Parsley Root Research Articles

Characterization of two partially purified xyloglucan endotransglycosylases from parsley (Petroselinum crispum) roots

AbstractTwo forms of xyloglucan endotransglycosylase differing in isoelectric points were isolated from the protein mixture obtained from parsley roots and partially characterized. Both forms were glycoproteins differing in their specific activities but other features were almost the same. Activity and stability of both enzymes in broad pH region were observed with two pH optima, one at acidic pH (5.8) and the second one at basic pH (8.8). The enzymes behaved as typical transglycosylases since no activity was observed in the absence of xyloglucan oligosaccharides in the viscometric assay. Small hetero-transglycosylating activities were observed when hydroxyethyl-or carboxymethyl-celluloses instead of xyloglucan as donor substrate were used as well as when cello-oligosaccharides instead of xyloglucan oligosaccharides were used as the acceptor substrate.

Repelência de substâncias naturais e sintéticas aos mamíferos silvestres consumidores de sementes de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze em semeadura no campo.

Este trabalho objetivou testar algumas substâncias naturais e sintéticas, não-fitotóxicas e não-letais aos animais silvestres consumidores de pinhões, em dois experimentos com semeadura direta no campo. No experimento I, os tratamentos repelentes foram aplicados diretamente nos pinhões e, no experimento, II foram aplicados somente na superfície das covas, logo após a semeadura de pinhões. Os pinhões e os tratamentos foram preparados em Laboratório do Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias (UDESC), Lages, SC. Os experimentos foram instalados numa área de campo nativo-antrópico, localizada em Lages, SC e adotou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados para ambos. O experimento I teve 15 tratamentos, dez pinhões por tratamento, com quatro repetições, e o experimento II teve 11 tratamentos, dez pinhões por tratamento, com quatro repetições. As substâncias testadas, isoladamente ou em misturas, sob forma de extratos, óleos e soluções, foram à base de fruto de pimenta vermelha, raiz de salsinha, parte aérea de losna, óleo essencial de eucalipto, óleo de linhaça, óleo de mamona, breu, oxicloreto de cobre, sulfato de cobre, enxofre, tinta látex pva e lignosulfonato de cálcio. Por meio de vistorias periódicas ao longo de 167 e 165 dias respectivamente para os experimentos I e II, os dados foram coletados e organizados quanto ao número de pinhões predados e não-predados, sendo posteriormente submetidos à analise estatística. Os índices de predação foram elevados para ambos os experimentos: 86,7% no experimento I e 84,3% no experimento II. No experimento com pinhões tratados, o período de tempo mais longo verificado para o início da predação foi de 104 dias após a semeadura e no experimento com tratamento no ambiente (covas), foi de 64 dias. Solução de breu e álcool + óleo de eucalipto, aplicados nos pinhões, apresentou potencial para redução do nível de predação. Os tratamentos com óleo de linhaça apresentaram comportamentos variáveis, igualmente aos tratamentos com tinta látex, no experimento com pinhões tratados. No experimento com tratamentos nas covas, o lignosulfonato de cálcio combinado individualmente com extratos de pimenta, raiz de salsinha e losna, apresentou efeito significativo de redução da predação. A solução de linhaça, com extratos de pimenta vermelha e com o extrato de raiz de salsinha, também teve efeito significativo para redução da predação de pinhões, no experimento com tratamento nas covas.

Tratamento de sementes de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze com substâncias potencialmente repelentes à fauna consumidora.

