Characterization and distribution of phenolics in carrot cell walls

Carrot cell walls have been shown to contain significant quantities of esterified p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which is presumed to be esterified to cell wall polymers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and related phenolics among carrot cell wall polysaccharides. Cell wall material was prepared from fresh carrot root tissues and extracted sequentially with water, imidazole, cyclohexane- trans-1,2-diamine- N, N, N', N'-tetraacetate, Na 2CO 3, and KOH (0.5, 1, and 4 M) to leave a cellulose-rich residue. The fractions were analyzed for their carbohydrate and phenolic acid components. Selected soluble fractions were subfractionated further by graded precipitation in ethanol. The majority of the polymer fractions comprised pectic polysaccharides, with varying quantities of neutral sugars (arabinose and galactose). Hemicellulosic polymers were generally found only in the strong alkali extracts (4 M KOH). p-OH-benzoic acid was the predominant phenolic ester and was associated with most fractions analyzed; p-OH-benzaldehyde was also detected in the fractions at much lower levels. Principal components analysis of the chemical data indicated that the p-OH-benzoic acid was associated predominantly with the branched pectic polysaccharides, in contrast to the p-OH-benzaldehyde. The possible roles and functional properties of these phenolics are discussed.     

Cadmium‐induced changes in glutathione and phenolics of Thlaspi and Noccaea species differing in Cd accumulation

Glutathione (GSH) and phenolics play an important role in plant defense against metal‐ion toxicity. The antioxidant activity and metal‐binding capacity of these compounds can account for the protective effects. In contrast to animal‐cell models, however, the possible interplay among these substances in stress defense of plants is poorly investigated. This study compares the influence of cadmium (Cd) on the profiles of both soluble phenolics and GSH in shoots of different Thlaspi and Noccaea species: two ecotypes of the nonhyperaccumulator T. arvense differing in Cd resistance (ecotype Aigues Vives, Cd‐sensitive, and ecotype Jena, Cd‐resistant) and two Cd‐tolerant Cd‐Zn hyperaccumulators N. praecox and N. caerulescens (formerly Thlaspi praecox and T. caerulescens). To reveal the possible influence of Cd‐induced sulfur (S) shortage on the stress response, plants receiving normal S concentrations (500 μM MgSO₄) and plants treated with surplus S (500 μM MgSO₄ + 500 μM K₂SO₄) were analyzed. Our working hypothesis was that species differences in tolerance to high tissue Cd concentrations should be reflected by differences in endogenous levels of GSH and phenolic compounds. The results reveal clear species‐dependent differences in both the constitutive patterns and the Cd‐ and S‐induced changes in shoot concentrations of GSH and phenolics. However, no simple relationship between these shoot concentrations and Cd accumulation and tolerance can be established.     

Titanium oxide nanoparticle effects on composition of soil microbial communities and plant performance

We examined the effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth of maize and soybean plants and associated soil microbial communities. Plants were grown in a greenhouse, and low levels of undoped or nitrogen-doped TiO₂ NPs were applied. Plant growth and nutrient content were determined, and effects of NPs on composition of soil microbial communities were examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (TRFLP) of rDNA. We found no significant effects of TiO₂ NPs on plant growth, nutrient content, or the composition of bacterial communities within the rhizosphere. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities were affected by application of undoped and nitrogen-doped TiO₂ NPs. This observation may be partially attributed to the small but significant TiO₂ NP uptake levels in the root tissues of both plants. Our results suggest that even low concentrations of TiO₂ NPs may influence some important groups of soil microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, but changes in the composition of microbial communities may not affect plant growth under conditions of adequate moisture and nutrients.     

