Phytochemical Quality Research Articles

Comparison of the antifungal activities of selected botanical extracts against the Carica papaya fruit rot pathogen (Cladosporium herbarum)

This study sought to utilize plant extracts to reduce rot in Carica papaya fruit caused by Cladosporium herbarum. Separate studies on the isolation and reemergence of the fungus were conducted. The phytochemical qualities of Anacardium occidentale, Prunus dulcis and Gmelina arborea leaf samples were assessed, and the potential antifungal properties of the extracts were investigated using disc diffusion test. The pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed, as was the presence of some phytochemicals in the extracts. Overall, the results are consistent; inhibition of hyphal extension was significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by interactions of various concentrations and experimental days. The inhibition was concentration-dependent, the highest zone of inhibition was observed at 150 mg mL−1 in all extracts. A. occidentale demonstrated the highest inhibition (87.5%), but 38.3% in G. arborea on the seventh day. Inhibitory activities of these botanicals enlist them as effective antifungal agents for the treatment of rot disease.

Mycorrhization of strawberry plantlets potentiates the synthesis of phytochemicals during ex vitro acclimatization

Ex vitro strawberry plantlets from micropropagation and coinoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar can provide beneficial health effects. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of different proportions of biochar in the presence and absence of AMF on the production of secondary metabolites in the leaves and roots of strawberry plantlets during ex vitro acclimatization. Additionally, the enzymatic activity of the substrate enriched with AMF and biochar was analyzed. The experiment consisted of the control (absence of the mycorrhizal community) and four biochar proportions (0, 3, 6, and 9% of the volume of the container) coinoculated with AMF. Plantlets produced on substrates enriched with AMF showed higher levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins in the tissues analyzed than control plantlets. The combination of AMF and 9% biochar increased the content of total flavonoids in the leaves of strawberry plantlets and increased the activity of phosphatase. The substrate with up to 6% biochar and mycorrhizae showed increased β-glucosidase activity. In conclusion, mycorrhizae are excellent tools to improve the phytochemical quality of strawberry plantlets acclimatized ex vitro. The association between host plants, mycorrhizal symbionts, and bioactivators of these fungi potentiates properties beneficial to health, which can be exploited efficiently in sustainable agriculture.

Physicochemical, Phytochemical and HPTLC Analysis of a Novel Combined Herbal Formulation

Background: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Darchini), Alpinia galanga (Khulanjan), and Withania somnifera (Asgand) have been used in joint diseases by Unani scholars since long. The combination of these ingredients may be more effective than they are given alone as these drugs are having potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and rejuvenating properties. As per the WHO guideline, standardization should be done before undertaking any experiment which claims safety and efficacy. Therefore, this study is aimed to establish the physicochemical and phytochemical quality standards for this novel combination of herbal formulation for future references. Methods: In present study, extractive values such as methanol extract, aqueous extract, chloroform extract and aqueous ethanol extract was obtained. Further, loss on drying, pH, ash values, fluorescence analysis, qualitative phytochemical analysis and HPTLC fingerprint profile were done. Results: Mean values of methanolic, water, chloroform, and aqueous ethanolic extracts were 10.4±0.77%, 13.0±1.3%, 2.3±0.26% and 15.28±1.18% respectively. Further, the total ash, acid insoluble ash, and water-soluble ash were 3.3±0.32%, 1.13±0.09%, and 1.72±0.2% respectively. pH of 1% extract was 5.57±0.16 and 5.37±0.32 for 10% extract. It was observed that the percentage of moisture content was 4.67±0.42%. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract contains carbohydrates, glycosides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, proteins and amino-acids, alkaloids, and saponins. Further, HPTLC fingerprint revealed the presence of many plant metabolites and active ingredients. Conclusion: The data generated in this study have been reported for the first time for this novel drug combination, which could be used as a source for future studies.

Nutritional and phytochemical compositions and their interrelationship in succulent pods of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.)

