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Cagliani LR, Consonni R. Monitoring the metabolite content of seasoned zucchinis during storage by NMR-based metabolomics. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25976. [PMID: 38390144 PMCID: PMC10881322 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
This study applied 1H NMR metabolomics to monitor the metabolite content of baked and seasoned zucchinis packaged in both compostable and plastic trays. Polar extracts of samples stored at 4 °C up to 35 days were investigated to check for metabolite changes upon shelf life. The evolution of the integral values of only the main metabolites responsible for sample differentiation (lactate, acetate, malate, α and β glucose and sucrose) were further analysed and compared. In particular, the evaluation of lactate and acetate amount, considered markers of fermentation progress, showed a comparable performance for the two types of packaging in preserving the freshness of seasoned zucchinis, confirming the maintenance of food product composition within the declared shelf life period in the recommended storage conditions. Albeit preliminary, the results support the NMR metabolomics as a tool for identifying candidate metabolites to monitor the shelf life of foods, thereby improving the understanding of molecular changes during storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Cagliani
- National Research Council, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies "G. Natta" (SCITEC), Lab. NMR, V. Corti 12, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - R Consonni
- National Research Council, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies "G. Natta" (SCITEC), Lab. NMR, V. Corti 12, 20133, Milan, Italy
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A Synergistic Effect Based on the Combination of Melatonin with 1-Methylcyclopropene as a New Strategy to Increase Chilling Tolerance and General Quality in Zucchini Fruit. Foods 2022; 11:foods11182784. [PMID: 36140912 PMCID: PMC9498259 DOI: 10.3390/foods11182784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zucchini fruit are highly sensitive to low temperatures leading to significant peel depressions, increasing weight loss and making them impossible to be commercialized. In this study the effect on the reduction of chilling injury (CI) assaying different postharvest treatments to cv. Cronos was evaluated. We have compared the application of substances such as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) with the application of a natural origin compound as melatonin (MT), both with demonstrated activity against CI in different vegetal products. The effects of MT (1 mM) by dipping treatment of 1 h and 1-MCP (2400 ppb) have been evaluated on zucchini fruit during 15 days of storage at 4 °C plus 2 days at 20 °C. Treatments applied independently improved some fruit quality parameters in comparison with control fruit but were not able to manage CI even though they mitigated the impact on several parameters. However, when these two separated strategies were combined, zucchini cold tolerance increased with a synergic trend. This synergic effect affected in general all parameters but specially CI, being also the only lot in which zucchini fruit were most effectively preserved. This is the first evidence in which a clear positive effect on zucchini chilling tolerance has been obtained combining these two different strategies. In this sense, the combined effect of 1-MCP and MT could be a suitable tool to reach high quality standards and increasing shelf life under suboptimal temperatures.
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Cocetta G, Natalini A. Ethylene: Management and breeding for postharvest quality in vegetable crops. A review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:968315. [PMID: 36452083 PMCID: PMC9702508 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.968315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Ethylene is a two-carbon gaseous plant growth regulator that involved in several important physiological events, including growth, development, ripening and senescence of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops. The hormone accelerates ripening of ethylene sensitive fruits, leafy greens and vegetables at micromolar concentrations, and its accumulation can led to fruit decay and waste during the postharvest stage. Several strategies of crops management and techniques of plant breeding have been attempted in the last decades to understand ethylene regulation pathways and ethylene-dependent biochemical and physiological processes, with the final aim to extend the produce shelf-life and improve the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables. These investigation approaches involve the use of conventional and new breeding techniques, including precise genome-editing. This review paper aims to provide a relevant overview on the state of the art related to the use of modern breeding techniques focused on ethylene and ethylene-related metabolism, as well as on the possible postharvest technological applications for the postharvest management of ethylene-sensitive crops. An updated view and perspective on the implications of new breeding and management strategies to maintain the quality and the marketability of different crops during postharvest are given, with particular focus on: postharvest physiology (ethylene dependent) for mature and immature fruits and vegetables; postharvest quality management of vegetables: fresh and fresh cut products, focusing on the most important ethylene-dependent biochemical pathways; evolution of breeding technologies for facing old and new challenges in postharvest quality of vegetable crops: from conventional breeding and marker assisted selection to new breeding technologies focusing on transgenesis and gene editing. Examples of applied breeding techniques for model plants (tomato, zucchini and brocccoli) are given to elucidate ethylene metabolism, as well as beneficial and detrimental ethylene effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Cocetta
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Natalini
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessandro Natalini,
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Martínez C, Valenzuela JL, Jamilena M. Genetic and Pre- and Postharvest Factors Influencing the Content of Antioxidants in Cucurbit Crops. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10060894. [PMID: 34199481 PMCID: PMC8228042 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10060894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitaceae is one of the most economically important plant families, and includes some worldwide cultivated species like cucumber, melons, and squashes, and some regionally cultivated and feral species that contribute to the human diet. For centuries, cucurbits have been appreciated because of their nutritional value and, in traditional medicine, because of their ability to alleviate certain ailments. Several studies have demonstrated the remarkable contents of valuable compounds in cucurbits, including antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, but also tannins and terpenoids, which are abundant. This antioxidant power is beneficial for human health, but also in facing plant diseases and abiotic stresses. This review brings together data on the antioxidant properties of cucurbit species, addressing the genetic and pre- and postharvest factors that regulate the antioxidant content in different plant organs. Environmental conditions, management, storage, and pre- and postharvest treatments influencing the biosynthesis and activity of antioxidants, together with the biodiversity of this family, are determinant in improving the antioxidant potential of this group of species. Plant breeding, as well as the development of innovative biotechnological approaches, is also leading to new possibilities for exploiting cucurbits as functional products.
