Search Results (2,711)

Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a dietary flavanonol known for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, has been connected to mitochondrial homeostasis, yet how it engages mitochondrial quality control during aging has not been resolved. This study examined DHM’s effects on lifespan, neuronal integrity, resistance to oxidative stress, mitochondrial status, and lipid handling in Caenorhabditis elegans. DHM (50–200 μM) extended mean lifespan by 9.1–15.0%, reduced age-related degeneration of ALM (anterior lateral microtubule) and PLM (posterior lateral microtubule) touch-receptor neurons, and preserved locomotor and anterior touch-response performance into later adulthood. Survival after juglone challenge improved with DHM treatment, and the compound showed robust 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical-scavenging activity. DHM modestly lowered tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) fluorescence. In a separate cohort assessed under a different exposure schedule, the mtDNA copy number did not differ significantly from that of the vehicle. DHM also increased GFP-negative/mCherry-positive mitochondrial puncta in ALM neurons, patterns consistent with a shifted mitochondrial energetic state and greater mitochondrial trafficking to acidic degradative compartments. The neuroprotective effect persisted in ucp-4(ok195) mutants but was not statistically detected in pink-1(tm1779); pdr-1(gk448) double mutants; since a formal cross-genotype interaction test was not performed, this pattern is treated as hypothesis-generating rather than definitive evidence of pathway dependency. DHM lowered intestinal lipid stores, suppressed fat-5, fat-6, and fat-7 expression, and modestly upregulated atfs-1. Neither the SOD-3 nor GST-4 canonical reporters showed significant induction, and DHM’s lifespan-extending effect was retained in daf-16(mu86) mutants, with an exploratory Cox model providing no evidence of a genotype × dose interaction. Together, these findings indicate that DHM is associated with healthspan-related phenotypes alongside a coordinated pattern of redox regulation, mitochondrial quality-control responses, and metabolic adjustment. Full article

Background/Objectives: The gut microbiota acts on two cardiovascular risk factors that are open to intervention: circulating cholesterol and TMAO, which derives from bacterial conversion of dietary choline to trimethylamine. We characterised Bifidobacterium breve BR03 (DSM 16604), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP14 (DSM 33401) and Limosilactobacillus reuteri LRE11 (DSM 33827), candidate components of a cardiometabolic formulation. Genomic profiling across seven functional categories was combined with an in vitro assessment of cholesterol removal. Methods: Whole-genome screening was used to identify genes related to oxidative stress resistance, adhesion, cholesterol-related functions (including bsh), folate biosynthesis, immune-interface functions and degradation of anti-nutritional factors. In addition, an in vitro assay assessed cholesterol removal from the medium. Results: All three strains carry bsh at 90.7–100% identity, along with core adhesion determinants and antioxidant systems, and all three are genetically incapable of generating trimethylamine: neither cutC nor cntA is present in assemblies that are essentially complete (100% for LP14, 99.5% for LRE11, closed and optically validated for BR03). The three repertoires then diverge. LP14 provides near-complete folate biosynthesis, the broadest set of surface and immune-interface genes, a choline kinase homologue at 99.6% and putative matches to choXWV. BR03 contributes the widest range of enzymes degrading anti-nutritional factors. BR03 and LRE11 remove the most cholesterol in vitro. Conclusions: The three strains cover complementary metabolic and surface functions while sharing a safety-relevant feature: none can contribute to TMAO formation. This profile makes them suitable candidates for a combined cardiometabolic formulation, whose clinical application will be tested in a planned clinical study. Full article

