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Keywords = eggplant peels

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14 pages, 4662 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Antioxidant and Protective Effects of Fermented Solanum melongena L. Peel Extracts Against Ultraviolet B-Induced Skin Damage
by Joo Hwa Lee, Jinsick Kim, Yu Chang Jo, Yun Hoo Jo, Yeong Hwan Jeong, Soo Ah Jeong, Beong Ou Lim and Dong Wook Shin
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050847 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 962
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The skin, being the body’s outermost organ, plays a vital role in protecting against various external stimuli. Ultraviolet generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inducing collagen degradation. Many studies have been conducted to identify [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The skin, being the body’s outermost organ, plays a vital role in protecting against various external stimuli. Ultraviolet generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inducing collagen degradation. Many studies have been conducted to identify natural substances that can prevent or delay the harmful effects of UV. Methods: A wound healing assay, DCF-DA reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and JC-1 assay were performed to assess the effects of bio-converted eggplant peels (BEPs) on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Western blot analysis was also conducted to understand the underlying mechanisms for their effects. Finally, hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were also performed in animal studies. Results: Our study evaluated the antioxidant efficacy of BEPs fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-HDFs and UVB-induced skin damage in hairless mice. We demonstrated that BEPs exhibited enhanced antioxidant properties compared to non-fermented eggplant peels (EPs). BEPs facilitated wound healing in H2O2-damaged HDFs, reduced ROS levels, and restored mitochondrial membrane potential. BEPs suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and JNK as their underlying mechanism. We further demonstrated that dietary supplementation of BEPs also downregulated matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) expression and upregulated collagen I (COL1) in UVB-damaged hairless mice, indicating that BEPs were more effective compared to EPs. Conclusions: Our studies suggest that BEPs fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum hold significant potential as a protective agent for mitigating UVB-induced damage and promoting skin health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Relationships between Dietary Factors and Inflammatory Skin Diseases)
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20 pages, 6189 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Genes in Eggplant Under Low Temperature and Weak Light
by Baoying Shen, Hongqi Wu, Xinxin Xie, Bo Zhao, Peiqiang Chen, Deyong Ao, Heli Pan and Biying Lin
Plants 2025, 14(3), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030478 - 6 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1113
Abstract
Low temperature, weak light, and the combination of low temperature and weak light can have an impact on the growth, development, and quality of eggplants. The color of the eggplant peel is affected by the anthocyanin content. To better understand the influence of [...] Read more.
Low temperature, weak light, and the combination of low temperature and weak light can have an impact on the growth, development, and quality of eggplants. The color of the eggplant peel is affected by the anthocyanin content. To better understand the influence of low temperature, weak light, and the combination of low temperature and weak light on the regulation of anthocyanins in the eggplant peel, four treatments were carried out on the eggplants, respectively: low temperature (18/13 °C, 250 μmol/(m2·s)), weak light intensity (WL, 25/20 °C, 120 μmol/(m2·s)), low temperature combined with weak light intensity (LW, 18/13 °C, 120 μmol/(m2·s)), and the control (CK, 25/20 °C, 250 μmol/(m2·s)). The effects of low temperature and weak light on the anthocyanin content in various parts of the eggplant were analyzed, and transcriptome analysis was performed on the eggplant peel under the treatments of low temperature, weak light, and the combination of low temperature and weak light using RNA sequencing. The anthocyanin content in eggplants increased under low temperature and the combination of low temperature and weak light treatments, while it decreased under weak light. KEGG analysis showed that three pathways, namely phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and anthocyanin biosynthesis, were involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis of eggplants. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that the anthocyanin content in the eggplant peel under low temperature and the combination of low-temperature and weak-light treatments was significantly correlated with SmPAL, Sm4CL, SmCYP73A100, SmCHS, SmCHI, F3H, DFR, ANS, and 3GT, and also significantly correlated with MYB, bHLH, and AP2/ERF. Under low-temperature and the combination of low-temperature and weak-light stress, the anthocyanin content increased due to the significant down-regulation of 3GT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Cultivation and Fruit Quality Enhancement)
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20 pages, 6521 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Eggplant Reveals the Key MYB Transcription Factor Involved in Anthocyanin Synthesis
by Jiaqi Ai, Wuhong Wang, Tianhua Hu, Haijiao Hu, Yaqin Yan, Jinglei Wang, Yunzhu Wang, Na Hu, Hongtao Pang, Chonglai Bao and Qingzhen Wei
Horticulturae 2025, 11(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11010012 - 26 Dec 2024
Viewed by 862
Abstract
MYB transcription factors (TFs) represent one of the largest gene families in plants, and previous studies have demonstrated their involvement in regulating anthocyanin synthesis. Eggplant is an important anthocyanin-rich solanaceae vegetable crop. In this study, a total of 219 MYB gene-family members were [...] Read more.
