Anti-Browning and Oxidative Enzyme Activity of Rice Bran Extract Treatment on Freshly Cut ‘Fuji’ Apple

Preserving the quality of freshly cut fruits is essential for food marketing. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-browning effect of rice bran extract (RE) added to a vitamin C mixture (VCM), which is widely used as an anti-browning agent. Freshly cut apples were prepared using the following processes: raw material selection, washing, cutting, soaking, and packaging. A comparison of cut apples soaked with 3% VCM combined with 1% RE (VR) and cut apples treated with 4% VCM showed that the L* and BI values had similar levels. After 12 days of storage, the amount of yeast and mold in cut apples after 4% VCM and VR treatment was 6.15 × 104 ± 0.48 CFU/mL and 4.25 × 103 ± 0.15 CFU/mL, respectively, and the degree of bacterial growth was reduced by VR treatment. On day 12 of storage, the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were similar in the 4% VCM and VR groups. The polyphenol content was significantly higher in the VR group (121.0 ± 2.2) than in the 4% VCM group (76.9 ± 2.2). These results indicate that VR treatment for freshly cut apples is a potential alternative to 4% VCM treatment, with an effective anti-browning capacity and improved polyphenol content.

Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of the Anthocyanin Regulatory Networks in Malus Domestica Borkh. Peel with Different Color Patterns

Background:Coloring is an important external quality of ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and there are two color patterns of apple peels, i.e., stripe and blush. The objectives of this study were to reveal the anthocyanin biosynthesis metabolic pathway in striped and blushed peels of Malus domestica using metabolomics and transcriptomics, to identify different anthocyanin metabolites, and to analyze the differentially expressed genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis.Result:The metabolite concentration and gene expression were profiled in the striped and blushed fruit peels of apple harvested at three ripening periods to elucidate the color formation mechanism. At the green fruit period, there were 83 DAMs,including 30 flavonoids, 674 DEGs (521 up-regulated and 153 down-regulated),including 3 MYB related genes (up-regulated, LOC103415449, LOC103421948, LOC103432338) and 2 bHLH genes(up-regulated, LOC103436250, LOC103437863) between striped and blushed apple.At the color turning period, there were 48 DAMs,including 20 flavonoids, 880 DEGs (274 up-regulated and 606 down-regulated), including 3 differentially expressed E2.3.1.133, HCT genes(down-regulated), 2 differentially expressed F3H genes (down-regulated), 1 differentially expressed BZ1 gene (down-regulated) and 2 differentially expressed ANS genes (up-regulated) and 2 up-regulated MYB related genes (LOC103411576, LOC103412495), 5 down-regulated MYB related genes(LOC103400953, LOC103408672, LOC103415404, LOC103420697, LOC103421948), 1 differentially expressed bHLH gene(down-regulated, LOC103400870). At the complete coloring period，there were 95 DAMs,including 34 flavonoids, 2258 DEGs (1159 up- and 1099 down-regulated), including 3 differentially expressed E2.3.1.133, HCT genes(down-regulated), 1 differentially expressed E2.3.1.133, HCT genes(up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed CYP98A genes (up-regulated), 4 differentially expressed CHS genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed E5.5.1.6 genes(up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed CYP75B1 genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed F3R genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed ANS genes (up-regulated), 1 differentially expressed DFR genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed BZ1 genes (up-regulated) and 1 differentially expressed MYB related gene (up-regulated, LOC103401575) .There were both 10 kinds of cyanidin in apple peel at color turning period and complete coloring period, Keracyanin and Cyanin were up-regulated at color turning period and Cyanidin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl)glucoside was up-regulated at complete coloring period.Conclusions: Our researches provide important information on the anthocyanin metabolites and the candidate genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways of Fuji apple in M.domestcia.

Application of a Visible/Near-infrared Spectrometer in Identifying Flower and Non-flower Buds on ‘Fuji’ Apple Trees

Background: Forecasting bud physiologic conditions can help ‘Fuji’ apple farmers manage their orchards more efficiently. Being able to determine the nature of a bud before bud burst is one such forecast that could be of use to these ‘Fuji’ growers. The aim of this research project was to determine if a device, a visible/near-infrared spectrometer, could be employed to determine whether a bud is a flower or non-flower bud without destroying the bud. Methods: Experiments were conducted on buds taken from a ‘Fuji’ apple tree, beginning on January 29 through to March 31, 2021, three days before bud burst. The data from the visible/near-infrared spectrometer clarified whether a bud was a flower or a non-flower bud. The Spectro data Classification Learner App proved to be an accurate classification method to analyze flower and non-flower bud Spectro data. Result: Three days before bud burst, the chlorophyll content levels of the non-flower buds were markedly higher (P≤0.05) than those of the flower bud, which explains why the visible border of the near-infrared spectrometer might have been changed by the chlorophyll content of buds. The visible and near-infrared bands of the buds showed that the Spectro data of the non-flower buds were higher than those of the flower buds when measurements were made three days before bud burst. Three days before bud burst Cubic KNN of KNN classifier analyzed flower and non-flower buds smoothly. Spectro data were labeled as accuracy 75.9%, sensitivity 86% and specificity 67%. The results that were obtained suggest that farmers could use a visible/near-infrared spectrometer to identify flower and non-flower buds in their orchards, without damaging the buds, three days before bud burst.

