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Nascimento Pedroso RC, Gazolla AP, Hara ACBDAM, Sales JDF, Silva FG, Dias HJ, Crotti AEM, Andrade Silva ML, Cunha WR, Pauletti PM, Jesus EGD, Santos MFC, Januário AH. Metabolic response induced by abiotic elicitors in Anacardium othonianum seedlings. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:1938-1944. [PMID: 37323030 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2225122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Applying elicitors in plants growing under natural conditions change the metabolic content of volatile compounds extracted from their tissues. Here, we have investigated how abiotic elicitors influence the volatile composition of the ethyl acetate extract of Anacardium othonianum seedlings propagated in vitro and ex-vitro cultures. Abiotic factors such as salicylic acid, silver nitrate, light quality, and cultivation mode affected the composition of volatile compounds in ethyl acetate extract of A. othonianum leaves seedlings. GC/MS analysis demonstrated that α-tocopherol was the main metabolite in cultures added with chemical elicitors, reaching 22.48 ± 4.06% in the case of 30 µM salicylic acid. Higher concentrations of salicylic acid decreased the amount of α-tocopherol. The addition of AgNO3 had a linear effect on α-tocopherol. Thus, the production of this metabolite indicates that salicylic acid and AgNO3 elicitors positively affect α-tocopherol production at specific concentrations helping to understand how plant culture can be better manipulated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Paula Gazolla
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano, GO, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Herbert Junior Dias
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto - FFCLRP-USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Núcleo de Química, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Urutaí, GO, Brazil
| | - Antônio Eduardo Miller Crotti
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto - FFCLRP-USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Wilson Roberto Cunha
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca - Franca, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ester Gonçalves de Jesus
- Departamento de Química e Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s/n, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Mario F C Santos
- Departamento de Química e Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s/n, Alegre, ES, Brazil
| | - Ana Helena Januário
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca - Franca, SP, Brazil
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Garegnani M, Sandri C, Pacelli C, Ferranti F, Bennici E, Desiderio A, Nardi L, Villani ME. Non-destructive real-time analysis of plant metabolite accumulation in radish microgreens under different LED light recipes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1289208. [PMID: 38273958 PMCID: PMC10808373 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1289208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The future of human space missions relies on the ability to provide adequate food resources for astronauts and also to reduce stress due to the environment (microgravity and cosmic radiation). In this context, microgreens have been proposed for the astronaut diet because of their fast-growing time and their high levels of bioactive compounds and nutrients (vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, etc.), which are even higher than mature plants, and are usually consumed as ready-to-eat vegetables. Methods Our study aimed to identify the best light recipe for the soilless cultivation of two cultivars of radish microgreens (Raphanus sativus, green daikon, and rioja improved) harvested eight days after sowing that could be used for space farming. The effects on plant metabolism of three different light emitting diodes (LED) light recipes (L1-20% red, 20% green, 60% blue; L2-40% red, 20% green, 40% blue; L3-60% red, 20% green, 20% blue) were tested on radish microgreens hydroponically grown. A fluorimetric-based technique was used for a real-time non-destructive screening to characterize plant methabolism. The adopted sensors allowed us to quantitatively estimate the fluorescence of flavonols, anthocyanins, and chlorophyll via specific indices verified by standardized spectrophotometric methods. To assess plant growth, morphometric parameters (fresh and dry weight, cotyledon area and weight, hypocotyl length) were analyzed. Results We observed a statistically significant positive effect on biomass accumulation and productivity for both cultivars grown under the same light recipe (40% blue, 20% green, 40% red). We further investigated how the addition of UV and/or far-red LED lights could have a positive effect on plant metabolite accumulation (anthocyanins and flavonols). Discussion These results can help design plant-based bioregenerative life-support systems for long-duration human space exploration, by integrating fluorescence-based non-destructive techniques to monitor the accumulation of metabolites with nutraceutical properties in soilless cultivated microgreens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Garegnani
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
- Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Sandri
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Pacelli
- Human Spaceflight and Scientific Research Unit, Italian Space Agency, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferranti
- Human Spaceflight and Scientific Research Unit, Italian Space Agency, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bennici
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Angiola Desiderio
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Nardi
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Villani
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