MYB transcription factors (TFs) represent one of the largest gene families in plants, and previous studies have demonstrated their involvement in regulating anthocyanin synthesis. Eggplant is an important anthocyanin-rich solanaceae vegetable crop. In this study, a total of 219 MYB gene-family members were identified using the complete and high-quality eggplant genome, comprising 105 1R-MYBs, 107 R2R3-MYBs, 5 3R-MYBs, and 2 4R-MYBs. Using phylogenetic analysis, we divided them into 33 subfamilies. Members of the SmeMYB gene family are unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes, but are mainly concentrated at the upper and lower ends of the chromosomes. In addition, the expression levels of R2R3-MYBs in differently colored eggplant tissues (peel, calyx, stem, flower, and leaf) were investigated with RNA-seq (RNA sequencing). A total of 13 differentially expressed R2R3-MYB transcription factors related to the synthesis of anthocyanins in different eggplant tissues were screened out. SmeMYB110, SmeMYB175, and SmeMYB182 were also found to play significant roles in this process. Furthermore, 10 MYB TFs were identified as potential genes regulating anthocyanin synthesis in different tissues. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis results showed that SmeMYB175 was regarded as the most likely key transcription factor regulating anthocyanin synthesis in calyx. These results not only deepen our understanding of the MYB gene family in eggplant but also lay a solid foundation for further research on the regulation of SmeR2R3-MYBs in anthocyanin synthesis across diverse eggplant tissues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Decade of Research on Vegetable Crops: From Omics to Biotechnology)
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12 pages, 5045 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Peels with Different Glossiness
by Hong Wang, Zhixing Nie, Tonglin Wang, Shuhuan Yang and Jirong Zheng
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 3063; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14123063 - 22 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 763
Abstract
Peel glossiness is an important commercial trait of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). In this study, two eggplant-inbred lines with different levels of peel glossiness were used to identify genes related to peel glossiness. Paraffin section analysis showed that increased wax thickness and [...] Read more.
Peel glossiness is an important commercial trait of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). In this study, two eggplant-inbred lines with different levels of peel glossiness were used to identify genes related to peel glossiness. Paraffin section analysis showed that increased wax thickness and wrinkles on the wax surface of eggplant peels decreased glossiness. Differential gene expression related to eggplant peel glossiness was analyzed by comparing the transcriptomes of eggplant peels with different gloss levels and at different developmental stages. The results identified 996 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 502 upregulated and 494 downregulated genes, possibly related to eggplant peel glossiness. GO enrichment and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the DNA replication pathway (GO:0003688, GO:0006270) and the photosynthesis pathway (map00195) were downregulated and thus may be associated with reduced eggplant peel glossiness. Expression level analysis of eggplant peels with different glossiness levels revealed that a C2H2 transcription factor gene, two ERF transcription factor genes, one long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase gene, and four wax- or cutin-related genes may be associated with the glossiness of eggplant fruit peels. These findings will help guide future genetic improvements in eggplant peel glossiness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Crop Molecular Breeding and Genetics)
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13 pages, 3151 KiB  
Article
Fine Mapping of Candidate Gene Controlling Anthocyanin Biosynthesis for Purple Peel in Solanum melongena L.
by Kai Xiao, Feng Tan, Aidong Zhang, Yaru Zhou, Weimin Zhu, Chonglai Bao, Dingshi Zha and Xuexia Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5241; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105241 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323
Abstract
Fruit color is an intuitive quality of horticultural crops that can be used as an evaluation criterion for fruit ripening and is an important factor affecting consumers’ purchase choices. In this study, a genetic population from the cross of green peel ‘Qidong’ and [...] Read more.
