White Apricot Research Articles

Effects of Different Drying Methods on Drying Characteristics and Quality of Small White Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

This study examined the effects of hot air drying (HAD), infrared radiation drying (IRD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD), freeze drying (FD), and freeze drying combined with microwave vacuum drying (FD-MVD) on the drying kinetics, color, rehydration ratio, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content of small white apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.). Results showed drying times of 12.5 h (IRD), 14.1 h (FD), 16 h (HAD), 0.53 h (MVD), and 6.15 h (FD-MVD). FD-MVD significantly outperformed MVD, HAD, and IRD in color, vitamin C, titratable acidity, and rehydration, though was slightly inferior to FD. Microstructural analysis revealed that FD-MVD preserved the most uniform pore structure, better maintaining apricots’ original appearance. In contrast, IRD and HAD caused severe surface shriveling, compromising quality. In conclusion, FD-MVD emerges as a promising drying method to enhance apricot quality and market competitiveness in food processing.

15-cis-Phytoene Desaturase and 15-cis-Phytoene Synthase Can Catalyze the Synthesis of β-Carotene and Influence the Color of Apricot Pulp.

Fruit color affects its commercial value. β-carotene is the pigment that provides color for many fruits and vegetables. However, the molecular mechanism of β-carotene metabolism during apricot ripening is largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether β-carotene content affects apricot fruit color. First, the differences in β-carotene content between orange apricot 'JTY' and white apricot 'X15' during nine developmental stages (S1-S9) were compared. β-carotene contents highly significantly differed between 'JTY' and 'X15' from S5 (color transition stage) onwards. Whole-transcriptome analysis showed that the β-carotene synthesis genes 15-cis-phytoene desaturase (PaPDS) and 15-cis-phytoene synthase (PaPSY) significantly differed between the two cultivars during the color transition stage. There was a 5 bp deletion in exon 11 of PaPDS in 'X15', which led to early termination of amino acid translation. Gene overexpression and virus-induced silencing analysis showed that truncated PaPDS disrupted the β-carotene biosynthesis pathway in apricot pulp, resulting in decreased β-carotene content and a white phenotype. Furthermore, virus-induced silencing analysis showed that PaPSY was also a key gene in β-carotene biosynthesis. These findings provide new insights into the molecular regulation of apricot carotenoids and provide a theoretical reference for breeding new cultivars of apricot.

Investigation of dynamic changes in quality of small white apricot wine during fermentation

Dynamic quality changes of small white apricot wine during fermentation were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique combined with multivariate statistical analysis methods. During the fermentation process, the sugar content decreased rapidly, while the alcohol gradually accumulated, reaching 11.4 %vol. The phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity were reduced after fermentation, but still stayed at a high value. Flavor compounds of small white apricot wine are constantly changing as the fermentation progresses. After fermentation, small white apricot wine produced 3-methyl-1-butanol, isoamyl acetate, ethyl caprylate, ethyl caprate, ethyl benzoate, linalool and eugenol, which gave rich banana, lemon, pineapple, citrus and other flavors. Small white apricot wine has a soft taste, golden color and mellow body, with a typical fruit wine flavor. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further processing and flavor improvement of small white apricot.

Flavor and Functional Analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum Fermented Apricot Juice

The small white apricot is a juicy, delicious fruit with a short shelf life. Slight fermentation can significantly promote the flavors and nutrient value of apricot juice. This study used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) to examine the physicochemical properties, nutritive value and flavor substances of apricot juice fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum LP56. Fermentation significantly increased lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their product lactic acid, adding probiotic benefits to fermented apricot juice. In addition, the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity increased, while the levels of soluble solids and organic acids decreased. Gallic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid and rutin mainly contributed to the antioxidant activity of fermented apricot juice. Alcohols, aldehyde, acid, ester, etc., were the main volatile compounds. Among the flavors, 12 substances with high odor activity values (OAV > 1) were the key aroma-producing compounds with fruit, pine and citrus flavors. In conclusion, this study shows that L. plantarum LP56 fermentation can improve the nutritional value and aroma characteristics of apricot juice.

