Higher Total Carotenoid Content Research Articles

Unveiling the sweetness: evaluating yield and quality attributes of early generation sweet corn (Zea mays subsp. sachharata) inbred lines through morphological, biochemical and marker-based approaches.

Sweet corn is gaining tremendous demand worldwide due to urbanization and changing consumer preferences. However, genetic improvement in this crop is being limited by narrow genetic base and other undesirable agronomic traits that hinder the development of superior cultivars. The main requirement in this direction is the development of potentially promising parental lines. One of the most important strategies in this direction is to develop such lines from hybrid-oriented source germplasm which may provide diverse base material with desirable biochemical and agro-morphological attributes. The study was undertaken to carry out morphological and biochemical evaluation of 80 early generation inbred lines (S2) of sweet corn that were developed from a cross between two single cross sweet corn hybrids (Mithas and Sugar-75). Moreover, validation of favourable recessive alleles for sugar content was carried out using SSR markers. The 80 sweet corn inbreds evaluated for phenotypic characterization showed wide range of variability with respect to different traits studied. The highest content of total carotenoids was found in the inbred S27 (34μgg-1) followed by the inbred S65 (31.1μgg-1). The highest content for total sugars was found in S60 (8.54%) followed by S14 (8.34%). Molecular characterization of 80 inbred lines led to the identification of seven inbreds viz., S21, S28, S47, S48, S49, S53, and S54, carrying the alleles specific to the sugary gene (su1) with respect to the markers umc2061 and bnlg1937. Comparing the results of scatter plot for biochemical and morphological traits, it was revealed that inbreds S9, S23, S27 and S36 contain high levels of total sugars and total carotenoids along with moderate values for amylose and yield attributing traits. The inbred lines identified with desirable biochemical and agro-morphological attributes in the study could be utilized as source of favourable alleles in sweet corn breeding programmes after further validation for disease resistance and other agronomic traits. Consequently, the study will not only enhance the genetic base of sweet corn germplasm but also has the potential to develop high-yielding hybrids with improved quality. The inbreds possessing su1 gene on the basis of umc2061 and bnlg1937 markers were also found to possess high sugar content. This indicates the potential of these lines as desirable candidates for breeding programs aimed at improving sweet corn yield and quality. These findings also demonstrate the effectiveness of the molecular markers in facilitating marker-assisted selection for important traits in sweet corn breeding.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in three types of Korean watery kimchi

Watery kimchi is a traditional fermented food served with its soup. In this study, we collected 21 samples of yeolmu mul kimchi (YMK), dongchimi (DC), and nabak kimchi (NK), respectively, which are the most popular watery kimchi in Korea. A composite sample of each watery kimchi was prepared for estimation of their bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. Of the three kimchi types, YMK had the highest total carotenoid content (63.78 ± 4.88 mg/100 g, of which lutein, capsanthin, and β-carotene were the main carotenoids), and DC had the lowest (3.50 ± 0.12 mg/100 g). YMK also had the highest contents of chlorophyll (250.1 ± 3.91 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid (447.16 ± 8.95 mg/100 g), and capsaicinoids (2.51 ± 0.09 mg/100 g) compared to DC and NK. The lactic acid content was highest in NK (582.72 ± 29.10 mg/100 g). Moreover, YMK showed significantly higher antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH) than DC and NK (p < 0.05). Chlorophyll and antioxidant activity showed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.01). The results of this study highlighted watery kimchi as a potentially valuable source of bioactive compounds, and the carotenoids and capsaicinoids were affected by the supporting ingredients used in watery kimchi. Furthermore, watery kimchi provides 4.11% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A according to the 2020 Korean dietary reference intakes.

