Search Results (25)

In addition to the immature edible flower heads, the cultivation of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori) generates substantial quantities of by-products, including leaves, stems, and roots, which constitute potential sources of bioactive compounds and prebiotic dietary fiber. Preserving agricultural biodiversity and promoting socioeconomic development are essential for enhancing domestic production and fostering innovation. In the search for new biomolecules with antioxidant properties, this research focused on a globe artichoke landrace at risk of genetic erosion, still cultivated in the northern part of the Lazio region, known as the “Carciofo Ortano”. To investigate the antioxidant properties of various globe artichoke tissues from the “Carciofo Ortano” landrace, methanolic extracts were prepared from the immature main and secondary flower heads, stems, and leaves of representative genotypes of this landrace. Additionally, extracts were obtained from the same tissues of four landraces/clones included in the varietal platform of the PGI “Carciofo Romanesco del Lazio”, which served as reference genotypes: Campagnano, Castellammare, C3, and Grato 1. The antioxidant properties of these extracts were assessed using FRAP, ABTS, DPPH assays, and total phenolic content (TPC). The stem and secondary flower head extracts of two representative “Carciofo Ortano” genotypes and the Grato 1 clone, which have higher phenolic content, demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. These extracts were therefore studied for their chemical profile using HPLC-DAD and SPME-GC/MS analysis. Additionally, the same extracts were investigated in vitro for their antioxidant capacity in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, assessing their effects on ROS levels and the restoration of GSH levels. Furthermore, the in vivo beneficial effects of counteracting oxidative stress were evaluated in high sucrose-fed Drosophila melanogaster, as oxidative stress is a typical hallmark of hyperglycemic status. Overall, the results indicated that the edible immature inflorescences of the “Carciofo Ortano” landrace, along with the byproducts of its cultivation, are sources of raw materials containing biomolecules whose properties can be exploited for further applications in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors. Full article

Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) is an evergreen fruit tree of the apple tribe in Rosaceae with high edible and medicinal value. The yield and quality of loquat fruits are significantly influenced by environmental stress, particularly heat stress during fruit ripening. In this study, thirty EjHSFs were identified in the loquat genome. Twenty-nine EjHSFs were unevenly distributed across sixteen chromosomes, except Chr-6. A synteny analysis revealed that twenty-six EjHSF genes had undergone duplication events. Twenty-nine EjHSF genes were found to be in sync with HSF in apples while also diverging with other Rosaceae species. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that EjHSFs could be divided into three categories, including eighteen EjHSF-A, ten EjHSF-B, and two EjHSF-C. Twenty-nine members of the EjHSF family showed high homology to those of Malus domestica and Gillenia trifoliate. A promoter analysis retrieved thirty-three CAREs that were functionally relevant and connected to the expression of HSFs. Among these, the promoters of twenty-three EjHSF genes possessed at least one STRE element that could be activated by heat shock. Eleven of these EjHSFs were highly expressed in loquat tissues, namely EjHSF-B4a, EjHSF-A4a, EjHSF-A4d, and EjHSF-C1a in roots; EjHSF-B4b in roots and inflorescence; EjHSF-C1b in stems and roots; EjHSF-A2a in three tissues; EjHSF-A8b in four tissues; and EjHSF-A4c, EjHSF-B1a, and EjHSF-B2b in six tissues. Moreover, fifteen EjHSFs were differentially expressed (eleven upregulated and four downregulated) in fruits under heat stress treatment in the color-changing period. Among them, EjHSF-A2a and EjHSF-A2b upregulated transcriptional abundance over 300 times after heat treatment; EjHSF-B2b consistently displayed an increasing trend over time; and EjHSF-B1a was significantly downregulated. Hence, these results suggest that EjHSFs take part in loquat tissue development and may be involved in the fruit’s heat stress response. These findings enhance the understanding of EjHSFs’ role within loquats and the heat stress response of its fruit and provide target genes for heat stress improvement. Full article