Gamma irradiation is widely used for microbial decontamination and preservation of plant-derived materials intended for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The effects of gamma irradiation (1, 5, and 10 kGy) on free radical formation, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and polyphenolic composition of Prunella vulgaris L. leaves (LS) and fruit spikes with flowers (FS) were investigated. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to characterize radiation-induced free radicals and evaluate free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) by the DPPH assay. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined spectrophotometrically, and individual phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC. Gamma irradiation of P. vulgaris induced a singlet signal superimposed on the semiquinone radical signal, while the characteristic cellulose satellite peaks were not detected. The radiation-generated radicals gradually decayed during storage, approaching the natural radical level after approximately 120 days. Irradiation did not significantly affect the FRSA of leaves but induced a dose-dependent response in fruit spikes, with decreased FRSA at 5 kGy and increased activity at 10 kGy. HPLC analysis revealed irradiation-induced changes in the phenolic profile, including degradation of some phenolic compounds and accumulation of others. The results demonstrate that the effects of gamma irradiation on P. vulgaris are dose- and plant organ-dependent and that antioxidant activity is influenced primarily by qualitative changes in phenolic composition. Full article

Hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum) is a nutritious cereal but suffers from prolonged cooking and asynchronous gelatinization with rice. Pre-gelatinization technology can address these issues, yet optimal processing parameters are needed to preserve its bioactive components. This study optimized the infiltration and drying processes for pre-gelatinized hulless barley rice. Infiltration cycles and durations were evaluated using sensory scores, texture analysis, and gelatinization degree; drying temperatures (80–160 °C) and times were optimized based on quality and nutrient retention. Secondary infiltration for 4 h significantly outperformed traditional soaking, yielding higher retention of polyphenols (130.73 mg/100 g), flavonoids (50.01 mg/100 g), and β-glucan (2.96%). Drying at 80–100 °C for 90–120 min produced the best sensory and textural properties, maximal retention of polyphenols (128.46 mg/100 g), flavonoids (45 mg/100 g), β-glucan (3.1%), and reducing sugars (482.84 mg/100 g at 80 °C/120 min), and the highest DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities. Higher temperatures (≥120 °C) caused significant degradation of these functional components and reduced antioxidant capacity. The optimal combination—secondary infiltration for 4 h followed by drying at 80–100 °C for 90–120 min—effectively balances processing efficiency with nutritional and functional quality. This optimized process provides a practical technical solution for large-scale production of high-quality pre-gelatinized hulless barley rice. Full article

Drought stress is one of the most damaging abiotic stressors impacting global agricultural productivity and soil ecosystem integrity, especially in the semi-arid and arid areas. Drought results in a cascade of physiological and biochemical disturbances in plants, such as inhibition of photosynthesis, loss of turgor pressure, and impairment of osmoregulation, while also causing a degradation of soil health through losses in organic carbon, nutrient availability, and microbial community structure. This calls for integrated soil management approaches that can restore soil health and support plant resilience simultaneously under water-limited conditions. Biochar, generated through the thermal decomposition of agro-waste materials under oxygen-limited conditions, represents a promising circular bioeconomy strategy for valorizing agricultural residues into high-value soil amendments. Biochar is widely known to enhance the physicochemical properties of soils, including water retention, cation exchange capacity, and microbial habitat provision. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been established as an environmentally friendly means of enhancing plant growth through phytohormone production, ACC deaminase activity, and antioxidant enzyme activation under stressed conditions. The combined application of biochar and PGPR has garnered considerable scientific attention due to their complementary modes of action and, in some cases, beneficial combined effects. Several studies reported significant improvement in plant water status, photosynthetic efficiency, osmoregulation, soil enzyme activity, and nutrient retention. This article summarizes the present research on the soil and physiological effects of drought stress before exploring the basic mechanisms of biochar–PGPR interaction and their combined efficacy under drought conditions. Furthermore, the review calls attention to the future research priorities, such as field-scale validation, region-specific formulation development, and omics-based mechanistic investigations to maximize the full potential of PGPR and biochar combined as a sustainable approach for alleviating drought stress. Full article