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Li X, Zhong Y, Pang X, Yuan Y, Liu Y, Zhang Z. Trypsin and ascorbic acid have a synergistic effect on the quality of apple processing by protecting apple cells from oxidative damage. J Food Biochem 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.12582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- College of Food and Bioengineering; Henan University of Science and Technology; Luoyang Henan China
- Luoyang Engineering and Technology Research Center of Microbial Fermentation; Luoyang Henan China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations; Lanzhou University; Lanzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology; Henan University; Kaifeng China
| | - Yongliang Zhong
- College of Food and Bioengineering; Henan University of Science and Technology; Luoyang Henan China
| | - Xinyue Pang
- Medical Technology and Engineering College; Henan University of Science and Technology; Luoyang Henan China
| | - Yunxia Yuan
- College of Food and Bioengineering; Henan University of Science and Technology; Luoyang Henan China
- Luoyang Engineering and Technology Research Center of Microbial Fermentation; Luoyang Henan China
| | - Yunhong Liu
- College of Food and Bioengineering; Henan University of Science and Technology; Luoyang Henan China
| | - Zhishuai Zhang
- College of Food and Bioengineering; Henan University of Science and Technology; Luoyang Henan China
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Carvajal F, Rosales R, Palma F, Manzano S, Cañizares J, Jamilena M, Garrido D. Transcriptomic changes in Cucurbita pepo fruit after cold storage: differential response between two cultivars contrasting in chilling sensitivity. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:125. [PMID: 29415652 PMCID: PMC5804050 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4500-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zucchini fruit is susceptible to chilling injury (CI), but the response to low storage temperature is cultivar dependent. Previous reports about the response of zucchini fruit to chilling storage have been focused on the physiology and biochemistry of this process, with little information about the molecular mechanisms underlying it. In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic changes that take place after cold storage in zucchini fruit of two commercial cultivars with contrasting response to chilling stress. Results RNA-Seq analysis was conducted in exocarp of fruit at harvest and after 14 days of storage at 4 and 20 °C. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained comparing fruit stored at 4 °C with their control at 20 °C, and then specific and common up and down-regulated DEGs of each cultivar were identified. Functional analysis of these DEGs identified similarities between the response of zucchini fruit to low temperature and other stresses, with an important number of GO terms related to biotic and abiotic stresses overrepresented in both cultivars. This study also revealed several molecular mechanisms that could be related to chilling tolerance, since they were up-regulated in cv. Natura (CI tolerant) or down-regulated in cv. Sinatra (CI sensitive). These mechanisms were mainly those related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism, transcription, signal transduction, and protein transport and degradation. Among DEGs belonging to these pathways, we selected candidate genes that could regulate or promote chilling tolerance in zucchini fruit including the transcription factors MYB76-like, ZAT10-like, DELLA protein GAIP, and AP2/ERF domain-containing protein. Conclusions This study provides a broader understanding of the important mechanisms and processes related to coping with low temperature stress in zucchini fruit and allowed the identification of some candidate genes that may be involved in the acquisition of chilling tolerance in this crop. These genes will be the basis of future studies aimed to identify markers involved in cold tolerance and aid in zucchini breeding programs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4500-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Carvajal
- Department of Plant Physiology, Facultad de Ciencias, University of Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - R Rosales
- Department of Plant Physiology, Facultad de Ciencias, University of Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - F Palma
- Department of Plant Physiology, Facultad de Ciencias, University of Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - S Manzano
- Department of Biology and Geology, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (CeiA3), CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - J Cañizares
- Institute for the Conservation and Breeding of Agricultural Biodiversity (COMAV-UPV), Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Jamilena
- Department of Biology and Geology, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (CeiA3), CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - D Garrido
- Department of Plant Physiology, Facultad de Ciencias, University of Granada, Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.
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Valenzuela JL, Manzano S, Palma F, Carvajal F, Garrido D, Jamilena M. Oxidative Stress Associated with Chilling Injury in Immature Fruit: Postharvest Technological and Biotechnological Solutions. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18071467. [PMID: 28698472 PMCID: PMC5535958 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immature, vegetable-like fruits are produced by crops of great economic importance, including cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants and bell peppers, among others. Because of their high respiration rates, associated with high rates of dehydration and metabolism, and their susceptibility to chilling injury (CI), vegetable fruits are highly perishable commodities, requiring particular storage conditions to avoid postharvest losses. This review focuses on the oxidative stress that affects the postharvest quality of vegetable fruits under chilling storage. We define the physiological and biochemical factors that are associated with the oxidative stress and the development of CI symptoms in these commodities, and discuss the different physical, chemical and biotechnological approaches that have been proposed to reduce oxidative stress while enhancing the chilling tolerance of vegetable fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Luis Valenzuela
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain.
| | - Susana Manzano
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain.
| | - Francisco Palma
- Departamento de Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Fátima Carvajal
- Departamento de Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Dolores Garrido
- Departamento de Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Manuel Jamilena
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain.
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