Comparative analysis of metabolite profiling and free radical scavenging activity in phenotypic variants of OsCOP1 colored rice mutant seed.

Interest in colored rice has been increasing due to its health benefits. This study examined the metabolite profiling of CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) mutated rice seed (yel-mutant). The wild-type (WT) and the yel-mutant having yellow (y)- and purple (p)-pericarp variants from Chucheong (cc) and Samkwang (sk) cultivars were investigated for differences in bioactive metabolite profiles and free radical scavenging activity. The total fatty acid content decreased by >50% in the yel-mutant against the WT, while no significant difference was observed between yellow- and purple-pericarp variants (p < 0.05). The yel-mutant of both cultivars showed significantly higher flavone contents than their WT (non-detected). Most of the metabolites examined were highly produced in the yel-cc-p and the yel-sk-y than in the other phenotypic variants studied. This study provides further useful information for colored rice breeding by revealing the detailed biofunctional metabolic profile under COP1 mutation in colored rice.

Minor tropical fruits as a potential source of bioactive and functional foods.

Tropical fruits are defined as fruits that are grown in hot and humid regions within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, covering most of the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Oceania. Depending on the cultivation area covered, economic value and popularity these tropical fruits are divided into major and minor tropical fruits. There is an annual increment of 3.8% in terms of commercialization of the tropical fruits. In total 26 minor tropical fruits (Kiwifruit, Lutqua, Carambola, Tree Tomato, Elephant apple, Rambutan, Bay berry, Mangosteen, Bhawa, Loquat, Silver berry, Durian, Persimon, Longan, Passion fruit, Water apple, Pulasan, Indian gooseberry, Guava, Lychee, Annona, Pitaya, Sapodilla, Pepino, Jaboticaba, Jackfruit) have been covered in this work. The nutritional composition, phytochemical composition, health benefits, traditional use of these minor tropical fruits and their role in food fortification have been portrayed.

Recent insights on tea metabolites, their biosynthesis and chemo-preventing effects: A review.

Tea manufactured from the cultivated shoots of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze is the most commonly consumed nonalcoholic drink around the world. Tea is an agro-based, environmentally sustainable, labor-intensive, job-generating, and export-oriented industry in many countries. Tea includes phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, vitamins, enzymes, crude fibers, protein, lipids, and carbohydrates, among other biochemical constituents. This review described the nature of tea metabolites, their biosynthesis and accumulation with response to various factors. The therapeutic application of various metabolites of tea against microbial diseases, cancer, neurological, and other metabolic disorders was also discussed in detail. The seasonal variation, cultivation practices and genetic variability influence tea metabolite synthesis. Tea biochemical constituents, especially polyphenols and its integral part catechin metabolites, are broadly focused on potential applicability for their action against various diseases. In addition to this, tea also contains bioactive flavonoids that possess health-beneficial effects. The catechin fractions, epigallocatechin 3-gallate and epicatechin 3-gallate, are the main components of tea that has strong antioxidant and medicinal properties. The synergistic function of natural tea metabolites with synthetic drugs provides effective protection against various diseases. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnologies enhanced bioavailability, enhancing the therapeutic potential of natural metabolites against numerous diseases and pathogens.

Emerging role of nutritional short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) against cancer via modulation of hematopoiesis.

The understanding of gut microbiota has emerged as a significant frontier in development of strategies to maintain normal human body's homeostasis and preventing the disease development over the last decade. The composition of the gut microbiota influences the clinical benefit of immune checkpoints in patients with advanced cancer, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. Cancer is among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. So far, there is no universal treatment for cancer and despite significant advances, a lot of improvement on cancer therapy is required. Owing to its role in preserving the host's health and maintaining cellular integrity, the human gut microbiome has recently drawn a lot of interest as a target for cancer treatment. Dietary fiber is fermented by the gut microbiota to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, which are physiologically active metabolites. SCFAs can modulate the pathophysiology of the tumor environment through various critical signaling pathways. In addition, SCFAs can bind to carcinogens and other toxic chemicals, thus facilitating their biotransformation and elimination through different excretory mechanisms. This review discusses the mechanisms of action of short-chain fatty acids in modulating hematopoiesis of various immune system cells and the resultant beneficial anti-cancer effects. It also provides future perspectives on cancer therapy.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the genetic basis of rice fragrance mediated by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2.

