Induction of antioxidant flavonol biosynthesis in fresh-cut potatoes. Effect of domestic cooking

The effect of fresh-cutting and subsequent cold storage on phenolic compounds from five long-term-stored potato cultivars (Agria, Cara, Liseta, Monalisa, and Spunta) was studied. Fresh-cutting induced the biosynthesis of three flavonols, which were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESIMS as quercetin 3-rutinoside, quercetin 3-diglucoside, and quercetin 3-glucosylrutinoside. The flavonols were detected after a lag period of 3 days of cold storage. The content ranged from 6 to 14 mg/100 g of fresh weight depending on the cultivar after 6 days of storage. Chlorogenic acid as the main caffeic acid derivative and the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan were also quantified. The effect of cold storage under light or in dark was studied with new-season-harvested Monalisa potatoes. The flavonol induction was higher in fresh-cut potatoes stored under light than in the dark. However, caffeic acid derivatives were not affected. Domestic cooking such as boiling, microwaving, and frying provoked a partial loss of the flavonols, which were retained in the range of 4-16 mg per serving (213 g). Steam-cooking resulted in the highest retention of caffeic acid derivatives and aromatic amino acids compared with the other cooking methods studied. This means that due to the large amount of potatoes consumed in the Western diet, fresh-cut potatoes can be a significant source of health-promoting phenolics.     

Effect of wounding on phenolic enzymes in six minimally processed lettuce cultivars upon storage

The effect of wounding on polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) was studied in six minimally processed lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars upon storage for 7 days at 5 degrees C (Iceberg Mikonos (IM), I. Green Queen (IGQ), I. Asdrúbal (IA), Little Gem Sandra (LGS), Romaine Cazorla (RC), and R. Modelo (RM)). Wounding of lettuce tissue midribs (because of minimal processing) caused an exponential increase in PPO activity due to the activation process from latent to fully active PPO by following first order kinetics in the time range from 3.7 days (LGS) to 6.3 days (RC). However, total PPO activity (active plus latent) remained constant. Isoform pattern of PPO changed upon storage probably because of posttranslational processes. POD activity linearly increased with induction of new POD isoenzymes. PAL activity presented a typical bell-shaped induction pattern in four cultivars. Only IM and IGQ showed a second induction response which has not been previously described in the literature. IM was the cultivar most susceptible to browning and RC was the cultivar least susceptible. However, no clear correlation was observed between browning and any of the biochemical and physiological attributes investigated (PPO, PAL, and POD activities, total and individual phenols accumulation, and ascorbic acid content).     

石榴果实发育期果皮褐变及相关酶活性变化

为探明石榴果实发育期果皮褐变及其相关酶活性、总酚和抗氧化能力的变化规律及相互关系,以泰山红和泰山三白甜石榴为试材,研究各发育期果皮褐变度、多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性、总酚含量和DPPH自由基清除率的变化。结果表明,2个品种果皮褐变度、PPO活性、POD活性、总酚含量和DPPH自由基清除率随着发育天数的增加逐渐降低,均在7月15日达到最高。2个品种果实发育期果皮PAL活性呈先降低后升高再降低的变化趋势,分别在7月15日和9月13日出现峰值。泰山红抗褐变能力高于泰山三白甜,二者分别在9月23日和9月13日采收能减轻褐变的发生。相关性分析表明,PAL、PPO、POD、总酚和DPPH自由基清除率均与石榴果实酶促褐变密切相关,石榴果实酚类物质含量高低与其抗氧化能力极显著正相关。本研究结果为深入揭示石榴果实褐变机理提供了理论依据。     

甘薯抗薯瘟病的苯丙烷类代谢研究

甘薯瘟病是甘薯的重要病害, 严重影响甘薯的品质和产量.本试验在甘薯苗期, 通过剪叶法接菌研究甘薯抗感病品种苯丙烷类代谢的变化规律.结果表明: 甘薯抗感病品种接菌后PAL、POD活性均有所提高, 且提高速度与品种抗性呈正相关; 抗病品种接菌后木质素和绿原酸含量显著增加, 感病品种接菌后绿原酸、总酚和类黄酮含量波动较大, 木质素含量降低.相关性分析表明, 接菌后木质素和绿原酸的积累与甘薯品种抗病性密切相关.接菌后PAL、POD活性迅速提高并积累木质素和绿原酸等抗病物质是甘薯抗薯瘟病的苯丙烷类代谢基础, 在抗病品种鉴定方面有一定的参考价值.     