A semente de Araucaria angustifolia, o pinhão, é comumente utilizada como alimento e propágulo para regeneração da espécie. A intensa predação das sementes pela fauna silvestre, que ocorre em áreas recém-plantadas por semeadura direta e em viveiros florestais, é um dos fatores adversos e desestimulantes à propagação da espécie. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar possíveis efeitos fitotóxicos de algumas substâncias naturais e sintéticas potencialmente repelentes à fauna silvestre, em sementes de Araucaria angustifolia "in vitro". O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Fitopatologia e Fisiologia Vegetal do CAV / UDESC, no período de junho a dezembro de 2004. As sementes, após preparadas e tratadas com substâncias de origem vegetal e sintéticas, foram semeadas em bandejas plásticas com substrato constituído por vermiculita e colocadas em câmara de crescimento com temperatura, umidade relativa do ar, umidade do substrato e períodos de luz controlados. Foi adotado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, contendo 15 tratamentos, com 4 repetições de 10 pinhões. As substâncias testadas, isoladas ou em misturas, foram: extratos alcoólicos de fruto de pimenta vermelha, raiz de salsa tempero e, da parte aérea de losna, óleo essencial de eucalipto, óleo de linhaça, óleo de mamona, breu, oxicloreto de cobre, sulfato de cobre, enxofre e tinta látex PVA. Emissão de raiz, emissão da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz principal e da parte aérea foram avaliados 76 dias após a semeadura. As análises possibilitaram concluir que não houve efeitos fitotóxicos das substâncias testadas "in vitro" sobre as variáveis analisadas e que tais substâncias podem ser utilizadas nos experimentos de campo para testes de repelência aos animais consumidores de pinhões.

Effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A.W. Hill, Apiaceae) extracts on some biochemical parameters of oxidative stress in mice treated with CCl4

The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity of different extracts of leaves and root of parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A.W. Hill, Apiaceae) were studied. Free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) was evaluated measuring the scavenging activity on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and OH radicals. Also, the effects on lipid peroxidation (LP) were evaluated. The results obtained showed that all examined extracts act as good scavengers of DPPH and OH radicals and reduce the intensity of LP. The in vivo effects were evaluated on some antioxidant systems (activities of LPx, GSH-Px, Px, CAT and XOD, and GSH content) in the mice liver and blood after treatment with the examined parsley extracts, or in combination with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). On the basis of the results obtained it can be concluded that the examined extracts exhibited a certain protective effect. However, combined treatments with CCl(4) and the examined extracts showed both positive and negative synergism, inducing or suppressing the influence of CCl(4) alone.

Pectate Hydrolases of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) Roots

The presence of various enzyme forms with terminal action pattern on pectate was evaluated in a protein mixture obtained from parsley roots. Enzymes found in the soluble fraction of roots (juice) were purified to homogeneity according to SDS-PAGE, partially separated by preparative isoelectric focusing and characterized. Three forms with pH optima 3.6, 4.2 and 4.6 clearly preferred substrates with a lower degree of polymerization (oligogalacturonates) while the form with pH optimum 5.2 was a typical exopolygalacturonase [EC 3. 2.1.67] with relatively fast cleavage of polymeric substrate. The forms with pH optima 3.6, 4.2 and 5.2 were released from the pulp, too. The form from the pulp with pH optimum 4.6 preferred higher oligogalacturonates and was not described in plants previously. The production of individual forms in roots was compared with that produced by root cells cultivated on solid medium and in liquid one.

Modelling convection drying of blanched parsley root slices

The mathematical model describing the drying curve of single blanched parsley root slices (not touching each other) under conditions of natural convection was formulated on the basis of the general theory of heat and mass transfer laws. The course of the drying curve was described in two ways: (1) using the linear model of the first drying period (without shrinkage) with a model of the second drying period and (2) using the model of first drying period considered for shrinkage with the model of second drying period. Two models for shrinkage were analysed: linear and exponential. The second drying period was described by two models which approximated the shape of dried particles to an infinite plane and finite cylinder. Mathematical models of the first and second drying period were verified using the experimental data. The drying of 3 mm-thick parsley root slices was examined at an air temperatures of 60 °C. Before drying, the slices were blanched by the following methods: 3 min in boiling 5% brine solution, 3 min in boiling water, and 6 min in boiling water. The verification confirmed that the following mathematical models describe the drying curve with satisfactory accuracy: the linear model or models with shrinkage in the first drying period and the model of a finite cylinder in the second drying period. The values of relative error were not higher than 1% for linear model, 10% for models with shrinkage, 40% for models of the finite cylinder drying. The correlation between the data obtained from mathematical models and empirical data was high (the correlation coefficient varied from 0.97 to 0.99).

