Aggregatum Group Research Articles

Significant Potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi to Increase on Yield of Shallot

Evaluation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi application on shallot (Allium cepa L. aggregatum group) is extremely important to instead of Phosphorus synthetic fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in randomized completely block design with three replications as block. The experiment consisted of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi (AMF) application, AMF and Phosphorus application, Phosphorus application and without any treatment. The experiment resulted that there were no difference on plant height and number of leaves among treatments. In total chlorophyll content, AMF application is lower than Phosphorus synthetic application. In contrast, AMF application was showed the highest of yield.

The Effect of Drying and Storage on the Quality of Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) Bulbs

Post-harvest handling in shallot such as drying of bulbs can influence its quality during and after storage. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of drying and storage treatment on the quality of shallot bulbs during 12 weeks of storage . The study was carried out in Samiran hamlet, Parangtritis village, Bantul district, Special Region of Yogyakarta and Crop Science Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, from June until November 2016. It was arranged in factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) and consisted of two factors. The first was the drying treatments: drying the bulbs on the field and on woven bamboo nets both plastic covered and uncovered. The second was the storage treatments: storing the bulbs in the farmer’s warehouse (31,030C±0,04 and RH of 60,50%±0,28), in air-conditioned room (22,40oC± 0,02 and RH of 61,60%±0,09), and at room temperature (30,47oC±0,03 and RH of 60,50%±0,12). Each treatment combination was replicated three times as blocks. The results showed that water content of all treatments were changing followed by fluctuating of the total soluble solid throughout the storage period while bulb firmness tended to decrease. Bulbs which were stored in air-conditioned rooms showed the highest percentage of sprouted bulbs, vigor index and germination rate than other treatments. Meanwhile, drying treatment did not give significant influence.

Effect of Selenium Biofortification and Beneficial Microorganism Inoculation on Yield, Quality and Antioxidant Properties of Shallot Bulbs.

Plant biofortification with selenium in interaction with the application of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-based formulate, with the goal of enhancing Se bioavailability, is beneficial for the development of the environmentally friendly production of functional food with a high content of this microelement. Research was carried out in order to assess the effects of an AMF-based formulate and a non-inoculated control in factorial combination with two selenium treatments with an organic (selenocystine) or inorganic form (sodium selenate) and a non-treated control on the yield, quality, antioxidant properties, and elemental composition of shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group). Selenocystine showed the best effect on the growth and yield of mycorrhized plants, whereas sodium selenate was the most effective on the non-inoculated plants. The soluble solids, total sugars, monosaccharides, titratable acidity, and proteins attained higher values upon AMF inoculation. Sodium selenate resulted in higher soluble solids, total sugars and monosaccharide content, and titratable acidity than the non-treated control, and it also resulted in higher monosaccharides when compared to selenocystine; the latter showed higher protein content than the control. Calcium, Na, S, and Cl bulb concentrations were higher in the plants inoculated with the beneficial microorganisms. Calcium and sodium concentrations were higher in the bulbs of plants treated with both the selenium forms than in the control. Selenocystine-treated plants showed enhanced accumulation of sulfur and chlorine compared to the untreated plants. The AMF inoculation increased the bulb selenium content by 530%, and the Se biofortification with selenocystine and sodium selenate increased this value by 36% and 21%, respectively, compared to control plants. The AMF-based formulate led to increases in ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity when compared to the non-inoculated control. The bulb ascorbic acid was increased by fortification with both selenium forms when compared to the non-treated control. The results of our investigation showed that both AMF and selenium application represent environmentally friendly strategies to enhance the overall yield and quality performances of shallot bulbs, as well as their selenium content.

Growth and Yield of Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) with Application of Beneficial Microorganisms

Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) is one of the most widely utilized vegetables by Indonesian people. Some technologies have been adapted to improved shallot productivity. One of those are the application of beneficial microorganisms. We applied mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma sp., and Bacillus thuringiensis as well as the combination among these microorganisms were applied in Shallots cultivation and were investigated to improve the growth and development of shallot. A field experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with two treatment factors. The first factor consisted of two shallot cultivars, namely Biru Lancor and Crok Kuning; whilst the second factor consisted of six beneficial microorganism treatments, i.e. control, mycorrhizae, Trichoderma sp., Bacillus thuringiensis, the combination of mycorrhizae and Trichoderma sp., and the combination of those three microorganisms. The observation was conducted on infection percentage of mycorrhizae, total population of Trichoderma sp., leaf area, leaf area index, net assimilation rate, crop growth rate, harvest index, and plant yield. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% significance level. The results showed the leaf area of shallot was improved as affected by the application of mycorrhizal fungi. The effectiveness and implication of mycorrhizal fungi on shallot growth would decrease if the application of was combined with other microorganisms. However, the application of beneficial microorganisms had not been able to increase component yield and yield of Biru Lancor and Crok Kuning, indicated by bulb weight, number of bulb, bulb diameter, number of bulb per cluster, and bulb yield per hectare.