Effect of wash water temperature and chlorination on phenolic metabolism and browning of stored iceberg lettuce photosynthetic and vascular tissues

Cut tissues from distinct anatomical locations in iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were subjected to washing in cold (4 degrees C) and warm (47 degrees C) water with or without chlorine to assess their propensity to discoloration during storage. Total protein (Bradford method) and phenolic (TPH; Folin-Ciocalteu method) contents and polyphenol oxidase (PPO; spectrophotometric method using catechol as a substrate), peroxidase (POD; guaiacol substrate), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; phenylalanine substrate) activities were determined in photosynthetic and vascular tissue from outer and inner leaves. Unprocessed photosynthetic and inner leaf tissues had significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of protein and TPH and PPO and POD activities than vascular and outer leaf tissues. PAL activities (on a fresh weight basis) were similar in all tissues. Changes in browning (light reflectance measurement) and phenolic metabolism in all four tissue types were observed during aerobic storage at 5 degrees C over 10 days. PAL activity increased in all tissues after 1-2 days of storage and then gradually decreased. POD activity also increased steadily for the storage duration. Protein content and PPO activity remained constant. Edge browning (measured with a Minolta Chroma Meter) and TPH increased in all tissues, especially in outer vascular tissue. Cut photosynthetic and vascular tissues washed at 4 and 47 degrees C with and without 100 microg mL(-1) chlorine for 3 min were analyzed during 7 days in storage at 5 degrees C. Enzyme activities and accumulation of phenolics in all tissues washed at 47 degrees C were significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared to controls or tissues washed at 4 degrees C. Chlorine had no additional effect at 47 degrees C but significantly (P < 0.05) reduced browning and accumulation of phenolics in lettuce washed at 4 degrees C. These results showed that inherent differences between tissues affect phenolic metabolism and browning in stored, fresh-cut lettuce.     

莲藕膨大过程中褐变酶活性的变化

本实验以3个熟性不同的莲藕品种为材料,研究了莲藕膨大过程中褐变酶活性的变化。实验表明:随着膨大节数的增加,过氧化物酶(POD)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)的活性增加;第4节藕体随着采收时间的推迟,褐变酶活性增加,且熟性不同品种之间有明显差异。并探讨了品种熟性、藕体大小和环境条件对莲藕褐变酶的影响。     

Characterization and role of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase in browning of fresh-cut melon