The Effect of the Method of Leaves Removing on Storage Ability of Hamburg Parsley

The Effect of the Method of Leaves Removing on Storage Ability of Hamburg Parsley In the experiment carried out in the seasons of 2002-2006 the effect of method of leaves removing on storage life of Hamburg parsley was examined. The leaves of parsley roots were removed by three methods: twisting off, complete cutting the leaves off and also leaving 2 cm sections of petioles. No effect of the method of leaves removing on the share of marketable roots (healthy and healthy with leaves) after the storage was found. However, the method of leaves removing influenced the share of healthy roots without leaves significantly. The highest share of such roots was found when the leaves were completely cut out (78.2%). The share of rotten roots was not influenced by the method of leaves removing. The method of leaves removing affected the weight loss. The highest weight loss were found after the storage of roots with 2 cm sections of petioles (5.5%).

Identification of Potent Odorants Formed during the Preparation of Extruded Potato Snacks

Extrusion cooking processing followed by air-drying has been applied to obtain low-fat potato snacks. Optimal parameters were developed for a dough recipe. Dough contained apart from potato granules 7% of canola oil, 1% of salt, 1% of baking powder, 5% of maltodextrin, and 15% of wheat flour. After the extrusion process, snacks were dried at 85 degrees C for 15 min followed by 130 degrees C for 45 min. The potent odorants of extruded potato snacks were identified using aroma extract dilution analysis and gas chromatography-olfactometry. Among the characteristic compounds, methional with boiled potato flavor, benzenemethanethiol with pepper-seed flavor, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline with popcorn flavor, benzacetaldehyde with strong flowery flavor, butanal with rancid flavor, and 2-acetylpyrazine with roasty flavor were considered to be the main contributors to the aroma of extruded potato snacks. Several compounds were concluded to be developed during extrusion cooking, such as ethanol, 3-methylbutanal, (Z)-1,5-octadien-3-one with geranium flavor, and unknown ones with the flavor of boiled potato, cumin, candy, or parsley root. Compounds such as methanethiol, 2,3-pentanedione, limonene, 2-acetylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-methyl-3,5-diethylpyrazine, 5-methyl-2,3-diethylpyrazine, and (E)-beta-damascenone were probably developed during air-drying of the potato extrudate.

Behaviour of the pathogen surrogates Listeria innocua and Clostridium sporogenes during production of parsley in fields fertilized with contaminated amendments

The survival and transfer of Listeria innocua and Clostridium sporogenes, used as surrogates of the food borne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium botulinum, were quantitatively assessed under field conditions. In the soil, spores of C. sporogenes declined by less than 0.7 log cycles within 16 months and were detected on parsley leaves throughout the experiment. In contrast, L. innocua in the soil declined by 7 log cycles in 90 days and was detected on leaves in low numbers (>0.04 MPN g −1) during the first 30 days. Rates of decline in soil were similar in the laboratory at 20 °C for two strains of L. innocua and L. monocytogenes ; and in the field for L. innocua over two different years. L. innocua survived better in winter, indicating an important influence of temperature. The major cause of transfer of L. innocua from soil to parsley leaves was splashing due to rain and irrigation. As few as 1 CFU g −1 Listeria in soil led to contamination of parsley leaves. Internalisation of Listeria through parsley roots was not observed. Under the conditions of soil and climate studied, a delay of 90 days between application of potentially contaminated fertilizer and harvest should be sufficient to eliminate L. monocytogenes.

Essential oil composition of the parsley seed of cultivars marketed in Poland

The chemical compositions of parsley seeds essential oils from 11 cultivars (three of leaf parsley and eight of root parsley) obtained from different commercial sources, marketed in Poland, were compared. The constituents of essential oils were investigated by GC, GC–MS and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Eighteen components (representing approximately 99.9% of the total oil composition) were identified in the cultivar ‘festival’. There were significant differences between quantities of the oil components. The content of phenylpropene derivatives in the seed essential oils permits convar. crispum (leaf parsley), main constituent myristicin, and convar. radicosum (root parsley), main constituent apiole, to be distinguished. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of selected characteristics of root parsley [Petroselinum crispum conv. radicosum (Alef.) Danert] cultivars

