Ripening-related cell wall modifications in olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit: A survey of nine genotypes

Identification of a Coprinellus strain and its application in Eucommia ulmoides gum extraction by fermenting leaves

White rot fungi is a kind of filamentous fungi which can degrade lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose effectively. In this study, a wild white rot fungi collected from Pingba Town, Bijie City of China was identified as Coprinellus disseminatus (fruiting body) based on morphological and molecular identification. The mycelium of C. disseminatus cultured in the medium supplemented xylan as carbon showed the higher xylanase (XLE) and cellulase (CLE) activity. Further, the activities of tissue degradation-related enzymes including XLE, CLE, acetyl xylanesterase (AXE) and α-L-arabinofuran glycosidase (α-L-AF) were determined after fermenting Eucommia ulmoides leaves by inoculating C. disseminatus mycelium. The results showed that the activities of XLE, CLE, AXE and α-L-AF of mycelium cultured in xylan-contained medium reached the maximum at 5 d after inoculation, which were 777.606 ± 4.248 U mL^-1, 9.594 ± 0.008 U mL^-1, 4.567 ± 0.026 U mL^-1 and 3.497 ± 0.10 U mL^-1 respectively. Also, the activities of AXE and α-L-AF both reached the maximum in C. disseminatus mycelium cultured in glucose-contained medium. By comparing the yield of E. ulmoides gum under different fermentation treatments, the extraction yield of E. ulmoides gum were 2.156 ± 0.031% and 2.142 ± 0.044% at 7 d and 14 d after fermentation with mycelium supplemented xylan as carbon source, which were significantly higher than other groups. This study provides a theoretical reference for the preparation of E. ulmoides gum by large-scale fermentation of E. ulmoides leaves with C. disseminatus.

Identification and Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs: Implicating Insights into Their Regulatory Role in Kiwifruit Ripening and Softening during Low-Temperature Storage

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial players regulating many biological processes in plants. However, limited knowledge is available regarding their roles in kiwifruit ripening and softening. In this study, using lncRNA-seq technology, 591 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs (DELs) and 3107 DE genes (DEGs) were identified from kiwifruit stored at 4 °C for 1, 2, and 3 weeks in comparison with non-treated control fruits. Of note, 645 DEGs were predicted to be targets of DELs (DEGTLs), including some DE protein-coding genes (such as β-amylase and pectinesterase). DEGTL-based GO enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were significantly enriched in cell wall modification and pectinesterase activity in 1 W vs. CK and 3 W vs. CK, which might be closely related to the fruit softening during low-temperature storage. Moreover, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that DEGTLs were significantly associated with starch and sucrose metabolism. Our study revealed that lncRNAs play critical regulatory roles in kiwifruit ripening and softening under low-temperature storage, mainly by mediating the expression of starch and sucrose metabolism and cell wall modification related genes.

Partial compression increases acidity, but decreases phenolics in jujube fruit: Evidence from targeted metabolomics

Jujube fruit (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is extremely susceptible to mechanical injury by extrusion and collision during storage, transportation and processing. In this study, we examined the morphology and endogenous metabolism of jujubes at three developmental stages after applying partial compression (PC) to mimic mechanical injury. Generally, PC did not affect the total soluble solids content, but increased the acidity and decreased the amount of phenolics in the jujube fruit. Targeted metabolomics analysis further confirmed that acid and phenolics content were differentially altered in response to PC. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize metabolic variations in ready-to-eat fruit that occur in response to physical damage. The results will provide insight into the understanding the consequences of mechanical injury on fruit nutrition and health benefits.

