Phenolic Substances and Volatiles in Developing Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2023) | Viewed by 11295

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: metabolism of plant polyphenols; in vitro antioxidant activity of plant extracts; determination GC/MS of volatile compounds and essential oils in agricultural and forestry plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are major producers, both in number and in complexity, of secondary metabolites. Among these, this special issue aims to deal with polyphenols and volatile compounds (VOCs) responsible for flavor characteristics, as they play a critical role in the quality of vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants. Numerous plant metabolic pathways lead to thousands of compounds with increases or decreases in relation to biotic and / or abiotic stresses. These metabolic pathways are activated starting from the primary metabolism also at specific stages of development and / or ripening of fruits or seeds. Finally, many secondary metabolites are specific to certain taxonomic groups and play important roles in the plant-environment interaction. Therefore, secondary metabolite production can be substantially diverse in the various plant organs or during the development of the plant, for example some are produced mainly in the adult phase, others only in the juvenile one. We therefore invite you to submit scientific articles concerning the qualitative / quantitative determination of phenolic substances or VOCs, their biosynthesis, regulation and physiological role. Studies on how their biological properties (antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activity, etc.) or presence may vary in different developmental stages will also be welcome.

Dr. Carmine Negro
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • polyphenolic compounds

  • volatile compounds (VOCs)
  • secondary metabolism
  • antioxidant activity

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5553 KiB  
Article
ABA Biosynthesis- and Signaling-Related Gene Expression Differences between Sweet Cherry Fruits Suggest Attenuation of ABA Pathway in Bicolored Cultivars
by Orlando Acevedo, Claudio Ponce, Macarena Arellano, Salvatore Multari, Esther Carrera, José Manuel Donoso, Stefan Martens, Nathalie Kuhn and Lee A. Meisel
Plants 2023, 12(13), 2493; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132493 - 29 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2364
Abstract
Fruit development involves exocarp color evolution. However, signals that control this process are still elusive. Differences between dark-red and bicolored sweet cherry cultivars rely on MYB factor gene mutations. Color evolution in bicolored fruits only occurs on the face receiving sunlight, suggesting the [...] Read more.
Fruit development involves exocarp color evolution. However, signals that control this process are still elusive. Differences between dark-red and bicolored sweet cherry cultivars rely on MYB factor gene mutations. Color evolution in bicolored fruits only occurs on the face receiving sunlight, suggesting the perception or response to color-inducing signals is affected. These color differences may be related to synthesis, perception or response to abscisic acid (ABA), a phytohormone responsible for non-climacteric fruit coloring. This work aimed to determine the involvement of ABA in the coloring process of color-contrasting varieties. Several phenolic accumulation patterns differed between bicolored ‘Royal Rainier’ and dark-red ‘Lapins’. Transcript abundance of ABA biosynthetic genes (PavPSY, PavZEP and PavNCED1) decreased dramatically from the Pink to Red stage in ‘Royal Rainier’ but increased in ‘Lapins’, which correlated with a higher ABA content in this dark-red cultivar. Transcripts coding for ABA signaling (PavPP2Cs, PavSnRKs and PavMYB44.1) were almost undetectable at the Red stage in ‘Royal Rainier’. Field trials revealed that ‘Royal Rainier’ color development was insensitive to exogenous ABA, whereas it increased in ‘Lapins’. Furthermore, ABA treatment only increased transcript levels of signaling genes in ‘Lapins’. Further studies may address if the ABA pathway is attenuated in bicolor cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Substances and Volatiles in Developing Plants)
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15 pages, 785 KiB  
Article
Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Synthetic Hexaploid Wheats
by Vladimir P. Shamanin, Zeynep H. Tekin-Cakmak, Salih Karasu, Inna V. Pototskaya, Sergey S. Shepelev, Alexandr S. Chursin, Alexey I. Morgounov, Osman Sagdic and Hamit Koksel
Plants 2023, 12(12), 2301; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122301 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1870
Abstract
In this study, 21 synthetic hexaploid wheat samples were analyzed and compared for phenolic content (the Folin–Ciocalteu method), phenolic compositions, and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC). The aim of the study was to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of synthetic [...] Read more.