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were extracted from two different varieties of melon ( Cucumis melo L. cantalupensis cv. Charentais and C. melo L. inodorus cv. Amarillo) and characterized using reliable spectrophotometric methods. In both cases the enzymes followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, showing different values of kinetics parameters between the two cultivars: K m = 7.18 +/- 0.70 mM ('Charentais') and 6.66 +/- 0.20 mM ('Amarillo') mM; V max = 7.93 +/- 0.35 units/min ('Charentais') and 13.82 +/- 0.37 units/min ('Amarillo'), relative to PPO; K m = 24.0 +/- 2.10 mM ('Charentais') and 5.05 +/- 0.19 mM ('Amarillo') mM; V max = 344.83 +/- 10.32 units/min ('Charentais') and 80.64 +/- 2.01 units/min ('Amarillo'), relative to POD. Optimum pH for PPO was 7.0 for 'Charentais' and 7.5 for 'Amarillo, whereas it was 4.5 for both cultivars relative to POD. Melon PPO had maximum activity at 60 degrees C in both 'Charentais' and 'Amarillo' cultivars, whereas POD maximum activity was found at 45 degrees C in 'Charentais' and at 25 degrees C in 'Amarillo'. POD from both cultivars showed higher thermolability compared with PPO, losing >90% of relative activity after only 5 min of incubation at 70 degrees C. POD's activation energy was much higher than that of PPO (Delta E (#) = 86.3 and 160.6 kJ mol (-1) for 'Charentais' and 'Amarillo', respectively). PPO and POD activities from both cultivars showed a decreasing pattern as sugar concentration in the assay medium increased, except in POD extract from 'Charentais', which maintained its activity in the presence of high d-glucose concentration (up to 5 M). Changes in L*, a*, b*, chroma, and hue angle values were chosen to describe the browning development in the samples during storage at 5 degrees C. A slight decrease in L* value and a more marked reduction of a* value were noted in both cultivars above all at the end of storage period. POD activity during storage at 5 degrees C was highly correlated with changes of parameters a*, b*, chroma, and hue angle ( r (2) from 0.82 to 0.97) for cultivar 'Charentais'. According to these results, only POD activity seemed to be involved in browning of minimally processed melon.     

湿度对甘薯愈伤的影响

为探索湿度对甘薯愈伤的影响,本试验以普薯32号甘薯为原料,人工模拟机械损伤后于25℃、不同相对湿度(RH50%和RH80%)条件下愈伤,通过比较甘薯木质素生成、失重率、呼吸强度、愈伤过程关键酶活性、总酚和类黄酮含量的差异,评价湿度对甘薯愈伤的影响。结果表明,RH80%条件下较RH50%更有利于甘薯愈伤木栓组织的形成,在愈伤4 d时甘薯木质素积累达到最高。与RH50%组相比,RH80%条件处理能显著提高甘薯愈伤组织苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、过氧化物酶(POD)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性(P<0.05),提升总酚、类黄酮含量,促进呼吸高峰提前,降低甘薯重量损失。相关性分析表明,RH80%条件下愈伤,甘薯木质素含量与PAL、POD、PPO活性及总酚、类黄酮含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。本研究结果为甘薯采后愈伤提供了一定的理论依据。     

Salt Tolerance of Four Potato Cultivars

Abstract

Tests are needed to evaluate the salt tolerance of new and untested potato cultivars under various cultural conditions. Two lysimeter experiments were conducted in two seasons to investigate the influence of irrigation water salinity on tuber yields of four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars (Spunta, Alpha, Cara, and King Edward). Four salinity levels [EC_w 0.53 (control), 3.13, 6.25, and 9.38 dS m^?1] established by adding NaCI to fresh water, were used. Increasing irrigation water salinity reduced significantly total and average tuber yield for all cultivars in both seasons. Cara cultivar produced the highest tuber yield of all cultivars in both seasons. The salt tolerance curves of the potato cultivars in both seasons revealed that tolerant rating of the four cultivars can be assigned as follows: Cara > Alpha > Spunta > King Edward. The polynomial cubic equations developed for the four potato cultivars in fall and summer seasons were successful in predicting potato tuber yields response to irrigation water salinity.     

Biochemical study of leaf browning in minimally processed leaves of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. acephala)

A series of biochemical parameters, including the concentration of total ascorbic acid (ASA(tot)) and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidases (PODs), was investigated during cold storage (72 h at 4 degrees C in the dark) in fresh-cut (minimally processed) leaves of two lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. acephala) cultivars differing in the susceptibility to tissue browning: Green Salade Bowl (GSB), susceptible, and Red Salade Bowl (RSB), resistant. The two cultivars showed differences also at the biochemical level. The content in ASA(tot) increased in RSB, as a consequence of increased DHA concentration; conversely, ASA(tot) diminished in GSB, in which ASA was not detectable after 72 h of storage, thus suggesting a disappearance of ascorbate (both ASA and DHA) into nonactive forms. The antioxidant capacity (as determined by using FRAP analysis) decreased significantly during storage in RSB, while a strong increase was observed in GSB. PAL activity increased soon after processing reaching a maximum by 3 h, then it declined to a relatively constant value in RSB, while in GSB it showed a tendency to decrease in the first few hours from harvest and processing. POD activity, at least for chlorogenic acid, increased significantly during storage only in GSB.     