Effects of lactoferrin, phytic acid, and EDTA on oxidation in two food emulsions enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

The influence of the addition of metal chelators on oxidative stability was studied in a milk drink and in a mayonnaise system containing highly polyunsaturated lipids. Milk drinks containing 5% (w/w) of specific structured lipid were supplemented with lactoferrin (6-24 muM) and stored at 2 degrees C for up to 9 weeks. Mayonnaise samples with 16% fish oil and 64% rapeseed oil (w/w) were supplemented with either lactoferrin (8-32 muM), phytic acid (16-124 muM), or EDTA (16-64 muM) and were stored at 20 degrees C for up to 4 weeks. The effect of the metal chelators was evaluated by determination of peroxide values, secondary volatile oxidation products, and sensory analysis. Lactoferrin reduced the oxidation when added in concentrations of 12 muM in the milk drink and 8 muM in the mayonnaise, whereas it was a prooxidant at higher concentrations in both systems. In mayonnaise, EDTA was an effective metal chelator even at 16 muM, whereas phytic acid did not exert a distinct protective effect against oxidation. The differences in the equimolar effects of the metal chelators are proposed to be due to differences in their binding constants to iron and their different stabilities toward heat and low pH.     

Total folate content and retention in rosehips (Rosa ssp.) after drying

Folate concentrations in rosehips and commercial rosehip products and factors affecting folate retention during drying were investigated. On the basis of the raw material studied during 3 years, rosehips were shown to be a rich folate source, 400-600 microg/100 g based on dry matter and 160-185 microg/100 g based on the fresh weight (edible part). Rosehips are not often consumed fresh; therefore, drying to produce stable semimanufactures is a crucial step. The degradation of folate was shown to be dependent on the drying time until the water activity was below 0.75. The required drying time was reduced by cutting the rosehips in slices and to some extent also by increasing the temperature. Retention of folate and ascorbic acid was affected by the same factors, and high content of ascorbic acid could provide a possible protection for folate degradation.     

Mercury (Hg) Transport in a High Arctic River in Northeast Greenland

In a warming climate, mercury (Hg) pathways in the Arctic can be expected to be affected. The Hg transport from the high arctic Zackenberg River Basin was assessed in 2009 in order to describe and estimate the mercury transported from land to the marine environment. A total of 95 water samples were acquired and filtered (0.4 ??m pore size), and Hg concentrations were determined in both the filtered water and in the sediment. A range of other elements were also measured in the water samples. Hg concentrations in the filtered water were in general highest in the beginning of the season when the water came mainly from melted snow. THg concentrations in the sediment were in general relatively constant or slightly decreasing until mid-August, where after the concentrations increased. A principal component analysis separated the samples into spring, summer and autumn samples indicating seasonal characteristics of the patterns of element concentrations. The total amount of Hg in the sediment transported was estimated to 2.6 kg. Approximately 60% of the sediment-transported Hg occurred during a 24-h flood in the beginning of August caused by a glacial lake outburst flood. The total amount of transported dissolved Hg was estimated to 46 g, and 13% of this transport occurred during the 24-h flood. If it is assumed that the Hg transport by Zackenberg River is representative for the general glacial rivers in East Greenland, the total Hg transport into the North Atlantic from Greenland alone is approximately 4.6 tons year^?1 with an estimated annual freshwater discharge of ??440 km³.     

Improved HPLC method for determination of phytosiderophores in root washings and tissue extracts

Phytosiderophores (PS) of the mugineic acid family can be separated effectively by HPLC on resin‐based anion exchange columns. Using gradient elution with aqueous NaOH, separation of 2'‐deoxymugineic acid (DMA), mugineic acid (MA), 3‐hydroxymugineic acid (HMA), 3‐epi‐hyydroxymugineic acid (epi‐HMA), and nicotianamine was obtained within 16 min with a complete cycle time of 30 min. Fluorimetric detection was performed after post‐column derivatization using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and orthophtaldialdehyde. External standardization revealed a linear range between 0.1–2.5 nmol of each compound applied to the column, with a detection limit of approximately 0.05 nmol. Only minimal sample pre‐treatment by addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was required prior to HPLC‐injection of natural occurring samples such as root exudates, collected from the whole root system or from single apical root zones, xylem sap, and hot water extracts of root material, obtained from iron (Fe)‐deficient maize and barley plants. The method is discussed in comparison with cation exchange HPLC which is conventionally employed for the separation of phytosiderophores.