In this study, 21 synthetic hexaploid wheat samples were analyzed and compared for phenolic content (the Folin–Ciocalteu method), phenolic compositions, and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC). The aim of the study was to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of synthetic wheat lines developed from Ae. Tauschii, which has a wide genetic diversity, to be used in breeding programs for developing new varieties with better nutritional properties. Bound, free, and total phenolic contents (TPCs) of wheat samples were determined as 145.38–258.55 mg GAE/100 g wheat, 188.19–369.38 mg GAE/100 g wheat, and 333.58–576.93 mg GAE/100 g wheat, respectively. Phenolic compositions were detected by the HPLC system. Gallic acid was found in the highest concentrations in free fractions, whereas gallic, p-coumaric acid, and chlorogenic acid were generally found in the highest concentrations in bound fractions of the synthetic hexaploid wheat samples. The antioxidant activities (AA%) of the wheat samples were evaluated by the DPPH assay. AA% in the free extracts of the synthetic red wheat samples ranged from 33.0% to 40.5%, and AA% values in the bound extracts of the synthetic hexaploid wheat samples varied between 34.4% and 50.6%. ABTS and CUPRAC analyses were also used to measure antioxidant activities. The ABTS values of the free and bound extracts and total ABTS values of the synthetic wheat samples ranged from 27.31 to 123.18, 61.65 to 263.23, and 93.94 to 308.07 mg TE/100 g, respectively. The corresponding CUPRAC values of the synthetic wheats were between 25.78–160.94, 75.35–308.13, and 107.51–364.79 mg TE/100 g. This study revealed that synthetic hexaploid wheat samples are valuable resources for breeding programs for developing new wheat varieties with higher concentrations and better compositions of health-beneficial phytochemicals. The samples w1 (Ukr.-Od. 1530.94/Ae. squarrosa (629)), w18 (Ukr.-Od. 1530.94/Ae. squarrosa (1027)), and w20 (Ukr.-Od. 1530.94/Ae. squarrosa (392)) can be used as a genetic resource in breeding programs to enhance the nutritional quality of wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Substances and Volatiles in Developing Plants)
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18 pages, 3166 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Volatilome Signature of Various Brassicaceae Species
by Igor Lukić, Nina Išić, Dean Ban, Branka Salopek Sondi and Smiljana Goreta Ban
Plants 2023, 12(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010177 - 1 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2555
Abstract
To investigate in detail the volatilomes of various Brassicaceae species, landraces, and accessions, and to extract specific volatile markers, volatile aroma compounds were isolated from plant samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). The data obtained were subjected [...] Read more.
To investigate in detail the volatilomes of various Brassicaceae species, landraces, and accessions, and to extract specific volatile markers, volatile aroma compounds were isolated from plant samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). The data obtained were subjected to uni- and multivariate statistical analysis. In general, two cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) landraces emitted the lowest amounts of volatiles generated in the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway. Wild species Brassica incana Ten. and Brassica mollis Vis. were characterized by relatively high trans-2-hexenal/cis-3-hexen-1-ol ratio in relation to other investigated samples. A Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. sabauda) cultivar and three kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) accessions exhibited particular similarities in the composition of LOX volatiles, while the LOX volatilome fraction of B. incana and B. mollis partially coincided with that of another wild species, Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. Regarding volatiles formed in the glucosinolate (GSL) pathway, Savoy cabbage and wild species B. incana, B. mollis, and D. tenuifolia showed more intense emission of isothiocyanates than cabbage and kale. Diplotaxis tenuifolia showed a rather limited production of nitriles. The results of this study contribute to the general knowledge about volatile composition from various Brassicaceae species, which could be exploited for their better valorization. Future studies should focus on the influence of various environmental, cultivation, and post-harvest factors to obtain data with a higher level of applicability in practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Substances and Volatiles in Developing Plants)
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14 pages, 2065 KiB  
Article
Rootstocks with Different Tolerance Grade to Citrus Tristeza Virus Induce Dissimilar Volatile Profile in Citrus sinensis and Avoidance Response in the Vector Aphis gossypii Glover
by Salvatore Guarino, Francesco Mercati, Sergio Fatta Del Bosco, Antonio Motisi and Loredana Abbate
Plants 2022, 11(24), 3426; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11243426 - 8 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1772
Abstract
The citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is an agent of devastating epidemics of the citrus plant grafted on Citrus aurantium, one of the main rootstocks still used in the Mediterranean area. Consequently, CTV-tolerant alternative citrus rootstocks are considered necessary to manage this disease and/or [...] Read more.
The citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is an agent of devastating epidemics of the citrus plant grafted on Citrus aurantium, one of the main rootstocks still used in the Mediterranean area. Consequently, CTV-tolerant alternative citrus rootstocks are considered necessary to manage this disease and/or its vector; that in Mediterranean countries is the aphid Aphis gossypii. In this study, we analyzed the VOCs emitted from Citrus sinensis plants grafted on the CTV-susceptible C. aurantium and on the CTV-tolerant Volkamer lemon, Forner-Alcaide no. 5, and Carrizo citrange. Furthermore, the aphid preference/avoidance response toward these combinations was evaluated in a semi-field experiment. The VOC profiles recorded on the leaves of C. sinensis grafted on the four rootstocks listed above showed significant differences in the abundances and ratios of the compounds emitted. The behavioral experiments indicated that A. gossypii prefers to orient and establish on the C. sinensis plants grafted on C. aurantium rather than on that grafted on the three CTV-tolerant varieties. The possibility that this avoidance mechanism is triggered by the different profile of the VOC emitted by the different combinations and the consequent susceptibility/tolerance shown toward CTV is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Substances and Volatiles in Developing Plants)
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15 pages, 2839 KiB  
Article
Metabolic Profiling and Antioxidant Analysis for the Juvenile Red Fading Leaves of Sweetpotato
by Jie Shi, Qiang Wu, Jiliang Deng, Kelly Balfour, Zhuo Chen, Yonghua Liu, Sunjeet Kumar, Yanli Chen, Zhixin Zhu and Guopeng Zhu
Plants 2022, 11(22), 3014; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223014 - 8 Nov 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2084
Abstract
Leaves of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) are promising healthy leafy vegetable. Juvenile red fading (JRF) leaves of sweetpotato, with anthocyanins in young leaves, are good candidates for developing functional vegetables. Here, metabolic profiling and possible antioxidants were analyzed for five leaf stages [...] Read more.
Leaves of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) are promising healthy leafy vegetable. Juvenile red fading (JRF) leaves of sweetpotato, with anthocyanins in young leaves, are good candidates for developing functional vegetables. Here, metabolic profiling and possible antioxidants were analyzed for five leaf stages of the sweetpotato cultivar “Chuanshan Zi”. The contents of anthocyanins, total phenolics, and flavonoids all declined during leaf maturation, corresponding to declining antioxidant activities. By widely targeted metabolomics, we characterized 449 metabolites belonging to 23 classes. A total of 193 secondary metabolites were identified, including 82 simple phenols, 85 flavonoids, 18 alkaloids, and eight terpenes. Analysis of the metabolic data indicates that the antioxidant capacity of sweetpotato leaves is the combined result of anthocyanins and many other colorless compounds. Increased levels of “chlorogenic acid methyl ester”, a compromised form of chlorogenic acid, significantly correlated with the declined antioxidant abilities. Besides anthocyanins, some significant metabolites contributing to the high antioxidant property of the sweetpotato leaves were highlighted, including chlorogenic acids, isorhamnetin glycosides, trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid methyl ester, 4-methoxycinnamic acid, esculetin, caffeate, and trigonelline. This study provides metabolic data for the utilization of sweetpotato leaves as food sources, and sheds light on the metabolomic change for JRF leaves of other plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Substances and Volatiles in Developing Plants)
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