INTRODUCTION: Fragrance is an important economic and quality trait in rice. The trait is controlled by the recessive gene betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (BADH2) via the production of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP). OBJECTIVES: Variation in BADH2 was evaluated at the population, genetic, transcriptional, and metabolic levels to obtain insights into fragrance regulation in rice. METHODS: Whole-genome resequencing of the Korean World Rice Collection of 475 rice accessions, including 421 breeding lines and 54 wild accessions, was performed. Transcriptome analyses of a subset of 279 accessions, proteome analyses of 64 accessions, and volatile profiling of 421 breeding lines were also performed. RESULTS: We identified over 3.1 million high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Korean rice collection. Most SNPs were present in intergenic regions (79%), and 190,148 SNPs (6%) were located in the coding sequence, of which 53% were nonsynonymous. In total, 38 haplotypes were identified in the BADH2 coding region, including four novel haplotypes (one in cultivated and three in wild accessions). Tajima's D values suggested that BADH2 was under balancing selection in japonica rice. Furthermore, we identified 316 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), including 185 cis-eQTLs and 131 trans-eQTLs, involved in BADH2 regulation. A protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) analysis revealed the presence of trans-pQTLs; 13 pQTLs were mapped 1 Mbp from the BADH2 region. Based on variable importance in projection (VIP) scores, 15 volatile compounds, including 2AP, discriminated haplotypes and were potential biomarkers for rice fragrance. CONCLUSION: We generated a catalog of haplotypes based on a resequencing analysis of a large number of rice accessions. eQTLs and pQTLs associated with BADH2 gene expression and protein accumulation are likely involved in the regulation of 2AP variation in fragrant rice. These data improve our understanding of fragrance and provide valuable information for rice breeding.

Study on Flexural Behaviour of Ferrocement Composites Reinforced with Polypropylene Warp Knitted Fabric.

Ferrocement is a cost-effective construction material used in the low-cost constructions. It is produced with the combination of cement mortar with closely spaced wire mesh known as chicken wire mesh. Ferrocement process eliminates coarse aggregates when compared to reinforced concrete thus makes the process simple. This paper deals with the influence of various characteristics of warp knitted fabric on the flexural properties of ferrocement composites. Ferrocement composites have a wide range of applications in the construction industry and it has some limitations due to the durability issues. Among the various durability issues, corrosion is one of the main issues to be addressed to enhance the long-term service life of the ferrocement composites. The idea of using non-metallic mesh to eliminate the corrosion problem is discussed in this paper. In this experiment, warp knitted fabric reinforced ferrocement composites were produced using polypropylene warp knitted fabrics. This paper deals with the flexural properties of ferrocement composites made of warp knitted fabric coated with expoxy. This paper deals with the flexural properties of ferrocement composites made of warp knitted fabric coated with expoxy. These composites were analyzed for their flexural strength, energy absorption and ductile property. The variables in the experiment are filament thickness, warp knitted structure and number of layers in the composites. Experimental results proved that the replacement of chicken mesh wire by warp knitted fabrics has an impact in the flexural properties of the composites and the effect of variables in the experiment set up has been analyzed. There is an imporvement of 200% is observed in the first crack load and 120% improvement in the ultimate load of the warp knit fabric reinforced composite compared to control sample. Experimental results proved that there is an increase in flexural strength of ferrocement composites made up with warp knitted fabrics. Microstructure studies like SEM and EDX on ferrocement laminates confirmed good bonding between the mortar mix and warp knitted fabrics.

A comprehensive review of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) bioactive components in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Beetroot is rich in various bioactive phytochemicals, which are beneficial for human health and exert protective effects against several disease conditions like cancer, atherosclerosis, etc. Beetroot has various therapeutic applications, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and analgesic functions. Besides the pharmacological effects, food industries are trying to preserve beetroots or their phytochemicals using various food preservation methods, including drying and freezing, to preserve their antioxidant capacity. Beetroot is a functional food due to valuable active components such as minerals, amino acids, phenolic acid, flavonoid, betaxanthin, and betacyanin. Due to its stability, nontoxic and non-carcinogenic and nonpoisonous capabilities, beetroot has been used as an additive or preservative in food processing. Beetroot and its bioactive compounds are well reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, antimicrobial, antiviral, etc. In this review, we provided updated details on (i) food processing, preservation and colorant methods using beetroot and its phytochemicals, (ii) synthesis and development of several nanoparticles using beetroot and its bioactive compounds against various diseases, (iii) the role of beetroot and its phytochemicals under disease conditions with molecular mechanisms. We have also discussed the role of other phytochemicals in beetroot and their health benefits. Recent technologies in food processing are also updated. We also addressed on molecular docking-assisted biological activity and screening for bioactive chemicals. Additionally, the role of betalain from different sources and its therapeutic effects have been listed. To the best of our knowledge, little or no work has been carried out on the impact of beetroot and its nanoformulation strategies for phytocompounds on antimicrobial, antiviral effects, etc. Moreover, epigenetic alterations caused by phytocompounds of beetroot under several diseases were not reported much. Thus, extensive research must be carried out to understand the molecular effects of beetroot in the near future.