Malnutrition remains one of the major human health issues affecting millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Hence, the objective of this study was to quantify the nutritional and phytochemical compositions of immature pods of pigeonpea genotypes to select promising lines with unique nutritional quality for production and cultivar development. Seven preliminarily tested and identified pigeonpea genotypes were grown under field conditions using a randomized complete block design with three replicates to quantify the nutritional and phytochemical contents in the immature pods. Significant (P ≤ 0.01) genotype effect was detected for the assessed nutritional and phytochemical compositions. Relatively higher contents of iron (15.53 mg/100g), zinc (1.59 mg/100g), magnesium (114.60 mg/100g) and total flavonoid (8.47 mg CE/g) were present in genotype Ilonga_14m1 ICEAP-0054. Higher compositions of beta-carotene (2.84 mg/100g), total phenolics (20.42 mg GAE/g), and vitamin-C (95.84 mg/100g) were detected in genotypes, Mali ICEAP-00046, PigeonP-3018 and Kiboko ICEAP-00932, respectively. Cluster analysis allocated the tested genotypes into three main groups. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive correlations were recorded among the assessed nutritional and phytochemical compositions that will allow direct and indirect selection of the evaluated genotypes for nutritional and phytochemical quality improvement. The principal component analysis resolved four components that cumulatively explained 76.85% of the total genetic variation in nutritional and phytochemical compositions among the tested genotypes of pigeonpea. Genotype PigeonP-3021 exhibited high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin C, while Kiboko ICEAP-00932 and PigeonP-3018 had high contents of aluminium, iron, phosphorus and total phenolics. Genotype Ilonga_14m1 ICEAP-0054 had high compositions of zinc, potassium, magnesium, copper and calcium. Unique pigeonpea genotypes (i.e., PigeonP-3021, Kiboko ICEAP-00932, and PigeonP-3018) were identified for quality breeding or direct production with promising nutrient profiles for food and nutrition security.

Organic vs conventional plant-based foods: A review

Organic farming is characterized by the prohibition of the use of chemical synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, feed additives and genetically modified organisms and by the application of sustainable agricultural technologies based on ecological principles and natural rules. Organic products are believed to be more nutritious and safer foods compared to the conventional alternatives by consumers, with the consequent increase of demand and price of these foodstuffs. However, in academic circles there is much debate on these issues, since there is not a clear scientific evidence of the difference on the environmental impact and on the nutritional quality, safety and health effects between conventional and organic foods. Therefore, this work aims to describe and update the most relevant data on organic foods, by describing the impact of this practice on environment, producers, consumers and society, as well as by comparing the physicochemical, nutritional and phytochemical quality of conventional and organic plant foods.

Comparasion of different of Difference Extraction Methods, Types of Materials and Plant Parts of Indonesian Local Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) on Phytochemical Quality

Lemongrass is a wealth of Indonesian spices that have many functional benefits. The purpose of the study was to extract lemongrass essential oil and determine the difference of the type of material, extraction method, and plant parts on the phytochemical characteristics of the extract produced. Lemongrass is extracted in fresh and dried form. The selected extraction method is sonication and maceration with parts of stalks and leaves as the material. The plant material was extracted using 96% ethanol solvent. The phytochemical characteristics analyzed were antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols, and flavonoids. The results showed the highest antioxidant capacity and total phenol obtained from the fresh leaves extracted by maceration. Plant part and type of material significantly affect antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids in lemongrass. The antioxidant capacity of lemongrass is positively correlated with total polyphenols

ALPHA-MANGOSTIN QUALITY AND QUANTITY ANALYSIS IN NAKHON SI THAMMARAT MANGOSTEEN PERICARP USING THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY

TLC (thin-layer chromatography) is a standard technique for simultaneously screening and monitoring chemical character in a large number of samples. The goal of this study was to explore if alpha-mangostin (a common secondary metabolite) could be detected in mangosteen pericarp phytochemical fingerprints and how much of it could be represented using a standard calibration curve. The antioxidant activity has been touted as a primary active ingredient in many commercial goods, including cosmetics and food supplements. To test for the antioxidant reaction to the DPPH onto the TLC plate, mangosteen pericarps were obtained from 12 orchards that were grown without pesticides in Cha-Uat (CU), Lan Saka (LS), and Phrom Khiri (PK) districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The samples were dried and powdered before being extracted with methanol using the reflux technique. After that, the TLC was utilized to determine the phytochemical fingerprint. The quality of phytochemicals from the LS orchards was found to differ from CU and PK samples, with different bands of compounds at RF 0.2, 0.25, and 0.57. The average amount of alpha-mangostin in the 12 samples was not statistically different, according to a one-way analysis of variance with a p-value of 0.05. The average range of interest (ROI) intensity area of the antioxidant was investigated using a one-way analysis of variance with a p-value of 0.05 and repeated comparisons across the sample groups by Tukeys multiple comparison test. The average antioxidant reaction between the CU and PS group and the CU and PK group was significantly different.

Impact of chitosan nanoparticles edible coating on shelf‐life extension and postharvest quality of coriander herb

Recently, freshly aromatic herbs have a wide demand worldwide, and therefore preserving their shelf life has become an urgent matter. There are no research attempts on quality augmenting of coriander using chitosan (CS) or nano-chitosan (CSNPs) therefore; their impacts on keeping the quality of coriander herb were examined. CS or CSNPs extended the shelf life and reduced the weight loss compared to control more so with CSNPs since it resulted in 2.3-fold longer than uncoated herb. The imperfection of volatile oil, pigments, and protein contents detected in control was retarded by CS or CSNPs, particularly with CSNPs treatment. Contrariwise, coated herb registered lower ammonium (NH4) accumulation and CO2 production relative to the uncoated herb. The total phenolic and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were retained in the treated herb, which decreased the membrane permeability. CS or CSNPs coatings reduced both PPO and LOX activities that prevents the herb from turning brown and therefore preserving the fresh state of the herb. Collectively, using CSNPs coating has a pronounced potential in shelf life extension of coriander herb with high visual and phytochemical quality. CSNPs can be applied in the fresh herb industry as a novel preservative to keep the quality of fresh-cut aromatic herbs. Novelty impact statement Due to the wide demand worldwide on aromatic herbs including coriander, extending their shelf life has become an attractive matter particularly by CS and CSNPs as edible coatings. Herin, CS, and CSNPs considerably extended the shelf life and delay the weight loss of coriander herb with high visual and phytochemical quality. Therefore, CSNPs are suggested to be a novel preservative to keep the quality of fresh-cut aromatic herbs with the assurance that these compounds are safe and environmentally friendly and do not represent a threat to their contamination.

Pearl Grey Shading Net Boosts the Accumulation of Total Carotenoids and Phenolic Compounds That Accentuate the Antioxidant Activity of Processing Tomato.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide due to its low caloric intake and high fiber, minerals, and phenolic compounds, making it a high-quality functional food. However, fruit quality attributes can be affected by pre-harvest factors, especially environmental stresses. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of two shading nets (white net −30% and pearl grey net −40% shading degree) on the yield and phytochemical profile of tomato fruits grown in summer under the Mediterranean climate. Mineral and organic acid content (by ion chromatography-IC), phenolic profile (by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-UHPLC coupled with an Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry-HRMS), carotenoid content (by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection-HPLC-DAD), and antioxidant activities DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP (by UV-VIS spectrophotometry) were determined. Tomato fruits grown under the pearl grey net recorded the highest values of total phenolic compounds (14,997 µg 100 g−1 of fresh weight) and antioxidant activities DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, without affecting either fruit color or marketable yield. The reduction of solar radiation through pearl grey nets proved to be an excellent tool to increase the phytochemical quality of tomato fruits during summer cultivation in a Mediterranean environment.