Intense precipitations caused by global climate change will result in the occurrence of greater frequencies and longer durations of flooding, influencing the survival and yields of wetland plants. Alisma orientale (Samuel.) Juz., an important traditional medicine with edible scape and inflorescence, naturally grows in wetlands and artificially cultivates in paddy fields prone to flood in China. However, we lack understanding of the effect of complete submergence on A. orientale. Here, experiments with four durations of complete submergence including 5 days (ds), 10 ds, 15 ds and 20 ds followed by 20 ds recovery were performed. In the submergence experiments, the number of, length of and biomass of surviving leaves and the total biomass and new blade biomass were measured; in recovery experiments, number and length of surviving leaves were measured. A. orientale grew out longer new leaves during complete submergence, with a dramatic decline in the biomass of both the leaves and tubers as well as the total biomass at the ends of the submergence experiments. The A. orientale plants had a high survival rate after submergence. The duration of submergence did not influence the time for A. orientale needed to start regrowing. At the end of recovery period, the submerged A. orientale plants generated more leaves, had more surviving leaves, had shorter new leaves and a shorter total length of surviving leaves than the control plants. This study highlights that A. orientale plants can resist at least 20 ds of complete submergence caused by flooding and regrow rapidly after submergence and improves our understanding of the flooding tolerance mechanisms of A. orientale plants. Full article

Recently, neglected and underutilized species (NUS) have deservedly come to the forefront of scientific interest because they can contribute to the human nutrition, due to the content of bioactive substances such as antioxidants. Despite the great diversity and rich tradition in the use of Philippine NUS, the nutritional properties of many edible plants remain unexplored. The main objective of this study was to evaluate various parts of eleven NUS fruits and vegetables traditionally consumed in the Philippines, namely Allaeanthus luzonicus, Canarium ovatum, Dillenia philippinensis, Ficus pseudopalma, Flacourtia indica, Flacourtia inermis, Garcinia intermedia, Heliotropium arboreum, Posoqueria latifolia, Stelechocarpus burahol, and Sterculia quadrifida for their total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH and ORAC assays). Inflorescence of A. luzonicus (DPPH IC₅₀ = 91.0 μg/mL, ORAC IC₅₀ = 37.9 μg/mL) and fruit of S. burahol (DPPH IC₅₀ = 253.7 μg/mL, ORAC IC₅₀ = 32.2 μg/mL) showed the strongest antioxidant activity in both assays. These two species also had the highest TPC (202.1 and 133.0 µg GAE/mg extract, respectively). For all samples tested, a strong correlation was found between TPC and antioxidant activity. Based on our results, A. luzonicus and S. burahol have promising potential as novel antioxidant rich food. Full article

Idesia polycarpa Maxim is a high-value species of fruit oil with edible, abundant linoleic acid and polyphenols. Idesia polycarpa is described as a dioecious species, and the flowers are male; female and bisexual flowers are produced on separate plants. In order to explore the flower types of Idesia polycarpa, the morphology of its flowers and inflorescence were investigated in this study. The flower and inflorescence types, the diameter, and the flowering sequencing in male and female inflorescence were determined. We also detected the length, width, and fresh weight of leaves, shoots, and female inflorescence, as well as the length and fresh weight of the petiole during the development. Additionally, we compared the length, width, the length/width ratio, and the flowering density between 5- and 7-year-old female trees. The phenological period observation of Idesia polycarpa showed that the development process can be roughly divided into 12 stages, including bud burst, leaf expansion, inflorescence growth, initial flowering, full flowering, flower decline, initial fruiting, fruit enlargement, fruit color change, fruit ripening, post-ripening of fruit, and leaf fall periods. Furthermore, four elites’ fruit determined the oil content and the composition of fatty acid content during the development. The dynamic of fatty acids contents, the palrnitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid contents were detected during the fruit development of four elites. Moreover, the mineral elements content of fruit of four elites during development were determined. The patterns of vegetative and reproductive growth in young dioecious trees of Idesia polycarpa provided the theoretical basis for artificial pruning and training. Full article