Biochemical and Physiological Changes during Early Adventitious Root Formation in Chrysanthemum indicum Linné Cuttings.

Chrysanthemum indicum is an important ornamental and medicinal plant that is often difficult to propagate commercially because of its poor germination and low seed viability. This plant is mostly propagated by cutting, but the rooting is slow and non-uniform. The present investigation evaluated the regeneration capacity of stem cutting by examining the influence of auxins, growth medium, temperature, and explant type on adventitious root formation in C. indicum. The auxin-treated cuttings were planted in different growth substrates under greenhouse conditions. Among the different auxins tested, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) more effectively induced roots. The cutting position of stock plants influenced rooting capacity. Cutting the stock plants from the apical region enhanced root number and length in the explants. Among the different explant types, apical stem cuts with 2000 ppm IBA produced a significantly higher number of adventitious roots when grown in vermiculite and perlite (V + P) at a ratio of 1:1 at 25 °C. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that protocatechuic acid, gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, biochanin A, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, glycitein, and luteolin were the most dominant phenolic compounds present in C. indicum. These results indicate that IBA treatment promoted the synthesis and accumulation of phenolic compounds in C. indicum stem cuttings at the time of root formation. The present results demonstrate that applying auxins is essential for early root initiation and higher rooting success and thus may be beneficial for vegetative C. indicum propagation.

Exosome-based nanomedicine for cancer treatment by targeting inflammatory pathways: Current status and future perspectives.

Cancer is one of the dreadful diseases worldwide. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, are the three basic standard modes of cancer treatment. However, difficulties in cancer treatment are increasing due to immune escape, spreading of cancer to other places, and resistance of cancer cells to therapies. Various signaling mechanisms, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, RAS, WNT/ß-catenin, TGF-beta, and notch pathways, are involved in cancer resistance. The adaptive inflammatory response is the initial line of defence against infection. However, chronic inflammation can lead to tumorigenesis, malignant transformation, tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. The most commonly dysregulated inflammatory pathways linked to cancer include NF-κB, MAPK, JAK-STAT, and PI3K/AKT. To overcome major hurdles in cancer therapy, nanomedicine is receiving much attention due to its role as a vehicle for delivering chemotherapeutic agents that specifically target tumor sites. Several biocompatible nanocarriers including polymer and inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes, micellar nanoparticles, nanotubes, and exosomes have been extensively studied. Exosome has been reported as an important potential system that could be effectively used as a bioinspired, bioengineered, and biomimetic drug delivery solution considering its toxicity, immunogenicity, and rapid clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system. Exosome-mimetic vesicles are receiving much interest for developing nano-sized delivery systems. In this review, exosomes in detail as well as certain other nanocarriers, and their potential therapeutic roles in cancer therapy has been thoroughly discussed. Additionally, we also reviewed on oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins, inflammation, and their associated signaling pathways and their interference by exosomes based nanomedicine.

Geographical origin discrimination of Agaricus bisporus produced by the complete medium: A pilot study in South Korea.

The complete medium used for mushroom cultivation is important for reliable crop production. We aimed to identify how the origin of Agaricus bisporus grown in Korea was affected by complete media produced in different geographical regions using stable isotope ratios (SIRs). We found that the SIR features of A. bisporus significantly depended on the complete media origin used; in particular, it appeared the high δ34S in the Chinese complete medium, low δ34S in the Dutch complete medium, and high δ15N in the Korean complete medium (P < 0.05). The support vector machine method appeared better geo-origin classification of A. bisporus by the complete media compared to a linear discriminant analysis. A large-scale study should be conducted to establish a reliable origin identification model for A. bisporus grown in complete media to improve the global mushroom marketplace.