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Majzoobi M, Wang Z, Teimouri S, Pematilleke N, Brennan CS, Farahnaky A. Unlocking the Potential of Sprouted Cereals, Pseudocereals, and Pulses in Combating Malnutrition. Foods 2023; 12:3901. [PMID: 37959020 PMCID: PMC10649608 DOI: 10.3390/foods12213901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the global rise in food insecurity, micronutrient deficiency, and diet-related health issues, the United Nations (UN) has called for action to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. Grains are the staple food worldwide; hence, improving their nutritional quality can certainly be an appropriate approach to mitigate malnutrition. This review article aims to collect recent information on developing nutrient-dense grains using a sustainable and natural process known as "sprouting or germination" and to discuss novel applications of sprouted grains to tackle malnutrition (specifically undernutrition). This article discusses applicable interventions and strategies to encourage biochemical changes in sprouting grains further to boost their nutritional value and health benefits. It also explains opportunities to use spouted grains at home and in industrial food applications, especially focusing on domestic grains in regions with prevalent malnutrition. The common challenges for producing sprouted grains, their future trends, and research opportunities have been covered. This review article will benefit scientists and researchers in food, nutrition, and agriculture, as well as agrifood businesses and policymakers who aim to develop nutrient-enriched foods to enhance public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Majzoobi
- Biosciences and Food Technology, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, Plenty Road, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia; (Z.W.); (S.T.); (N.P.); (C.S.B.); (A.F.)
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4
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Cisneros-Zevallos L, Maghoumi M, Lopez-Torres M, Beltran-Maldonado B. Transforming stressed plants into healthy foods. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 83:102980. [PMID: 37536039 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the current status of transforming stressed plants into healthy foods and the future trends in this emerging field. Herein, we describe the three major key elements to advance this field, including a better understanding of the mode of action of oxidative stress on nutraceutical biosynthesis under pre- and postharvest scenarios either converting plants into biofactories of nutraceuticals or creating 'functional fresh produce' while preserving quality. We discuss the need of designing healthy products based on stressed fresh produce and by-products and present a pragmatic strategy to enhance nutraceuticals in plants, and finally we propose designing appropriate studies with stressed plants targeting immunomodulatory properties to determine preventive and therapeutic effects against chronic diseases and the appropriate recommended dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Cisneros-Zevallos
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2133, United States.
| | - Mahshad Maghoumi
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2133, United States
| | - Manuel Lopez-Torres
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2133, United States
| | - Belem Beltran-Maldonado
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2133, United States
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5
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Zagoskina NV, Zubova MY, Nechaeva TL, Kazantseva VV, Goncharuk EA, Katanskaya VM, Baranova EN, Aksenova MA. Polyphenols in Plants: Structure, Biosynthesis, Abiotic Stress Regulation, and Practical Applications (Review). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13874. [PMID: 37762177 PMCID: PMC10531498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenolic compounds or polyphenols are among the most common compounds of secondary metabolism in plants. Their biosynthesis is characteristic of all plant cells and is carried out with the participation of the shikimate and acetate-malonate pathways. In this case, polyphenols of various structures are formed, such as phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and various oligomeric and polymeric compounds of phenolic nature. Their number already exceeds 10,000. The diversity of phenolics affects their biological activity and functional role. Most of their representatives are characterized by interaction with reactive oxygen species, which manifests itself not only in plants but also in the human body, where they enter through food chains. Having a high biological activity, phenolic compounds are successfully used as medicines and nutritional supplements for the health of the population. The accumulation and biosynthesis of polyphenols in plants depend on many factors, including physiological-biochemical, molecular-genetic, and environmental factors. In the review, we present the latest literature data on the structure of various classes of phenolic compounds, their antioxidant activity, and their biosynthesis, including their molecular genetic aspects (genes and transfactors). Since plants grow with significant environmental changes on the planet, their response to the action of abiotic factors (light, UV radiation, temperature, and heavy metals) at the level of accumulation and composition of these secondary metabolites, as well as their metabolic regulation, is considered. Information is given about plant polyphenols as important and necessary components of functional nutrition and pharmaceutically valuable substances for the health of the population. Proposals on promising areas of research and development in the field of plant polyphenols are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V. Zagoskina
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Maria Y. Zubova
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Tatiana L. Nechaeva
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Varvara V. Kazantseva
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Evgenia A. Goncharuk
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Vera M. Katanskaya
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Ekaterina N. Baranova
- N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia;
- All Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 127550 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A. Aksenova
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (M.Y.Z.); (T.L.N.); k.v.- (V.V.K.); (E.A.G.); (V.M.K.); (M.A.A.)
