Genetic Diversity Analysis and Fingerprint Construction for 87 Passionfruit (Passiflora spp.) Germplasm Accessions on the Basis of SSR Fluorescence Markers.

A comprehensive genetic diversity analysis of 87 Passiflora germplasm accessions domesticated and cultivated for several years in the karst region of Guizhou, China, was conducted utilizing simple sequence repeat (SSR) fluorescent markers. These Passiflora species, renowned for their culinary and medicinal value, could bring significant economic and ecological benefits to the region. This study aimed to assess the genetic resources of these species and facilitate the selection of superior cultivars adapted to the karst environment. Our analysis revealed an abundance of SSR loci within the Passiflora transcriptome, with single-base repeats being the most prevalent type. Through rigorous primer screening and amplification, we successfully identified 27 SSR primer pairs exhibiting robust polymorphisms. Further interrogation at eight microsatellite loci revealed 68 alleles, underscoring the high level of genetic diversity present in the cultivated accessions. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.202, with the ssr18 locus exhibiting the highest value of 0.768, indicating significant genetic variation. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.657 indicates the informativeness of these SSR markers. Comparative analyses of the cultivated and potential wild progenitors revealed distinct genetic variations among the different Passiflora types. Genetic structure and clustering analyses of the 87 accessions revealed seven distinct groups, suggesting gene flow and similarities among the resources. Notably, a DNA fingerprinting system was established using eight SSR primer pairs, effectively distinguishing the selected cultivars that had adapted to the karst mountainous region. This study not only deepens our understanding of Passiflora genetic resources in the karst environment but also provides a valuable reference for conservation, genetic improvement, and cultivar selection. The rich genetic diversity of the Passiflora germplasm underscores their potential for sustainable utilization in breeding programs aimed at enhancing the economic and ecological viability of these valuable plant species.

Integration of full-length Iso-Seq, Illumina RNA-Seq, and flavor testing reveals potential differences in ripened fruits between two Passiflora edulis cultivars.

Background: Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is loved for its delicious flavor and nutritious juice. Although studies have delved into the cultivation and enhancement of passion fruit varieties, the underlying factors contributing to the fruit's appealing aroma remain unclear. Methods: This study analyzed the full-length transcriptomes of two passion fruit cultivars with different flavor profiles: "Tainong 1" (TN1), known for its superior fruit flavor, and "Guihan 1" (GH1), noted for its strong environmental resilience but lackluster taste. Utilizing PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq technologies, we discovered terpene synthase (TPS) genes implicated in fruit ripening that may help explain the flavor disparities. Results: We generated 15,913 isoforms, with N50 lengths of 1,500 and 1,648 bp, and mean lengths of 1,319 and 1,463 bp for TN1 and GH1, respectively. Transcript and isoform lengths ranged from a maximum of 7,779 bp to a minimum of 200 and 209 bp. We identified 14,822 putative coding DNA sequences (CDSs) averaging 1,063 bp, classified 1,007 transcription factors (TFs) into 84 families. Additionally, differential expression analysis of ripening fruit from both cultivars revealed 314 upregulated and 43 downregulated unigenes in TN1 compared to GH1. The top 10 significantly enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms for the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that TN1's upregulated genes were primarily involved in nutrient transport, whereas GH1's up-regulated genes were associated with resistance mechanisms. Meanwhile, 17 PeTPS genes were identified in P. edulis and 13 of them were TPS-b members. A comparative analysis when compared PeTPS with AtTPS highlighted an expansion of the PeTPS-b subfamily in P. edulis, suggesting a role in its fruit flavor profile. Conclusion: Our findings explain that the formation of fruit flavor is attributed to the upregulation of essential genes in synthetic pathway, in particular the expansion of TPS-b subfamily involved in terpenoid synthesis. This finding will also provide a foundational genetic basis for understanding the nuanced flavor differences in this species.

