Phenolics and Mineral Elements Composition in Underutilized Apple Varieties

(1) Background: The aim of this research is to study the importance of improving knowledge of old variety apples in terms of phytochemicals, antioxidant capacity and mineral elements. (2) Methods: Fifteen phenolic compounds (UHPLC-MS/MS techniques), eight mineral elements (Ca, K, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Na and Mg), antioxidant capacity (DPPH%) and vitamin C content in four ancient apple varieties of Tuscany (‘Mora’, ‘Nesta’, ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’), with the ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivar as reference, were analyzed. (3) Results: Ancient cultivars exhibited a superior antioxidant capacity compared to commercial cultivars. ECTC and CGA were the polyphenols that mostly characterized the ancient apples. The contents of the elements of concern, Zn and Mn, were higher in the ancient cultivars ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’, while Na showed significant low concentration in ‘Nesta’, ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’ compared to ‘Golden Delicious’. The vitamin C content also indicated that ‘Mora’, ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’ old variety had an AsA content around 10 times higher than the ‘Golden Delicious’ apple. (4) Conclusions: Underutilized varieties could be an excellent source of bioactive phenolic phytochemicals, mineral nutrients and vitamins that may offer special nutraceutical benefits compared to other fruits.

Rapeseed as an Ornamental

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oil crops worldwide. However, an intriguing new use for rapeseed has recently developed: as an ornamental. Tourism based on blossoming fields of these yellow flowers has become a new economic growth opportunity in China. From a breeding perspective, two main problems currently limit the potential of rapeseed as an ornamental. First, the flowering period is quite short (30 days on average), which limits economic income; second, the flower color in commercial cultivars is currently limited to bright yellow, which may pall quickly for sightseers. This review summarizes the possible problems of using rapeseed as an ornamental, and details factors affecting the flowering period, how the flowering period can be prolonged by integrating optimal cultivation measures or/and spraying with chemical reagents, and ways of creating and breeding rapeseed with diverse flower colors.

Hybrids of Solanum corymbiflorum and S. diploconos (Solanaceae) – a hope for new commercial varieties of edible fruits

Solanum diploconos (Mart.) Bohs („guava tamarillo”) and Solanum corymbiflorum (Sendtn.) Bohs („hardy tamarillo”) are wild relatives to subtropical, orchard, small tree – Solanum betaceum Cav. (called simply „tamarillo”). Both these species create edible fruits, but they have not been cultivated widely so far as fruit trees. However, each one of these species has valuable features. Solanum corymbiflorum is quite hardy to frost, deciduous and early blooming both in fenological year time as well as in its lifespan but has untasty fruits. Solanum diploconos has quite good tasting fruits and it is pest and disease resistant. This work has been an attempt to connect their best features in hybrids to create new, potentially commercial cultivars to grow as fruit plants. Three types of hybrids were created: F1 hybrid type – Solanum corymbiflorum × Solanum diploconos, BC1 backrossing type - (Solanum corymbiflorum × Solanum diploconos) × Solanum corymbiflorum and the second BC1 backcrossing type – (Solanum corymbiflorum × Solanum diploconos) × Solanum diploconos. Out of the numerous variable individuals within each type, we selected three very valuable from an agronomic point of view cultivars (Solanum 'Lynn', 'Pinczow Springs' and 'Iwona'). The work with crossing and selecting the next cultivars will be continued.

Characterisation of novel endogenous geminiviral elements in macadamia

Background The presence of geminivirus sequences in a preliminary analysis of sRNA sequences from the leaves of macadamia trees with abnormal vertical growth (AVG) syndrome was investigated. Results A locus of endogenous geminiviral elements (EGE) in the macadamia genome was analysed, and the sequences revealed a high level of deletions and/or partial integrations, thus rendering the EGE transcriptionally inactive. The replication defective EGE in the macadamia genome indicates its inability to be the source of new viral infections and thus cause AVG or any other disease in macadamia. The EGE sequences were detected in two edible Macadamia species that constitute commercial cultivars and the wild germplasm of edible and inedible species of Macadamia. This strongly suggests that the integration preceded speciation of the genus Macadamia. A draft genome of a locus of EGE in Macadamia was developed. The findings of this study provide evidence to suggest the endogenization of the geminiviral sequences in the macadamia genome and the ancestral relationship of EGE with Macadamia in the Proteaceae family. Random mutations accumulating in the EGE inform that the sequence is evolving. Conclusions The EGE in Macadamia is inactive and thus not a direct cause of any diseases or syndromes including AVG in macadamia. The insertion of the EGE in the macadamia genome preceded speciation of the genus Macadamia.