Comparative Study on Polarization Spectral Parameters of Fruit in Southern Xinjiang Based on Roujean Model

Based on the study of phase angle and wavelength in pBRDF (Polarized bidirectional reflectance distribution function), roujean model was proposed to describe Orient (Polarization phase angle) quantitatively. The Roujean model was used to quantitatively describe different fruits intensity components (F00) and polarization phase angle (Orient), and the simulation results were analyzed and compared using statistical analysis and comparison methods to realize the prediction from the regular model to the outdoor fruit tree canopy to the canopy of outdoor fruit tree canopy random distribution. The experimental results showed that: 1) when the phase angle of jujube was 52.19°, 66.51° and 88.26°, the R2 and average errors of F00 parameters described by Roujean model are 0.9982, 0.9963, 0.9912 and 3.80%, 4.17%, 6.40%, respectively; and the R2 and average error of Orient parameters described by Roujean model are 0.9056, 0.9223, 0.9260 and 6.23%, 3.32%, 8.05%, respectively; It can be seen that roujean model can quantitatively describe the Orient parameter of jujube; 2) When the phase angle of apricot was 70.99°, 71.28° and 67.91°, the R2 and average errors of F00 parameters described by Roujean model is 0.9862, 0.9823, 0.9792 and 3.40%, 4.82%, 5.19%, respectively; And the R2 and average error of Orient parameters described by Roujean model are 0.9382, 0.8947, 0.8849 and 7.19%, 9.28%, 9.47%, respectively. Roujean model can also quantitatively describe the Orient parameter of white apricot. In summary, the Roujean model can provide a good quantitative description of f00 and a good quantitative description of Orient, which in turn can predict the pBRDF parameter for more fruits with different incidence and detection directions. It can correct the influence of angle factor in the nondestructive testing of outdoor fruits.

Cover Caption

December Online Cover: Correlations between antioxidant capacities and phenolic compounds, composition of volatile compounds, and photos of small white apricot varieties, from “Investigation of sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and the aroma fingerprint of small white apricots grown in Xinjiang”, by Congyan Su, Xiaochun Zheng, Dandan Zhang, Yu Chen, Jing Xiao, Yi He, Jingren He, Bin Wang, and Xuewei Shi. p. 4300.

Investigation of sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and the aroma fingerprint of small white apricots grown in Xinjiang.

Small white apricot is well known as a famous fresh fruit and even a folk medicine in Xinjiang. To investigate nutritive value, antioxidant activity, and flavor of small white apricot, sugars, organic acids, total flavonoids, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activities, and volatile compounds in five apricot cultivars were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that sucrose (32.94% to 42.49%), malic acid (69.21% to 76.75%), and quercetin-3-rutinoside (72.84% to 74.05%) were the dominant sugar, organic acid, and phenolic compounds in small white apricot, respectively. The antioxidant activity reached up to 61.72 to 135.52mg TEs 100 g-1 . Furthermore, the aroma fingerprint of the small white apricot consisted of 1-octen-3-ol, 1-dodecanol, pentanal, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-heptenal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, (E)-2-nonenal, 1-octen-3-one, β-myrcene, and linalool, providing clear green, grassy, and fatty notes. Apricots from different cultivars possessed a similar flavor, while linalool and (E)-2-hexenal had been identified as the characteristic aroma compounds in small white apricot. The results provide a complete chemical characterization of the taste, functional ingredients and aroma of the small white apricot. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The nutritive value, antioxidant activity and flavor of small white apricot were investigated in this study. The results will provide a theoretical basis for developing characteristic variety aroma, nutritive value, and medicinal value of small white apricot.