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Hadj Abdelkader O, Bouzebiba H, Pena D, Aguiar AP. Energy-Efficient IoT-Based Light Control System in Smart Indoor Agriculture. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:7670. [PMID: 37765728 PMCID: PMC10534542 DOI: 10.3390/s23187670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Indoor agriculture is emerging as a promising approach for increasing the efficiency and sustainability of agri-food production processes. It is currently evolving from a small-scale horticultural practice to a large-scale industry as a response to the increasing demand. This led to the appearance of plant factories where agri-food production is automated and continuous and the plant environment is fully controlled. While plant factories improve the productivity and sustainability of the process, they suffer from high energy consumption and the difficulty of providing the ideal environment for plants. As a small step to address these limitations, in this article we propose to use internet of things (IoT) technologies and automatic control algorithms to construct an energy-efficient remote control architecture for grow lights monitoring in indoor farming. The proposed architecture consists of using a master-slave device configuration in which the slave devices are used to control the local light conditions in growth chambers while the master device is used to monitor the plant factory through wireless communication with the slave devices. The devices all together make a 6LoWPAN network in which the RPL protocol is used to manage data transfer. This allows for the precise and centralized control of the growth conditions and the real-time monitoring of plants. The proposed control architecture can be associated with a decision support system to improve yields and quality at low costs. The developed method is evaluated in emulation software (Contiki-NG v4.7),its scalability to the case of large-scale production facilities is tested, and the obtained results are presented and discussed. The proposed approach is promising in dealing with control, cost, and scalability issues and can contribute to making smart indoor agriculture more effective and sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oussama Hadj Abdelkader
- Research Center for Systems and Technologies (SYSTEC), ARISE, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; (H.B.); (D.P.); (A.P.A.)
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7
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Bhaswant M, Shanmugam DK, Miyazawa T, Abe C, Miyazawa T. Microgreens-A Comprehensive Review of Bioactive Molecules and Health Benefits. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28020867. [PMID: 36677933 PMCID: PMC9864543 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Microgreens, a hypothesized term used for the emerging food product that is developed from various commercial food crops, such as vegetables, grains, and herbs, consist of developed cotyledons along with partially expanded true leaves. These immature plants are harvested between 7-21 days (depending on variety). They are treasured for their densely packed nutrients, concentrated flavors, immaculate and tender texture as well as for their vibrant colors. In recent years, microgreens are on demand from high-end restaurant chefs and nutritional researchers due to their potent flavors, appealing sensory qualities, functionality, abundance in vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds, such as ascorbic acid, tocopherol, carotenoids, folate, tocotrienols, phylloquinones, anthocyanins, glucosinolates, etc. These qualities attracted research attention for use in the field of human health and nutrition. Increasing public concern regarding health has prompted humans to turn to microgreens which show potential in the prevention of malnutrition, inflammation, and other chronic ailments. This article focuses on the applications of microgreens in the prevention of the non-communicable diseases that prevails in the current generation, which emerged due to sedentary lifestyles, thus laying a theoretical foundation for the people creating awareness to switch to the recently introduced category of vegetable and providing great value for the development of health-promoting diets with microgreens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maharshi Bhaswant
- Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600119, India
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Dilip Kumar Shanmugam
- Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600119, India
| | - Taiki Miyazawa
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Chizumi Abe