An assortment of 15 cultivars of root parsley was studied in field experiments to evaluate morphological characteristics, market yield, content of selected minerals and nitrate content. Storage ability of roots was also assessed. Mean root weight ranged from 87 g (cv. Bartowich Long) to 129 g (cv. Atika). Root head diameter was from 39 mm (cv. Lange) to 49 mm (cv. Halflange Omega and Hamburg). Mean root yield amounted to 1.35 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and the highest value was found in cv. Atika. Nitrate content did not exceed the tolerance limit ranging from 113 to 617 mg/kg of f.m. Mean content of K was 4,690 mg, Ca 124 mg, Mg 509 mg, and Na 425 mg/kg of f.m. Weight losses ranged from 10 to 32%; cv. Jadran showed the lowest value. Newer Czech cultivars (Atika, Jadran, Orbis) had a good commercial and growth potential.  

Influence of nitrogen fertilizing on occurrence of fungi infecting parsley seedling roots (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.)

The three years experiments based on parsley roots of cultivars: Omega, Berlińska and Vistula. Nitrogen fertilizer was used in different levels (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg/ha). Results of autumn analysis indicate that differentiated nitrogen fertilizing has no significant effect on health status of parsley roots. Spring examinations showed increase percentage of ill roots. Lower root infestation of each cultivar was in the combinations: 100 kg/ha and control without nitrogen fertilizations. Omega showed the best soundness. Experiments indicated that cultivar plays a more significant role than nitrogen fertilizing level. From ill parsley roots, the most often were isolated fungi: Alternaria radicina, Fusarium ave-naceum and F. oxysporum during spring; bacteria and fungi species: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani and Alternaria radicina.

Rehydration ratio of fluid bed-dried vegetables

Fluid-bed drying of vegetable pieces has been investigated. The vegetables used have been potatoes, parsley roots, celery roots and carrots of various dimensions. Starting water content was: potatoes 78%, parsley roots 85.1%, celery roots 93.6%, and carrots 88.6%. Temperatures of fluidisation have varied from 60‡ to 100‡C at velocities of 0.71 ms-1. The goal has been to obtain dry vegetables with 6% to 10% water content and of good rehydration quality. Experimental data (bed height, gas temperature and velocity, pressure drop over the bed, drying time) have been measured and relevant values have been calculated. The results have shown that drying of vegetables in a fluidized bed produces dry vegetable pieces of excellent quality in a much shorter time than in continuous belt-dryers which are generally used

025 Pea Leafminer, a New Pest of Leafy Vegetables in Ontario, Canada

A new pest of leafy vegetables was responsible for considerable reductions in marketable yield of several late-season crops in the Holland/Bradford Marsh area (44°5'N, 79°35'W) of Ontario in 1999. The pea leafminer, Lyriomyza huidobrensis, was present in high populations (25/sweep) in fields of celery, Asian crucifer crops, and spinach during the months of August and September. The high populations were associated with extensive leaf mining of celery, root parsley, and edible dandelion. On other crops, including spinach and flat-flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinenesis group var. utilis) damage consisted of stippling of the leaves, as a result of feeding and possibly oviposition, but no leaf mining. The stippling was extensive and rendered these crops unmarketable. An other Asian crucifer, Chinese broccoli (Brassica alboglabra) exhibited high numbers of stipples on the leaves, but very low numbers of mines. The leaves of red beets exhibited a low incidence of mines, not enough to affect yield. This is the first report of the pea leafminer affecting field vegetables in this area and causing crop losses. Pictures of the pest and symptoms of damage to the crops will be presented.

Some remarks on rehydration of dried foods

Inconsistencies in measuring procedures and calculations of rehydration indices for dried foods are shown in the paper. A new method to calculate rehydration ability is proposed, which is based on the capacity of dried material to absorb water and to hold solubles inside the matrix. Rehydration indices of dried potato, apple and root of parsley are expressed by methods described in the literature and the new method. Simplistic and straightforward interpretation of the new indices is shown. Analysis of variance shows which variables must be precisely measured in order to keep the variance of the new indices as small as possible.