Fruit color is an intuitive quality of horticultural crops that can be used as an evaluation criterion for fruit ripening and is an important factor affecting consumers’ purchase choices. In this study, a genetic population from the cross of green peel ‘Qidong’ and purple peel ‘8 guo’ revealed that the purple to green color of eggplant peel is dominant and controlled by a pair of alleles. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA), SNP haplotyping, and fine genetic mapping delimited candidate genes to a 350 kb region of eggplant chromosome 10 flanked by markers KA2381 and CA8828. One ANS gene (EGP22363) was predicted to be a candidate gene based on gene annotation and sequence alignment of the 350-kb region. Sequence analysis revealed that a single base mutation of ‘T’ to ‘C’ on the exon green peel, which caused hydrophobicity to become hydrophilic serine, led to a change in the three-level spatial structure. Additionally, EGP22363 was more highly expressed in purple peels than in green peels. Collectively, EGP22363 is a strong candidate gene for anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple eggplant peels. These results provide important information for molecular marker-assisted selection in eggplants, and a basis for analyzing the regulatory pathways responsible for anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Genomics and Genetics)
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14 pages, 3322 KiB  
Article
A Fruit-Expressed MYB Transcription Factor Regulates Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Atropa belladonna
by Xiaoqiang Liu, Tengfei Zhao, Lina Yuan, Fei Qiu, Yueli Tang, Dan Li, Fangyuan Zhang, Lingjiang Zeng, Chunxian Yang, Mohammad Mahmoud Nagdy, Zun Lai Lai Htun, Xiaozhong Lan, Min Chen, Zhihua Liao and Yan Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4963; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094963 - 2 May 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2268
Abstract
Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid pigments that play a crucial role in plant growth and metabolism. They serve as attractants for animals by providing plants with red, blue, and purple pigments, facilitating pollination and seed dispersal. The fruits of solanaceous plants, tomato (Solanum [...] Read more.
Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid pigments that play a crucial role in plant growth and metabolism. They serve as attractants for animals by providing plants with red, blue, and purple pigments, facilitating pollination and seed dispersal. The fruits of solanaceous plants, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena), primarily accumulate anthocyanins in the fruit peels, while the ripe fruits of Atropa belladonna (Ab) have a dark purple flesh due to anthocyanin accumulation. In this study, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF), AbMYB1, was identified through association analysis of gene expression and anthocyanin accumulation in different tissues of A. belladonna. Its role in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis was investigated through gene overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi). Overexpression of AbMYB1 significantly enhanced the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, such as AbF3H, AbF35H, AbDFR, AbANS, and Ab3GT, leading to increased anthocyanin production. Conversely, RNAi-mediated suppression of AbMYB1 resulted in decreased expression of most anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, as well as reduced anthocyanin contents in A. belladonna. Overall, AbMYB1 was identified as a fruit-expressed R2R3-MYB TF that positively regulated anthocyanin biosynthesis in A. belladonna. This study provides valuable insights into the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Solanaceae plants, laying the foundation for understanding anthocyanin accumulation especially in the whole fruits of solanaceous plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Omics: Sensing, Signaling, Regulation and Homeostasis)
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20 pages, 10550 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of Glutathione S-Transferase Genes in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Reveals Their Potential Role in Anthocyanin Accumulation on the Fruit Peel
by Hesbon Ochieng Obel, Xiaohui Zhou, Songyu Liu, Yan Yang, Jun Liu and Yong Zhuang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084260 - 11 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2374
Abstract
Anthocyanins are ubiquitous pigments derived from the phenylpropanoid compound conferring red, purple and blue pigmentations to various organs of horticultural crops. The metabolism of flavonoids in the cytoplasm leads to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, which is then conveyed to the vacuoles for storage [...] Read more.
