Expression analysis of β-carotene hydroxylase1 and opaque2 genes governing accumulation of provitamin-A, lysine and tryptophan during kernel development in biofortified sweet corn

Humans need vitamin A and obtain essential vitamin A by conversion of plant foods rich in provitamin A and/or absorption of preformed vitamin A from foods of animal origin. The determination of the vitamin A value of plant foods rich in provitamin A is important but has challenges. The aim of this paper is to review the progress over last 80 years following the discovery on the conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A and the various techniques including stable isotope technologies that have been developed to determine vitamin A values of plant provitamin A (mainly β-carotene). These include applications from using radioactive β-carotene and vitamin A, depletion-repletion with vitamin A and β-carotene, and measuring postprandial chylomicron fractions after feeding a β-carotene rich diet, to using stable isotopes as tracers to follow the absorption and conversion of plant food provitamin A carotenoids (mainly β-carotene) in humans. These approaches have greatly promoted our understanding of the absorption and conversion of β-carotene to vitamin A. Stable isotope labeled plant foods are useful for determining the overall bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids from specific foods. Locally obtained plant foods can provide vitamin A and prevent deficiency of vitamin A, a remaining worldwide concern.

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Cassava with enhanced β-carotene maintains adequate vitamin A status in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) despite substantial cis-isomer content

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114508184720 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 102 (3) ◽

pp. 342-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Julie A. Howe ◽

Bussie Maziya-Dixon ◽

Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Keyword(s):

Vitamin A ◽

Vitamin A Deficiency ◽

Meriones Unguiculatus ◽

Provitamin A ◽

Carotenoid Content ◽

Mongolian Gerbils ◽

Serum Retinol ◽

Vitamin A Status ◽

Isomer Content ◽

Β Carotene

Efforts to increase β-carotene in cassava have been successful, but the ability of high-β-carotene cassava to prevent vitamin A deficiency has not been determined. Two studies investigated the bioefficacy of provitamin A in cassava and compared the effects of carotenoid content and variety on vitamin A status in vitamin A-depleted Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Gerbils were fed a vitamin A-free diet 4 weeks prior to treatment. In Expt 1, treatments (ten gerbils per group) included 45 % high-β-carotene cassava, β-carotene and vitamin A supplements (intake matched to high-β-carotene cassava group), and oil control. In Expt 2, gerbils were fed cassava feeds with 1·8 or 4·3 nmol provitamin A/g prepared with two varieties. Gerbils were killed after 4 weeks. For Expt 1, liver vitamin A was higher (P < 0·05) in the vitamin A (1·45 (sd 0·23) μmol/liver), lower in the control (0·43 (sd 0·10) μmol/liver), but did not differ from the β-carotene group (0·77 (sd 0·12) μmol/liver) when compared with the high-β-carotene cassava group (0·69 (sd 0·20) μmol/liver). The bioconversion factor was 3·7 μg β-carotene to 1 μg retinol (2 mol:1 mol), despite 48 % cis-β-carotene [(Z)-β-carotene] composition in cassava. In Expt 2, cassava feed with 4·3 nmol provitamin A/g maintained vitamin A status. No effect of cassava variety was observed. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ. β-Carotene was detected in livers of gerbils receiving cassava and supplements, but the cis-to-trans ratio in liver differed from intake. Biofortified cassava adequately maintained vitamin A status and was as efficacious as β-carotene supplementation in the gerbil model.

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Biosynthesis of β-Carotene (Provitamin a) in Rice Endosperm Achieved by Genetic Engineering

Novartis Foundation Symposia - Novartis Foundation Symposium 236 - Rice Biotechnology: Improving Yield, Stress Tolerance and Grain Quality ◽

10.1002/9780470515778.ch16 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 219-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Salim Al-Babili ◽

Xudong Ye ◽

Paola Lucca ◽

Ingo Potrykus ◽

Peter Beyer

Keyword(s):

Genetic Engineering ◽

Provitamin A ◽

Rice Endosperm ◽

Β Carotene

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Epicoccum purpurascens. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria ◽

10.1079/dfb/20056400680 ◽

1980 ◽

Author(s):

C. Booth

Keyword(s):