Effects of Dietary Oil Palm Carotenes on Colour Intensity and Astaxanthin Content in Giant Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Prawns have the metabolic ability to convert dietary carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, into astaxanthin, which increases the colour intensity and boosts immunity, thereby improving prawn growth performance. Currently, prawn feed manufacturers are using expensive synthetic astaxanthin as a feed supplement, which leads to higher feed costs. Oil palm carotene can be used in prawn feed production to replace the commercial synthetic astaxanthin in the market. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary oil palm carotene on the colour intensity, total carotenoids, and astaxanthin content of giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). Five different treatments that are isonitrogenous and isocaloric were used in this study, including T1 (commercial feed); T2 (control, without oil palm carotene); T3 (3% crude palm oil (CPO) inclusion); T4 (3% palm pressed fibre oil (PPFO) inclusion); and T5 (3% commercial oil palm-mixed carotene inclusion). Prawns were fed to satiation five times daily during the 10-week feeding trial. At the end of the feeding trial, prawn samples were collected for colour intensity, total carotenoids, and astaxanthin content analysis. The T4 and T5 prawn samples showed better colour intensity in terms of lightness in cooked samples as well as yellowness and redness for both raw and cooked samples. Prawns fed with diets consisting of oil palm carotenes (T3, T4 &amp; T5) contained higher total carotenoids content (more than 40 ppm) and astaxanthin content (ranging from 14.65 to 16.96 ppm) than the commercial (T1) and control (T2) groups. These results indicate that supplementation of oil palm carotenes in the giant freshwater prawn can potentially replace expensive commercial synthetic astaxanthin that is practically used by aquaculture feed producers.

Changes in phytochemical profiles, relevant enzyme activity and antioxidant capacity of different germinated maize varieties

Six typical Chinese maize varieties (Hetian4, Zhengdan958, Yinongyu10, Demeiya1, Dahua1146, Suyu29) have been investigated for carotenoid content, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant enzyme activity, and antioxidant capacity during germination. Results showed that the content of the main phytochemicals in germinated maize was higher than that in raw seeds. Hetian4 had the highest total carotenoid content, Zhengdan958 had the highest TPC, and Dahua1146 had the weakest antioxidant capacity after 3-d germination. Zhengdan958 had the highest transcript levels of ZmPSY and ZmLCYE on the 3-day of maize germination. In addition, correlation analysis revealed that the scavenging of oxygen free radical capacity of germinated maize depends on the accumulation of carotenoids, TPC, and antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the key genes in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway are closely related to different accumulation of carotenoids. Principal component analysis underlined the effect of the germination, the antioxidant activity, and the carotenoid on the nutritional properties of maize.

SNP-based marker-assisted selection for high provitamin A content in African cassava genetic background

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) contributes to significant levels of mortality and morbidity, particularly among children and women in Africa. Cassava is a major staple crop whose biofortification with betacarotene can contribute to reducing the VAD prevalence in a cost-effective and sustainable approach. Developing high provitamin A content (pVAC) cassava varieties through the conventional approach is a laborious and slow process, partly due to the breeding bottlenecks caused by the biology of the crop. To complement the phenotypic screening for pVAC and increase selection efficiency as well as accuracy, we employed four Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) assays to predict the level of carotenoids in a cassava population developed from open-pollinated crosses. There was significant correlation (r= 0.88) between total carotenoid content (TCC) and root tissue colour score in the study population. Marker S1_24155522 at the phytoene synthase gene explained most of the phenotypic variation in TCC and root colour (R2= 0.37 and 0.55, respectively) among the genotypes evaluated in this study. The other markers did not individually account for much phenotypic variation in the trait in our study population. Three genotypes – namely UIC-17-679, UIC-17-1713, and UIC-17-2823 – had higher TCCs, ranging from 10.07 μg/g to 10.88 μg/g, than the national yellow check variety IITA-IBA-TMS070593 (9.20 μg/g). Marker PSY572/S124155522 is therefore recommended for routine use in marker-assisted selection for pVAC enhancement in African cassava germplasm. Significance: We evaluated the performance of the SNP markers associated with provitamin A content in a cassava population and draw relevant conclusions that will foster the applications of these markers in different cassava improvement programmes with similar interests. Marker-assisted selection was sufficiently accurate for an early screening of individuals for carotenoid content, especially when thousands of genotypes are usually handled. This screening will reduce efficiently the challenges and burden attached to the use of sophisticated instruments for carotenoid quantification (e.g. HPLC and I-check) for the benefit of breeders and researchers in the field.