Anthocyanins are ubiquitous pigments derived from the phenylpropanoid compound conferring red, purple and blue pigmentations to various organs of horticultural crops. The metabolism of flavonoids in the cytoplasm leads to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, which is then conveyed to the vacuoles for storage by plant glutathione S-transferases (GST). Although GST is important for transporting anthocyanin in plants, its identification and characterization in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) remains obscure. In this study, a total of 40 GST genes were obtained in the eggplant genome and classified into seven distinct chief groups based on the evolutionary relationship with Arabidopsis thaliana GST genes. The seven subgroups of eggplant GST genes (SmGST) comprise: dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), elongation factor 1Bγ (EF1Bγ), Zeta (Z), Theta(T), Phi(F), Tau(U) and tetra-chlorohydroquinone dehalogenase TCHQD. The 40 GST genes were unevenly distributed throughout the 10 eggplant chromosomes and were predominantly located in the cytoplasm. Structural gene analysis showed similarity in exons and introns within a GST subgroup. Six pairs of both tandem and segmental duplications have been identified, making them the primary factors contributing to the evolution of the SmGST. Light-related cis-regulatory elements were dominant, followed by stress-related and hormone-responsive elements. The syntenic analysis of orthologous genes indicated that eggplant, Arabidopsis and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) counterpart genes seemed to be derived from a common ancestry. RNA-seq data analyses showed high expression of 13 SmGST genes with SmGSTF1 being glaringly upregulated on the peel of purple eggplant but showed no or low expression on eggplant varieties with green or white peel. Subsequently, SmGSTF1 had a strong positive correlation with anthocyanin content and with anthocyanin structural genes like SmUFGT (r = 0.9), SmANS (r = 0.85), SmF3H (r = 0.82) and SmCHI2 (r = 0.7). The suppression of SmGSTF1 through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGs) resulted in a decrease in anthocyanin on the infiltrated fruit surface. In a nutshell, results from this study established that SmGSTF1 has the potential of anthocyanin accumulation in eggplant peel and offers viable candidate genes for the improvement of purple eggplant. The comprehensive studies of the SmGST family genes provide the foundation for deciphering molecular investigations into the functional analysis of SmGST genes in eggplant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetable Genetics and Genomics 2.0)
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21 pages, 4250 KiB  
Article
Identification of Eggplant SmMPK Gene Family and Functional Verification of SmMPK4.1
by Jielei Liao, Yanxiao Dong, Ziyi Hua, Jiangnan Hao, Na Zhao, Shaohang Li and Huoying Chen
Horticulturae 2024, 10(3), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030239 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1562
Abstract
Light is one of the important factors influencing anthocyanin synthesis, and low-light conditions (<2000 Lux) seriously affect the coloration of the peels of purple eggplant. MPK4 is an important protein kinase that regulates a number of physiological processes and is equivalent to the [...] Read more.
Light is one of the important factors influencing anthocyanin synthesis, and low-light conditions (<2000 Lux) seriously affect the coloration of the peels of purple eggplant. MPK4 is an important protein kinase that regulates a number of physiological processes and is equivalent to the “molecular switch” in the plant. The function of MPK4 has been studied in Arabidopsis, rice, and apple, but its function in eggplant has not been reported. In this study, 16 SmMPK genes were identified using photo-sensitive eggplant ‘LSHX’ as a material. We found that overexpression of SmMPK4.1 could affect the phenotype of eggplant leaves and metabolites of fruits, and knockout of SmMPK4.1 affected the function of synthesizing anthocyanin in eggplant induced by high light (10,000 Lux). Furthermore, we demonstrated that SmMPK4.1 could interact with SmMYB75 in yeast and that SmMPK4.1 negatively regulated the function of anthocyanin synthesis by SmMYB75. The results of this study revealed the function of SmMPK4.1 and provided candidate genes for conducting high-quality breeding of eggplant in production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biotic and Abiotic Stress)
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16 pages, 4296 KiB  
Article
Fine Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis of the Gv1 Locus Controlling Green-Peel Color in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
by Zijian Lv, Qingmin Jin, Zhiliang Li, Tao Li, Yikui Wang, Qian You, Chao Gong, Zhou Heng and Baojuan Sun
Horticulturae 2023, 9(8), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9080888 - 4 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1901
Abstract
Peel color is one of the most important appearance qualities of eggplant. The main pigment in the peel of green-fruited eggplant is chlorophyll, while white-fruited eggplant is a mutant of chlorophyll biosynthesis. A dominant gene Gv controls chlorophyll biosynthesis in eggplant peel, but [...] Read more.