甘薯加工过程酶促褐变及控制研究

甘薯加工过程中极易产生酶促褐变。应用分光光度法，研究了甘薯中多酚氧化酶（PPO）的特性及褐变的控制方法。结果表明，甘薯皮部的PPO活性和褐变强度是心部的2倍左右，在pH值为4.5时其活性较低。在甘薯淀粉生产过程中，结合去皮工艺，分别选择添加0.01%～0.05%柠檬酸或0.005%～0.01%抗坏血酸或0.05%～0.1%亚硫酸钠，均可有效控制PPO产生的褐变，提高甘薯淀粉的质量。     

短波紫外线处理对采后香菇褐变的影响

为了控制采后香菇在贮藏过程中的褐变并提高其贮藏品质,本试验采用不同剂量(2、4、6和8 kJ·m^-2) 短波紫外线(UV-C)对新鲜香菇进行预处理,研究不同剂量UV-C处理对香菇色泽、总酚含量、多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性、可溶性蛋白含量、还原糖含量、游离氨基酸含量以及香菇表面微生物的影响。结果表明,UV-C处理延缓了香菇色泽的下降,保持了较高的总酚含量,并且有利于POD、SOD、CAT和PAL活性维持在较高水平,抑制了PPO活性,同时可以保持较高的还原糖和可溶性蛋白含量,在一定程度上延缓了蛋白质的降解,而且可以有效抑制微生物的生长,其中4 kJ·m^-2 UV-C处理效果最佳。综上所述,UV-C处理可以有效地抑制香菇褐变,延长其贮藏期。本研究结果为香菇的贮藏保鲜提供了理论依据。     

Effect of natamycin in combination with pure oxygen treatment on postharvest quality and selected enzyme activities of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

The combined effects of natamycin (NA) and pure oxygen (PO) treatment on microbial and physicochemical characteristics of button mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus ) stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 16 days was investigated. Mushroom respiration rate, weight loss, firmness, color, percent open caps, total soluble solids, microbial and activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and peroxidase (POD) were measured. The results indicate that treatment with natamycin + pure oxygen (NAPO) maintained tissue firmness, inhibited increase of respiration rate, delayed browning and cap opening, and reduced microorganism counts of yeasts and molds compared to control treatment. The efficiency was better than that of NA or PO treatment. Furthermore, NAPO inhibited the activities of PPO, PAL, and POD throughout the storage period. Our study suggests that NAPO treatment has the potential to improve the quality of button mushroom and extend the shelf life.     

Stimulation of phenolic metabolism by silicon contributes to rice resistance to sheath blight

Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a major disease of rice worldwide. Silicon (Si) can enhance rice resistance to sheath blight, but the relation with phenolic metabolism is poorly known. Two rice cultivars with different levels of resistance to R. solani (resistant Teqing and susceptible Ningjing 1) were studied to determine the effects of Si on disease intensity (rated from 0 to 9) and the involvement of phenolic compounds in disease resistance. Variation in the concentrations of phenolics (including total soluble phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin) and in the activities of defense‐related enzymes polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) in rice leaf sheaths was investigated. The results show that Si application reduced sheath‐blight disease ratings of Ningjing 1 and Teqing by 2.96 and 0.65, respectively. In uninoculated plants, Si application alone had no significant effects on the concentrations of phenolic compounds or on the activities of PPO and PAL. In inoculated plants, Si application increased phenolics concentrations and PPO and PAL activities only in the susceptible cultivar Ningjing 1. We conclude that Si‐induced enhancement of phenolic metabolism contributed to the improved resistance of rice to sheath blight in the sensitive cultivar.     