S-Allylcysteine (SAC) Exerts Renoprotective Effects via Regulation of TGF- ß1/Smad3 Pathway Mediated Matrix Remodeling in Chronic Renal Failure.

BACKGROUND: S-Allylcysteine (SAC), an organosulfur phytochemical sourced from aged garlic extract, is well known for its varied biomedical applications, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification mechanisms. Despite this, the scientific findings on the defensive impact of SAC against kidney failure (KF) are still unclear. Therefore, in the current investigation, the animal model of KF was induced by adenine in Wistar rats, and the animals were divided into four groups as control, KF induction using adenine, SAC treated KF rats for an experimental duration of 8 weeks. METHODS: KF progression was assessed by various serum and tissue markers, and the results demonstrated that the renal functions' markers, KIM-1 (kidney injury molecule-1), cystatin, NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), were found increased in adenine-treated rats compared to control. In addition, the inflammatory markers, matrix proteins, and fibrosis signatures explicated by RT-PCR, ELISA demonstrated a profound increase. On the other hand, rats received SAC mitigated KF considerably (p < 0.001) with restored cellular functions. Besides, SAC pre-treatment abrogated the cytokines and pro-inflammatory signals (COX-2 and PGE2) in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Furthermore, the fibrosis signaling markers mediators, such as SMAD-2,-3 were increased with associated matrix proteins. Thus, the present study substantiated that SAC possesses a significant renoprotective effect that might have been demonstrated by the inhibition of the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Improved accuracy of geographical origin identification of shiitake grown in sawdust medium: A compound-specific isotope model-based pilot study.

In countries like South Korea and the USA, origin labeling of shiitake grown using imported Chinese-inoculated medium is an issue. Therefore, we evaluated the use of compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) for the accurate identification of the geographical origin of shiitake (Korean, Chinese-inoculated medium, and Chinese); Chinese-inoculated medium shiitake were cultivated in Korea using inoculated sawdust medium from China. The CSIA-discriminant model showed an overall accuracy of 100% in the geographical classification of the original set and 96.4% for the cross-validated set. Glutamate and aspartate δ15N values were the most important variables for differentiating shiitake based on their origins. Compared to that observed upon using the bulk stable isotope analysis, the CSIA model was associated with significantly improved predictability of origin identification. Our findings elucidate the importance of isotope signatures in developing a reliable origin labeling method for shiitake cultured on the sawdust medium for the global market.

Bioactive Compounds in Oxidative Stress-Mediated Diseases: Targeting the NRF2/ARE Signaling Pathway and Epigenetic Regulation.

Oxidative stress is a pathological condition occurring due to an imbalance between the oxidants and antioxidant defense systems in the body. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), encoded by the gene NFE2L2, is the master regulator of phase II antioxidant enzymes that protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. NRF2/ARE signaling has been considered as a promising target against oxidative stress-mediated diseases like diabetes, fibrosis, neurotoxicity, and cancer. The consumption of dietary phytochemicals acts as an effective modulator of NRF2/ARE in various acute and chronic diseases. In the present review, we discussed the role of NRF2 in diabetes, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cancer, and atherosclerosis. Additionally, we discussed the phytochemicals like curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, apigenin, sulforaphane, and ursolic acid that have effectively modified NRF2 signaling and prevented various diseases in both in vitro and in vivo models. Based on the literature, it is clear that dietary phytochemicals can prevent diseases by (1) blocking oxidative stress-inhibiting inflammatory mediators through inhibiting Keap1 or activating Nrf2 expression and its downstream targets in the nucleus, including HO-1, SOD, and CAT; (2) regulating NRF2 signaling by various kinases like GSK3beta, PI3/AKT, and MAPK; and (3) modifying epigenetic modulation, such as methylation, at the NRF2 promoter region; however, further investigation into other upstream signaling molecules like NRF2 and the effect of phytochemicals on them still need to be investigated in the near future.

Haplotype Variations and Evolutionary Analysis of the Granule-Bound Starch Synthase I Gene in the Korean World Rice Collection.

Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) is responsible for Waxy gene encoding the, which is involved in the amylose synthesis step of starch biosynthesis. We investigated the genotypic and haplotypic variations of GBSSI (Os06g0133000) gene, including its evolutionary relatedness in the nucleotide sequence level using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indels, and structural variations (SVs) from 475 Korean World Rice Collection (KRICE_CORE), which comprised 54 wild rice and 421 cultivated represented by 6 ecotypes (temperate japonica, indica, tropical japonica, aus, aromatic, and admixture) or in another way by 3 varietal types (landrace, weedy, and bred). The results revealed that 27 of 59 haplotypes indicated a total of 12 functional SNPs (fSNPs), identifying 9 novel fSNPs. According to the identified novel fSNPs, we classified the entire rice collection into three groups: cultivated, wild, and mixed (cultivated and wild) rice. Five novel fSNPs were localized in wild rice: four G/A fSNPs in exons 2, 9, and 12 and one T/C fSNP in exon 13. We also identified the three previously reported fSNPs, namely, a G/A fSNP (exon 4), an A/C fSNP (exon 6), and a C/T fSNP (exon 10), which were observed only in cultivated rice, whereas an A/G fSNP (exon 4) was observed exclusively in wild rice. All-against-all comparison of four varietal types or six ecotypes of cultivated rice with wild rice showed that the GBSSI diversity was higher only in wild rice (π = 0.0056). The diversity reduction in cultivated rice can be useful to encompass the origin of this gene GBSSI during its evolution. Significant deviations of positive (wild and indica under balancing selection) and negative (temperate and tropical japonica under purifying selection) Tajima's D values from a neutral model can be informative about the selective sweeps of GBSSI genome insights. Despite the estimation of the differences in population structure and principal component analysis (PCA) between wild and subdivided cultivated subgroups, an inbreeding effect was quantified by F ST statistic, signifying the genetic relatedness of GBSSI. Our findings of a novel wild fSNPS can be applicable for future breeding of waxy rice varieties. Furthermore, the signatures of selective sweep can also be of informative into further deeper insights during domestication.

Comparative Study on Seed Characteristics, Antioxidant Activity, and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents in Accessions of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Sorghum is a major cereal food worldwide, and is considered a potential source of minerals and bioactive compounds. Its wide adaptive range may cause variations in its agronomic traits, antioxidant properties, and phytochemical content. This extensive study investigated variations in seed characteristics, antioxidant properties, and total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) of sorghum collected from different ecological regions of 15 countries. The antioxidant potential of the seed extracts of various sorghum accessions was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. Significant variations in TPC were observed among the sorghum accessions. All 78 sorghum accessions used in this study exhibited significant variations in TFC, with the lowest and highest amount observed in accessions C465 and J542, respectively. DPPH scavenging potential of the seed extracts for all the accessions ranged from 11.91 ± 4.83 to 1343.90 ± 81.02 µg mL-1. The ABTS assay results were similar to those of DPPH but showed some differences in the accessions. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a wide variation range in the correlation between antioxidant activity and TPC, as well as TFC, among the sorghum accessions. A wide diversity range was also recorded for the seed characteristics (1000-seed weight and seed germination rate). A dendrogram generated from UPGMA clustering, based on seed traits, antioxidant activity, TPC, and TFC was highly dispersed for these accessions. Variations among the accessions may provide useful information regarding the phytoconstituents, antioxidant properties, and phytochemical contents of sorghum and aid in designing breeding programs to obtain sorghum with improved agronomic traits and bioactive properties.

Potentials of polysaccharides, lipids and proteins in biodegradable food packaging applications.

Bio-based packaging materials are gaining importance due to their biodegradability, sustainability and environmental friendliness. To control the food quality and improve the food safety standards, proteins polysaccharide and lipid-based packaging films are enriched with bioactive and functional substances. However, poor permeability and mechanical characteristics are the challenging areas in their commercialization. Scientists and researchers are using a combination of techniques i.e. hydrogels, crosslinking, etc. to improve the intermolecular forces between different components of the film formulation to counter these challenges More recently, biodegradable packaging materials, sometimes edible, are also used for the delivery of functional ingredients which reveals their potential for drug delivery to counter the nutrient deficiency problems. This study highlights the potentials of bio-based materials i.e. proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, etc. to develop biodegradable packaging materials. It also explores the additives used to improve the physicochemical and mechanical properties of biodegradable packaging materials. Furthermore, it highlights the novel trends in biodegradable packaging from a food safety and quality point of view.