Peel color is one of the most important appearance qualities of eggplant. The main pigment in the peel of green-fruited eggplant is chlorophyll, while white-fruited eggplant is a mutant of chlorophyll biosynthesis. A dominant gene Gv controls chlorophyll biosynthesis in eggplant peel, but none of its genes have been mapped. In this study, the white-peel inbred line 19141, the green-peel inbred line 19143, and their F2 progeny with 3:1 segregation ratio of green-peel plants to white-peel plants, were used to map the Gv1 locus by whole genome re-sequencing combined with bulked segregant analysis (BSA). The Gv1 gene was mapped in a region spanning 7.66 Mb on chromosome 8, which was narrowed down to 173.2 kb interval by screening recombinant plants with InDel and SNP markers. Sixteen candidate genes were annotated in the above closely associated region. With the aid of RNA-Seq data, it was speculated that SmAPPR2-like is the candidate gene for Gv1. The results of cloning and sequencing of SmAPPR2-like showed that there might have been three types of mutation (large deletion, frameshift variant and premature stop codon) in white-peel accessions, and of these, the deletion mutation, such as that in inbred line 19141, was the most common. Based on the sequence difference of SmAPPR2-like, molecular markers were developed to distinguish the white and green-peel accessions in natural eggplant populations, and the other types of genetic variations of SmAPPR2-like leading to white-peel accessions were elucidated. The present study not only provided reliable markers for MAS (marker-assisted selection) breeding for eggplant peel color, but also paved the way for understanding the molecular mechanism of SmAPPR2-like on chlorophyll biosynthesis in eggplant fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding by Design: Advances in Vegetables)
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15 pages, 3628 KiB  
Article
Fine Mapping and Identification of SmAPRR2 Regulating Rind Color in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
by Huarong Fang, Peng Wang, Wanhao Wang, Jiechun Peng, Jieming Zheng, Guangwei Zhu, Chuan Zhong and Wenjin Yu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043059 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2899
Abstract
Rind color is an economically important agronomic trait in eggplant that impacts consumer preferences. In this study, bulked segregant analysis and competitive allele-specific PCR were employed to identify the candidate gene for eggplant rind color through constructing a 2794 F2 population generated [...] Read more.
Rind color is an economically important agronomic trait in eggplant that impacts consumer preferences. In this study, bulked segregant analysis and competitive allele-specific PCR were employed to identify the candidate gene for eggplant rind color through constructing a 2794 F2 population generated from a cross between “BL01” (green pericarp) and “B1” (white pericarp). Genetic analysis of rind color revealed that a single dominant gene controls green color of eggplant peel. Pigment content measurement and cytological observations demonstrated that chlorophyll content and chloroplast number in BL01 were higher than in B1. A candidate gene (EGP19168.1) was fine-mapped to a 20.36 Kb interval on chromosome 8, which was predicted to encode the two-component response regulator-like protein Arabidopsis pseudo-response regulator2 (APRR2). Subsequently, allelic sequence analysis revealed that a SNP deletion (ACT→AT) in white-skinned eggplant led to a premature termination codon. Genotypic validation of 113 breeding lines using the Indel marker closely linked to SmAPRR2 could predict the skin color (green/white) trait with an accuracy of 92.9%. This study will be valuable for molecular marker-assisted selection in eggplant breeding and provides theoretical foundation for analyzing the formation mechanism of eggplant peel color. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)
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20 pages, 1342 KiB  
Article
Assessing Physicochemical Parameters, Bioactive Profile and Antioxidant Status of Different Fruit Parts of Greek Eggplant Germplasm
by Kalliopi I. Kadoglidou, Konstantinos Krommydas, Parthenopi Ralli, Ifigeneia Mellidou, Apostolos Kalyvas and Maria Irakli
Horticulturae 2022, 8(12), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121113 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3744
Abstract
Eggplant is an economically important vegetable with a potential for functional food production, mainly due to its high fruit antioxidant capacity. The goal of the present study was to investigate the main physicochemical and antioxidant parameters, and assess the bioactive profiles, of 19 [...] Read more.