Walnut trees are grown worldwide for their edible fruits, which have high nutritional value. To address climate change, researchers have studied walnut phenology to create cultivars adapted to warmer climates. The objective of this study is to propose a scale for phenological Persian walnut observations using the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, und CHemische Industrie (BBCH) codification and alignment with historical alphameric scales. Here, the principal growth stages (PGSs) of Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) are described using stages from a previously available alphanumeric scale. This standardised phenological scale describes Persian walnut growth from the dormant vegetative state through reproductive budding and senescence. This phenological scale is expected to increase the efficiency of walnut phenological monitoring. Fifty-seven stages are used to describe the life cycle of Persian walnut in this BBCH scale. Of these 57 stages, 3 stages are dedicated to seed germination (PGS-0), 4 stages are dedicated to bud development (PGS-0), 7 stages are dedicated to leaf development (PGS-1), 4 stages are dedicated to stem elongation (PGS-3), 8 stages are dedicated to inflorescence emergence (PGS-5), 5 stages are dedicated to male flowering (PGS-6), 5 stages are dedicated to female flowering (PGS-6), 5 stages are dedicated to fruit development (PGS-7), 12 stages are dedicated to fruit ripening (PGS-8), and 4 stages are dedicated to leaf senescence (PGS-9). Full article

In Mexico, the tradition of consuming flowers dates to pre-Columbian times, and flower consumption persists today; however, this practice is typically unknown outside the regions where flowers are used in local gastronomy. The aim of this work was to evaluate the variation in polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity in inflorescence samples. Samples of izote (Yucca filifera), maguey pulquero (Agave salmiana), cuachepil or guachepil (Diphysa americana), and tepejilote or pacaya (Chamaedorea tepejilote) were collected from different communities and regions of Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2022. Specifically, ten to eleven inflorescence samples were collected per species, and their polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity were evaluated using UV–visible spectrophotometry and reference standards. Significant differences were detected between and within samples depending on their geographical origin (collection locations); the environment and site influenced the composition of the samples for each species. Across all species, significant and positive correlations of the polyphenol and flavonoid contents were identified with the antioxidant activity detected via the DPPH and FRAP methods. The high variability in phenolic compound contents and antioxidant activity within each species shows that the nutritional and nutraceutical potential of flowers may complement diets at the family and communitarian levels. Full article

Hibiscus syriacus belongs to the Malvaceae family, and is a plant with medicinal, edible, and greening values. MADS-box transcription factor is a large family of regulatory factors involved in a variety of biological processes in plants. Here, we performed a genome-wide characterization of MADS-box proteins in H. syriacus and investigated gene structure, phylogenetics, cis-acting elements, three-dimensional structure, gene expression, and protein interaction to identify candidate MADS-box genes that mediate petal developmental regulation in H. syriacus. A total of 163 candidate MADS-box genes were found and classified into type I (Mα, Mβ, and Mγ) and type II (MIKC and Mδ). Analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoter region showed that most elements were correlated to plant hormones. The analysis of nine HsMADS expressions of two different H. syriacus cultivars showed that they were differentially expressed between two type flowers. The analysis of protein interaction networks also indicated that MADS proteins played a crucial role in floral organ identification, inflorescence and fruit development, and flowering time. This research is the first to analyze the MADS-box family of H. syriacus and provides an important reference for further study of the biological functions of the MADS-box, especially in flower organ development. Full article

Cauliflower is a nutritious vegetable with inflorescences that are specialized to form the edible organs called curds. Uncovering key genes underlying important traits is crucial for the genetic improvement of this important crop. However, the genetic basis of many important agronomic traits, including curd performance and plant architecture in cauliflower, remains unclear. GWASs have proved to be powerful tools to study agronomic traits in many crops. To reveal the genetic basis of four important agronomic traits, namely, the main stem height (MSH), purplish curd (PC), external leaf wing (ELW) and weight of a single curd (WSC), we selected 220 core accessions of loose-curd cauliflower for resequencing, phenotypic investigation and GWAS. The approach revealed significant novel loci. We detected several significant associations: on C02 for MSH and PC, on C06 for ELW and on C01 for WSC. More interestingly, we identified a significant single-peak signal for the weight of a single curd (WSC), an important yield trait, and within this signal interval, we identified the BOB01G136670 gene with five SNPs encoding nonsynonymous mutations in the CDS region; these mutations resulted in two haplotypes with significant differences in curd weight. The weight of a single curd was significantly increased in the varieties with the BOB01G136670 ^Hap1 allele compared to those with BOB01G136670 ^Hap2. BOB01G136670 was highly conserved with the homologous genes that encode serine carboxypeptidase and belong to the S10 family in other species, including GS5, which functions as a positive regulator of grain size in rice, wheat and maize. Additionally, BOB01G136670 was highly expressed specifically at the curd enlargement stage, with low or even no expression at all in other tissues and stages, indicating that BOB01G136670 is a plausible candidate gene for WSC. Overall, this study identified genomic loci for four important agronomic traits that are relevant for accelerating biological breeding and the improvement of cauliflower varieties. Full article