Waste seed melon processing by-products are rich in bioactive polysaccharides. Nevertheless, their high moisture content and perishability restrict the high-value utilization of these polysaccharides. In this study, four pretreatment drying methods, namely sun drying (SD), 55 °C hot-air drying (HAD), weak microwave-assisted hot-air drying (WMHAD), and vacuum freeze drying (VFD), were adopted to investigate the effects of drying methods on the quality characteristics of dried seed melon, as well as the structural characteristics (micromorphology, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight distribution, and functional groups), biological activities (antioxidant capacity, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity), and gastrointestinal stability of seed melon polysaccharides (SMPs). The structure–activity relationship of SMPs was further elucidated. The results showed that none of the four drying methods disrupted the glycosidic backbone of polysaccharides, only altering the molar ratios of monosaccharides. VFD preserved the loose structure of pulp; VFD-SMP possessed the highest weight-average molecular weight and galacturonic acid content and exhibited optimal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and gastrointestinal stability. HAD induced polysaccharide degradation, and HAD-SMP displayed the strongest antioxidant capacity. WMHAD-SMP exerted prominent pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. The SD-treated samples exhibited the lowest polysaccharide extraction yield as well as the poorest overall biological activities. This work may provide a preliminary theoretical basis and data reference for the targeted preparation of functional polysaccharides from seed melon processing by-products. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) not only significantly threatens crop growth and food safety but also degrades soil quality and reduces microbial activity. Hydrochar is a carbon-rich material derived from biomass via hydrothermal carbonisation, due to its large specific surface area and abundant surface functional groups, shows great potential for immobilisation remediation of Cd-contaminated soils. We determined hydrochar’s (1) optimal application conditions for soil Cd immobilisation and (2) regulatory effects on foxtail millet growth and development, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, resistance gene expression and Cd accumulation. Hydrochar was prepared at two temperatures (240 and 160 °C) and applied at two concentrations (1% and 2%). Hydrochar application reduced soil available Cd by 4.59–10.09% and shifted Cd fractions from acetic acid-extractable to residual forms. Soil organic matter (SOM) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increased. Hydrochar application increased plant antioxidant enzyme activity, downregulated SiNRAMP5 and SiHMA2 and upregulated SiHMA3, SiPCS1 and SiMT2. Hydrochar prepared at 240 °C and applied at a 2% concentration exhibited the highest efficiency in immobilising Cd, enhancing plant photosynthesis and antioxidant defence, activating soil microorganisms and increasing SOM and MBC, offering a promising remediation strategy for weakly alkaline Cd-contaminated farmland in northern China. Full article

Tyrosol and kynurenic acid (KYNA) are natural antioxidants with complementary radical-scavenging and photo-absorbing properties, but their combined performance in a cosmetic formulation has not been reported. We developed an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion containing tyrosol, KYNA, or a 1:1 mixture, using an unloaded emulsion as control. Formulations were evaluated for four weeks at 4, 25, and 40 °C using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, spreadability, centrifugation, pH, DPPH antioxidant activity, HPLC quantification and release through a dialysis membrane; compositional stability was assessed by elemental (CHN) analysis. Chemical equilibrium parameters showed a consistent trend: the first week represented a maturation phase, likely reflecting redistribution of actives within the matrix, followed by a stable equilibrium state. The results are therefore discussed as initial versus equilibrated conditions. At equilibrium, the binary formulation maintained a skin-compatible pH (4.40 ± 0.04) with lower variability than single-active systems. HPLC confirmed nominal loading without degradation (0.89 ± 0.08% tyrosol, 0.97 ± 0.10% KYNA, and 1.00 ± 0.18% total in the mixture). DPPH analysis of standards revealed cooperative antioxidant enhancement in the mixture, exceeding the activity of either compound alone. In the creams, this produced a modest but reproducible antioxidant effect (9.00 ± 3.94%, 8.91 ± 3.56%, and 7.02 ± 3.59% inhibition for tyrosol, KYNA, and the mixture, respectively, versus 0.67 ± 4.80% for the control). The mixture showed a significant sub-additive interaction only at 4 °C (p = 0.014). Mechanical stability depended mainly on storage temperature: centrifugation-induced phase separation increased from 8% to 28% between weeks 2 and 4 and was largely prevented at room temperature or above. In the dialysis model, the mixture markedly increased tyrosol release while reducing KYNA release, a behavior tentatively attributed to proton-exchange/keto–enol interactions. Overall, room temperature was the optimal storage condition, and the tyrosol-KYNA combination emerged as a stable, skin-compatible antioxidant system for topical application. Full article