Effect of Cropping Pattern and Fertilizer Dose Applied in Raised-Bed on The Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Sunken-Bed of The Surjan Rice Field

Surjan system (alternating bed system) is an agricultural system that combines dry and wet bedding system. It integrates food crop culture in the sunken-bed and annual crops in the raised-bed of the rainfed rice field. In Bantul, farmers commonly apply Surjan system in rice field by growing shallot (Allium cepa L. aggregatum group) and chili (Capsicum annuum L.) in the raised-bed, whereas no crop is grown in the sunken-bed. This present experiment evaluated the utilization of the sunken-bed for rice cultivation by utilizing fertilizer runoff from the raised-bed. Rice plants in the sunken-bed were not fertilized due to the expectation that it could utilize the fertilizer runoff from the raised-bed. The cropping pattern and the fertilizer dose in the raised-bed are suspected to affect the growth and yield of rice in the sunken-bed. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cropping pattern and fertilizer dose applied in raised-bed on the growth and yield of rice in sunken-bed of the Surjan rice field. This study were laid out in a split plot design with three replication. The main plot consists of two cropping pattern, namely shallot monoculture and intercropping shallot with chili. The fertilizer dose applied in raised-bed, namely 100% farmer's habit; 50% farmer’s habit; and 25% farmers' habit, occupying the sub plot. Dose of fertilizer applied in riased- bed according to the farmer's habit in research locatin is 622 kg NPK/ha (16-16-16) ; 228 kg ZA/ha and 76 kg KCl/ha. The results showed that there was no interaction between the cropping pattern and the fertilizer dose applied in the raised-bed on the growth and yield of rice in the sunken-bed. Compared with shallot monoculture, intercropping shallot with chili in raised-bed decreased the growth of rice in the sunken-bed. Compared with the 100% fertilizer dosage of farmer's habits, the fertilizer dose of 50% of the farmer's habits in the raised-bed increased the growth of rice in the sunken-bed. Cropping pattern and fertilizer dose in the raised-bed did not significantly affect the rice yield grown in the sunken-bed of the Surjan rice field.

Widely targeted metabolome and transcriptome landscapes of Allium fistulosum\u2013A. cepa chromosome addition lines revealed a flavonoid hot spot on chromosome 5A

Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of the widely targeted metabolome and transcriptome profiles of Allium fistulosum L. (FF) with the single extra chromosome of shallot [A. cepa L. Aggregatum group (AA)] to clarify the novel gene functions in flavonoid biosynthesis. An exhaustive metabolome analysis was performed using the selected reaction monitoring mode of liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry, revealing a specific accumulation of quercetin, anthocyanin and flavone glucosides in AA and FF5A. The addition of chromosome 5A from the shallot to A. fistulosum induced flavonoid accumulation in the recipient species, which was associated with the upregulation of several genes including the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, chalcone synthase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, UDP-glucose flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase, anthocyanin 5-aromatic acyltransferase-like, pleiotropic drug resistance-like ATP binding cassette transporter, and MYB14 transcriptional factor. Additionally, an open access Allium Transcript Database (Allium TDB, http://alliumtdb.kazusa.or.jp) was generated by using RNA-Seq data from different genetic stocks including the A. fistulosum–A. cepa monosomic addition lines. The functional genomic approach presented here provides an innovative means of targeting the gene responsible for flavonoid biosynthesis in A. cepa. The understanding of flavonoid compounds and biosynthesis-related genes would facilitate the development of noble Allium varieties with unique chemical constituents and, subsequently, improved plant stress tolerance and human health benefits.

Morphological and Biochemical Diversity of Shallot Landraces Preserved Along the Croatian Coast.