Geographical Distribution ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

New Records ◽

Brown Rot ◽

Animal Tissue ◽

Wide Range ◽

The World ◽

Twig Blight ◽

Specific Parasite ◽

Β Carotene

Abstract A description is provided for Epicoccum purpurascens[Epicoccum nigrum]. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: plurivorous. DISEASE: The species usually occurs as a saprophyte or weak parasite although there are a number of reference to its occurance as a specific parasite. It occurs on a wide range of plants and plant material, human and animal tissue and processed foodstuffs. Generally regarded as a saprophyte or weak parasite but it has been listed as causing leaf spot of cassava (48, 2104), twig blight of Asiatic chestnuts (51, 1193) and because of its reddish-brown pigments (Β-carotene, torularhodin and rhodo-xanthin) it has been referred to as causing 'Red Kernel' disease of sweet corn (54, 2217), Red Blotch of rice (13, 538) and Brown Rot of apple. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Although new records of its distribution are constantly being published its range is probably world-wide wherever vegetation occurs. The CMI has material from all the major regions of the world and collections too numerous to list here. TRANSMISSION: Spores of the species are amongst the commonest components of the air spore (51, 1193) and have been frequently isolated from seeds of rice (53, 135), millet (53, 3004) and cereals in general.

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β-Carotene: Beyond provitamin A

10.1016/b978-0-12-822923-1.00008-x ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-31

Author(s):

Sumia Akram ◽

Muhammad Mushtaq ◽

Ammara Waheed

Keyword(s):

Provitamin A ◽

Β Carotene

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Assessing Effect of Marker-Based Improvement of Maize Synthetics on Agronomic Performance, Carotenoid Content, Combining Ability and Heterosis

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10111625 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1625

Author(s):

Innocent Iseghohi ◽

Ayodeji Abe ◽

Silvestro Meseka ◽

Wende Mengesha ◽

Melaku Gedil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Vitamin A Deficiency ◽

Inbred Lines ◽

Provitamin A ◽

Carotenoid Content ◽

Agronomic Performance ◽

Gene Effects ◽

Additive Gene ◽

Β Carotene

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other parts of the world. Understanding the effect of marker-based improvement (MARS) of two maize synthetics (HGA and HGB) representing different heterotic groups on their agronomic performance, carotenoid content, and combining abilities could help identify suitable sources to develop divergent inbred lines for optimizing heterosis. This study involved three selection cycles each of the two synthetics and their nine varietal-cross hybrids together with a released check variety was conducted across four diverse locations in Nigeria in 2018 and 2019. Environment and hybrid effects were significant on grain yield and other agronomic traits as well as provitamin A content and other carotenoids. Genetic improvement per cycle of MARS in the parental synthetics was 15% for provitamin A, 25% for β-carotene and 26% for lutein in HGA and 4% for grain yield, 3% for zeaxanthin and 5% for α-carotene in HGB. Grain yield and agronomic traits of the two maize synthetics were controlled by additive and non-additive gene effects, while provitamin A content and other carotenoids were mainly controlled by additive gene effects. Some selection cycles which were high in grain yield and provitamin A content were identified as potential sources of new and divergent maize inbred lines in maize breeding programs. Some varietal-cross hybrids expressed significant mid-parent heterosis for grain yield and moderate mid-parent heterosis for provitamin A, β-carotene and xanthophylls. These hybrids could be commercialized at reasonable prices to small-scale farmers in rural areas that are most affected by vitamin A deficiency.

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Climate Change Enhanced Carotenoid Pro-Vitamin A Levels of Selected Plantain Cultivars

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9040541 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 541 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Beloved Mensah Dzomeku ◽

Julian P. Wald ◽

Jens Norbert Wünsche ◽

Donatus Nohr ◽

Hans K. Biesalski

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Dry Season ◽

Provitamin A ◽

Poor People ◽

Carotene Content ◽

Uv Index ◽

Provitamin A Carotenoids ◽

Micronutrient Intake ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

Β Carotene

Diet diversification and the exploitation of traditional, micronutrient-rich germplasm of staple crops are generally regarded as sustainable and low-cost approaches to increase the micronutrient intake of resource-poor people. Sun’s UV index was collected daily throughout the year. The study assessed the seasonality of provitamin A carotenoids in three plantain cultivars in response to climatic condition. Fruits were harvested at three maturities and freeze-dried before analysis. The results showed that there were high levels of the sun’s UV-B radiations throughout the year with the highest occurring from November to May when the area experienced clear skies with minimal cloud cover. These high levels of the sun’s UV-B index occurred between 9.00 h GMT and 17.00 h GMT. The study also showed that α-carotene content increased with maturity in “Apantu” during the rainy seasons ranging from 95 to 172 μg/100 g of dry pulp. Similar trends were observed during the dry season with a range of 28 to 489 μg/100 g. The α-carotene contents were very high in the periods of high sun’s UV-B radiations compared to the periods of low sun’s UV-B radiations. The α-carotene levels in the giant French plantains showed similar trends. Intermediate French “Oniaba” and False Horn “Apantu” plantain cultivar showed the highest content of β-carotene during the dry season. The high provitamin A carotenoid levels in the cultivars coincided with the high levels of the sun’s UV index.

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