Qualitative Analysis of Asparagus Racemosus Willd. (Shatavari) Root of Family Asparagaceae

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the quality of bioactive phytochemicals in Asparagus racemosus willd roots. Asparagus racemosus willd. is generally known as Shatavari in the Indian traditional system (Ayurveda). It is a well-known herb in Ayurveda. It is grown in Sri Lanka, Nepal, tropical areas of India and the Himalayas. Ayurveda medicine is a medical system that has its origins in the Indian subcontinent. Modernized and globalized practices derived from Ayurveda traditions are complementary or alternative medicine. Ayurveda therapies and practices have been integrated into medical use and general wellness applications in the Western world. Therefore, this paper aims to present an overview of pharmacognostical, traditional, phytochemical investigations on the roots of the plant Asparagus recemosus Willd. Keywords Asparagus racemosus, phytoconstituents, pharmacognostical, phytochemical

Convective and microwave drying of coriander leaves: Kinetics characteristics and modeling, phenolic contents, antioxidant activity, and principal component analysis

AbstractIn this study, coriander leaves were subjected to two different drying techniques: convective (40, 80, and 120°C) and microwave (100, 500, and 1,000 W). The effects of both processes on the kinetic parameters variation, modeling, and phytochemical quality were studied. Kinetic parameters variation showed that time reduction (2.53 min), high drying rate (3.08 kg water/kg dm min), and high diffusivity (1.21 × 10−10 m2/s) were obtained during microwave drying. For energy consumption, an opposite trend was observed between the variation in the specific electrical energy consumption (SECe), which is significant during convective drying (208.33 × 10+07 MJ/kg H2O), and the energy efficiency (EE), which is obtained during microwave one (12.16 × 10−03%). The kinetic data modeling done on 23 empirical models allowed us to choose the Sledz model as the best describing the drying kinetics of coriander since it presented better predictive performances with .9947 &lt; adjusted R2 &lt; .9995, 0.0001 &lt; χ2 &lt; 0.0005, and 0.0070 &lt; RMSE&lt;0.0228 values. In relation to the bioactive compounds, the highest values of the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities (ABTs and DPPH) were observed during microwave drying with 0.37 mg GAE/mL, 83.33, and 71.94%, respectively. Correlations between kinetic parameters, energy consumption as well as phytochemical quality were established using principal component analysis (PCA). As a result, the innovative microwave process proved to be the best method for drying coriander leaves.Practical applicationsThe evolution of technological conservation processes has led to the development of a wide range of modern drying processes. The success of these processes can be explained by the many advantages attributed to them: shorter drying times, high drying rate, high energy efficiency, and product quality. The most difficult is the appropriate choice of a drying method with highly energy efficient and consumes less energy while maintaining the best quality. Fresh coriander leaves are widely used to flavor foods. However, they are highly perishable and require immediate processing or preservation. Thus, the objective of this study is to compare two drying processes, convective and microwave drying of coriander leaves based on kinetic data, modeling, calculation of moisture diffusivity and energy consumption, as well as evaluation of the dried powders quality. The results obtained will be useful for the technological design of convective or microwave drying for coriander leaves preservation.

Shading of Medical Plants Affects the Phytochemical Quality of Herbal Extracts

The manipulation of light intensity by shade nets can lead to exchanges in the phytochemical quality and antioxidants ofsome herbs. This study aimed to determine whether shading by pearl nets (50% shade index) could improve the bioactive compounds in several medicinal herbs such as thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), marjoram (Origanum majorana L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), and peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), and their correspondingherbal extracts during a four-week maceration process in ethanol. Oregano and thyme provided the highest yield of total extractive substances (TES) from both shaded and non-shaded plants. Among all studied herbs, the highest level of antioxidants, expressed as total phenolic content (TPC) was found in extracts from shaded plants of lemon balm. Herbal extracts produced from non-shaded thyme and marjoram had higher flavonoid contents compared to herbal extracts from shaded plants. Accumulation of the investigated secondary metabolites depends more on the specificity of a plant species rather than light intensity. This study was an initial step in the production of medicinal plants with an increased quantity of antioxidant and other bioactive compounds during the maceration process in extracts, aimed to be used as natural alcoholic productwith added value.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Fruits: Chromatographic Analysis of Seasonal and Geographical Variation in Bioactive Compounds