Optimization of Carotenoid Extraction from Yellow Passion Fruit Pomace Using Ultrasound-assisted Extraction and Coconut Oil as a Solvent

Passion fruit pomace, a by-product of passion fruit juice processing, is a source of carotenoids that can be utilized for food products as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum condition of carotenoid extraction process from passion fruit pomace using ultrasonic waves with coconut oil as a solvent, to determine the physicochemical properties of carotene-enriched coconut oil and the physicochemical properties of carotene-enriched coconut oil blended with sesame oil. The variables studied were extraction time (X1) and extraction temperature (X2). Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with the design of Central Composite Face-centered Design (CCF) is used to obtain a mathematical model that corresponds to the relationship between total carotenoid and the variables that influence it. After that, coconut oil will be evaluated on its quality including total carotenoids and antioxidant activity, compared to extraction with conventional methods (maceration). Sesame oil was blended with the carotene-enriched coconut oil extract to improve its antioxidant stability. The results showed that the optimum condition of the yellow passion fruit pomace carotenoid extraction with ultrasound-assisted extraction was 30 minutes and at 35 °C. Characteristics of carotenoid-enriched coconut oil from ultrasound-assisted extraction had higher total carotenoid content (15.79 μg of carotenoids/g oil) compared to conventional extraction (9.47 μg of carotenoids/g oil) and had higher antioxidant activity (80%RSA). Characteristics of mixed oils between carotenoid-enriched coconut oil and sesame oil have higher peroxide, lower Oxidative Stability Index, and higher antioxidant activity.

Composition and Content of Carotenoids of Gastropod &lt;i&gt;Tritia reticulata&lt;/i&gt; in Black Sea

The results of a two–year study of the composition and content of carotenoids of sea snails Tritia reticulata (L., 1758), living in a mixed bottom community of bivalve mollusks in the sandy zone of the upper sublitoral (depth 0–1 m) of the Cossack Bay of Sevastopol, are presented. The highest content of total carotenoids was detected in June (1.8–2.09 mg/100 g of crude mass), the average Cossack Baymples for both years was 1.54 mg/100 g of crude mass. In the qualitative composition of T. reticulata taken from the pastures of bivalves on sandy-silt soil, 15 free carotenoids were identified: b-carotene, echinenone, hydroxyechinenone, astaxanthin, didehydroastaxanthin, diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin, fucoxanthin, halocintiaxanthin, fucoxanthinol, mactraxanthin, heteroxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, alloxanthin and esters of the last 4 carotenoids. The po-ssibility of metabolic transformations of carotenoids is discussed.

Citrus Carotenoid Extracts Exert Anticancer Effects through Anti-Proliferation, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondrial-Dependent Apoptosis in MCF-7 Cells.

Citrus is a globally popular fruit crop that contains bioactive compounds with numerous health benefits. Carotenoids are one of the main bioactive compounds present in citrus pulp. They possess exceptional antioxidant and anticancer properties, making them potentially effective in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Different citrus species, identified as ZMPG, DFGJ, NFMJ, XY, and ZHQC, were studied for their antioxidant activity and anticancer activity. XY had the highest total carotenoid content (75.30 µg/g FW), and ZHQC (ZH) had the lowest carotenoid content (19.74 µg/g FW). The composition of NFMJ, ZMPG, and DFHJ consisted of the most abundant number of carotenoids, while XY only had three types. The antioxidant capacity of the carotenoid extracts was evaluated, and ZH and DFHJ were identified as good sources of antioxidants. XY and ZH significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and arresting cells during the G0/G1 phase. XY and ZH enhanced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP); reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and peroxidase (POD); decreased glutathione (GSH) levels; and increased the malonaldehyde (MDA) content. Apoptosis occurred through the mitochondrial-mediated pathway through the up-regulation of BAX, caspase-3, and caspase-9 and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. In this study, the carotenoid-rich extracts of citrus pulp were found to induce oxidative stress through their pro-oxidant potential and regulate cell apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells. These results indicate that citrus carotenoids act as pro-oxidants and have the potential to be utilized for the development of anti-breast cancer products.

Characterization of bioactive and fruit quality compounds of promising mango genotypes grown in Himalayan plain region.