Shallots are a valuable minor Allium crop, and are propagated vegetatively and maintained in home gardens across generations along the Croatian coast and island areas. Shallot landraces growing along the Croatian coast fall into three genotypes: Allium cepa Aggregatum group (2n = 2x = 16), A. × proliferum (Moench) Schard. (2n = 2x = 16), and A. × cornutum Clementi ex Vis. (2n = 3x = 24), among which A. × cornutum is the most widespread. The aim of this study was to differentiate shallot accessions collected from local farmers using morphological markers. Also, the chemical composition including phenolic content, phenolic profile, total antioxidant capacity, and mineral composition, of shallot accessions was compared with that of the local landraces of common onion, and with market available shallot and common onion cultivars. Based on morphological observations and using multivariate classification, shallot landraces were classified into three distinct groups. Properties, based on which A. × cornutum can be differentiated from A. cepa Aggregatum and A. × proliferum, are stamen morphology, stamen length, leaf and scape vegetative properties, number of bulbs in cluster, cluster mass, and bulb diameter. Flower diameter and flower pedicel length differentiate A. × cornutum and A. × proliferum from A. cepa Aggregatum. Significant variability was observed in the biochemical profiles across tested accessions. Compared with the commercial common onion cultivars, local shallot accessions have higher bulb N, P, and K content. The major phenolic compounds identified in shallots were quercetin-4′-glucoside and quercetin-3,4′-diglucoside. Additionally, several other minor phenolic compounds were also identified. Morphological and biochemical profiles were evaluated using Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis. Specific morphological traits and biochemical markers for possible species identification are proposed.

Correction: RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome and biochemical analyses of steroidal saponin pathway in a complete set of Allium fistulosum-A. cepa monosomic addition lines.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181784.].

Shallot Growth and Yields Based on Ammonium:Nitrate Ratio on Coastal Sandy Soil

Nitrogen was a key component for increasing yield and quality of vegetables like shallots. The growth and development of plants were influenced by nitrogen form. Common plants preferred nitrate for growth, but the enormity preference varies within plant species and other environmental factors. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of ammonium:nitrate ratio in sandy soil to growth and yield of shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group). The experiment had been conducted in August-October 2015 in the sandy land on Samas Beach, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research was arranged in a Split-Plot design. The main plot was the source of nitrogen (NH4+; NO3-; NH4+: NO3- 1:1; NH4+: NO3- 1:2; and NH4+: NO3- 2:1) and the subplot was cultivars (Crok Kuning, Tiron, and Bima Brebes). Each subplot covered an area of 2.5 m² (2.5 m x 1 m) with three blocks as replications. Shallot bulbs were planted in sixth-row, spacing 20 cm between rows and 15 cm within rows. The dose was applied according to the recommendation of BPTP (urea 200 kg ha-1, ZA 250 kg ha-1, SP-36 150 kg ha-1, and KCl 150 kg ha-1) 144.5 kg N ha-1. Ammonium:nitrate ratio influenced shallot growth in sandy soil through number of leaves at maximum vegetative phase and its leaf area. The NH4+: NO3- 1:2 ratio gave the best result in dry weight of leaves following bulb dry weight than other ratio. Nevertheless, ammonium:nitrate ratio had no significant influence on bulb dry weight (ton ha-1).

RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome and biochemical analyses of steroidal saponin pathway in a complete set of Allium fistulosum-A. cepa monosomic addition lines.

The genus Allium is a rich source of steroidal saponins, and its medicinal properties have been attributed to these bioactive compounds. The saponin compounds with diverse structures play a pivotal role in Allium’s defense mechanism. Despite numerous studies on the occurrence and chemical structure of steroidal saponins, their biosynthetic pathway in Allium species is poorly understood. The monosomic addition lines (MALs) of the Japanese bunching onion (A. fistulosum, FF) with an extra chromosome from the shallot (A. cepa Aggregatum group, AA) are powerful genetic resources that enable us to understand many physiological traits of Allium. In the present study, we were able to isolate and identify Alliospiroside A saponin compound in A. fistulosum with extra chromosome 2A from shallot (FF2A) and its role in the defense mechanism against Fusarium pathogens. Furthermore, to gain molecular insight into the Allium saponin biosynthesis pathway, high-throughput RNA-Seq of the root, bulb, and leaf of AA, MALs, and FF was carried out using Illumina's HiSeq 2500 platform. An open access Allium Transcript Database (Allium TDB, http://alliumtdb.kazusa.or.jp) was generated based on RNA-Seq data. The resulting assembled transcripts were functionally annotated, revealing 50 unigenes involved in saponin biosynthesis. Differential gene expression (DGE) analyses of AA and MALs as compared with FF (as a control) revealed a strong up-regulation of the saponin downstream pathway, including cytochrome P450, glycosyltransferase, and beta-glucosidase in chromosome 2A. An understanding of the saponin compounds and biosynthesis-related genes would facilitate the development of plants with unique saponin content and, subsequently, improved disease resistance.