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, urban pollution and depletion of cutaneous antioxidant reserves are interconnected drivers of photoaging, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation, mitochondrial dysfunction and dermal extracellular matrix degradation. Plant polyphenols can counteract these processes, but topical efficacy is limited by chemical instability, polarity-driven partitioning and a hostile stratum corneum delivery interface. Here we report a green nanostructured lipid carrier co-loading a phenolic-rich jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora) peel extract and caffeine (NLC-JC), engineered with Amazonian lipids (Astrocaryum murumuru butter and Orbignya phalerata oil) and stabilized by a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NaDES)-like microenvironment. Methods: UPLC profiling was used to determine the polyphenolic composition of the extract. Physicochemical characterization included hydrodynamic diameter and PDI, ζ-potential, lipid matrix organization (XRD) and morphology (TEM), as well as colloidal stability over 30 days. Cytotoxicity was assessed in SH-4 melanocytes (ISO 10993-5) and in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos (96-h IC₅₀, GHS acute hazard threshold). Functional antioxidant and photoprotective activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, and by attenuation of UVC- and H₂O₂-induced anion superoxide generation, alongside assessment of cellular and nuclear morphology under combined oxidative stress. Results: UPLC profiling revealed a polyphenolic fingerprint dominated by ellagic acid (476.8 ± 19.7 µg g⁻¹), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (90.9 ± 4.6 µg g⁻¹), quercetin (83.7 ± 1.4 µg g⁻¹), cyanidin-3-glucoside (73.0 ± 1.2 µg g⁻¹) and protocatechuic acid (68.2 ± 2.2 µg g⁻¹), bioactives with documented anti-MMP, NF-κB-suppressing and ROS-scavenging activities. Optimized NLC-JC showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 56.1 nm (PDI = 0.131), negative ζ-potential, amorphous lipid matrix (XRD) and spherical morphology (TEM, ≈150–200 nm electron-dense particles), with 30-day colloidal stability. NLC-JC exhibited low cytotoxicity in SH-4 melanocytes (IC₅₀ = 2304 μg mL⁻¹), preserving ≥70% viability across the cosmetically relevant range (ISO 10993-5), and a 96-h LC₅₀ of 2013 μg mL⁻¹ in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, three orders of magnitude above the GHS acute hazard threshold (100 mg L⁻¹). Functionally, NLC-JC produced ≈50% DPPH radical scavenging at concentrations comparable to ascorbic acid, attenuated UVC- and H₂O₂-induced anion superoxide generation and preserved cellular and nuclear morphology under combined oxidative stress. Conclusion: These data position NLC-JC as a safe-by-design, multifunctional dermocosmetic platform combining agro-industrial valorization with mechanism-anchored photoprotection. Full article

Lactococcus garvieae DZ is a specialized fermentation strain isolated from raw water buffalo milk, previously shown to exhibit excellent fermentation performance and significantly enhance the flavor and nutritional quality of butter. To elucidate the molecular basis of these properties, this study employed a combination of second- and third-generation sequencing technologies to complete whole-genome sequencing and functional annotation. The genome consists of one circular chromosome (2.15 Mb, GC content 38.81%) and three plasmids, encoding a total of 2123 genes. Through annotation against KEGG, CAZy, and other databases, this study systematically identified flavor-forming pathways including lactose degradation, glycolysis, diacetyl synthesis, and short- and medium-chain fatty acid accumulation, providing a molecular explanation for the explosive accumulation of characteristic flavor compounds (2,3-butanedione reached 6188 μg·kg⁻¹). The presence of oleate hydratase is consistent with the decrease in oleic acid proportion. Lipolytic enzymes and the antioxidant system may facilitate the release and oxidative protection of unsaturated fatty acids, thereby contributing to the overall increase in PUFAs and MUFAs such as CLA. Genes identified in the genome—including those encoding Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters, bile salt hydrolase, and molecular chaperone systems—are consistent with the strain’s excellent gastrointestinal tolerance (94.75% survival at pH 3.0 and 40.43% survival in 0.3% bile salts); the annotation of the β-galactosidase gene also corresponded to its measured enzymatic activity (0.271 U·mL⁻¹). From a safety perspective, no transferable antibiotic resistance genes or typical virulence factors were identified in the genome. Although a hemolysin III gene was annotated, its encoded product is annotated only as a predicted membrane protein and lacks a known toxin catalytic domain; blood agar plate assays confirmed that strain DZ exhibits γ-hemolysis (non-hemolytic), with phenotype consistent with genotype, ruling out the risk of hemolytic virulence. This study elucidates, at the genomic level, the genetic basis underlying the superior fermentation performance, probiotic properties, and safety of strain DZ, providing a theoretical foundation for its industrial application. Full article