Edible Macadamia is one of the most important commercial nut trees cultivated in many countries, but its large tree size and long juvenile period pose barriers to commercial cultivation. The short domestication period and well-annotated genome of Macadamia integrifolia create great opportunities to breed commercial varieties with superior traits. Recent studies have shown that members of the phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family play pivotal roles in regulating plant architecture and flowering time in various plants. In this study, thirteen members of MiPEBP were identified in the genome of M. integrifolia, and they are highly similarity in both motif and gene structure. A phylogenetic analysis divided the MiPEBP genes into three subfamilies: MFT-like, FT-like and TFL1-like. We subsequently identified two TERMINAL FLOWER 1 homologues from the TFL1-like subfamily, MiTFL1 and MiTFL1-like, both of which were highly expressed in stems and vegetative shoots, while MiTFL1-like was highly expressed in young leaves and early flowers. A subcellular location analysis revealed that both MiTFL1 and MiTFL1-like are localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The ectopic expression of MiTFL1 can rescue the early-flowering and terminal-flower phenotypes in the tfl1–14 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, and it indicates the conserved functions in controlling the inflorescence architecture and flowering time. This study will provide insight into the isolation of PEBP family members and the key targets for breeding M. integrifolia with improved traits in plant architecture and flowering time. Full article

Abelmoschus manihot L. (A. manihot) has received more and more attention due to its potential edible and medicinal value. It shows higher yield and related fine agronomic traits suitable for disadvantaged areas and low-input planting. However, a systemic description of the phenological growth stages of A. manihot, an alternative, multipurpose crop of worldwide interest, does not exist. This study aims to detail the phenological growth stages of A. manihot based on the BBCH scale. Nine principal growth stages were described from seed germination to senescence, along with 69 secondary growth stages, including germination, leaf development, formation of side shoots, primary stem elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, maturation of fruit and seed, and senescence. However, the morphology and structure of A. manihot become complex with growth, and some growth stages, like inflorescence development, flowering, fruit development, and fruit maturation, overlap totally or partially with each other. Thus, the three-digit scale is considered necessary for a complementary description of these growth stages and illustrations for clarification. Moreover, the unique morphology and structure features of the pistil, stamen, and ovary and the development process of fruits and seeds were described in detail at different stages. The basic and extended BBCH scales will add new information on defining and identifying A. manihot phenological growth stages. They will help farmers efficiently schedule and manage A. manihot cultivation and improve knowledge dissemination among growers and researchers. Full article

Steroids and triterpenoids are compounds valued for their various biological and pharmacological properties; however, their content in medicinal and edible plants is often understudied. Flowers have been consumed since the ancient times as a part of traditional cuisine and as alternative medicines. Currently, the interest in medicinal and edible flowers is growing since contemporary consumers are incessantly seeking innovative natural sources of bioactive compounds. The aim of this report was the GC-MS (gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry) analysis of steroid and triterpenoid content in flowers, inflorescences and leaves of several plants (Berberis vulgaris L., Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC., Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill., Rosa rugosa Thunb., Sambucus nigra L. and Vinca minor L.), applied in herbal medicine in various forms, including isolated flowers (Flos), inflorescences (Inflorescentia) or aerial parts (Herba, i.e., combined flowers, leaves and stems). The most abundant source of triterpenoids was V. minor flowers (6.3 mg/g d.w.), whereas the steroids were prevailing in P. vulgaris flowers (1.8 and 1.1 mg/g). The profiles of triterpenoid acids and neutral triterpenoids in C. laevigata and S. nigra inflorescences were particularly diverse, involving compounds belonging to lupane-, oleanane- and ursane-type skeletons. The obtained results revealed that some flowers can constitute an abundant source of phytosterols and bioactive triterpenoids, valuable for utilization in functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetic products. Full article