Isolation and characterization of Cepa2, a natural alliospiroside A, from shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) with anticancer activity

Exploration of new and promising anticancer compounds continues to be one of the main tasks of cancer research because of the drug resistance, high cytotoxicity and limitations of tumor selectivity. Natural products represent a better choice for cancer treatment in comparison with synthetic compounds because of their pharmacokinetic properties and lower side effects. In the current study, we isolated a steroidal saponin, named Cepa2, from the dry roots of shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group), and determined its structure by using two-dimensional nuclear manganic resonance (2D NMR). The 1H NMR and 13C NMR data revealed that the newly isolated Cepa2 compound is identical to alliospiroside A (C38H60O12) [(25S)-3β-hydroxyspirost-5-en-1β-yl-2-O-(6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α-L-arabinopyranoside], whose anticancer activity remains elusive. Our in vitro examination of the cytotoxic activity of the identified Cepa2 against P3U1 myeloma cancer cell line showed its high efficiency as an anticancer with 91.13% reduction in P3U1 cell viability 12 h post-treatment. The reduction of cell viability was correlated with the increase in reactive oxygen species levels in Cepa2-treated P3U1 cells, as compared with untreated cells. Moreover, scanning electron microscope results demonstrated apoptosis of the Cepa2-treated P3U1 cells in a time course-dependent manner. The results of our study provide evidence for the anticancer properties of the natural Cepa2/alliospiroside A extracted from shallot plants, and a strong foundation for in-depth investigations to build theoretical bases for cell apoptosis and development of novel anticancer drugs.

Elimination of shallot bulb viruses through heat treatment

Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) is usually cultivated vegetatively. As a result, viruses tend to accumulate within the host plants and spread to healthy plants every crop cycle, reducing yield and bulb quality. There are a very limited number of studies about the elimination of shallot viruses through heat treatment. The objective of this research was to eliminate shallot viruses through heat treatment to produce virus-free plantlets. The leaves of Biru Lancor with specifc visual virus symptoms were detected by Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Then bulbs of Biru Lancor that were positively infected by viruses were used as materials for heat treatment. The treatments were a control (without treatment), electric treatment at 15 mA for 10 minutes, heat treatment in an incubator at 37°C for 4 weeks, heat treatment in a waterbath at 45°C for 60 minutes, and combination of heat treatment in an incubator at 37°C for 4 weeks and heat treatment in a waterbath at 45°C for 60 minutes. After being subjected to heat treatment, the pseudo stem were cultivated in the MS Medium + 1 mg/L BAP + 1 mg/L IBA.Virus detection by RT-PCR was conducted 28 days after planting using samples of leaves from each plantlet. The results of this research showed that the treatments of electric treatment at 15 mA for 10 minutes and combination of heat treatment in the incubator at 37°C for 4 weeks and heat treatment in the waterbath at 45°C for 60 minutes could suppress the incidence of Shallot latent virus (SLV) until 100%. Heat treatment might have an important role in the degradation of virus particles by boosting Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) as plant responses to virus infection.

Bulb Placement Effects on Growth Performance and Yield of Shallot (Allium Cepa L. Aggregatum Group)

Bulb Placement Effects on Growth Performance and Yield of Shallot (Allium Cepa L. Aggregatum Group)

Integrating transcriptome and target metabolome variability in doubled haploids of Allium cepa for abiotic stress protection