Twenty mango genotypes grown in the plains of the Himalayas were characterized by their physical, physiological, biochemical, mineral and organoleptic attributes: fruit firmness, weight, peel thickness, shape, dry seed weight, respiration rate, weight loss, and shelf life. Biochemical attributes such as soluble solids, total carotenoids, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and total sugars were also determined. In addition, mineral content and fruit-softening enzymes were measured, and an organoleptic evaluation was performed. Polygalactouronase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME) and lipoxygenase (LOX) were measured from the pulp adjacent to the peel. Similarly, biochemical attributes and mineral content were evaluated using fruit pulp, while organoleptic evaluation included fruit pulp characters and the fruit's external appearance. The results of the study showed that the 'Malda' genotype exhibited the highest total phenolic content (560.60 µg/100 g), total antioxidant (5.79 µmol TE/g), and titratable acidity (0.37%) among the tested genotypes. 'Amrapali' had the highest soluble solid content (25.20 °B), 'Jawahar' had the highest ascorbic acid content (44.20 mg/100 g pulp), 'Mallika' had the highest total flavonoid content (700.00 µg/g) and 'Amrapali' had the highest total carotenoid content (9.10 mg/100 g). Moreover, the genotypes 'Malda', 'Safed Malda'and 'Suvarnarekha' had a shelf life of 4-5 days longer than other tested genotypes. The genotypes with high biochemical attributes have practical utility for researchers for quality improvement programmes and processing industries as functional ingredients in industrial products. This study provides valuable information on the nutritional and functional properties of different mango genotypes, which can aid in developing improved varieties with enhanced health benefits and greater practical utility for processing industries.

Rapid Screening of Microalgae as Potential Sources of Natural Antioxidants.

In order to rapidly screen microalgae species as feedstocks for antioxidants, extracts were obtained from 16 microalgae strains (under 11 genera, 7 classes) using two methods: a one-step extraction with ethanol/water and a three-step fractionating procedure using hexane, ethylacetate, and water successively. Measuring the total phenol content (TPC), total carotenoid content (TCC), and antioxidant activity of the extracts, indicating TPC and TCC, played an important role in determining the antioxidant activity of the microalgae. A weighted scoring system was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity, and the scores of microalgal samples from two extraction methods were calculated using the same system. Among the investigated microalgae, Euglena gracilis SCSIO-46781 had the highest antioxidant score, contributing to high TPC and TCC, followed by Arthrospira platensis SCSIO-44012, Nannochloropsis sp. SCSIO-45224, Phaeodactylum tricornutum SCSIO-45120, and Nannochloropsis sp. SCSIO-45006, respectively. Additionally, the above-mentioned five strains are currently being applied in commercial production, indicating this system could be effective not only for screening microalgal antioxidants, but also for screening microalgal species/strains with strong adaptation to environmental stress, which is a critical trait for their commercial cultivation.

Effects of pre-drying methods on physicochemical, textural and color quality attributes of explosive puffed dried mandarin snacks

The effect of the pre-drying processes on the physical, chemical, microstructural, color, textural and sensory properties of mandarin chips was studied. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of different pre-drying methods (microwave drying (MD), hot air drying (HAD), freeze-drying (FD), osmotic dehydration (OD) and microwave combined with hot air drying (HAD + MD) on mandarin chips dried with the explosive puffing drying (EPD) method. Pre-dried mandarins until the moisture content of 70% (wb) were dried at 25 kPa, 60 °C for 180 min by EPD. The hybrid method HAD + MD + EPD was shown to be the most effective method for decreasing the moisture content and water activity (aw). It was concluded that the crust structure created during the pre-drying process affected the final product’s bulk density and volumetric expansion (VE) characteristics. Therefore, the HAD + MD + EPD combination reduced porosity in mandarin snacks, resulting in lower hardness and increased crispness. Mandarin snacks produced with the FD + EPD method had the highest ascorbic acid content (297.93 ± 1.92 mg/100 gDM), total phenolic content (181.82 ± 1.05 mgGAE/100 gDM), and antioxidant activity (220.18 ± 0.46 TEAC/100 gDM), whereas samples produce with the HAD + MD + EPD method had the highest total carotenoid content and, when the sensory properties were evaluated, the highest crispness and lowest hardness value. In today’s world, where healthy snack intake is becoming more common, our study has shown that the HAD + MD + EPD method is an innovative and effective drying method for developing mandarin chips as a healthy snack food while protecting its functional and textural characteristics.

