprising free p-coumaric acid and potential p-coumaric acid derivatives, as elucidated by DAD-UV spectra with comparisons to those of commercial standards. A Spanish high-oleic peanut possessed the greatest naturally-occurring level of p-coumaric acid and its derivatives, followed by a high-oleic Runner, a normal Runner, and a Virginia peanut. Upon thermal processing, p-coumaric acid was liberated at the expense of its derivatives according to the relationship: oil roasting > dry roasting > raw. A high-oleic Runner exhibited the greatest increase (∼785%) in free p-coumaric acid levels after oil roasting. For many of the samples from the 2007 crop, processing increased the TPC and antioxidant capacities in the order of raw < dry roast < oil roast, but results were cultivar dependent. Oil-roasted peanuts were more effective at scavenging O₂ ^●- than their dry-roasted counterparts, as determined by a photochemiluminescence assay. Overall findings indicate that although thermal processing altered the composition of peanut kernel antioxidants, TPC values and radical-scavenging activities are preserved. Depending on peanut type, cultivar, and harvest date, enhanced antioxidant capacities can result.     

枇杷二次短截修剪对结果母枝和果实品质的影响

为提高枇杷特级果比例,研究二次短截修剪对早钟6号枇杷结果母枝质量、果实品质和产量效益的影响.结果表明:枇杷结果母枝经过二次短截修剪可诱导侧生枝转为中心枝,且中心枝增粗,节间变短,叶片增多增厚增重,从而提高结果母枝的质量.二次短截修剪的中心枝,与对照中心枝相比,单果重增加19.87 g,提高了34.69％;穗重增加55.72 g,提高了32.05％;果实的总糖含量比对照增加1.23个百分点:特级果比例大幅增加,65.0 g以上特级果率为75.76％,是对照的2.8倍;每公顷产值增加34 739.27元,提高了61.14％.说明枇杷结果母枝二次短截修剪可达到大果、优质、丰产、高效的目的.     

The Contribution of Traditional Potato Breeding to Scientific Potato Improvement

Conventional potato breeding refers to development of new cultivars from sexual crosses followed by clonal propagation and selection. Nearly all new varieties of potato still emerge from this process free from modern technologies of gene insertion. Conventional breeding remains the most important force for introduction of new phenotypes underlain by new genes. However, these come from already selected potato breeding lines or named varieties or from wild potatoes or more distant solanaceous relatives that are amenable to somatic hybridization. Potato breeders are constantly searching for new germplasm, in part because the potato as a crop still remains highly vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, the widening of the genetic base is seen as a means of increasing heterozygosity. Despite a highly conscious import of genetic variability, commercial varieties often emerge from a relatively restricted genetic pool. This is due to the long list of traits that must fall within narrow boundaries of performance. The potato must be able to navigate the conditions of modern agriculture, withstand unusual weather events, and arrive at harvest with skin and flesh appealing to the market for which it is intended. A storage period must also be endured during which appearance and suitability for processing or the consumer’s kitchen must be maintained. A lapse in any of these phases usually signals that a new variety will exit commercial use as fast as it entered. The inconvenient accompaniment of introducing exotic genetic variation is that the breeding products are often outside of the targeted market niche. It is not surprising that many new varieties stem from crosses from older named varieties. Efforts to diversify are in conflict with conformism leading to relatively high co-ancestry coefficients between advanced breeding lines. Conventional breeding has advanced through the last hundred years the appearance, sugar status, Verticillium resistance, and yield of larger sized tubers in statistically robust ways. Potato arrived from the new world and very quickly became the secret solution to famine for the poor by virtue of its productivity and nutrient content. Meanwhile, in modern times, challenges to the consumption of potato come from a sedentary and carbohydrate over-satiated society. The genetic repository of potato germplasm is so rich that a new era of potato varieties beneficial to health may be at hand. Conventional breeding will certainly be a major part of this.