Effects of passion fruit peel (Passiflora edulis) pectin and red yeast (Sporodiobolus pararoseus) cells on growth, immunity, intestinal morphology, gene expression, and gut microbiota in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

This study explores the effects of dietary supplementation with passion fruit peel pectin (Passiflora edulis) and red yeast cell walls (Sporidiobolus pararoseus) on growth performance, immunity, intestinal morphology, gene expression, and gut microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Nile tilapia with an initial body weight of approximately 15 ± 0.06 g were fed four isonitrogenous (29.09-29.94%), isolipidic (3.01-4.28%), and isoenergetic (4119-4214 Cal/g) diets containing 0 g kg-1 pectin or red yeast cell walls (T1 - Control), 10 g kg-1 pectin (T2), 10 g kg-1 red yeast (T3), and a combination of 10 g kg-1 pectin and 10 g kg-1 red yeast (T4) for 8 weeks. Growth rates and immune responses were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks, while histology, relative immune and antioxidant gene expression, and gut microbiota analysis were conducted after 8 weeks of feeding. The results showed that the combined supplementation (T4) significantly enhanced growth performance metrics, including final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio, particularly by week 8, compared to T1, T2, and T3 (P < 0.05). Immunological assessments revealed increased lysozyme and peroxidase activities in both skin mucus and serum, with the T4 group showing the most pronounced improvements. Additionally, antioxidant and immune-related gene expression, including glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GSR), and interleukin-1 (IL1), were upregulated in the gut, while intestinal morphology exhibited improved villus height and width. Gut microbiota analysis indicated increased alpha and beta diversity, with a notable rise in beneficial phyla such as Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes in the supplemented groups. These findings suggest that the combined use of pectin and red yeast cell walls as prebiotics in aquaculture can enhance the health and growth of Nile tilapia, offering a promising alternative to traditional practices. Further research is needed to determine optimal dosages for maximizing these benefits.

Genome-wide analysis of the passion fruit invertase gene family reveals involvement of PeCWINV5 in hexose accumulation.

BACKGROUND: Invertases (INVs) are key enzymes in sugar metabolism, cleaving sucrose into glucose and fructose and playing an important role in plant development and the stress response, however, the INV gene family in passion fruit has not been systematically reported. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 16 PeINV genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and named according to their subcellular location and chromosome position. These include six cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, two vacuolar invertase (VINV) genes, and eight neutral/alkaline invertase (N/AINV) genes. The gene structures, phylogenetic tree, and cis-acting elements of PeINV gene family were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that the upstream promoter region of the PeINV genes contained various response elements; particularly, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV5, PeN/AINV6, PeN/AINV7, and PeN/AINV8 had more response elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of PeINV genes under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold temperature, and high temperature) indicated that PeCWINV5, PeCWINV6, PeVINV1, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV6, and PeN/AINV7 responded significantly to these abiotic stresses, which was consistent with cis-acting element prediction results. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are main soluble components in passion fruit pulp. The contents of total soluble sugar, hexoses, and sweetness index increased significantly at early stages during fruit ripening. Transcriptome data showed that with an increase in fruit development and maturity, the expression levels of PeCWINV2, PeCWINV5, and PeN/AINV3 exhibited an up-regulated trend, especially for PeCWINV5 which showed highest abundance, this correlated with the accumulation of soluble sugar and sweetness index. Transient overexpression results demonstrated that the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose increased in the pulp of PeCWINV5 overexpressing fruit. It is speculated that this cell wall invertase gene, PeCWINV5, may play an important role in sucrose unloading and hexose accumulation. CONCLUSION: In this study, we systematically identified INV genes in passion fruit for the first time and further investigated their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. Furthermore, we screened out a key candidate gene involved in hexose accumulation. This study lays a foundation for further study on INV genes and will be beneficial on the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding.

Detection and molecular characterization of a novel mitovirus associated with Passiflora edulis Sims.