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Teruo Miyazawa
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-22-795-3205
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8
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Martínez-Zamora L, Castillejo N, Artés–Hernández F. Effect of postharvest visible spectrum LED lighting on quality and bioactive compounds of tomatoes during shelf life. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2022.114420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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9
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Galanty A, Zagrodzki P, Miret M, Paśko P. Chickpea and Lupin Sprouts, Stimulated by Different LED Lights, As Novel Examples of Isoflavones-Rich Functional Food, and Their Impact on Breast and Prostate Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27249030. [PMID: 36558162 PMCID: PMC9781113 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27249030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Among all legumes sprouts' active compounds, isoflavones seem to be the most important; nevertheless, their high content is not always associated with beneficial effects. These compounds may prevent or stimulate hormone-dependent cancers due to their estrogen-like activity. Different LED light quality can change the synthesis of active compounds and significantly influence the biological activity of the sprouts. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LED light (red, blue, green, yellow), as well as total darkness, and natural light conditions (as reference), on isoflavones content, determined by HPLC-UV-VIS, during 10 days of harvesting of chickpea and lupin sprouts. Due to the ambiguous estrogenic potential of isoflavones, the impact of these sprouts on normal and cancer prostate and breast cells was evaluated. Yellow LED light resulted in the highest sum of isoflavones in chickpea sprouts (up to 1 g/100 g dw), while for green LED light, the isoflavones sum was the lowest. The exact opposite effect was noted for lupin sprouts, with the predominance of green over the yellow LED light. The examined sprouts were of high safety to non-neoplastic breast and prostate cells, with interesting cytotoxic effects on breast MCF7 and prostate DU145 cancer cells. No clear relationship was observed between the activity and isoflavones content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Galanty
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical College Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Paweł Zagrodzki
- Department of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical College Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marina Miret
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Campus Diagonal, Av. de Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paweł Paśko
- Department of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical College Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
- Correspondence:
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Ultrasounds and a Postharvest Photoperiod to Enhance the Synthesis of Sulforaphane and Antioxidants in Rocket Sprouts. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081490. [PMID: 36009208 PMCID: PMC9404791 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasounds (US) and LED illumination are being studied to optimize yield and quality. The objective was to evaluate the effect of a pre-sowing US treatment combined with a postharvest photoperiod including LEDs on rocket sprouts’ quality and phytochemicals during shelf life. A US treatment (35 kHz; 30 min) applied to seeds and a postharvest photoperiod of 14 h fluorescent light (FL) + 10 h White (W), Blue (B), Red (R) LEDs or Darkness (D) were assayed. Antioxidants as phenolics and sulfur compounds (glucosinolates and isothiocyanates) were periodically monitored over 14 days at 5 °C. The US treatment increased the sulforaphane content by ~4-fold compared to CTRL seeds and sprouts. The phenolic acids and the flavonoid biosynthesis were enhanced by ~25%, ~30%, and ~55% under photoperiods with W, B, and R, respectively, compared to darkness. The total glucosinolate content was increased by >25% (W) and >45% (B and R) compared to darkness, which also reported increases of ~2.7-fold (W), ~3.6-fold (B), and ~8-fold (R) of the sulforaphane content as a main isothiocyanate. Postharvest lighting is an interesting tool to stimulate the secondary metabolism, while a US treatment was able to increase the sulforaphane content in seeds and sprouts, although no synergistic effect was reported.