Long-term isotopic model study for ecofriendly rice (Oryza sativa L.) authentication: Updating a case study in South Korea.

To overcome the lack of consumer trust in ecofriendly products due to low reliability of ecofriendly certification and decreasing areas certified for growing ecofriendly agricultural products, alternative approaches for reliable certification are required. Isotopic-chemometric analysis has potential for determining organic authenticity, but previous studies have struggled to differentiate the authenticities of different rice types. The present study examined 5-year variations in δ13C and δ15N in ecofriendly and conventional rice sold at retail markets in South Korea, while assessing the feasibility of discriminant models for authentication of organic rice. Supporting vector machine analysis showed 4.4-14.6% better overall predictability of rice types than discriminant analysis and was effective in discriminating organic or conventional rice from pesticide-free rice, potentially enabling high-throughput screening to authenticate organic rice at marketplaces. Our findings provide reliable information for authenticating ecofriendly rice, with a potential to improve consumer safety and thus the confidence in organic products.

Application of Light-Emitting Diodes for Improving the Nutritional Quality and Bioactive Compound Levels of Some Crops and Medicinal Plants.

Light is a key factor that affects phytochemical synthesis and accumulation in plants. Due to limitations of the environment or cultivated land, there is an urgent need to develop indoor cultivation systems to obtain higher yields with increased phytochemical concentrations using convenient light sources. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have several advantages, including consumption of lesser power, longer half-life, higher efficacy, and wider variation in the spectral wavelength than traditional light sources; therefore, these devices are preferred for in vitro culture and indoor plant growth. Moreover, LED irradiation of seedlings enhances plant biomass, nutrient and secondary metabolite levels, and antioxidant properties. Specifically, red and blue LED irradiation exerts strong effects on photosynthesis, stomatal functioning, phototropism, photomorphogenesis, and photosynthetic pigment levels. Additionally, ex vitro plantlet development and acclimatization can be enhanced by regulating the spectral properties of LEDs. Applying an appropriate LED spectral wavelength significantly increases antioxidant enzyme activity in plants, thereby enhancing the cell defense system and providing protection from oxidative damage. Since different plant species respond differently to lighting in the cultivation environment, it is necessary to evaluate specific wavebands before large-scale LED application for controlled in vitro plant growth. This review focuses on the most recent advances and applications of LEDs for in vitro culture organogenesis. The mechanisms underlying the production of different phytochemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant enzymes, have also been discussed.

An origin identification model for labeling of shiitake (Lentinula edodes).

With the increasing globalization of the food trade across countries and continents, reliable identification of the geographical origin of products is critical. In this study, we describe the limitations of the current origin labeling system for non-soil-based agricultural products and suggest alternative strategies for the identification of the geographical origin of such products. An origin identification model based on stable isotope ratio analysis combined with discriminant analysis is used to evaluate the similarities and dissimilarities between domestic and foreign shiitake mushrooms, including Chinese inoculated sawdust blocks and Chinese origin. The results show a classification sensitivity of 92.0%, classification specificity of 91.5%, and overall accuracy of 93.5%. In particular, δ15N was the most important isotope marker for the identification of the origin of shiitake mushrooms. Hence, the current origin labeling system for mushroom species has to be revised to establish fair trade and avoid improper origin labeling in the global shiitake market.

An unattended HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS combined with a novel sample preparation strategy for the reliable quantitation of C8 volatiles in mushrooms: A sample preparation strategy to fully control the volatile emission.

Eight carbon (C8) compounds are the key characteristic flavors of mushrooms. The quantitative analysis of the volatiles in mushrooms is challenging especially with the unattended HS-SPME-GC-MS. An unattended HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS in combination with novel sample preparation of the complete control of volatile emissions was developed for the quantitation of the C8 volatiles in mushrooms. The sample preparation strategy was composed of freeze-drying, rehydration, and the addition of a 15% citric acid solution. With this strategy, the volatile emission from mushroom was fully controlled at a certain time point. This method was found to be highly reliable, sensitive, precise, and accurate. This method was successfully applied to measure the contents of the C8 volatiles in the beech, button, and shiitake mushrooms. 1-Octene-3-ol was the most predominant compound in the mushrooms, representing 62.4, 69.0, and 89.2% of the total C8 volatiles in the beech, button, and shiitake mushrooms, respectively.