Mitoviruses are cryptic capsidless viruses belonging to the family Mitoviridae that replicate and are maintained in the mitochondria of fungi. Complete mitovirus-like sequences were recently assembled from plant transcriptome data and plant leaf tissue samples. Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is an economically important crop for numerous tropical and subtropical countries worldwide, and many virus-induced diseases impact its production. From a large-scale genomic study targeting viruses infecting Passiflora spp. in Brazil, we detected a de novo-assembled contig with similarity to other plant-associated mitoviruses. The contig is ∼2.6 kb long, with a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). This contig has been named "passion fruit mitovirus-like 1" (PfMv1). An alignment of the predicted amino acid sequence of the RdRP of PfMv1 and those of other plant-associated mitoviruses revealed the presence of the six conserved motifs of mitovirus RdRPs. PfMv1 has 79% coverage and 50.14% identity to Humulus lupulus mitovirus 1. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PfMV1 clustered with other plant-associated mitoviruses in the genus Duamitovirus. Using RT-PCR, we detected a PfMv1-derived fragment, but no corresponding DNA was identified, thus excluding the possibility that this is an endogenized viral-like sequence. This is the first evidence of a replicating mitovirus associated with Passiflora edulis, and it should be classified as a member of a new species, for which we propose the name "Duamitovirus passiflorae".

Harmony in nature's elixir: a comprehensive exploration of ethanol and nano-formulated extracts from Passiflora incarnata leaves: unveiling in vitro cytotoxicity, acute and sub-acute toxicity profiles in Swiss albino mice.

We analyzed the toxic effect of the ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata (EEP) and its nanoformulation (N-EEP) in the in vitro and in vivo models (zebrafish embryos and Swiss albino mice). The EEP composition was verified by phytochemical and GC-MS analysis. The synthesized N-EEP was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro results showed both EEP and N-EEP have a dose-dependent effect in L132 cells (normal embryonic lung cells). In zebrafish embryos, no developmental changes were observed for both EEP and N-EEP at 200 µg/ml. The acute and sub-acute toxicity of EEP and N-EEP was identified by oral administration in Swiss albino mice. A single-day oral dose of EEP and N-EEP at different concentrations was administered for acute toxicity, and changes in body weight, food, water intake, temperature, respiration rate, skin color changes, and eye color till 72 h was observed. In a sub-acute toxicity study, 28 days oral administration of different concentrations of EEP and N-EEP was done. Hematological analysis, serum hepatic biochemical parameter analysis, and histopathological analysis for the liver, kidney, spleen, intestine, and heart were performed. The results indicated that lower than 600 mg/kg of EEP and N-EEP can safely be used for the remediation of a spectrum of diseases.

Diversity and genetic structure of yellow passion fruit in Boyacá-Colombia using microsatellite DNA markers.

The Yellow passion fruit belongs to the Passifloraceae family with great economic, nutritional and social importance in Colombia. It presents a great phenotypic and genotypic diversity, which has not yet been explored or used in genetic improvement programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of 84 cultivars of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa from nine farms in the municipality of Miraflores, Boyacá, using eight microsatellite markers (SSR). On the basis of this information, estimates of genetic diversity parameters, molecular variance analysis (AMOVA), genetic distances, and cluster of cultivars were obtained. Low levels of genetic differentiation between cultivars were observed in the Bayesian analysis using Structure software, as well as the absence of correlation between genetic and geographic distances. The observed heterozygosity (0.50) was greater than the expected heterozygosity (0.43), suggesting a significant number of heterozygous individuals. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 4, with a mean 2.88. In general, SSR were classified as informative (0.36). The average value of the Shannon Index was 0.71, which shows moderate variability in this cultivar. AMOVA showed higher diversity within cultivars (98%). The gene flow (Nm=28.4) was moderate, this can be explained by the flow of pollen between the different cultivars, the reproduction system of the species, self-incompatibility and the introduction of genotypes from other sites by farmers. The genetic diversity identified in this study is sufficient to initiate breeding programs aimed at identifying cultivars with higher yields.

The Generation of Attenuated Mutants of East Asian Passiflora Virus via Deletion and Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the HC-Pro Gene for Control through Cross-Protection.

