ClPIF3-ClHY5 module regulates ClPSY1 to promote watermelon fruit lycopene accumulation in advance under supplementary red lighting

Lycopene content is one of important factor for determining watermelon fruit quality. In this study, a small-type watermelon was grown in a greenhouse with supplementary red lighting 10 h per day after pollination 10 days. The results showed that supplementary red lighting promoted the lycopene accumulation earlier in watermelon flesh than the control. qRT-PCR analysis showed that among the lycopene metabolism pathway genes, ClPSY1 (phytoene synthase) expression increased significantly. Moreover, we identified PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORS 3 (ClPIF3) and bZIP transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (ClHY5) in watermelon flesh, and red light has opposing effects on ClHY5 and ClPIF3 expression levels. The interaction experiments showed that ClHY5, a potent ClPIF3 antagonist, regulated ClPSY1 expression by directly targeting a common promoter cis-element (G-box). Collectively, our findings unraveled that ClHY5 and ClPIF3 form a dynamic activation-suppression transcriptional module responsive to red light cues to regulate watermelon lycopene accumulation.

Determination of Thermostability Degree of Lycopene in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

The aim of the work was to determine the degree of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) thermostability according to the content of the present bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties. The watermelon samples were exposed to the following temperatures/time regimes: 40, 70, and 100 °C; 2, 5, and 15 min. The sample characteristics were monitored by spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed between the heat-treated samples compared to the heat-untreated control sample; differences were found almost between all samples. The total polyphenol content increased in all heat-treated samples. The highest total polyphenol content was observed among samples treated at 40 °C for 15 min (1.38 ± 0.01 mg/g). Lycopene content (measured by spectrophotometer) also increased in the same samples exposed to 40 °C for 5 min (65.45 ± 0.20 mg/kg), though higher temperatures (70 and 100 °C) resulted in lycopene degradation. Chromatographic method (measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography) showed lycopene degradation after each heating treatment. Not unambiguously, results and observations were not found in antioxidant activity due to oscillations in measured bioactive compounds. The obtained results emphasize processes in heat-treated watermelon, and they can be useful in the production of different products where this food commodity can be included.

Environment×Combining Ability Interaction for Quality Traits in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The multilocational studies were conducted to evaluate 21 hybrids of tomato in Pratapgarh(Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Burdwan (West Bengal), India during August–February of 2015–16 and 2016–17. Data on four quality traits viz., total soluble solids, titrable acidity, carotene content and lycopene content were estimated. Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of locations, genotypes, genotype-location interaction and parents vs hybrids-location interaction for all the traits. The significance of combining ability effects (general combining ability and specific combining ability) and their interaction with location revealed environmental influences on combining ability effects for all the traits. The Present study indicated higher estimates of to , lower estimates of heritability and GCA/SCA ratio for quality traitsandthereby implied preponderance of non-additive gene action in determination of quality traits studied. Desirable parental lines were identified for different traits like EC 620438 and BS 24-2 for TSS, BS 24-2 and Superbug for titrable acidity, Columbia, EC 620438 and Superbug for carotene content, and H 86 and EC 620541 for lycopene content. Similarly, desirable specific combiners for different traits were identified. The hybrid combination EC 620438×BS 24-2 appeared good specific combiner for TSS, carotene and lycopene content. The parental lines/hybrids identified in present study will be useful in identifying hybrids adapted to a range of environments.

Current Status of Optical Systems for Measuring Lycopene Content in Fruits: Review

Optical systems are used for analysing the internal composition and the external properties in food. The measurement of the lycopene content in fruits and vegetables is important because of its benefits to human health. Lycopene prevents cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, cancer, osteoporosis, male infertility, and peritonitis. Among the optical systems focused on the estimation and identification of lycopene molecule are high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the colorimeter, infrared near NIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and the systems of multispectral imaging (MSI) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). The main objective of this paper is to present a review of the current state of optical systems used to measure lycopene in fruits. It also reports important factors to be considered in order to improve the design and implementation of those optical systems. Finally, it was observed that measurements with HPLC and spectrophotometry present the best results but use toxic solvents and require specialized personnel for their use. Moreover, another widely used technique is colorimetry, which correlates the lycopene content using color descriptors, typically those of CIELAB. Likewise, it was identified that spectroscopic techniques and multispectral images are gaining importance because they are fast and non-invasive.

