Abstract
Vegetables represent a major source of phenolic acids, powerful antioxidants characterized by an organic carboxylic acid function and which present multiple properties beneficial for human health. In consequence, developing new varieties with enhanced content in phenolic acids is an increasingly important breeding objective. Major phenolic acids present in vegetables are derivatives of cinnamic acid and to a lesser extent of benzoic acid. A large diversity in phenolic acids content has been found among cultivars and wild relatives of many vegetable crops. Identification of sources of variation for phenolic acids content can be accomplished by screening germplasm collections, but also through morphological characteristics and origin, as well as by evaluating mutations in key genes. Gene action estimates together with relatively high values for heritability indicate that selection for enhanced phenolic acids content will be efficient. Modern genomics and biotechnological strategies, such as QTL detection, candidate genes approaches and genetic transformation, are powerful tools for identification of genomic regions and genes with a key role in accumulation of phenolic acids in vegetables. However, genetically increasing the content in phenolic acids may also affect other traits important for the success of a variety. We anticipate that the combination of conventional and modern strategies will facilitate the development of a new generation of vegetable varieties with enhanced content in phenolic acids.
Highlights
Plant breeding programs have mostly concentrated on yield improvement, resistance to diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses, longer shelf life, early or late production, and varietal diversification.consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the potential benefits resulting from diets rich in fruits and vegetables for maintaining a good health and preventing diseases [1]
Many bioactive molecules derived from vegetables are effective due to their antioxidant activity, which prevents the formation of reactive oxygen, nitrogen, hydroxyl and lipid species, by scavenging free radicals or by repairing or removing damaged molecules
The candidate gene approach, which may be linked to the detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL), shows promise given that the genes involved in the phenolic acid synthesis pathway are known [Figure 3]
Summary
Plant breeding programs have mostly concentrated on yield improvement, resistance to diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses, longer shelf life, early or late production, and varietal diversification. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the potential benefits resulting from diets rich in fruits and vegetables for maintaining a good health and preventing diseases [1]. The scientific literature provides a wealth of information that correlates a diet high in fruits and vegetables with better health and disease prevention [2,3] This has stimulated a growing demand for vegetables with enhanced contents in bioactive compounds. We will focus on breeding new cultivars with improved content in phenolic acids This will require identifying the phenolic acid compounds most important and abundant in vegetables, the search for sources of variation (including crop wild relatives) with potential as breeding materials, and discussion of breeding strategies and biotechnological approaches appropriated for developing new vegetable varieties with enhanced content in phenolic acids.
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