East Asian Passiflora virus (EAPV) causes passionfruit woodiness disease, a major threat limiting passionfruit production in eastern Asia, including Taiwan and Vietnam. In this study, an infectious cDNA clone of a Taiwanese severe isolate EAPV-TW was tagged with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter to monitor the virus in plants. Nicotiana benthamiana and yellow passionfruit plants inoculated with the construct showed typical symptoms of EAPV-TW. Based on our previous studies on pathogenicity determinants of potyviral HC-Pros, a deletion of six amino acids (d6) alone and its association with a point mutation (F8I, simplified as I8) were conducted in the N-terminal region of the HC-Pro gene of EAPV-TW to generate mutants of EAPV-d6 and EAPV-d6I8, respectively. The mutant EAPV-d6I8 caused infection without conspicuous symptoms in N. benthamiana and yellow passionfruit plants, while EAPV-d6 still induced slight leaf mottling. EAPV-d6I8 was stable after six passages under greenhouse conditions and displayed a zigzag pattern of virus accumulation, typical of a beneficial protective virus. The cross-protection effectiveness of EAPV-d6I8 was evaluated in both N. benthamiana and yellow passionfruit plants under greenhouse conditions. EAPV-d6I8 conferred complete cross-protection (100%) against the wild-type EAPV-TW-GFP in both N. benthamiana and yellow passionfruit plants, as verified by no severe symptoms, no fluorescent signals, and PCR-negative status for GFP. Furthermore, EAPV-d6I8 also provided complete protection against Vietnam's severe strain EAPV-GL1 in yellow passionfruit plants. Our results indicate that the attenuated mutant EAPV-d6I8 has great potential to control EAPV in Taiwan and Vietnam via cross-protection.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of calmodulin and calmodulin-like genes in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and their involvement in flower and fruit development.

BACKGROUND: The calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like (CML) proteins play regulatory roles in plant growth and development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and other biological processes. As a popular fruit and ornamental crop, it is important to explore the regulatory mechanism of flower and fruit development of passion fruit. RESULTS: In this study, 32 PeCaM/PeCML genes were identified from passion fruit genome and were divided into 9 groups based on phylogenetic analysis. The structural analysis, including conserved motifs, gene structure and homologous modeling, illustrates that the PeCaM/PeCML in the same subgroup have relative conserved structural features. Collinearity analysis suggested that the expansion of the CaM/CML gene family likely took place mainly by segmental duplication, and the whole genome replication events were closely related with the rapid expansion of the gene group. PeCaM/PeCMLs were potentially required for different floral tissues development. Significantly, PeCML26 had extremely high expression levels during ovule and fruit development compared with other PeCML genes, suggesting that PeCML26 had potential functions involved in the development of passion fruit flowers and fruits. The co-presence of various cis-elements associated with growth and development, hormone responsiveness, and stress responsiveness in the promoter regions of these PeCaM/PeCMLs might contribute to their diverse regulatory roles. Furthermore, PeCaM/PeCMLs were also induced by various abiotic stresses. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CaM/CML gene family and valuable clues for future studies on the function and evolution of CaM/CML genes in passion fruit. CONCLUSION: A total of 32 PeCaM/PeCML genes were divided into 9 groups. The PeCaM/PeCML genes showed differential expression patterns in floral tissues at different development stages. It is worth noting that PeCML26, which is highly homologous to AtCaM2, not only interacts with multiple BBR-BPC TFs, but also has high expression levels during ovule and fruit development, suggesting that PeCML26 had potential functions involved in the development of passion fruit flowers and fruits. This research lays the foundation for future investigations and validation of the potential function of PeCaM/PeCML genes in the growth and development of passion fruit.

Passion fruit HD-ZIP genes: Characterization, expression variance, and overexpression PeHB31 enhanced drought tolerance via lignin pathway.

The HD-ZIP (homeodomain-leucine zipper) genes hold significant importance in transcriptional regulation, especially in plant development and responses to abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive study targeting HD-ZIP family members in passion fruit has been absent. In our current research, 34 HD-ZIP family members (PeHBs) were identified by bioinformatics analysis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that PeHBs exhibited distinct expression patterns when subjected to the four different abiotic stresses, and significant differential expression of PeHBs was also found among the three developmental stages of the fruit and between the purple and yellow genotype passion fruit leaves. An integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis further revealed that the HD-ZIP III class gene PeHB31 (homologous to ATHB8), was co-upexpressed with lignans in yellow fruit P. edulis (commonly used as a resistance rootstock) when compared to purple fruit P. edulis. The transformation of Arabidopsis and yeast with the PeHB31 gene showed an enhancement in their capacity to withstand drought conditions. Notably, the transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibited an increase in lignin content within the vascular tissues of their stems. This research lays the groundwork for future studies on the control mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis by HD-ZIP genes (especially HD-ZIP classes III and I) involved in drought tolerance.