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Moraru PI, Rusu T, Mintas OS. Trial Protocol for Evaluating Platforms for Growing Microgreens in Hydroponic Conditions. Foods 2022; 11:foods11091327. [PMID: 35564050 PMCID: PMC9103178 DOI: 10.3390/foods11091327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The hydroponic production of microgreens has potential to develop, at both an industrial, and a family level, due to the improved production platforms. The literature review found numerous studies which recommend procedures, parameters and best intervals for the development of microgreens. This paper aims to develop, based on the review of the literature, a set of procedures and parameters, included in a test protocol, for hydroponically cultivated microgreens. Procedures and parameters proposed to be included in the trial protocol for evaluating platforms for growing microgreens in hydroponic conditions are: (1) different determinations: in controlled settings (setting the optimal ranges) and in operational environments settings (weather conditions in the area/testing period); (2) procedures and parameters related to microgreen growth (obtaining the microgreens seedling, determining microgreen germination, measurements on the morphology of plants, microgreens harvesting); (3) microgreens production and quality (fresh biomass yield, dry matter content, water use efficiency, bioactive compound analysis, statistical analysis). Procedures and parameters proposed in the protocol will provide us with the evaluation information of the hydroponic platforms to ensure: number of growing days to reach desired size; yield per area, crop health, and secondary metabolite accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ioana Moraru
- Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Teodor Rusu
- Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Correspondence:
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Darré M, Vicente AR, Cisneros-Zevallos L, Artés-Hernández F. Postharvest Ultraviolet Radiation in Fruit and Vegetables: Applications and Factors Modulating Its Efficacy on Bioactive Compounds and Microbial Growth. Foods 2022; 11:foods11050653. [PMID: 35267286 PMCID: PMC8909097 DOI: 10.3390/foods11050653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been considered a deleterious agent that living organisms must avoid. However, many of the acclimation changes elicited by UV induce a wide range of positive effects in plant physiology through the elicitation of secondary antioxidant metabolites and natural defenses. Therefore, this fact has changed the original UV conception as a germicide and potentially damaging agent, leading to the concept that it is worthy of application in harvested commodities to take advantage of its beneficial responses. Four decades have already passed since postharvest UV radiation applications began to be studied. During this time, UV treatments have been successfully evaluated for different purposes, including the selection of raw materials, the control of postharvest diseases and human pathogens, the elicitation of nutraceutical compounds, the modulation of ripening and senescence, and the induction of cross-stress tolerance. Besides the microbicide use of UV radiation, the effect that has received most attention is the elicitation of bioactive compounds as a defense mechanism. UV treatments have been shown to induce the accumulation of phytochemicals, including ascorbic acid, carotenoids, glucosinolates, and, more frequently, phenolic compounds. The nature and extent of this elicitation have been reported to depend on several factors, including the product type, maturity, cultivar, UV spectral region, dose, intensity, and radiation exposure pattern. Even though in recent years we have greatly increased our understanding of UV technology, some major issues still need to be addressed. These include defining the operational conditions to maximize UV radiation efficacy, reducing treatment times, and ensuring even radiation exposure, especially under realistic processing conditions. This will make UV treatments move beyond their status as an emerging technology and boost their adoption by industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magalí Darré
- LIPA—Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Agroindustriales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 119 s/n, La Plata CP 1900, Argentina;
| | - Ariel Roberto Vicente
- LIPA—Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Agroindustriales, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 119 s/n, La Plata CP 1900, Argentina;
- Correspondence:
| | - Luis Cisneros-Zevallos
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Francisco Artés-Hernández
- Postharvest and Refrigeration Group, Department of Agronomical Engineering & Institute of Plant Biotechnology, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30203 Murcia, Spain;
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Ebert AW. Sprouts and Microgreens-Novel Food Sources for Healthy Diets. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11040571. [PMID: 35214902 PMCID: PMC8877763 DOI: 10.3390/plants11040571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
With the growing interest of society in healthy eating, the interest in fresh, ready-to-eat, functional food, such as microscale vegetables (sprouted seeds and microgreens), has been on the rise in recent years globally. This review briefly describes the crops commonly used for microscale vegetable production, highlights Brassica vegetables because of their health-promoting secondary metabolites (polyphenols, glucosinolates), and looks at consumer acceptance of sprouts and microgreens. Apart from the main crops used for microscale vegetable production, landraces, wild food plants, and crops' wild relatives often have high phytonutrient density and exciting flavors and tastes, thus providing the scope to widen the range of crops and species used for this purpose. Moreover, the nutritional value and content of phytochemicals often vary with plant growth and development within the same crop. Sprouted seeds and microgreens are often more nutrient-dense than ungerminated seeds or mature vegetables. This review also describes the environmental and priming factors that may impact the nutritional value and content of phytochemicals of microscale vegetables. These factors include the growth environment, growing substrates, imposed environmental stresses, seed priming and biostimulants, biofortification, and the effect of light in controlled environments. This review also touches on microgreen market trends. Due to their short growth cycle, nutrient-dense sprouts and microgreens can be produced with minimal input; without pesticides, they can even be home-grown and harvested as needed, hence having low environmental impacts and a broad acceptance among health-conscious consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas W Ebert
- World Vegetable Center, 60 Yi-Min Liao, Shanhua, Tainan 74151, Taiwan
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