The Effect of Foliar Spraying With Some Growth Stimulants on Improving Vegetative Growth and Mineral Content of Seedlings of Navel Orange and Blood Orange

This study was carried out in lath house of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering - College of Agriculture - Tikrit University, during the season 2020-2021, as a factorial experiment by spraying with three levels of the growth regulator Brassinolide (BL) which are 0.00, 0.015, 0.025 Mg.L−1 and spraying with nutrient solution PRO-SOL (M) at three concentrations of.000, 200,400. Mg.L−1 to determine the effect of the growth regulator Brassinolide and the nutrient solution PRO-SOL in increasing the chemical content of some nutrients for the two types of navel orange V1 and blood orange V2. The results showed that blood orange V2 was significantly superior to the cultivar Navel V1 in the leaf area amounted to 2991 cm2, the percentage of dry matter in the leaves was 35.39% and the percentage of mineral elements in the leaves was %N, 1.619 %K, 1.37%P, 0.204,. And the best concentration Of Brassinolide 0.025 Mg.L−1 with a concentration of PRO-SOL400 Mg.L−1 has increased the dry matter percentage, leaf area and chemical content of elements for the navel orange variety V1, and the concentration of Brassinolide 0.015 Mg.L−1 with a concentration of PRO-SOL 400 mg.L-1 has increased the dry matter percentage, leaf area and chemical content of elements for blood orange variety V2.

Nutrient Composition and Physical Properties of Two Orange Seed Varieties

Orange is mainly consumed as fresh fruit, concentrated juice, or thin dried slices, while the seeds are usually discarded by consumers and orange juice processing companies. This study was carried out to determine the physical, frictional, nutritional, and antinutritional properties of the Late Valencia and Red Blood orange seeds. The proximate composition, mineral profile, antinutrient content, and physical and frictional properties of two orange seed varieties were determined using standard methods. The mean length, width, thickness, geometric, and arithmetic mean diameter of the Late Valencia and Red Blood seeds were 14.66, 8.45, 5.05, 8.47, and 9.39 and 13.74, 7.51, 4.99, 7.97, and 8.75 mm, respectively. An angle of repose 39.62° and 38.62°, coefficient of friction of 0.63 and 0.61 on wood, 0.33 each on mild steel, and 0.41 and 0.43 on Teflon were recorded, respectively, for the Late Valencia and Red Blood orange seed varieties. Seeds from Late Valencia and Red Blood orange variety contained 547.39 mg/100 g and 693.87 mg/100 g of oxalate, respectively. Proximate and vitamin C of the orange seeds analyzed indicated that the protein (4.18%), fat (57.45%), fiber (6.06%), energy (640.66 kcal/100 g), and vitamin C (63 mg/100 g) content in the Late Valencia were significantly higher ( p < 0.05 ) than the Red Blood orange (3.61%, 55.77%, 5.49%, 85 kcal/100 g, and 54 mg/100 g) correspondingly. The high fat content of the orange seeds makes them potential source of oil for both food and nonfood product applications. Ca, P, and K were predominantly found in the two orange seed varieties. Physical and frictional properties obtained from this work could aid in the design of equipment for harvesting, processing, transporting, separating, packaging, and storage of orange seeds from Late Valencia and Red Blood orange varieties. Further research is required to determine the suitability of orange seed flours for value-added products.

Physicochemical Changes, Peel Colour, and Juice Attributes of Blood Orange Cultivars Stored at Different Temperatures

Changes in physicochemical traits, peel colour, and juice attributes of four blood orange cultivars (‘Moro’, ‘Tarocco’, ‘Sanguinello’, and ‘Sanguine’) were evaluated during 180 days at 2 and 5 °C plus 2 days at 20 °C for shelf life. ‘Tarocco’ had the lowest weight and firmness losses at both temperatures during storage. Titratable acidity (TA) at 5 °C was higher than 2 °C, with ‘Sanguinello’ and ‘Tarocco’ showing the highest and lowest TA, respectively. Juice content decreased during storage at both temperatures, although ‘Sanguinello’ had the highest juice content among the tested cultivars. Peel colour parameters including L* (lightness), b*, hue angle (h°), and chroma (C*) decreased during cold storage, while a* and citrus colour index (CCI) increased in all cultivars at both temperatures. The order for CCI was ‘Tarocco’ > ‘Moro’ > ‘Sanguinello’ > ‘Sanguine’. Overall, prolonged storage at 5 °C was considered as optimum temperature for all cultivars, although ‘Sanguinello’ cultivar had a better aptitude for the citrus juice industry.

Blood Orange Juice Intake Modulates the Expression of miR-126–3p and let-7f-5p in PBMC of Overweight and Insulin Resistance Women

Objectives To investigate the effect of chronic blood orange juice intake on the microRNA profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of overweight and insulin resistance women. Methods Interventional and chronic study with women (n = 8) aged 18 to 40 years, diagnosed with overweight [body mass index (BMI) 25–29.9 kg/m2] and insulin resistance [homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index &gt;2,71]. For four weeks, the volunteers ingested 500 mL/day of blood orange juice (Moro variety), with blood samples collected at baseline and four weeks after the beginning of drink ingestion. Evaluation of the expression of 137 microRNAs in PBMC was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Blood orange juice intake decreased the expression of miR-126-3p (p = 0.004) and let-7f-5p (p = 0.005) in PBMC. These microRNAs are involved in suppressing the synthesis of several proteins of the insulin signaling pathway. Insulin receptor substrates (IRS) 1 and 2 were identified as target genes of mir-126. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), insulin receptor (INSR), IRS2, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase interacting protein 1 (PIK3IP1), and protein kinase B/Akt 2 (AKT2) were identified as target genes of let-7f. Conclusions Blood orange juice, rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, downregulates the expression of microRNA involved in impairing the insulin signaling pathway. Funding Sources Food Research Center (FoRC), São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)