Eggplant is an economically important vegetable with a potential for functional food production, mainly due to its high fruit antioxidant capacity. The goal of the present study was to investigate the main physicochemical and antioxidant parameters, and assess the bioactive profiles, of 19 eggplant genotypes of diverse origin, including Greek commercial varieties and hybrids, landraces and the related species S. macrocarpon. For that reason, the physicochemical traits (dry matter, pH, total soluble solids and total acidity) were assessed in the eggplant fruit and some important bioactive compounds (total phenols (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), total monomeric anthocyanin (TAC), chlorogenic acid (CA) and its isomers neo- and crypto-CA) were assessed both in fruit pulp and peel. In addition, the antioxidant capacity was assessed according to ABTS•+, DPPH and FRAP assays. The results revealed significant differences between the studied genotypes for all the evaluated traits, for both fruit parts. Solanum macrocarpon showed a distinct bioactive profile and was superior for most of the pulp traits (TFC, neo-CA, crypto-CA, ABTS•+, DPPH and FRAP). Among the eggplant materials, the landrace ‘KD054/07’ had very high values for pH and some pulp traits (TPC, CA, ABTS•+ and FRAP), while the commercial F1 hybrid ‘Nilo’ was superior for dry matter and most of the peel traits (TPC, TFC, ABTS•+ and FRAP). The Greek commercial variety ‘Langada’ performed well for TAC and peel CA, ABTS•+ and FRAP, while ‘Tsakoniki’ had very high anthocyanin and pulp TPC content. These results constitute a source of information for a subset of the Greek eggplant germplasm and could contribute both to the promotion of Greek varieties of high bioactive and antioxidant value, as well as to the targeted selection of parents in breeding programs. Full article
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20 pages, 5671 KiB  
Article
Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals a Regulatory Network of Fruit Peel Pigmentation in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
by Xiaohui Zhou, Songyu Liu, Yan Yang, Jun Liu and Yong Zhuang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(21), 13475; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232113475 - 3 Nov 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3736
Abstract
The color of fruit peel is an economically important character of eggplant, and black-purple eggplant has received much attention for being rich in anthocyanin. However, the reason why different fruit peel colors form in eggplant is not well understood. In the present study, [...] Read more.
The color of fruit peel is an economically important character of eggplant, and black-purple eggplant has received much attention for being rich in anthocyanin. However, the reason why different fruit peel colors form in eggplant is not well understood. In the present study, an integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles was performed in five eggplant varieties with different fruit colors. A total of 260 flavonoids were identified, and most of them showed significantly higher abundance in black-purple varieties than in other varieties. The transcriptome analysis indicated the activation of early phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes (SmPAL, SmC4H, and Sm4CL) was more responsible for anthocyanin accumulation, while SmF3′5′H was the key factor for the formation of a purple color. Furthermore, two transcription factors, SmGL2 and SmGATA26, were identified as new hub genes associated with anthocyanin accumulation. The silencing of SmGL2 and SmGATA26 reduced anthocyanin accumulation in eggplant fruit peels, suggesting the possible involvement of SmGL2 and SmGATA26 in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. In addition, the pathway of plant hormone signal transduction was significantly enriched, indicating that phytohormones may cooperatively interact to modulate flavonoid biosynthesis. This study provides comprehensive information of flavonoid metabolites and new insights into the regulatory network of fruit coloration, which might be useful for the molecular breeding of eggplant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetable Genetics and Genomics)
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14 pages, 1901 KiB  
Article
Dissipation, Residue and Dietary Intake Risk Assessment of Penthiopyrad in Eggplants and Its Removal Using Various Household Processing Techniques
by Li Dou, Shiyin Mu, Guangqian Yang, Jinming Chang and Kankan Zhang
Foods 2022, 11(21), 3327; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11213327 - 23 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1639
Abstract
A field trial was conducted to illustrate the dissipation and residue and assess the dietary intake risk of penthiopyrad in eggplants, and the distribution was further estimated after different household processing methods. Penthiopyrad dissipated quickly in eggplants, with half-lives of 1.85–2.56 days. The [...] Read more.