Viral Diseases of Strawberry

Viral diseases in strawberry are not easily detected because most single virus infections are symptomless on commercial cultivars. However, virus outbreaks have the potential for epidemics and economic losses. A mixed virus infection of Strawberry Mild Yellow Edge Virus (SMYEV) and Strawberry Mottle Virus (SMoV) was identified in several southeastern states during the 2012-13 season, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. This updated version of a previous publication offers basic information on viral diseases of strawberry, with emphasis on viruses of potential threat to the strawberry industry in Florida. The primary target audience of this publication includes growers and industry personnel, extension agents and pathologists working with strawberry. Originally published April 2010: Moyer, Catalina, Vance Whitaker, and Natalia Peres. 2010. “Viral Diseases of Strawberries”. EDIS 2010 (4). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/118602.

Polyphenolic QTOF-ESI MS Characterization and the Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Prunus domestica Commercial Cultivars from Costa Rica

There is an increased interest in plum research because of their metabolites’ potential bioactivities. In this study, the phenolic profiles of Prunus domestica commercial cultivars (Methley, Pisardii and Satsuma) in Costa Rica were determined by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry using a quadrupole-time-of-flight analyzer (UPLC-ESI-QTOF MS) on enriched phenolic extracts obtained through Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) under acidic and neutral extraction conditions. In total, 41 different phenolic compounds were identified in the skin and flesh extracts, comprising 11 flavan-3-ols, 14 flavonoids and 16 hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives. Neutral extractions for the skins and flesh from all of the cultivars yielded a larger number of compounds, and were particularly rich in the number of procyanidin trimers and tetramers when compared to the acid extractions. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant potential using the DPPH and ORAC methods exhibited better results for neutral extracts with Satsuma skins and Methley flesh, which showed the best values (685.0 and 801.6 mg GAE/g extract; IC50 = 4.85 and 4.39 µg/mL; and 12.55 and 12.22 mmol TE/g extract, respectively). A Two-Way ANOVA for cytotoxicity towards AGS gastric adenocarcinoma and SW620 colon adenocarcinoma indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) for PLE conditions, with better results for neutral extractions, with Satsuma skin delivering the best results (IC50 = 60.7 and 46.7 µg/mL respectively) along with Methley flesh (IC50 = 76.3 and 60.9 µg/mL, respectively). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between TPC and ORAC (r = 0.929, p < 0.05), as well as a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) between TPC and cytotoxicity towards AGS and SW620 cell lines (r = −0.776, and −0.751, respectively). A particularly high, significant, negative correlation (p < 0.05) was found between the number of procyanidins and cytotoxicity against the AGS (r = −0.868) and SW620 (r = −0.855) cell lines. Finally, the PCA clearly corroborated that neutral extracts are a more homogenous group exhibiting higher antioxidant and cytotoxic results regardless of the part or cultivar; therefore, our findings suggest that PLE extracts under neutral conditions would be of interest for further studies on their potential health benefits.

Fruit Volatile Fingerprints Characterized among Four Commercial Cultivars of Thai Durian (Durio zibethinus)

Ripe durian fruits produce unique volatiles of pungent odor comprising esters, alcohols, ketones, and sulfur-containing compounds. Recently, “Chanthaburi 1” hybrid bred from 2 famous commercial cultivars of “Chanee” and “Monthong” claimed to be less fragrant during ripening, but there was no report. The present study compared the volatile profiles from 3 Thai commercial cultivars of “Kanyao,” “Chanee,” and “Monthong” compared to “Chanthaburi 1”, and the relationships of the cultivars were organized using the volatile fingerprints. Out of 41 volatile compounds detected by SPME/GC-MS in ripe durian flesh, 33 compounds were esters, but only 14 esters were found in “Chanthaburi 1.” Ripe flesh of most durian cultivars contains ethyl-2-methyl butanoate and ethyl hexanoate as the active volatiles. “Chanthaburi 1” contained fewer components with low odor activity value (OAV) of the volatiles. “Chanee” ripe flesh exhibited the strongest durian smell among the four varieties, whereas “Monthong” exhibited a strong apple-like fruity odor and “Kanyao” was more green fruity. Diethyl disulfide and 3, 5 dimethyl-1, 2, 4-trithiolane contributing pungent smells of garlic or onion were found only in “Chanthaburi 1” and “Monthong.” In terms of detected volatiles, “Kanyao” and “Chanee” were highly close when “Monthong” was apart. PCA analysis revealed that “Chanthaburi 1” contained ester compounds ancestrally related to the parents, “Chanee” in the component I and “Monthong” in the component II. These data could be beneficial for managing the status of Thai durians in global markets.