L-galactono-gamma-lactone dehydrogenase aand vitamin C content in fresh-cut potatoes stored under controlled atmospheres

L-galactono-gamma-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity and vitamin C content as ascorbic acid (AA) plus dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) were evaluated in five potato tuber cultivars (Agata, Altesse, Franceline, Manon, and Monalisa). The effect of fresh-cutting and subsequent refrigerated storage of Manon potato under different atmospheres (air, 20% CO(2) + air, 100% N(2), and vacuum packaging) on GLDH activity and vitamin C content was also determined. GLDH from the five potato tuber cultivars showed typical inhibition kinetics by high substrate concentration in the synthesis of AA from its physiological precursor L-galactonic acid-gamma-lactone (GL). GLDH activity was not correlated with the corresponding vitamin C content in any potato tuber cultivar. GLDH from all the cultivars presented a major isoform with isoelectric point (IEP) 5, which changed to IEP = 4.3 after minimal processing. In addition, the GLDH-catalyzed synthesis of AA by the new isoform showed typical Michaelis kinetics, in which the enzyme became more efficient to catalyze the reaction. Whether the change in the isoform pattern was due to either post-translational modifications or de novo synthesis of a new isoenzyme remains unanswered. Fresh-cutting increased GLDH activity from 4.7-fold (vacuum packaging) to 11-fold (air) after 6 days. In addition, 100% of vitamin C content was retained in air and decreased in the rest of atmospheres after this storage period, following the sequence vacuum packaging (89%) > 100% N(2) (78%) > 20% CO(2) + air (63%). This tendency was correlated with the corresponding GLDH activity detected in each storage atmosphere, except in the case of 20% CO(2) + air. Vacuum packaging proved to be the best storage condition, because fresh-cut potatoes did not turn brown and retained 89% of initial vitamin C content.     

Characterization of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase and influence on browning of cold stored strawberry fruit

Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase were extracted from two different varieties of strawberry fruit (Fragaria x ananassa D, cv. 'Elsanta' and Fragaria vesca L, cv. 'Madame Moutot') and characterized using reliable spectrophotometric methods. In all cases, the enzymes followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, showing different values of peroxidase kinetics parameters between the two cultivars: Km = 50.68 +/- 2.42 mM ('Elsanta') and 18.18 +/- 8.79 mM ('Madame Moutot') mM and Vmax = 0.14 +/- 0.03 U/g ('Elsanta') and 0.05 +/- 0.01 U/g ('Madame Moutot'). The physiological pH of fruit at the red ripe stage negatively affected the expression of both oxidases, except polyphenol oxidase from 'Madame Moutot' that showed the highest residual activity (68% of the maximum). Peroxidase from both cultivars was much more thermolable as compared with PPO, losing over 60% of relative activity already after 60 min of incubation at 40 degrees C. The POD activation energy was much lower than the PPO activation energy (DeltaE = 97.5 and 57.8 kJ mol-1 for 'Elsanta' and 'Madame Moutot', respectively). Results obtained from d-glucose and d-fructose inhibition tests evidenced a decreasing course of PPO and POD activities from both cultivars as the sugar concentration in the assay medium increased. Changes in CIE L*, a*, b*, chroma, and hue angle values were taken as a browning index of the samples during storage at 4 degrees C. A decrease in L* was evident in both cultivars but more marked in 'Elsanta'. PPO and POD activities from cv. 'Elsanta' were very well-correlated with the parameter L* (r2=0.86 and 0.89, respectively) and hue angle (r2=0.85 and 0.93, respectively). According to these results, the browning of the fruit seemed to be in relation to both oxidase activities.     