Conventional non-degradable plastic films used in postharvest packaging cause environmental pollution and offer limited functionality for extending shelf life. The booming Camellia oleifera oil industry generates massive tea shell waste, whose improper disposal is both a resource loss and an opportunity for developing biodegradable active packaging. Here, alkali-extracted xylan (AX) and tea saponin (TS) were blended with PVA to prepare TS/AX/PVA composite films. The optimized films exhibited low moisture content (10.39%), reduced water solubility (0.35%), enhanced UV-blocking and water vapor-barrier properties, near-complete visual disintegration within 30 days of soil burial (visual soil-burial assessment only), and elongation at break up to 330.81%. The incorporation of AX improved the mechanical strength and degradability of the PVA matrix, while TS imparted antioxidant and antibacterial activities, yielding better hydrophobicity, higher tensile strength, and enhanced antibacterial performance than neat PVA. In fresh strawberry preservation, the 6% TS/AX/PVA film retarded quality deterioration, maintaining 18.43% lower relative conductivity than the control, 0.51% titratable acidity, and 26.64 mg/100 g vitamin C (71.21% higher than the PE group) on day 10. This study converts agricultural by-products into biodegradable functional films and suggests a plausible, but not directly measured, preservation mechanism that requires verification, offering a promising substitute for conventional packaging plastics. Full article

In this work, the content of recycled polyethylene (rPE) and pigment (Cp), the antioxidant content (CAO) and ratio (RAO), and the peak internal air temperature (PIAT) of the rotational-molding cycle were optimized. Their combined influence on the mechanical, thermal, acoustic, and surface properties of the composites was studied by the probabilistic–deterministic planning method, which reduced the number of experiments from 3125 to 25. Internal stresses were monitored non-destructively through the third-harmonic amplitude (β) of the ultrasonic signal (mirror-shadow method), supported by mechanical testing, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and porosity characterization; weather resistance was assessed by accelerated ultraviolet (UV)-B aging for 333 and 666 h, treated as conditional 5- and 10-year service horizons for Northern Kazakhstan rather than as a literal calendar equivalence. The third-harmonic β was shown to be a sensitive correlational marker of internal stresses (R = 0.81 for the mean failure energy (MFE), Fisher-criterion validated), correlating with the elastic modulus, the impact strength, and the environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR), and tracking the transition between incomplete (ICS), normal (NS), and thermo-oxidative degradation (TDS) sintering; the correlational nature of this evidence is discussed. For products without UV exposure, the optimal formulation (rPE = 25%, PIAT ≈ 200 °C, Cp = 0.1–0.2%, CAO = 0.25–0.5%, RAO = 0.5–1.0) gave a minimum β (0.076–0.09), MFE ≈ 2.6 J/mm, and 2.5–3% porosity; for sun-exposed products, rPE = 25%, Cp = 0.5%, CAO = 0.5–0.75%, and RAO = 1.0 are recommended. An rPE content of up to 50% did not significantly impair thermal stability or surface hydrophobicity, and a nomogram CAO = f(β,rPE) was developed for rapid formulation selection and quality control. Full article