Daucus carota DcPSY2 and DcLCYB1 as Tools for Carotenoid Metabolic Engineering to Improve the Nutritional Value of Fruits

Carotenoids are pigments with important nutritional value in the human diet. As antioxidant molecules, they act as scavengers of free radicals enhancing immunity and preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, α-carotene and β-carotene, the main carotenoids of carrots (Daucus carota) are precursors of vitamin A, whose deficiency in the diet can trigger night blindness and macular degeneration. With the aim of increasing the carotenoid content in fruit flesh, three key genes of the carotenoid pathway, phytoene synthase (DcPSY2) and lycopene cyclase (DcLCYB1) from carrots, and carotene desaturase (XdCrtI) from the yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, were optimized for expression in apple and cloned under the Solanum chilense (tomatillo) polygalacturonase (PG) fruit specific promoter. A biotechnological platform was generated and functionally tested by subcellular localization, and single, double and triple combinations were both stably transformed in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. Microtom) and transiently transformed in Fuji apple fruit flesh (Malus domestica). We demonstrated the functionality of the S. chilense PG promoter by directing the expression of the transgenes specifically to fruits. Transgenic tomato fruits expressing DcPSY2, DcLCYB1, and DcPSY2-XdCRTI, produced 1.34, 2.0, and 1.99-fold more total carotenoids than wild-type fruits, respectively. Furthermore, transgenic tomatoes expressing DcLCYB1, DcPSY2-XdCRTI, and DcPSY2-XdCRTI-DcLCYB1 exhibited an increment in β-carotene levels of 2.5, 3.0, and 2.57-fold in comparison with wild-type fruits, respectively. Additionally, Fuji apple flesh agroinfiltrated with DcPSY2 and DcLCYB1 constructs showed a significant increase of 2.75 and 3.11-fold in total carotenoids and 5.11 and 5.84-fold in β-carotene, respectively whereas the expression of DcPSY2-XdCRTI and DcPSY2-XdCRTI-DcLCYB1 generated lower, but significant changes in the carotenoid profile of infiltrated apple flesh. The results in apple demonstrate that DcPSY2 and DcLCYB1 are suitable biotechnological genes to increase the carotenoid content in fruits of species with reduced amounts of these pigments.

Antioxidative Potential and Phytochemical Content of Detox Water

Detox water is a fusion of different fruits immersed in water. It has been shown to possess many health benefits including toxin removal, increased immune function, weight loss and hydration. The following research aimed to extend previous investigation into the beneficial properties of detox water by determining the antioxidant potential and phytochemical content of water infused with a combination of Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis) and Fuji apple (Malus domestica) in different ratios. The three trails studied were 25:75 (T1), 50:50 (T2) and 75:25 (T3) Apple: Orange ratios. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were assayed using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl- DPPH assay, the Folin Ciocalteu assay and the aluminum chloride colorimetric assay respectively. The assays were carried out on water samples taken at 0.5, 1,2,4,6 and 8 hours after infusion, and on the fruit residue. Vitamin C concentration of the water and fruit residue were determined by titration against potassium iodide at the eight- hour of infusion. The antioxidant, TPC and TFC values of water samples increased with infusion time. At the eight-hour, the antioxidant potential of the water samples ranged from 74.45% (T1) - 68.16% (T3). The TPC, TFC and Vitamin C values for all three trails were found to be significantly different (p<0.05), with TPC values of 189.01 µg GAE/ml sample (T1), 172.10 µg GAE/ml sample (T2) and 144.82 µg GAE/ml sample (T3); TFC values were 32.11 µg QE/ml sample (T1), 25.24 µg QE/ml sample (T2) and 17.62 µg QE/ml sample (T3). Vitamin C values were 237.76 µg vitamin C/ml sample (T1), 161.44 µg vitamin C/ml sample (T2) and 114.48 µg vitamin C/ml sample (T3). The fruit residues possessed very low antioxidant potential and phytochemical content. The study has proven that detox water possesses beneficial properties due to its high phytochemical content.

Nighttime Temperatures and Sunlight Intensities Interact to Influence Anthocyanin Biosynthesis and Photooxidative Sunburn in “Fuji” Apple

Light and low temperatures induce anthocyanin accumulation, but intense sunlight causes photooxidative sunburn. Nonetheless, there have been few studies of anthocyanin synthesis under different sunlight intensities and low nighttime temperatures. Here, low nighttime temperatures followed by low light intensity were associated with greater anthocyanin accumulation and the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in “Fuji” apple peel. UDP-glucose flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) activity was positively associated with anthocyanin enrichment. Ascorbic acid can be used as an electron donor of APX to scavenge H2O2 in plants, which makes it play an important role in oxidative defense. Exogenous ascorbate altered the anthocyanin accumulation and reduced the occurrence of high light–induced photooxidative sunburn by removing hydrogen peroxide from the peel. Overall, low light intensity was beneficial for the accumulation of anthocyanin and did not cause photooxidative sunburn, whereas natural light had the opposite effect on the apple peel at low nighttime temperatures. This study provides an insight into the mechanisms by which low temperatures induce apple coloration and high light intensity causes photooxidative sunburn.

The Effect of Manalagi and Fuji Apple Juice on Triglyceride Level in Elderly

The purpose of this study is to determine effect of manalagi and fuji apples juice on triglyceride levels in in elderly. This study is an experimental study conducted on 39 elderly for 14 days, divided into 3 groups through randomized pre-post test control group design. G-0 was the control group, G-1 was the intervention group administered with manalagi apple juice, and G-2 was the intervention group given fuji apple juice. The data obtained were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test. Trygliceride levels in the G-0 increased, whereas the G-1 and G-2 decreased. There was a significant difference (P <0.05) between the G-0 and the intervention group. Consumption of manalagi and fuji apples juice could reduce triglyceride levels in elderly.