Estimating Maximum Tuber Length of Potato Based on the Number of Fully Expanded Leaves

Abstract

Defining growth stages of the potato plant (Solanum tuberosum L.) based on aboveground morphological characteristics could be more practical than using underground characteristics such as tuber size. The applicability of this approach was tested in Cyprus for a spring‐harvested crop sown in a Tera Rosa soil with three different within‐row spacings (15, 25, and 35 cm). The development of various tuber characteristics of three commercial potato cultivars (cvs. “Cara”, “Nicola”, and “Spunta”) was monitored for two growing seasons. The three cultivars represent late, medium, and early maturity classes. Various tuber sizes obtained from each cultivar were related with the number of fully expanded leaves (NFEL) based on linear equations. For individual cultivars, the NFEL appeared to be a reliable aboveground parameter for estimating the size of the largest tuber during the early stages of growth. Defining growth stages based on NFEL could also be a practical approach for the farmers to perform activities, which must be done at a specific developmental stage.     

Control of enzymatic browning in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by sense and antisense RNA from tomato polyphenol oxidase

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of Russet Burbank potato was inhibited by sense and antisense PPO RNAs expressed from a tomato PPO cDNA under the control of the 35S promoter from the cauliflower mosaic virus. Transgenic Russet Burbank potato plants from 37 different lines were grown in the field. PPO activity and the level of enzymatic browning were measured in the tubers harvested from the field. Of the tubers from 28 transgenic lines that were sampled, tubers from 5 lines exhibited reduced browning. The level of PPO activity correlated with the reduction in enzymatic browning in these lines. These results indicate that expression of tomato PPO RNA in sense or antisense orientation inhibits PPO activity and enzymatic browning in the major commercial potato cultivar. Expression of tomato PPO RNA in sense orientation led to the greatest decrease in PPO activity and enzymatic browning, possibly due to cosuppression. These results suggest that expression of closely related heterologous genes can be used to prevent enzymatic browning in a wide variety of food crops without the application of various food additives.     

Compatibility of root growth and tuber production of potato cultivars with dynamic and static water‐saving irrigation managements

The important root characteristics of root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) generally differ among irrigation managements and potato cultivars. The objective of this study was to investigate the RLD and RMD variations and their functional relationships with gross potato tuber yield for two commercial potato cultivars, Agria and Sante, under different irrigation strategies. Full irrigation and water‐saving irrigation strategies, deficit and partial root drying irrigations, were applied statically (S) and dynamically (D) based on daily crop evapotranspiration. Results showed that SPRD had significantly greater RLD (3.64 cm/cm³) and RMD (132.7 μg/cm³) than other irrigation treatments. Between the potato cultivars, Agria had significantly larger values of RLD (3.50 cm/cm³) and RMD (138.7 μg/cm³) than Sante. The functional relationship between the root growth characteristics and tuber yield showed that under water‐saving irrigations, Agria increased root mass at the expense of gross tuber yield but Sante increased root mass to maintain larger gross tuber yields. However, Agria produced more roots and gross tuber yield than Sante, and it is concluded that Agria is a more drought‐tolerant potato cultivar, which is recommended for tuber production in regions where water might be scarce. It was shown that larger root production in potatoes was associated with improved tolerance to water stress.     

Effects of drip irrigation regimes on potato tuber yield and quality

To evaluate the effects of drip irrigation regimes on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber yield and quality, an experiment was conducted in 2009 and 2010. Experimental factors were the irrigation regimes including: FI, providing 100% of the water requirement of potato; IR1, providing 70% of the water requirement of potato by reducing the applied irrigation water between planting and tuber initiation by 30%; and IR2, providing 70% of the water requirement of potato by reducing the applied irrigation water during the whole growing season by 30%; and three potato cultivars Agria, Almera and Sinora. The results indicated that cultivars Agria and Almera were much better than Sinora in terms of tuber yield under all irrigation regimes. For Agria and Almera, the experiments show that the full irrigation regime had the highest yield and water productivity. For Sinora, however, deficit irrigation yields higher water productivity than the full irrigation regime. Consequently, deficit irrigation IR1 and IR2 should be applied to Sinora, but not to Agria and Almera.