Development of a fatty acid fingerprint of white apricot almond oil by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A new chromatographic fingerprinting method was established for quality control of white apricot almond (WAA) oil. Fifteen WAA oil samples from different batches were analyzed by GC–MS, among which 13 were selected to establish a fatty acid fingerprint of WAA oil according to the results of clustering analysis (CA). Spectral correlative chromatogram was adopted to identify common fatty acid and 18 “common fatty acids” were obtained in 13 WAA oil samples, accounting for 97.3% of the total content. The method of fingerprint analysis was then validated based on the relative retention time and relative peak area of the common peaks, sample stability, and similarity analysis. The similarities of the 13 WAA oil samples were more than 0.98, indicating that the samples from different batches were consistent to some extent. The developed chromatographic fingerprint was successfully used to differentiate WAA oil from frauds and other kinds of oil by similarity comparison, principal‐component analysis (PCA), and partial least square regression (PLSR). The fatty acid fingerprint of WAA oil established by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCDE) coupled with GC–MS proved to be suitable for identifying and differentiating samples and can be used for quality control.

Composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of white apricot almond (Amygdalus communis L.) oil

AbstractIn order to improve the level of comprehensive utilization and to promote the development of functional products, the chemical composition of white apricot almond oil was analyzed by capillary GC‐MS and interpreted based on the standard mass spectral data, and biological activities were evaluated. Seven components of white apricot almond oil were identified. The scavenging capacity of white apricot almond oil in the superoxide anion radical system and hydroxyl radical system had a good performance. The IC50 of white apricot almond oil to superoxide anion radical system and hydroxyl radical were 5.8 µg/mL and 0.17 mg/mL, respectively, and were stronger than that of ascorbic acid. In DPPH system, the IC50 value of white apricot almond oil was 0.2 mg/mL and the IC50 value of ascorbic acid was 0.07 mg/mL, but within the selected dosage, the highest scavenging capacity of white apricot almond oil was higher than that of ascorbic acid. White apricot almond oil was found to be a more effective antimicrobial agent than grape seed oil, fuji apple seed oil and mulberry seed oil. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of white apricot almond oil ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 mg/mL. The observed biological activities showed that the oil has a good potential for use in the food industry and pharmacy.

Role of multiple trans-acting regulators in modifying the effect of the retrotransposon copia on host gene expression in Drosophila.

We have examined the combinatorial effect of five trans-acting modifiers of white apricot, a copia retrotransposon-induced allele of the white eye-color gene. Quantitation of steady-state levels of copia transcripts for various modifier combinations at different developmental stages using northern analysis reveals nonadditivity and epistasis. Interestingly, extensive overexpression of copia transcripts caused by the modifier Ufo is altered up to twofold in level when Ufo is combined with either of the modifiers Mow or Wow. In general, double combinations do not elevate the level of copia transcripts more than twofold. The role of suppressor mutations in modifying the effect of transposable elements on host gene expression is discussed.

Sip1, a novel RS domain-containing protein essential for pre-mRNA splicing.

Previous studies have shown that protein-protein interactions among splicing factors may play an important role in pre-mRNA splicing. We report here identification and functional characterization of a new splicing factor, Sip1 (SC35-interacting protein 1). Sip1 was initially identified by virtue of its interaction with SC35, a splicing factor of the SR family. Sip1 interacts with not only several SR proteins but also with U1-70K and U2AF65, proteins associated with 5' and 3' splice sites, respectively. The predicted Sip1 sequence contains an arginine-serine-rich (RS) domain but does not have any known RNA-binding motifs, indicating that it is not a member of the SR family. Sip1 also contains a region with weak sequence similarity to the Drosophila splicing regulator suppressor of white apricot (SWAP). An essential role for Sip1 in pre-mRNA splicing was suggested by the observation that anti-Sip1 antibodies depleted splicing activity from HeLa nuclear extract. Purified recombinant Sip1 protein, but not other RS domain-containing proteins such as SC35, ASF/SF2, and U2AF65, restored the splicing activity of the Sip1-immunodepleted extract. Addition of U2AF65 protein further enhanced the splicing reconstitution by the Sip1 protein. Deficiency in the formation of both A and B splicing complexes in the Sip1-depleted nuclear extract indicates an important role of Sip1 in spliceosome assembly. Together, these results demonstrate that Sip1 is a novel RS domain-containing protein required for pre-mRNA splicing and that the functional role of Sip1 in splicing is distinct from those of known RS domain-containing splicing factors.

The suppressor of forked locus in Drosophila melanogaster: genetic and molecular analyses.