Mulberry anthocyanins are promising natural pigments and bioactive compounds, but their efficient recovery is limited by processing-induced degradation. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-assisted ultrasound extraction was investigated for recovering anthocyanins from Morus nigra fruits. Four PEG grades (PEG 200, 300, 400, and 600) were initially screened, after which PEG 200 was selected for process optimization using response surface methodology with a central composite design. The effects of PEG concentration, extraction time, ultrasonic power, and temperature on total monomeric anthocyanin content were evaluated. The optimized conditions were 75% PEG 200, 18 min, 420 W, and 40 °C, yielding 515.78 ± 0.53 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents/100 g dry weight. C18 solid-phase extraction was subsequently used to obtain an anthocyanin-enriched fraction for spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric characterization. FT-IR analysis indicated functional groups consistent with phenolic and glycosidic constituents, while UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS enabled the tentative annotation of five anthocyanin-related compounds. The optimized crude extract exhibited antioxidant, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory and antibacterial activities under the respective in-vitro assay conditions. Anthocyanin retention was higher under dark and low-temperature conditions than under fluorescent illumination and elevated temperatures. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of PEG 200-assisted ultrasound extraction for recovering anthocyanin-rich mulberry extracts and provide complementary information on their chemical characteristics, in-vitro bioactivities, and stability. Full article

Marine environments and UV radiation severely degrade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) aquaculture pipes. This study introduces a novel empirical framework integrating physicochemical data with COMSOL Multiphysics to predict the long-term, heterogeneous degradation of modified HDPE over a 50-year service life. To enhance weatherability, HDPE was compounded with a UV absorber (UV531) and an antioxidant (AO1010). Simulation results show that the optimal formulation (1% UV531) retains a tensile strength of 26.3 MPa after 50 years—a 17% reduction versus 29% for additive-free control. This performance stems from UV531 absorbing 240–340 nm radiation, whereas AO1010’s long-term effect was negligible. Crucially, COMSOL captured a surface-to-core oxidation gradient and non-uniform degradation, providing more realistic structural predictions than conventional homogeneous models. Importantly, by coupling empirical kinetics (G₀ and k_d) from a 15-year equivalent accelerated exposure (5.0 GJ m⁻²) with seawater diffusion (1.77 × 10⁻¹³ m²/s) in COMSOL, a comprehensive 50-year time-dependent degradation prediction across the pipe wall was achieved. This simulation-driven strategy establishes a robust, highly efficient approach to optimizing material longevity for sustainable marine applications. Full article

Preservation of plant genetic resources has become crucial for agricultural sustainability, particularly for vegetatively propagated crops like garlic. Modern agricultural practices, monoculture farming, environmental degradation, and climate change have led to genetic erosion, and there is growing interest in traditional garlic varieties, which may harbor superior traits. Despite being an asexually propagated crop, garlic exhibits a diverse range of ecotypes in phenotypic and agronomic characteristics. This study analyzed 77 garlic accessions from Istria and Kvarner, Dalmatia, Continental Croatia, and other countries, examining morphological traits alongside biochemical properties, namely allicin content, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (with ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay). Morphological analysis categorized the accessions into two distinct morphotypes, which did not differ significantly in any biochemical parameter. In contrast, accession provenance was associated with differences in TPC and FRAP, with the highest values in accessions from Istria and Kvarner; in 2018/2019, these reached 820.8 mg GAE/100 g DW (TPC) and 354.6 µmol TE/100 g DW (FRAP), significantly exceeding Continental Croatia (494.1 and 180.4, respectively). This regional pattern varied between the two vegetation years. DPPH and allicin content instead differed between the two vegetation years, with DPPH increasing markedly from 2018/2019 to 2019/2020 (from 358.1 to 892.2 µmol TE/100 g DW in QlG1 and from 380.6 to 836.3 µmol TE/100 g DW in QlG2). These results indicate that, in this collection, morphotype was not a reliable predictor of biochemical quality in garlic and underscore the importance of combining morphological and biochemical assessment in germplasm conservation and breeding programs. Full article