Yeşil Ekstraksiyon Uygulamaları: Kırmızı Biber (Capsicum Annuum L.) Atığından Ekstrakte Edilen Çekirdek Yağlarının Üretimi ve Kalite Karakterizasyonu

The study focused on the possibilities of evaluation of red pepper (Capsicum Annuum L.) seeds being a food industry waste. The moisture content (%), the total crude oil and ash content, color, the weight of 1000 seeds, the thickness and diameter of the seeds were characterized. The oils were extracted from the seeds using green techniques: cold-pressing, ethanol solvent, and ultrasound-assisted ethanol solvent extraction.Different techniques compared the production yield and quality characteristics of the oil samples. On average, linoleic acid (72.00%), oleic acid (11.76%), and palmitic acid (11.50%) were the predominant fatty acids in oils. The yield (16.80%) of the ultrasound-assisted technique was observed to be more effective than the others. The lowest content of acidity and the highest content of total carotenoids were found in the cold-press oil. The color, conjugated diene-triene values were higher with cold-pressing. The total phenolic contents and the antioxidant capacities were ranked in the following order: ethanol solvent (241.1 mg kg-1 and 79.84%), ultrasound-assisted (167.0 mg kg-1 and 67.18%), and cold press (131.8 mg kg-1 and 59.04%). The total tocopherols (1801.2 mg kg-1) content was superior in the oil extracted with the ethanol solvent technique. The results were shown that the oil obtained by using the ethanol solvent extraction technique had better bioactive properties and so, antioxidant activity compared to other green extraction techniques.

Effect of osmotic dehydration with different osmosis agents on water status, texture properties, sugars, and total carotenoid of dehydrated yellow peach slices.

The water status, texture properties, sugars, and total carotenoid of dehydrated yellow peach slices pretreated with or without osmotic dehydration (OD) combined with heat pump drying were studied. In this study, different osmotic agents were used, namely, sucrose and isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) with 30 °Brix for 1, 3, and 5h. Results showed that the dehydrated samples pretreated by sucrose-OD with the best shape and cell structure showed lower hardness compared to the dehydrated yellow peach slices with IMO-OD pretreatment and without OD pretreatment. Notably, the highest total carotenoid content was found in dehydrated yellow peach slices pretreated by IMO-OD, followed by samples without OD, and samples with sucrose-OD pretreatment. In addition, the lowest aW (0.517) was obtained in samples with IMO-OD for 5h, which was beneficial for storage. The assessment of water status and total carotenoid content of dehydrated yellow peach slices showed that IMO-OD pretreatment could better improve the quality of dehydrated fruits. Moreover, the use of IMO in OD treatment was a good alternative to sucrose.

Mycosynthesis of Silica Nanoparticles Using Aspergillus niger: Control of Alternaria solani Causing Early Blight Disease, Induction of Innate Immunity and Reducing of Oxidative Stress in Eggplant.

The threats to the life and production of crops are exacerbated by climate change and the misuse of chemical pesticides. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of biosynthesized silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) as an alternative to pesticides against early blight disease of eggplant. Antifungal activity, disease index, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes activities were tested for potential tolerance of eggplant infected with Alternaria solani. Silica nanoparticles were successfully biosynthesized using Aspergillus niger through green and ecofriendly method. Results revealed that SiO2-NPs exhibited promising antifungal activity against A. solani where MIC was 62.5 µg/mL, and inhibition growth at concentration 1000 µg/mL recorded 87.8%. The disease Index (DI) as a result of infection with A. solani reached 82.5%, and as a result, a severe decrease in stem and root length and number of leaves occurred, which led to a sharp decrease in the photosynthetic pigments. However, contents of free proline, total phenol and antioxidant enzymes activity were increased in infected plants. On the other hand, the treatment with SiO2-NPs 100 ppm led to a great reduction in the disease Index (DI) by 25% and a high protection rate by 69.69%. A clear improvement in growth characteristics and a high content of chlorophyll and total carotenoids was also observed in the plants as a result of treatment with silica nanoparticles in (healthy and infected) plants. Interestingly, the noticeable rise in the content of infected and healthy plants of proline and phenols and an increase in the activity of super oxide dismutase (SOD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). It could be suggested that foliar application of SiO2-NPs especially 100 ppm could be commercially used as antifungal and strong inducer of plant physiological immunity against early blight disease.