The suppressor of forked, su(f) locus is one of a class of loci in Drosophila whose mutant alleles are trans-acting allele-specific modifiers of transposable element-insertion mutations at other loci. Mutations of su(f) suppress gypsy insert alleles of forked and enhance the copia insert allele white apricot. Our investigations of su(f) include genetic and molecular analyses of 19 alleles to determine the numbers and types of genetic functions present at the locus. Our results suggest the su(f) locus contains multiple genetic functions. There are two distinct modifier functions and two vital functions. One modifier function is specific for enhancement and the other for suppression. One vital function is required for normal ecdysterone production in the third larval instar, the other is not. We present a restriction map of the su(f) genomic region and the results of an RFLP analysis of several su(f) alleles.

Interactions among modifiers of retrotransposon-induced alleles of thewhitelocus ofDrosophila melanogaster

Mutations in five loci that modify the phenotype of whiteapricot (wa), caused by the retrotransposon, copia, were examined in two-way combinations to determine whether their effects were additive or epistatic. All two-way combinations of mutations in these five loci, mottler of white (mw), suppressor of forked (su(f], suppressor of white apricot (su(wa], Enhancer of whiteapricot, (E(wa] and Darkener of apricot (Doa), are additive in their effects on wa, implying that each second-site modifier locus affects a different process. Three other copia-induced mutations, HwUa, whd81b25 and ctns were also examined for responsiveness to mutations in these modifier loci. None clearly responded. Mutations associated with B104 insertions, including Gl, vgni, ctn and wric were also examined for responsiveness to mw mutations, which have specificity for this element as well. Both vgni and wric respond to mutations in mw. The former interaction demonstrates that mw is capable of interacting with B104 elements in loci other than white. The significance of the results with respect to the nature of second-site modifier loci is discussed.

The use of genetic markers in the analysis of competitive interactions in Drosophila melanogaster.

A range of long established inbred lines derived from the TEXAS population of Drosophila melanogaster have been used to elucidate the nature of the competitive interactions which occur in genetically heterogeneous mixtures. A prerequisite for this type of investigation is the ability to distinguish the genotypes which compete in mixed culture. Specific marker alleles are generally used to achieve this distinction although in the past little attention has been given to the possibility of competitive bias introduced by the marker alleles themselves. For the experiments reported in this paper two specific marker alleles (y2 and wa) have been introduced independently into the TEXAS inbred lines. In this way the original wild type inbred lines could be compared with similar series of genotypes marked with either y2 or wa and the effects of the marker alleles determined. The results indicated that the body colour mutation (y2) was neutral in its effect on the competitive interaction of recipient strains. The introduction of the white apricot eye colour mutation (wa) however, had a pronounced and deleterious effect on competitive ability. This effect was to render genotypes less able to compete effectively in mixed culture by depressing inter-genotypic competitive ability. These effects were found to be consistent over a range of genotypes and for each of two characters measuring competitive success.

A transposon as a cytogenetic marker in Drosophila melanogaster

We have analyzed the behavior of a transposing element (TE) in Drosophila melanogaster. The TE carries the structural genes white (wa or waR = white apricot reversed) and roughest (rst+), which corresponds to the bands 3C2-6 and a genetic distance of approximately 0.7 map units. Due to the large size, TE can often be visualized in the polytene chromosomes as extra bands at the site of the transposon. We have identified over 100 different transpositions, most of which are situated in the large autosomes; genetic and cytological information is presented for 41 of these positions. Excision of TE may occur once in 1,000 chromosomes, while insertion in a new position is more rare, about once in 10,000 animals or less. The structure of TE itself is variable: regions within it may be lost, genes located adjacent to the site of insertion may transpose with the TE ("hitch-hiking" genes) or the TE may be duplicated. Possible mechanisms for transposition of the TE and its relation to "dispersed gene families" are discussed. Paro et al. (1983) have studied the end segments of the TE and isolated so-called FB elements (FB-NOF), which are responsible for its ability to transpose. A careful analysis of the many insertion points for TE will result in a more accurate correlation between the genetical and cytological maps for the two large autosomes of Drosophila melanogaster.