A comprehensive study of chitosan application for extending shelf life of tomato

Aim: The aim of the present study was to study the effect of chitosan treatment on extending the shelf life of tomatoes stored at room temperature (27ºC±2) for 21 days. Methodology: Chitosan working formulation were prepared by dissolving chitosan in 1 % glacial acetic acid to get final concentrations with adjusting pH above 5 with 1N NaOH until suspension appears as colloide. Selected tomatoes were dipped in different concentrations of chitosan (0.01, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, 0.16 and 0.20 % and water (control) for 6 min and kept in well ventilated paper baskets for storage at room temperature (27°C±2) with 55±2 % relative humidity. Results: Chitosan treated tomatoes were evaluated for different parameters related to post harvest losses. Chitosan at 0.16 % effectively prevented microbial decay, physiological loss in weight, maintained the firmness and reduced the respiration rate. Chitosan treatment further decreased the loss of titratable acidity (TA), retained the total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar during storage period. Chitosan effectively preserved lycopene content, inhibit polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, maintained L*, a*, b* value and organoleptic score during storage from day 1 to day 21 as compared to control tomatoes. Interpretation: The study delves that low concentration of chitosan (0.16%) effectively extend the shelf life of tomato.

Fruit Yield, Polyphenols, and Carotenoids in Long Shelf-Life Tomatoes in Response to Drought Stress and Rewatering

The Mediterranean long shelf-life tomato (or long storage tomato) is a plant traditionally cultivated under no irrigation in the Southern regions of Italy, whose fruits have typical high sensory and nutritional quality. However, yield levels are kept low under current cultivation conditions. In this study, the effects of repeated cycles of drying and rehydration on crop productivity and nutritional quality of fruits in terms of polyphenols and carotenoids content were assessed in long shelf-life tomatoes cultivated in a typical semi-arid area of Southern Italy. The three local Sicilian landraces ‘Custonaci’, ‘Salina’ and ‘Vulcano’, and the commercial tomato hybrid ‘Faino’ (control) were submitted to three irrigation treatments: DRY (no irrigation); IRR (long-season full irrigation); REW (drought/rewatering cycles). Total 450, 4710, and 1849 m3 ha−1, were distributed in DRY, IRR, and REW, respectively. At harvest, fruit yield, polyphenols (as total, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamoyl quinic acids-HCQA), and carotenoids contents (lycopene and β-carotene) were measured. All cultivars benefitted from very limited irrigation in REW, raising their productivity (up to +147% in ‘Vulcano’) with respect to that of plants overstressed in DRY. Irrigation water use efficiency in REW was higher than that in IRR. Water shortage in REW led to a polyphenols content of fruits that was slightly lower (171.1 μg g−1) than that in DRY, but higher than that in IRR (116.8 μg g−1). All local landraces had greater contents (>160 μg g−1) than control (113.0 μg g−1). Under REW and DRY, the two landraces ‘Salina’ and ‘Vulcano’ produced fruits with the same polyphenols and flavonoids contents. Overall, the two water stressed treatments (DRY and REW) did not differ for HCQA content (>66 μg g−1), which was significantly higher than that in the irrigated plots (<50.55 μg g−1). Lycopene content in DRY and REW exceeded 100 μg g−1; among local types, ‘Vulcano’ exhibited the highest content (106.7 μg g−1). The β-carotene content did not change in ‘Custonaci’ and ‘Salina’, whereas in ‘Vulcano’ it was greater in DRY and REW. Only in ‘Faino’ water limitation in REW exerted a clear promoting effect of on β-carotene content of fruits. The results of the present study reveal how rewatering after long-lasting drought periods is beneficial to long shelf-life tomatoes in terms of productivity. Appropriate drought cycles in REW may also help the fruits to retain high nutritional levels.