Bioprospecting of tropical microalgae for high-value products: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids

Microalgae are an important renewable source of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. In this study, indigenous microalgal strains from fresh, brackish, and marine waters of Peninsular Malaysia were isolated, purified, and cultured. The potential of microalgae as a natural source of lipids and carotenoids was studied using a screening test with Nile red fluorescence dye to examine the lipid and carotenoid contents. Of 125 microalgae strains, nine strains isolated from marine and brackish water samples (Chaetoceros gracilis, Chlorella sp., C. sorokiniana, C. vulgaris, Tisochrysis lutea, Nitzschia capitellata, Oocystella heteromucosa, Oocystis marina, and Thalassiosira weissflogii) showed high fluorescence intensities. Next, the biochemical composition of these nine strains was examined. Thalassiosira weissflogii (strain TRG10-p105) showed the highest production of n-3 PUFAs and carotenoids among the nine strains. This strain produced high levels of n-3 PUFAs, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In this strain, the EPA contents relative to the dry weight (DW) and total fatty acid content (10.8% and 21.4%, respectively) were considerably higher than those reported in species currently used in industrial applications, such as aquaculture. Thalassiosira weissflogii TRG10-p105 had the highest total carotenoid content (20.2 mg g−1 DW), primarily because of its high fucoxanthin content (11.5 mg g−1 DW). The findings of this study indicate that T. weissflogii TRG10-p105 can serve as a high-value microalgal strain from tropical regions that produces n-3 PUFAs and carotenoids in abundance. Because a high ammonium tolerance was observed in this strain, its large-scale production can be implemented in ammonium-rich water produced from waste products to reduce the cost of algae production.

Carotenoid analysis and functional characterization of lycopene cyclases in Zinnia elegans L.

Carotenoids, a group of essential pigments for petal coloration in many species, could be generally categorized into linear and cyclic groups. The cyclization of the linear substrate lycopene at both end groups by β- and ε-cyclases (LCYBs and LCYEs, respectively) is a key branching point of the biosynthesis of cyclic carotenoids in flowers. Common zinnia (Zinnia elegans L.), an Asteraceae family plant that has been widely used in landscape greening, is best known for its brilliant flower colors. However, the mechanism of its petal coloration is not well studied, especially with respect to carotenoid pigmentation. In this study, total carotenoid content and carotenoid compositions of petals were analyzed in two common zinnia cultivars, 'Dreamland Red’ (DRE) and 'Dreamland Yellow’ (DY). Despite the lighter color of DY petals, the total carotenoid content in DY flowers was significantly higher than that in DRE. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the major carotenoids of both cultivars are cyclic carotenoids, with β-carotene being the most abundant. In addition, one LCYB, LCYE, and capsanthin/capsorubin synthase (CCS) gene were identified from Z. elegans by homology-based search in transcriptome. After cloning and sequencing, full-length open reading frame of each gene is exactly the same between two cultivars. Bacterial pigment complementation experiments revealed that ZeLCYB and ZeCCS can cyclize lycopene at both ends to produce β-carotene. Unlike most LCYEs characterized from higher plants, ZeLCYE produced predominantly ε-carotene in E. coli system. However, ZeLCYE is likely to have a lower affinity for lycopene or lower activity compared with ZeLCYB. Gene expression analysis showed that DY has higher expression levels of ZeLCYB and ZeCCS than DRE at specific developmental stages, consistent with its higher total carotenoid content. This work would lay a solid foundation for future studies on carotenoid accumulation in Z. elegans.

The Effect of Storage Conditions on the Content of Molecules in Malus domestica 'Chopin' cv. and Their In Vitro Antioxidant Activity.

The apple fruit is one of the most widely cultivated temperate fruits and a rich source of bioactive compounds. Since a growing number of consumers are increasingly seeking safe and healthy food production, organic apple production provides this possibility. In this study, the content of bioactive compounds in organic apples depending on temperature and storage time were determined. ‘Chopin’ apples were stored for 7, 14 and 21 days at 5 °C and 20 °C. All analyses were performed using the HPLC method. The control samples of fresh apples contained the highest content of vitamin C (21.87 mg/100 g FW), L-ascorbic (11.50 mg/100 g FW), DHA (10.37 mg/100 g FW), total carotenoids (2.82 mg/100 g FW), β-carotene (0.21 mg/100 g FW) and lutein (2.41 mg/100 g FW). Samples stored at 20 °C had the highest content of total carotenoids and lutein, but samples stored at 5 °C contained the most β-carotene and zeaxanthin. Apples stored at 20 °C contained significantly more chlorophyll a (0.05 g/100 g FW). The samples stored at 5 °C contained the most total polyphenols. Samples stored for 14 days were characterized by the highest content of total flavonoids. Samples stored for 21 days were characterized by the highest content of epigallocatechin and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, but the highest content of quercetin and kaempferol was found in control samples. The highest content of total flavonoids was found in apples stored at 5 °C.