Changes in Homogalacturonan Metabolism in Banana Peel during Fruit Development and Ripening

Though numerous studies have focused on the cell wall disassembly of bananas during the ripening process, the modification of homogalacturonan (HG) during fruit development remains exclusive. To better understand the role of HGs in controlling banana fruit growth and ripening, RNA-Seq, qPCR, immunofluorescence labeling, and biochemical methods were employed to reveal their dynamic changes in banana peels during these processes. Most HG-modifying genes in banana peels showed a decline in expression during fruit development. Four polygalacturonase and three pectin acetylesterases showing higher expression levels at later developmental stages than earlier ones might be related to fruit expansion. Six out of the 10 top genes in the Core Enrichment Gene Set were HG degradation genes, and all were upregulated after softening, paralleled to the significant increase in HG degradation enzyme activities, decline in peel firmness, and the epitope levels of 2F4, CCRC-M38, JIM7, and LM18 antibodies. Most differentially expressed alpha-1,4-galacturonosyltransferases were upregulated by ethylene treatment, suggesting active HG biosynthesis during the fruit softening process. The epitope level of the CCRC-M38 antibody was positively correlated to the firmness of banana peel during fruit development and ripening. These results have provided new insights into the role of cell wall HGs in fruit development and ripening.

Effect of the Olive Oil Extraction Process on the Formation of Complex Pectin-Polyphenols and Their Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities

The aim of this research was to investigate the interaction of phenols and pectic polysaccharides during the olive oil extraction process. For this, pectin was extracted from fresh olive fruits and compared to the pectin isolated from the paste resulting from the extraction of the olive oil after milling with malaxation at 30 °C/30 min and subsequent centrifugation of the olive paste from the same lot of olive fruits in a system called ABENCOR (AB). The results indicate that these interactions were enhanced during the olive oil extraction process. In addition, the resulting AB extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity (ORAC) and strong antiproliferative activity in vitro against colon carcinoma Caco-2 cell lines compared to olive fruit extracts. The polyphenols associated mainly with the acidic pectin substance, with a higher content in AB extracts, seem to be responsible for these activities, and appear to maintain their activities in part after complexation. However, even in olive fruit extracts with smaller amounts of phenols in their compositions, pectic polysaccharides may also be involved in antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.

Pectins and Olive Pectins: From Biotechnology to Human Health

Simple Summary

Pectins comprise complex polysaccharides rich in galacturonic acid, that exert many functions in higher plants as components of the cell walls, together with cellulose or lignin. The food industry has traditionally used pectins as an additive due to their gelling or thickening properties. Pharmaceutical research is also taking advantage of pectin bioactivity, providing evidence of the role of these polysaccharides as health promoters. Fruits and vegetables are natural sources of pectins that can be obtained as by-products during food or beverage production. In line with this, the aim of our study is gathering data on the current methods to extract pectins from fruit or vegetable wastes, optimizing yield and environmentally friendly protocols. Updated information about pectin applications in food or non-food industries are provided. We also point to olives as novel source of pectins that strengthen the evidence that this fruit is as remarkably healthy part of the Mediterranean diet. This work exhibits the need to explore natural bioactive components of our daily intake to improve our health, or prevent or treat chronical diseases present in our society.

Abstract

Pectins are a component of the complex heteropolysaccharide mixture present in the cell wall of higher plants. Structurally, the pectin backbone includes galacturonic acid to which neutral sugars are attached, resulting in functional regions in which the esterification of residues is crucial. Pectins influence many physiological processes in plants and are used industrially for both food and non-food applications. Pectin-based compounds are also a promising natural source of health-beneficial bioactive molecules. The properties of pectins have generated interest in the extraction of these polysaccharides from natural sources using environmentally friendly protocols that maintain the native pectin structure. Many fruit by-products are sources of pectins; however, owing to the wide range of applications in various fields, novel plants are now being explored as potential sources. Olives, the fruit of the olive tree, are consumed as part of the healthy Mediterranean diet or processed into olive oil. Pectins from olives have recently emerged as promising compounds with health-beneficial effects. This review details the current knowledge on the structure of pectins and describes the conventional and novel techniques of pectin extraction. The versatile properties of pectins, which make them promising bioactive compounds for industry and health promotion, are also considered.