The Effects of Umbel Order, Soaking, and Scarification on Germination Inhibiting Substances in Petroselinum crispum L. and Other Apiaceae Seeds

Seed from six species of the Apiaceae and six parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) cultivars with three seed lots of each parsley cultivar were tested for the presence of germination inhibiting substances. Aqueous leachate from seed of all six species inhibited germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Leachate from root parsley seeds (P. crispum tuberosum) were least inhibitory, while leachate from celery and celeriac (both Apium graveolens L.) seeds were most inhibitory. Inhibitory concentrations in leachate varied by seed lot within a cultivar. Aqueous leachate of seeds from the primary umbels caused less inhibition of germination than did leachate from tertiary umbels. Washing parsley seeds in aerated water for 3 hours or more removed some of the germination inhibitory substance as indicated by the germination bioassay. An aqueous extract prepared from seedcoat tissue, removed during mechanical scarification, inhibited radish seed germination; inhibition was proportional to the duration of scarification and the amount of seedcoat tissue extracted. Parsley seeds scarified ≤60 minutes germinated at rates comparable to washed seeds, but longer scarification time reduced germination. Washing seeds of Apiaceae prior to commercial drying and cleaning may be a practical solution for removal of inhibitors.

Induction of a membrane intrinsic protein-encoding mRNA in arbuscular mycorrhiza and elicitor-stimulated cell suspension cultures of parsley

Expression of a gene coding for a membrane intrinsic protein (MIP) has been detected during plant–fungal interactions in parsley. A full length cDNA sequence was obtained by RACE of an RT-PCR fragment amplified from parsley arbuscular mycorrhiza poly(A)+ RNA, using primers corresponding to conserved regions of plant MIPs. The deduced peptide, named PcRB7, showed high similarity to proteins of the MIP family, the greatest being to TobRB7 from tobacco. pcrb7 mRNA accumulated in parsley roots colonised by the symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatum and in suspension-cultured cells following treatment with an elicitor from the phytopathogenic fungus, Phytophthora sojae.

Stress relaxation phenomena in vegetable tissue

The stress relaxation in some compressed vegetable fleshes, i.e. potato and kohlrabi tubers, and carrot and parsley roots, has been investigated. The relaxation curves obtained with different prestrain parts (different stress level and different prestrain rate) are approximated in the second part by simple equations, i.e. logarithmic and power equations. The similarity of these equations is demonstrated using similarly defined parameters: the initial slope of the relaxation curve and the time factor. The influence of prestrain on the strain relaxation is shown by the probability density of the decay processes. The activation volume was determined by two different methods: analysis of relaxation curves or/and by push change of the deformation rate. The second method gives systematically higher values than the first one. The activation volume strongly decreases with increasing stress, but only small differences in activation volumes were observed for different vegetable fleshes. The activation volumes between 50 and 110 nm−3 are in a good agreement with the pore volume in the cell walls. The results obtained agree with the hypothesis of the controlling role of squeezing out of the cellular sap for stress relaxation in vegetable flesh.

3-Butyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-isobenzofuran-1-one, a sensorial active phthalide in parsley roots

The analysis of parsley root revealed the presence of a novel phthalide derivative with low odor threshold. The structure 3-butyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-isobenzofuran-1-one followed from interpretation of MS, GC-FTIR, and NMR spectroscopic data. It can be derived from sedanenolide. Due to its restricted stability, a high-speed countercurrent chromatography isolation and purification method, which allows separation from other phthalides, had to be elaborated

A Chemotaxonomic Evaluation ofPetroselinum crispum(Mill.) A. W. Hill (Parsley) Marketed in France

ABSTRACT Pentane extracts of the seeds (fruits) of 44 cultivars of parsley have been examined by gas chromatography. The curly-leaved parsley cultivars can be distinguished by their dark brown light mericarps which possess an essential oil rich in monoterpenes, particularly α-pinene (15.7–24.1%) and β-pinene (9.6–15.1%). In root parsley, only α-pinene (10.6%), β-pinene (7.1%), myristicin (2.5%) and apiole (79.8%) were found, while apiole (30.4–67.5%) is the principal constituent of Giant Italian parsley. Myristicin (0.7–62.3%) was present in all parsley specimens analyzed.