Antidepressant activity of tricin-7-O-glucoside and anxiolytic-like effect of harmane from Passiflora coriacea Juss. On mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Passiflora coriacea Juss., a medicinal plant in the family Passifloraceae, is widely used to treat anxiety and depression in Mexican folk medicine. However, its chemical profile and biological activity have not been characterized. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to determine the antidepressant activity, anxiolytic effect, and chemical profile of Passiflora coriacea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An organic fraction (PcEA) from a hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of P. coriacea was obtained, followed by a chemical analysis and separation, yielding six fractions (PcEA, T1, T2, T1.1, T2.1, and T2.2). Male ICR mice were used to determine the antidepressant activity of selected treatments (PcEA, T1, T2, and T1.1) based on a forced swim test (FST). The anxiolytic-like effects of various treatments (PcEA, T1, T2, T2.1, and T2.2) were determined using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. RESULTS: The organic fraction of P. coriacea decreased anxiety-like behaviors in mice and increased the time of mobility in the FST. After chemical separation, two compounds were isolated from the species with antidepressant activity and anxiolytic-like effects, T1.1 (tricin 7-O-glucoside) and T2.2 (harmane), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compounds isolated from P. coriacea exerted anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in mice based on the EPM and FST. The flavonoid tricin-7-O-glucoside and the alkaloid harmane contributed to these biological activities.

A New Species of the Anastrepha pseudoparallela Group (Diptera: Tephritidae) with a Synopsis of the Group in Brazil.

The genus Anastrepha contains some of the most important fruit pests in the Americas. It comprises more than 300 species, of which 129 occur in Brazil. The genus is divided into 26 species groups, including the pseudoparallela group with 31 species, whose known host plants are primarily fruits of the genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae). Fourteen species are recorded in Brazil. Here, a new species of Anastrepha reared from fruits of Passiflora actinia Hook. and Passiflora elegans Mast. from southern Brazil is described and illustrated. In addition, a synopsis of the Brazilian species of the pseudoparallela group is provided.

Advances in Tissue Culture and Transformation Studies in Non-model Species: Passiflora spp. (Passifloraceae).

In this chapter, we report advances in tissue culture applied to Passiflora. We present reproducible protocols for somatic embryogenesis, endosperm-derived triploid production, and genetic transformation for such species knowledge generated by our research team and collaborators in the last 20 years. Our research group has pioneered the work on passion fruit somatic embryogenesis, and we directed efforts to characterize several aspects of this morphogenic pathway. Furthermore, we expanded the possibilities of understanding the molecular mechanism related to developmental phase transitions of Passiflora edulis Sims. and P. cincinnata Mast., and a transformation protocol is presented for the overexpression of microRNA156.

Aloe vera and tea polyphenols composite coating delays passion fruit senescence by promoting phenolic and flavonoid accumulation.

Passion fruits are highly perishable during postharvest storage and transportation, prompting the exploration of natural preservatives. This study investigates the synergistic effects of Aloe vera (ALV) and tea polyphenols (TP) coatings on quality retention, ripening modulation, and associated regulatory mechanisms in stored "golden" passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) at 10 °C. The application of a composite coating comprising 40 % ALV and 0.1 g/L TP led to notable improvements in fruit preservation over a 28-day storage period. At the day of 28, quantitatively, the ALV + TP treatment reduced weight loss by 41.60 %, shrinkage index by 28.13 %, and decay index by 50 %, significantly outperforming the control and individual treatments; the treated fruits exhibited enhanced firmness, reduced ethylene production, and the respiration peak was delayed about 6 days. Metabolomic analysis revealed pronounced alterations in key metabolic pathways, notably phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Specifically, significant increases in metabolites such as phenolic acids (Feruloylmalic acid and Acropyrone) and flavonoids (Okanin-4'-O-glucoside, Apigenin-8-C-Arabinoside, Quercetin-3-O- (2'-O-galloyl) galactoside, and Catechin callate) were observed. Concurrently, transcript levels of key biosynthetic genes including cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (PeC4H), 4-coumarate-coenzyme a ligase (PeC4L), hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (PeHCT) and flavonol synthase (PeFLS) were significantly up-regulated by ALV + TP coating, indicating a robust activation of these pathways. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the ALV + TP composite coating as an environmentally friendly strategy for enhancing postharvest quality by promoting the accumulation of beneficial phenolic acids and flavonoids in passion fruits.

