Chemical Profile and Biological Activities of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus Ex Situ Collection from Portugal.

This study aimed to analyse the chemical profile and biological activities of 29 accessions of Brassica rapa (turnips) and 9 of Brassica napus (turnips and seeds) collections, maintained ex situ in Portugal. HPLC-HRMS allowed the determination of glucosinolates (GLS) and polyphenolic compounds. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were determined by using relevant assays. The chemical profiles showed that glucosamine, gluconasturtiin, and neoglucobrassin were the most abundant GLS in the extracts from the turnip accessions. Minor forms of GLS include gluconapoleiferin, glucobrassicanapin, glucoerucin, glucobrassin, and 4-hydroxyglucobrassin. Both species exhibited strong antioxidant activity, attributed to glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. The methanol extracts of Brassica rapa accessions were assessed against a panel of five Gram-negative bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar, and Yersinia enterocolitica) and three Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus). The extracts exhibited activity against S. enterica and S. aureus, and two showed inhibitory activity against E. coli and Y. enterocolitica. This study provides valuable insights into the chemical composition and biological properties of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus collections in Portugal. The selected accessions can constitute potential sources of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds, which can be used in breeding programs and improving human health and to promote healthy food systems.

Essential Oils from Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw. Grown in Portugal: Chemical Diversity and Relevance of Chemical Descriptors.

Origanum vulgare L. is a well-known aromatic and medicinal plant, whose essential oil (EO) has recognised flavouring and medicinal properties. In this study, Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw. EOs, isolated from accessions grown in experimental fields, were evaluated. The plant material was grown from rooted cuttings or nutlets (fruits), originally collected in 20 regions in mainland Portugal and harvesting for EO isolation was performed in two years. EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, for EO quantification and identification, respectively. EO yields ranged from <0.05-3.3% for rooted cuttings, with oregano samples obtained in Portalegre and Alandroal, respectively. Ninety-one compounds were identified, mainly grouped in oxygen-containing monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons. EO agglomerative cluster analysis evidenced two main clusters, with the first subdivided into four subclusters. From the obtained data, the putative O. vulgare subsp. virens chemotypes are carvacrol, thymol and linalool, with γ-terpinene, p-cymene, cis- and trans-ß-ocimene also contributing as these EOs chemical descriptors. The comparison between the present data and a survey of the existing literature on Portuguese O. vulgare reinforces the major variability of this species' EOs and emphasises the importance of avoiding wild collections to obtain a defined chemical type of crop production of market relevance.

Tracing Back the History of Pepper (Capsicum annuum) in the Iberian Peninsula from a Phenomics Point of View.

The Iberian Peninsula was the place where pepper (Capsicum annuum) entered Europe and dispersed to other continents but was also an important secondary center for its diversification. The current work evaluated the phenotypic diversity existing in this region and investigated how that evolved from Capsicum native areas (Mexico and Andean Region). For that purpose, the high-throughput phenotyping tool Tomato Analyzer was employed. Descriptors related to size and shape were the most distinctive among fruit types, reflecting a broad diversity for Iberian peppers. These traits likely reflected those suffering from more intensive human selections, driving the worldwide expansion of C. annuum. Iberian peppers maintained close proximity to the American accessions in terms of fruit phenomics. The highest similarities were observed for those coming from the southeastern edge of the Peninsula, while northwestern accessions displayed more significant differences. Common fruit traits (small, conical) suggested that Portuguese and Spanish landraces may have arisen from an ancient American population that entered the south of Spain and promptly migrated to the central and northern territories, giving rise to larger, elongated, and blocky pods. Such lineages would be the result of adaptations to local soil-climate factors prevailing in different biogeographic provinces.