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) fruits are promising sources of bioactive components with high potential in biomedical applications. Selection in plant breeding, determination of perspective wild clones with optimal growing conditions, and appropriate harvesting time leading to standardized extracts are key factors for achieving phytochemical quality to meet consumer’s needs. In the present study, lingonberry fruits collected along different phenological stages and from different geographical locations were analyzed for the composition of 56 constituents using validated chromatographic techniques. Early stages of lingonberries vegetation were determined as the best stages for obtaining high levels of most phenolics and triterpenoids, while the end of berry vegetation could be chosen as the optimal harvesting time in terms of anthocyanins. Furthermore, intensified continuous biosynthesis of triterpenoids and phenolic acids precursors after vegetation season in the winter sample was observed. Chemodiversity of lingonberries was affected by geographical factors as well as climatic and edaphic conditions, indicating different favorable growing conditions for the accumulation of particular compounds. Present findings could serve for breeders to obtain the highest yields of desirable lingonberry constituents, relevant in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Pharmacognostical Study, Phytochemical and Physicochemical Evaluation and Establishment of Quality Standards for Certain Traditional Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants

Aim: The present work was aimed at evolving pharmacognostical and phytochemical quality standards for certain traditional herbs like Phyllanthus amarus, Glycerrhiza glabra and Piper nigrum. These three plants are reported to possess antidiabetic activity.&#x0D; Study Design: The plants were collected, authenticated and Macro-morphological, qualitative and quantitative microscopic features as well as physicochemical, fluorescence analysis, phytochemical properties, and thin layer chromatography (TLC)&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at College of Pharmacy, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam University, Indore, during 2019-20&#x0D; Methodology: The material were collected, authenticated and Macro-morphological, qualitative and quantitative microscopic features as well as physicochemical, fluorescence analysis, phytochemical properties, and thin layer chromatography (TLC) profile of Phyllanthus amarus, Glycerrhiza glabra and Piper nigrum were determined using standard methods.&#x0D; Results: The macroscopical and microscopical studies revealed useful diagnostic features. Phytochemical screening reveals the presence of secondary metabolites, physicochemical including fluorescence analysis of powdered drug proved useful to differentiate the powdered drug material. Thin layer chromatography analysis showed the presence of important phytoconstituents such Phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, glycerrizin and piperine&#x0D; Conclusion: The data generated from this study would serve as useful gauge for determining the quality of Phyllanthus amarus, Glycerrhiza glabra and Piper nigrum thereby correct identification and authentification of these plants.&#x0D; It would also help scientists to utilize such needful information regarding the plants identity and characteristics in building new polyherbal formulations.

Nitrogen levels, plant density and postharvest storage duration affect phytochemical and antioxidant properties of field-grown basil and rocket crops