Mutating the arginine residue within the FRNK motif of telosma mosaic virus (TelMV) HC-Pro protein attenuates viral infection and confers effective protection against TelMV in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis).

BACKGROUND: Telosma mosaic virus (TelMV, Potyvirus, Potyviridae) is an emerging viral pathogen that threatens passion fruit plantations worldwide. However, an efficient strategy for controlling such a virus is not yet available. Cross protection is a phenomenon in which pre-infection of a plant with one mild strain prevents or delays subsequent infection by the same or closely related virus. HC-Pro is the potyviral encoded multifunctional protein involved in several steps of viral infection, including multiplication, movement, transmission and RNA silencing suppression. In this study, we tested whether it is possible to generate attenuated viral strains capable of conferring protection against severe TelMV infection by manipulating the HC-Pro gene. RESULTS: By introducing point mutation into the conserved motif FRNK of HC-Pro that is essential for RNA silencing suppression, we have successfully obtained three attenuated mutants of TelMV (R181K, R181D, and R181E, respectively). These attenuated TelMV mutants could systemically infect passion fruit plants without noticeable symptoms. Pre-inoculation of one of these attenuated mutants confers efficient protection against subsequent infection by severe TelMV strain. Moreover, we demonstrated that the HC-Pros harbored by the attenuated mutants exhibit reduced RNA silencing suppression activity in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. CONCLUSION: The attenuated TelMV mutants developed in this study that are suitable for cross protection offer a practical, powerful tool to fight against TelMV for sustainable passion fruit production. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Orange passion fruit (Passiflora caerulea L.) as a new raw material for acetic fermentation: evaluation of organic acids and phenolic profile, in vitro digestion, and biological activities.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated for the first time the potential of orange passion fruit as a base for alcoholic and acetic fermentations, with a view to assessing its profile of organic acids and polyphenols, in vitro digestion, and biological activities. RESULTS: In terms of aliphatic organic acids, malic acid was the majority in the wine (3.19 g L-1), while in the vinegar, it was acetic acid (46.84 g L-1). 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB) was the major phenolic compound in the wine and vinegar samples (3443.93 and 2980.00 µg L-1, respectively). After the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation stage, the wine showed high bioaccessibility for the compounds sinipaldehyde (82.97%) and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA, 81.27%), while the vinegar exhibited high bioaccessibility for sinipaldehyde (89.39%). Through multivariate analysis, it was observed that 3,4-DHB was highly concentrated in the different digested fractions obtained from the wine. In contrast, in the vinegar, the stability of isorahmenetin and Quercetin 3-o-rhamnoside was observed during the in vitro digestion simulation. Lastly, the vinegar stood out for its inhibition rates of α-amylase (23.93%), α-glucoside (18.34%), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (10.92%). In addition, the vinegar had an inhibitory effect on the pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. CONCLUSION: Orange passion fruit has proved to be a promising raw material for the development of fermented beverages. Therefore, this study provides an unprecedented perspective on the use and valorization of orange passion fruit, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge about fermented products and the associated nutritional and functional possibilities. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antidiabetic Effect of Passiflora ligularis Leaves in High Fat-Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global public health concern, prompting the ongoing search for new treatment options. Medicinal plants have emerged as one such alternative. Our objective was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of an extract from the leaves of Passiflora ligularis (P. ligularis). For this purpose, T2DM was first induced in mice using a high-fat diet and low doses of streptozotocin. Subsequently, an aqueous extract or an ethanolic extract of P. ligularis leaves was administered for 21 days. The following relevant results were found: fasting blood glucose levels were reduced by up to 41%, and by 29% after an oral glucose overload. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was reduced by 59%. Histopathologically, better preservation of pancreatic tissue was observed. Regarding oxidative stress parameters, there was an increase of up to 48% in superoxide dismutase (SOD), an increase in catalase (CAT) activity by 35% to 80%, and a decrease in lipid peroxidation (MDA) by 35% to 80% in the liver, kidney, or pancreas. Lastly, regarding the lipid profile, triglycerides (TG) were reduced by up to 30%, total cholesterol (TC) by 35%, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) by up to 32%, while treatments increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL) by up to 35%. With all the above, we can conclude that P. ligularis leaves showed antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects, making this species promising for the treatment of T2DM.