A field trial was conducted to illustrate the dissipation and residue and assess the dietary intake risk of penthiopyrad in eggplants, and the distribution was further estimated after different household processing methods. Penthiopyrad dissipated quickly in eggplants, with half-lives of 1.85–2.56 days. The final residue data indicated that following the recommended spraying method, penthiopyrad would not threaten human health. Risk quotient results (<<100%) also demonstrated that the dietary intake risk of penthiopyrad in eggplants for Chinese consumers could be negligible. Washing, peeling and thermal treatments had significant removal effects on penthiopyrad from eggplants (0 < processing factor < 0.60). The characterization of the dissipation and distribution of penthiopyrad in field and processed eggplant samples could provide a more realistic reference for risk assessment of processed products, as well as some information for humans who may be exposed to penthiopyrad. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
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22 pages, 7483 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Bioactive Compound Extraction from Eggplant Peel by Response Surface Methodology: Ultrasound-Assisted Solvent Qualitative and Quantitative Effect
by Shiva Shahabi Mohammadabadi, Mohammad Goli and Sara Naji Tabasi
Foods 2022, 11(20), 3263; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11203263 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3878
Abstract
Anthocyanin pigments, which the peel of eggplant is rich in, contribute to food quality because of their function in color, appearance, and nutritional advantages. For the first time, this study aimed to optimize the composition of the extracting solvent as three factors: factor [...] Read more.
Anthocyanin pigments, which the peel of eggplant is rich in, contribute to food quality because of their function in color, appearance, and nutritional advantages. For the first time, this study aimed to optimize the composition of the extracting solvent as three factors: factor A (ratio of ethanol to methanol 0–100% v/v), factor B (ratio of water to alcohol 0–100% v/v), and factor C (citric acid in the final solvent 0–1% w/v) using response surface methodology (RSM), central composite design (CCD) with α 2, and two repeats in axial and factorial points and four central points, for maximum total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, extraction yield, antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay of the eggplant peel dry extract assisted by ultrasound (200 watts power, frequency of 28 kHz) in 60 °C for 45 min has been investigated. The best optimal formulas determined using RSM for the final solvent comprised optimal formula 1 (i.e., ethanol-to-methanol ratio 59% and water-to-alcohol ratio 0%, and citric acid in final solvent 0.47%), and optimal formula 2 (i.e., ethanol-to-methanol ratio 67% and water-to-alcohol ratio 0%, and citric acid in final solvent 0.56%). In general, an alcoholic–acidic extract of eggplant peel made with an ethanol–methanol solvent including citric acid can be used in the food industry as a natural source of antioxidants and pigment. Full article
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20 pages, 4850 KiB  
Article
Determining the Effects of Light on the Fruit Peel Quality of Photosensitive and Nonphotosensitive Eggplant
by Zhaoze Sang, Jinhua Zuo, Qing Wang, Anzhen Fu, Yanyan Zheng, Yonghong Ge, Zongwei Qian and Yanling Cui
Plants 2022, 11(16), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162095 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2427
Abstract
With the development of facility agriculture, low-light stress is a prominent problem and a popular research topic currently. In this study, transcriptome analysis was used to analyze the genes in the fruit peel of photosensitive and nonphotosensitive eggplant and to explore the mechanism [...] Read more.
With the development of facility agriculture, low-light stress is a prominent problem and a popular research topic currently. In this study, transcriptome analysis was used to analyze the genes in the fruit peel of photosensitive and nonphotosensitive eggplant and to explore the mechanism of changes in fruit color, texture, hormone content, aroma, and taste of these two different types of eggplant. We identified 51, 65, 66, and 66 genes involved in synthesizing anthocyanins, texture, hormone content, and aroma and flavor, respectively, in the two different types of eggplant based on the variation in gene expression trends in the fruit peel. These results provide a basis for further analysis of the molecular mechanism underlying the regulatory processes in eggplant fruits under low-light stress. Full article
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