Environmental stress conditions such as drought, heat, salinity, or pathogen infection can have a devastating impact on plant growth and yield, resulting in a need for stress-tolerant crop varieties. Crossbreeding tropical and cultivated onion species produced a hybrid F1 generation possessing genetic and metabolic parental properties that aided abiotic stress tolerance. Targeted metabolite profiling using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry integrated with transcriptional analysis of their relevant genes provided insights into the metabolic and genomic architecture of the onion doubled haploid (Allium cepa L., DHC), shallot doubled haploid (A. cepa L. Aggregatum group, DHA), and F1 hybrid. Out of a complete set of 113 targeted metabolites, 49 metabolites were found to be statistically significantly different between genotypes: 11 metabolites were characteristic for DHC, 10 for DHA, 14 for F1, and 14 metabolites were shared among the three genotypes. Several key genes and metabolites introgressed in abiotic stress response were up-regulated in DHA and F1 genotypes as compared to DHC. Principal component analysis and Volcano plot analysis revealed that metabolic traits and their relevant genes (namely, amino acid, carbohydrate, flavonoid, and phospholipid biosynthesis) were strongly linked with DHA and F1, reflecting the adaptability of DHA and F1 toward abiotic stress as compared to DHC.

Design and development of tractor operated onion set planter

The paper describes the design and development of planter for planting onion sets of aggregatum group onions Onion (Allium cepa L.) in close-spacing. The onion set planter developed consisted of onion set planting unit, seed hopper, standard three point hitch for mounting to tractor, main frame, furrow opener, ground wheel, and drive transmission mechanism. The onion set planter was evaluated in the laboratory for its performance. The performance indices namely multiple index, miss index, quality of feed index, precision, mean and standard deviation of onion set planter were 0.05, 0.18, 0.77, 0.27, 11.71 and 5.22 cm’ respectively. The precision of 0.27 was in the acceptable region for indicating the encouraging performance of planter in terms of planting single sets. The tractor operated onion set planter was tested in the field for its performance. The onion sets were graded into four grades. All the four grades of the onion sets were planted by the prototype onion set planter. Plant to plant spacings were 9.34±1.530, 10.35±2.162, 11.50±2.305 and 12.64±2.758 cm for the grades I(2-3 g weight), II(3-4 g weight), III(4-5 g weight) and IV(5-6 g weight) on 12 DAP respectivety. The field capacity of the onion set planter was 0.15 ha./h. The cost of operation was Rs.` 4 150/ha. The cost saved by using onion planter over manual planting was about 30%.

Screening and incorporation of rust resistance from Allium cepa into bunching onion (Allium fistulosum) via alien chromosome addition

Bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.; 2n = 16), bulb onion (Allium cepa L. Common onion group), and shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) cultivars were inoculated with rust fungus, Puccinia allii, isolated from bunching onion. Bulb onions and shallots are highly resistant to rust, suggesting they would serve as useful resources for breeding rust resistant bunching onions. To identify the A. cepa chromosome(s) related to rust resistance, a complete set of eight A. fistulosum - shallot monosomic alien addition lines (MAALs) were inoculated with P. allii. At the seedling stage, FF+1A showed a high level of resistance in controlled-environment experiments, suggesting that the genes related to rust resistance could be located on shallot chromosome 1A. While MAAL, multi-chromosome addition line, and hypoallotriploid adult plants did not exhibit strong resistance to rust. In contrast to the high resistance of shallot, the addition line FF+1A+5A showed reproducibly high levels of rust resistance.

Shallots in Croatia – genetics, morphology and nomenclature

Abstract - The term 'shallot' in Croatia denotes three genetically and morphologically different, vegetatively reproduced relatives of the common onion, Allium cepa L., which are mainly traditionally cultivated for consumption and as a spice: A. cepa Aggregatum group, (2n = 2x = 16), A. × proliferum (Moench) Schrad. (2n = 2x = 16) and A. × cornutum Clementi ex Vis. (2n = 3x = 24). This paper reviews the results of studies of their morpho- -anatomical characteristics and genetic structure. Although all three taxa were determined as varieties of the common onion, only the shallot A. cepa Aggregatum group (syn. A. ascalonicum L.) belongs to that species. The shallot A. × proliferum represents a hybrid between the two closely related species, A. cepa and A. fistulosum L. The third form of shallot, A. × cornutum is a still incompletely understood triploid hybrid between A. cepa and one or two closely related Allium species, whose identity has not been fully elucidated. In contrast to shallot A. cepa Aggregatum group, which has normal meiosis and produces fertile seed, hybrid shallots A. × proliferum and A. × cornutum are sterile, and reproduce exclusively vegetatively by underground bulbs or bulbils from the inflorescence.