Pseudomonas flavocrustae sp. nov., an endophyte with plant growth promoting traits isolated from Passiflora incarnata.

A polyphasic approach was applied to characterize taxonomically a novel endophytic bacterial strain, designated as EP178T, which was previously isolated from Passiflora incarnata leaves and characterized as plant-growth promoter. The strain EP178T forms Gram stain-negative and rod-shaped cells, and circular and yellow-pigmented colonies. Its growth occurs at 10-37 °C, at pH 6.0-8.0, and tolerates up to 7% (w/v) NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids found were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c), summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c /C16:1 ω7c), and C16:0, and the predominant ubiquinone was Q-9. The phylogenetic and nucleotide-similarity analysis with 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EP178T belongs to Pseudomonas genus. The genomic-based G + C content was 65.5%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains EP178T and the closest type strain, P. oryzihabitans DSM 6835T, were 92.6% and 52.2%, respectively. Various genes associated with plant-growth promoting mechanisms were annotated from genome sequences. Based on the phenotypic, genomic, phylogeny and chemotaxonomic data, strain EP178T represents a new species of the genus Pseudomonas, for which the name Pseudomonas flavocrustae sp. nov. was proposed. The type strain is EP178T (= CBMAI 2609T = ICMP 24844T = MUM 23.01T).

Experimental assessment of biostimulants on mung bean growth on a soilless culture system using superabsorbent pectin based hydrogel.

Sustainable agriculture initiatives are needed to ensure the food security of the people all over the world. Soilless cultivation methods using hydrogels may give a revolutionary response as well as a more ecological and productive alternative to conventional farming. This study attempted extraction of pectin from the rind of albedo yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa Degener)and hydrogels from pectin and activated carbon was compared with pure pectin hydrogel; Pectin- Activated Carbon hydrogels (PAC) showed a microporous structure with excellent hydrophilicity and showed superior water holding capacity. Then the prepared hydrogels were examined with various instrumental techniques like FTIR, SEM, XRD, Raman, BET and rheological properties. In the BET analysis, PAC3 shows the highest surface area of 28.771 m2/g when compared to PAC0 at 15.063 m2/g. The germination experiments were performed using mung beans. This study provides an opportunity for the application of pectin hydrogels in agriculture field specifically for home garden or rooftop cultivation.

Passifetilactones A-E, Fatty Acid Lactones from the Fruit and Flowers of Passiflora foetida with Cytotoxic Activity.

Phytochemical investigation of the fruit and flowers of Passiflora foetida led to the isolation of 14 compounds, of which five are previously undescribed fatty acid lactones. Four 2-pyrones, passifetilactones A-D (1-4), and one furanone, passifetilactone E (5), were identified by analysis of spectroscopic and spectrometric data. The previously undescribed lactones were tested for cytotoxic activities against the cancer cell lines HeLa, A549, PC-3, KKU-055, and KKU-213A and two normal cell lines, Vero and MMNK-1. Passifetilactones B (2) and C (3) displayed good to mild cytotoxic activity, at IC50 3.7-25.9 µM and 12.2-19.8 µM, respectively, against six cell lines, but were weakly active against the MMNK-1 cell line. Passifetilactones B and C (2 and 3) showed cell apoptosis induction on the KKU-055 cell line in a flow cytometry experiment. Passifetilactone D (4) is an isolation artifact produced by purification over silica gel, but we demonstrated that it can also be slowly formed within the crude EtOAc extract. This is the first investigation of the flowers and the fruit of this plant.