ABSTRACT Growers usually apply elevated nitrogen levels when plants are established at high densities to obtain improved yields. It is not known how this practice affects phytochemical and antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC]) during postharvest storage, which are important quality aspects of these crops for human health. This study investigated effects of N application (60, 90, 120, 150, or 180 kg.ha−1), plant density (40,000; 62,500 and 93,750 plants.ha−1 for basil; 40,000; 80,000 and 133,333 plants.ha−1 for rocket), and postharvest storage duration (0, 5, 10 or 15 days) on phytochemical and antioxidant properties of basil and rocket. After harvest, leaves were packaged in biaxially oriented polypropylene (anti-mist) bags and kept at 12°C and 85% relative humidity in a cold temperature room. Nitrogen application of 120 kg.ha−1 at day 0 of storage, caused the highest accumulation of total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), strong free radical scavenging activity, and % antioxidant with limited effect due to plant density on basil. In rocket, application of 60 to 120 kg.ha−1 N at day 0 of storage had high TPC; FC was high at 90 to 180 kg.ha−1 N and 10 days of storage. Rocket had strong scavenging activity, as a result of 120 to 180 kg.ha−1 N, at 15 days of storage, and for 60 and 90 kg.ha−1 N at 0 and 10 days of storage. Postharvest quality of basil was affected by storage time and N application; TPC, FC, and free radical scavenging activity (FRS) were reduced as storage time lengthened. Rocket had improved postharvest quality at 10 days of storage. Spacing had limited effect on all parameters in basil and rocket. The most economic treatment in basil was 60 kg.ha−1 N for TPC, FC, FRS, and antioxidant activity; in rocket, it was 120 kg.ha−1 with longer shelf-life of 10 days of storage with regard to antioxidant activity. Optimization of agronomic practises for improved production should consider phytochemical quality assurance to ensure crop health benefits to consumers are not compromised.

Variation for caffeic acid and phenolic content in different plant parts of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. and Wendl. \u2013 a commercially important dashmool species

BackgroundEnvironmental factors have profound effect on quantity vis-a-vis quality of phytochemicals in medicinal plants. Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. and Wendl. is among the 10 dashmool species which is utilized in more than hundreds of Ayurvedic preparations including ‘Dashmoolarishta’. Phenolics are the pharmacologically valuable compounds. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the total phenolic (TP) and Caffeic acid (CA) contents in four different plant parts i.e., leaves, fruits, stem and roots of S. xanthocarpum sampled randomly from different locations of Madhya Pradesh, a central Indian state.MethodsPlant samples were collected from 99 places of 29 districts falling in 11 agroclimatic regions of Madhya Pradesh through random sampling. UV-VIS spectrophotometer and HPTLC were used to determine TP and CA contents, respectively. Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods.ResultsPreliminary phytochemical screening indicates the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, steroids and terpenoids in all plant parts. Quantification of TP and CA contents revealed that both varied significantly between agroclimatic zones as well as within plant parts of S. xanthocarpum. Results revealed that among analysed plant parts, roots and stem harbored highest content of CA while fruits and leaves had the highest TP content. Among agroclimatic regions, accessions of Satpura plateau can be considered rich in CA and TP contents for fruits (0.030%; 28.70 mg CE/g), leaves (0.058%; 27.90 mg CE/g) and roots (0.161%; 5.17 mg CE/g). For stem, highest CA (0.100%) and TP (13.23 mg CE/g) contents were observed in samples of Malwa Plateau and Central Narmada Valley, respectively.ConclusionWe conclude that agroclimatic regions have significant effect on studied phytochemicals and Satpura plateau agroclimatic zone may be targeted for conservation and sustainable utilization of this valuable dashmool species if the target plant parts are fruits, leaves and roots. While, Malwa Plateau and Central Narmada Valley zones may be targeted for stem. Further, fruits and roots may be utilized for extraction of TP compounds and CA respectively.

Are Copper Nanoparticles Toxic to All Plants? A Case Study on Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Sandy soils with high alkalinity are characterized by low copper (Cu) contents that lead to many deficiency symptoms in plants. Cu deficiency in plants can be corrected using several cheap Cu sources. Nevertheless, the effects that novel sources, such as Cu nanoparticles (NPs), have on plants remain poorly studied. In the present work, we investigated the effect and efficiency of Cu supplementation to onion (Allium cepa L.) plants using Cu sulfate, chelate, or NPs, and compared their effects on bulb quality, yield, and contents of phytochemicals. Two successive seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) of field experiments were conducted in newly reclaimed sandy soils, where plants were sprayed with either 10 ppm CuO NPs, 20 ppm CuSO4·5H2O, or 20 ppm of Cu chelates. Overall, Cu deficiency (control) resulted in a significant decrease in yield and all quality traits of onion plants. CuO NPs treatment significantly enhanced growth parameters, including plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight, yield, and bulb quality, compared with Cu sulfate and chelates. This was also the case regarding chemical constituents such as macro- and micro-nutrients, total soluble solids, phytochemical compounds, vitamins, and amino acids. Although Cu sulfate is the cheapest form used for Cu supplementation, results of the present study suggest that CuO NPs was not only safe to use, but also was the treatment that led to the highest onion yield and quality.