Evaluation of Various Genotypes of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) on Quality Traits under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir

Background: Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crop grown in the world. Identification of better genotypes among the existing germplasm leads to the success of breeding programme. Elite genotypes should be known for our trait of interest. Methods: A field experiment was carried out at Vegetable Experimental Field, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar during Kharif-2018 in which twenty seven genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were evaluated to estimate the performance of genotypes on various quality traits like lycopene content, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total soluble solids and juice to pulp ratio. Result: Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits under studied. Highest lycopene content was recorded in the genotypes 2015/TODHYB-1, Roma and VRT-19 Whereas highest TSS content was exhibited by Kashi Aman, Roma, Jawahar-99 and Shalimar Hybrid Tomato-1. Highest titrable acidity recorded in Marglobe followed by 2015/TODHYB-4 and Kashi Hemanth. Juice to pulp ratio was highest in the genotypes namely, 2016/TODVAR-5 and Kashi Vishesh. Hence, the best performed genotypes can be used as such in promotion of tomato production programme as elite germplasm lines/varieties or may be recommended for commercial cultivation after testing them over years and locations.

Biostimulatory Action of Vegetal Protein Hydrolysate and the Configuration of Fruit Physicochemical Characteristics in Grafted Watermelon

Foliar application of a vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate as a biostimulant was assessed for possible interaction with the ripening of diploid watermelon grafted onto interspecific hybrid rootstock. Assessment encompassed crop performance; fruit morphometric and sensory quality traits; soluble carbohydrates; macrominerals; and bioactive composition at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days post anthesis (dpa). The biostimulant effect on yield components was confounded by the vigorous rootstock effect. Pulp firmness declined precipitously with cell enlargement from 10 to 30 dpa, and the biostimulant phyto-hormonal potential on firmness and rind thickness was masked by grafting. Pulp colorimetry was determined solely by ripening and peaked at 40 dpa. The biostimulant effect reduced lycopene content by 8% compared to the control. Total sugars coevolved with soluble solids content, peaked at 30 dpa, and then stabilized. Fructose and glucose prevailed during rapid fruit growth from 10 to 30 dpa and sucrose prevailed at advanced ripeness between 40–50 dpa, whereas acidity peaked at 20 dpa and then decreased. Potassium, which was the most abundant micromineral, peaked before full ripeness at 30 dpa. The biostimulant effect on the watermelon fruit ripening process is not granted, at least regarding the conditions this study was carried out under. The absence of biostimulant effect might relate to rootstock vigorousness, the grafted watermelon physiology, or the type of biostimulant used.

Growing Tomato under Protected Cultivation Conditions: Overall Effects on Productivity, Nutritional Yield, and Pest Incidences

Tomato continues to be one of the most important crops worldwide, and protected cultivation is practiced to overcome the biotic and abiotic stresses to which the plant are exposed during growth. In this study we evaluated the effect of colored net houses on the growth, yield and nutritional values, as well as the incidence of common pests under three different light conditions: (1) colored (magenta), (2) conventional (white), and open field conditions. A colored net house led the plants to grow taller with higher lycopene content, but recorded a higher number of whiteflies, compared to the conventional net house and open field conditions. Furthermore, plants under protected structures recorded lower SPAD values, but larger terminal leaflets, lower damage by leaf miners, but more damage caused by spider mites compared to those plants grown under open field conditions. Overall, we found that the use of colored net houses provided a positive effect on tomato production in terms of improvement in morphometric parameters, however, to obtain higher yields under this production system, it is important to reduce the elevated temperature and increase the relative humidity inside the protective structures to be adapted for local growing conditions in Taiwan.

Kualitas Minyak Ikan Lele Dumbo (Clarias gariepinus) Selama Penyimpanan dengan Penambahan Likopen Kasar dari Buah Tomat

The quality of Dumbo Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) oil can be maintained during storage with the addition of crude lycopene in tomatoes as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to obtain the best ratio between crude lycopene in tomatoes and Dumbo catfish oil during storage. The study was conducted using a variable ratio of crude lycopene: Dumbo catfish oil with 4 treatment levels (6:40, 8:40, 10:40, and 12:40 (w/v)) and storage time variables of 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Lycopene levels in Dumbo catfish oil were analyzed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while the quality of Dumbo catfish oil during storage was determined through peroxide value analysis. The results showed that the best ratio of crude lycopene of tomatoes: Dumbo catfish oil was 12:40 at the third week of storage with lycopene content of 0.257 grams and the peroxide value of Dumbo catfish oil was 3.45 meq/kg or had met IFOS standards. Keywords: Crude lycopene, tomato fruit, dumbo catfish oil, peroxide value.