Natural variations and geographical distributions of seed carotenoids and chlorophylls in 1 167 Chinese soybean accessions

Understanding the composition and contents of carotenoids in various soybean seed accessions is important for their nutritional assessment. This study investigated the variability in the concentrations of carotenoids and chlorophylls and revealed their associations with other nutritional quality traits in a genetically diverse set of Chinese soybean accessions comprised of cultivars and landraces. Genotype, planting year, accession type, seed cotyledon color, and ecoregion of origin significantly influenced the accumulation of carotenoids and chlorophylls. The mean total carotenoid content was in the range of 8.15–14.72 µg g–1 across the ecoregions. The total carotenoid content was 1.2-fold higher in the landraces than in the cultivars. Soybeans with green cotyledons had higher contents of carotenoids and chlorophylls than those with yellow cotyledons. Remarkably, lutein was the most abundant carotenoid in all the germplasms, ranging from 1.35–37.44 µg g–1. Carotenoids and chlorophylls showed significant correlations with other quality traits, which will help to set breeding strategies for enhancing soybean carotenoids without affecting the other components. Collectively, our results demonstrate that carotenoids are adequately accumulated in soybean seeds, however, they are strongly influenced by genetic factors, accession type, and germplasm origin. We identified novel germplasms with the highest total carotenoid contents across the various ecoregions of China that could serve as the genetic materials for soybean carotenoid breeding programs, and thereby as the raw materials for food sectors, pharmaceuticals, and the cosmetic industry.

Antibacterial Activity of Carotenoid Pigments Produced by Heterotrophic Bacteria from Seawater in Krakal Coastal Area, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Investigating natural pigments resulting from marine bacterial secondary metabolites is important because of their broad benefits in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and textile industries. In this study, 52 isolates of pigmented bacteria were isolated from seawater in the Krakal coastal area, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Seven bacterial isolates showed high pigment stability. Profiling of pigment extracts using a mixture of acetone and methanol with UV–Vis spectrophotometric reading showed that the compounds produced were carotenoids. The highest total carotenoid content with UV–Vis spectrophotometric reading at 480 nm was produced by the Kral-3 isolate (1800 mg/g), followed by Kral-15 (1698.9 mg/g) and Kral-25 (797.2 mg/g) isolates. Analysis of the antibacterial activity of the carotenoid extracts of Kral-3, Kral-15, and Kral-25 isolates using the agar well diffusion method revealed a very strong inhibition score against Escherichia coli. In addition, the carotenoid extract of the Kral-3 isolate showed a strong inhibition score against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas the Kral-15 and Kral-25 isolates showed moderate inhibition scores. Based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis, the Kral-3, Kral-15, and Kral-25 isolates were identified as Kocuria rhizophilla, Calidifontibacter sp., and Rhodococcus ruber, respectively. Based on the findings, the novel bacterial strains are a potential bioresource for the commercial production of natural carotenoids.

Monochromatic blue light enhances crocin and picrocrocin content by upregulating the expression of underlying biosynthetic pathway genes in saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Saffron quality is determined by the content of three apocarotenoids, including crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal, giving saffron culinary, industrial, and medical importance. The level of these secondary metabolites is also affected by environmental factors such as light, which play a pivotal role in regulating plants' signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the effects of different ratios of blue (B) to red (R) and white (W) light on physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of saffron in the flowering stage. Flowers' morphological properties were improved in plants grown under monochromatic B light. The highest content of total carotenoids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids was detected in plants grown under a high proportion of B light. The highest crocin content, especially the trans-crocetin ester isomer, was recorded in monochromatic B light-grown plants. However, the highest picrocrocin content was in both monochromatic R- and B light-grown plants. The highest safranal content was detected in plants grown under a high proportion of R light. Transcriptome analysis of secondary metabolism pathways showed that the transcript level of the genes was highly correlated with the content of the target metabolites. Monochromatic B light upregulated the expression of genes involved in crocin production (CsCCD2, CsALDH31l, and CsUGT2). However, the expression of CsUGT709G1, which is involved in picrocrocin and safranal pathways, was upregulated in plants grown under a high ratio of R light and W lights. In conclusion, monochromatic B light enhances the flowering rate, crocin (trans-crocetin ester), and picrocrocin content, which increases the quantity and quality of saffron products under controlled conditions.