Effect of drying temperature on yield and phytochemical quality of essential oil extracted from Schinus terebinthifolius

Among the post-harvest stages processing of medicinal and aromatic plants, drying stands out as a critical and essential step for the bioactive compounds conservation. Schinus terebinthifolius is a very important species due to its medicinal properties and food industry uses. This work aimed to evaluate the drying temperature effect on S. terebinthifolius essential oil yield and phytochemical quality. The ripe fruits were harvested and dried in a forced air oven. The essential oils were extracted in Clevenger apparatus. Chemical constituents were identified by gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrophotometer. There was no significant variation in the essential oils yield and phytochemical quality independent of drying temperature. Considering that the drying temperatures did not influence the yield and the phytochemical quality of the essential oil, these results may contribute to the optimization of the post-harvest drying process of S. terebinthifolius fruits.

Effect of the use of Bacillus spp. on the characteristics of dissolved fluorescent organic matter and the phytochemical quality of Stevia rebaudiana grown in a recirculating aquaponic system.

The effect of the incorporation of mineralizing Bacillus spp. on the characteristics of fluorescent organic matter (FDOM) in a recirculating aquaculture system (Nile tilapia-Stevia rebaudiana) was evaluated. EEM-PARAFAC analysis was used to determine the composition of the dissolved organic matter and to study its relationship with nitrogen transformation. The composition and antioxidant activity of Stevia leaves were used as indicators of the benefits of bacterial supplementation on nutrient absorption. Two systems were used, each consisting of a circular fish tank (1.7 m3) and six units of the nutrient film (0.18 m3). One system was supplemented with bacteria (BS), while the other was used as control (NBS). The inclusion of Bacillus spp. facilitated mineralization and the availability of total phosphorus (TP), K+, and nitrogen, and also controlled the total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) for 56 days without water exchange. FDOM was modeled by four components (3-humic-like, 1-protein-like), which were good indicators of the process of mineralization. The fluorescence intensity in the biofilter was significantly correlated with TP, K+, temperature, and the absorption coefficient a254. The fluorescence index (FI) was a good indicator of the process of nitrification. Plants from BS required 46.4% less NO3- and 47.8% less K+ compared to the control, and absorbed 45.1% more TP. BS-Stevia leaves produced 38.6% more reducing sugars, 28.6% more flavonoids, and 35.9% more glycosylated flavonoids than the control. The fish in the BS system reached a higher final weight than NBS, resulting in a 1 kg/m3 higher gross yield. Even so, it will be necessary to reduce the pH of the water to increase the antioxidant scavenging capacity of the plants.

Morpho-horticultural performance of strawberry cultivated on substrate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar

The interactive effect of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) during the strawberry production cycle is poorly understood. Thus, we investigated whether the association between AMF and biochar changes the morpho-horticultural performance of strawberry cultivated on substrate during its production cycle. We studied two biochar proportions (0% and 9% of the container volume) and four AMF inoculants (without inoculation, Cetraspora pellucida, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and mycorrhizal community), totaling eight treatments, in a bifactorial scheme. The research was carried out in random blocks, with four replications. The use of AMF improved the phytometric morphology of the plants and enhanced the phytochemical quality of the fruits. C. pellucida stood out for benefiting the aerial part and root biomass of plants. The use of biochar in strawberry cultivation improved mycorrhizal colonization and root biomass. Plants grown with 9% of biochar and inoculated with C. etunicatum showed more profuse root system. In conclusion, the addition of AMF and biochar to the cultivation substrate benefits the performance of the plants, with emphasis on the root system and the phytochemical quality of strawberries.