Identification and Biological Activity of Antifungal Saponins from Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum Group)

The n-butanol extract of shallot basal plates and roots showed antifungal activity against plant pathogenic fungi. The purified compounds from the extract were examined for antifungal activity to determine the predominant antifungal compounds in the extract. Two major antifungal compounds purified were determined to be alliospiroside A (ALA) and alliospiroside B. ALA had prominent antifungal activity against a wide range of fungi. The products of acid hydrolysis of ALA showed a reduced antifungal activity, suggesting that the compound's sugar chain is essential for its antifungal activity. Fungal cells treated with ALA showed rapid production of reactive oxygen species. The fungicidal action of ALA was partially inhibited by a superoxide scavenger, Tiron, suggesting that superoxide anion generation in the fungal cells may be related to the compound's action. Inoculation experiments showed that ALA protected strawberry plants against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , indicating that ALA has the potential to control anthracnose of the plant.

Supplementation with Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) expressing a single alien chromosome from shallot increases the antioxidant activity of Kamaboko fish jelly paste in vitro

Kamaboko is a traditional type of processed seafood made from fish jelly paste that is unique to Japan. We supplemented Kamaboko with Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) with an alien monosome from shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) and we measured in vitro the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value, an index of antioxidant activity. We also evaluated the results of sensory testing. The ORAC value of plain Kamaboko was 166±14 μmol trolox equivalent (TE)/100 g fresh weight (FW). The values of the edible Alliaceae powder, i.e., Japanese bunching onion (JBO, genome FF, 2n=2x=16) and the alien addition line of JBO carrying the 6A chromosome from shallot (FF+6A, 2n=2x+1=17), were 6,659±238 and 14,096±635 μmol TE/100 g dry weight (DW). We hypothesized that the 6A chromosome encoded the enhancement of polyphenol production. Subsequently, we created Kamaboko containing 4.8% JBO powder or 4.8% FF+6A powder. The ORAC value of each modified Kamaboko product was increased to 376±24 μmol TE/100 g FW for the JBO powder and to 460±16 μmol TE/100 g FW for the FF+6A powder, respectively. We next created Kamaboko containing 9.0% JBO powder or 9.0% FF+6A powder and the ORAC values of the respective modified Kamaboko products was increased to 671±16 and 740±21 μmol TE/100 g FW, i.e., 4.1- and 4.5-times the value of plain Kamaboko. Consequently, taking into consideration the sensory evaluation regarding taste and appearance as well, the use of Kamaboko supplemented with 4.8% FF+6A powder is recommended.

PHEOPHYTIN FORMATION WITH SENESCENCE IN STORED JAPANESE BUNCHING ONION

18 The shelf life of Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.; JBO genome 19 FF) leaves diminished with yellowing as a consequence of chlorophyll (Chl) degradation, 20 which seems to be the main factor in yellowing of stored JBO leaves. The aim of this 21 study was to investigate pheophytin (Phy) formation as a Chl derivative during Chl 22 degradation in stored JBO leaves. A series of alien monosomic addition lines (AMALs, 23 FF+1A to FF+8A) of JBO, with extra chromosomes from shallot (A. cepa L., 24 Aggregatum group; genome AA) was used as supportive materials to study the 25 formation of Chl a derivatives and the activity of Chl-degrading enzymes during 26 storage. Chl contents in FF+3A and FF+5A decreased greatly during storage at 25°C, 27 whereas in FF+4A the reduction in Chl content was the lowest compared to the control, 28 FF. In JBO leaves, during Chl degradation, the presence of Phy a was prominent as Chl 29 derivatives, which was not recorded in other horticultural crops. Moreover, the 30 activities of Chl-degrading enzymes, especially Mg-dechelation, also progressively 31 increased during storage at 25 o C. The formation of Phy a in stored JBO leaves was 32 further investigated. By incubating the reaction mixture of crude enzyme extract and 33 Chl a, Phy a was formed by Mg-dechelating action. Especial significant was the greater 34 formation of Phy a in FF+3A than FF and FF+4A. Electron microscopic observation 35 elucidated the formation of plastoglobules (Pgs) in chloroplasts and its movement from 36 chloroplast to vacuole in JBO. A large number of Pgs in vacuole of FF+3A might relate 37 to the high Phy a formation with Chl degradation. These findings suggest that Chl a 38 could be degraded in part, through Phy a, and the vacuole along with the chloroplast 39 might be important sites for Chl degradation in JBO during storage. 40 41