Obesity, a rising concern in the Eastern world, encompasses several co-morbidities, namely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Potential natural-based interventions to decrease the burden of obesity complications are being investigated. Many of the edible parts of plants are not sold for consumption and end up as massive waste, losing nutritional potential. In fact, a sizeable amount of waste is generated within the different steps of the food supply chain, representing a massive loss of both plant material and natural resources. A good example is Brassica by-products (BBPs). The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of three different extracts from broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica) by-products in an in vitro model of free fatty acid (FFA)-induced lipotoxicity using human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Broccoli leaf, stalk, and inflorescence extracts induced a dose-dependent decrease in the cell viability of HepG2 cells. However, the maximal non-lethal concentrations of leaves, stalks, and inflorescences (10 μg/mL) did not compromise mitochondrial function or neutral lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. The extracts significantly decreased FFA-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells either in a co-incubation or pre-incubation strategy. The broccoli extracts’ capacity to prevent the FFA-induced decrease in catalase activity in HepG2 may explain the observed effects. Full article

Trachyandra divaricata (Sandkool) is one of the most abundant wild edible inflorescence vegetables in South Africa. The dearth of literature on its edibility, nutrient composition, and conservation has contributed to its underutilisation. This study investigated mineral and proximate content, phytochemical compositions, and growth response of T. divaricata to light intensity and soilless media. Treatments comprised four media (LECA clay, silica sand, peat, and vermiculite) which were subjected to different shade levels (no shade, 20, 40, 60, and 80%) created from a factory-made 20% density net by doubling (40%), tripling (60%), and quadrupling (80%). All treatments were irrigated with a standard nutrient solution. The results showed that the treatments impacted the yield of T. divaricata significantly in terms of biomass and flower buds, especially in plants cultivated in peat under normal greenhouse lighting (no shade). Conversely, plants developed significantly more specific leaf size and total chlorophyll content under shade levels (20, 40, 60, and 80%) in different growth media, even though the values were comparable among treatments. The highest Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Mn levels were consistently recorded in flowers of T. divaricata grown in LECA clay under 80% shade level, while other minerals varied in tested treatments. The peat medium under 20% shade optimised the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content of the flowers, whereas both fat and protein contents were greatly enhanced by peat and vermiculite, respectively, under the 80% shade. Consistently, the lowest phytochemical contents were recorded in LECA clay subjected to 80% shade, whereas the highest polyphenols and DPPH antioxidants were produced by silica sand medium treated with 20% shade. Both TEAC and FRAP antioxidants were improved significantly in LECA clay under no shade and the 60% shade level. However, both 20% and 60% shade levels enhanced the flavonol content significantly. On the basis of these findings, T. divaricata is a promising inflorescent vegetable that may be considered for domestication and further research due to its potential pharmacological and nutraceutical values. Full article

Brassica napus is an important crop for edible oil, vegetables, biofuel, and animal food. It is also an ornamental crop for its various petal colors. Flavonoids are a group of secondary metabolites with antioxidant activities and medicinal values, and are important to plant pigmentation, disease resistance, and abiotic stress responses. The yellow seed coat, purple leaf and inflorescence, and colorful petals of B. napus have been bred for improved nutritional value, tourism and city ornamentation. The putative loci and genes regulating flavonoid biosynthesis in B. napus have been identified using germplasms with various seed, petal, leaf, and stem colors, or different flavonoid contents under stress conditions. This review introduces the advances of flavonoid profiling, biosynthesis, and regulation during development and stress responses of B. napus, and hopes to help with the breeding of B. napus with better quality, ornamental value, and stress resistances. Full article