Continuous planting of Chinese fir monocultures significantly influences dissolved organic matter content and microbial assembly processes.

Monoculture plantations in China, characterized by the continuous cultivation of a single species, pose challenges to timber accumulation and understory biodiversity, raising concerns about sustainability. This study investigated the impact of continuous monoculture plantings of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata [Lamb.] Hook.) on soil properties, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and microorganisms over multiple generations. Soil samples from first to fourth-generation plantations were analyzed for basic chemical properties, DOM composition using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, and microorganisms via high-throughput sequencing. Results revealed a significant decline in nitrate nitrogen content with successive rotations, accompanied by an increase in easily degradable compounds like carbohydrates, aliphatic/proteins, tannins, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen- (CHON) and Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur- (CHOS) containing compounds. However, the recalcitrant compounds, such as lignin and carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAMs), condensed aromatics and Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen- (CHO) containing compounds decreased. Microorganism diversity, abundance, and structure decreased with successive plantations, affecting the ecological niche breadth of fungal communities. Bacterial communities were strongly influenced by DOM composition, particularly lignin/CRAMs and tannins. Continuous monoculture led to reduced soil nitrate, lignin/CRAMs, and compromised soil quality, altering chemical properties and DOM composition, influencing microbial community assembly. This shift increased easily degraded DOM, accelerating soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, ultimately reducing soil carbon sequestration. From environmental point of view, the study emphasizes the importance of sustainable soil management practices in continuous monoculture systems. Particularly the findings offer valuable insights for addressing challenges associated with monoculture plantations and promoting long-term ecological sustainability.

Timing of leaf removal modulates tannin composition and the level of anthocyanins and methoxypyrazines in Pinot noir grapes and wines.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of leaf removal on concentrations of anthocyanin, tannin, and methoxypyrazines (MPs) in Pinot noir grapes and wines. Leaf removal after 7 days (LR7), 30 days (LR30), and 60 days (LR60) of flowering were compared with no leaf removal control (LRC). Grapes and resultant wines were analysed for tannin and aroma composition using liquid chromatography and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All leaf removal treatments increased anthocyanin concentration in grapes and reduced MP levels in grape stems compared to LRC, indicating the effectiveness of both early and late leaf removal. Leaf removal after 7 days and 30 days were more effective in enhancing colour density, polymeric pigments, and tannin concentration in wines. Higher grape skin tannin and anthocyanin concentrations, along with lower seed tannin concentration in berries, correlated with higher tannin concentrations in wines. LR7 showed significantly higher skin-originated tannin proportion than LRC, suggesting a useful tool to manage tannin extraction. Aroma composition of resultant wines was influenced by leaf removal, although these differences were not evident in the sensory evaluation.

Pharmacokinetics of four tannin compounds from Sanguisorba officinalis L. before and after processing by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Sanguisorba officinalis L. possesses detoxifying, analgesic, and hemostatic properties. After charred processing, S. officinalis exhibits significantly enhanced medicinal effects. Currently, most pharmacokinetic studies focus on the chemical constituents of unprocessed S. officinalis. There is limited research on the comparison of chemical constituents before and after processing. This study established a pharmacokinetic method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS) to simultaneously determine the levels of four tannin compounds in rat plasma. In negative ion mode, MS/MS detection was performed using an electrospray ionization source. Chromatographic separation was performed using WATERS ACQUITY HSS T3 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.8 µm) with a gradient elution of water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. The pharmacokinetic results indicate that all four compounds reached peak concentrations within 2 h, demonstrating rapid absorption into the bloodstream within the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, the absorption was generally faster in the charred compound of S. officinalis after processing. These four compounds exhibited slower elimination in rat plasma, while in S. officinalis charcoal, the compounds were eliminated more rapidly. The pharmacokinetic results have revealed the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the four analytes in rat plasma which provides valuable reference information for further investigating the in vivo absorption process of S. officinalis after processing.

Differences in the nutritional quality of improved finger millet genotypes in Ethiopia.

Improved crop genotypes are constantly introduced. However, information on their nutritional quality is generally limited. The present study reports the proximate composition and the concentration and relative bioavailability of minerals of improved finger millets of different genotypes. Grains of finger millet genotypes (n = 15) grown in research station during 2019 and 2020 in Ethiopia, and replicated three times in a randomized complete block design, were analysed for proximate composition, mineral concentration (iron, zinc, calcium, selenium), and antinutritional factors (phytate, tannin and oxalate). Moreover, the antinutritional factors to mineral molar ratio method was used to estimate mineral bioavailability. The result shows a significant genotypic variation in protein, fat and fibre level, ranging from 10% to 14.6%, 1.0 to 3.8%, and 1.4 to 4.6%, respectively. Similarly, different finger millets genotypes had significantly different mineral concentrations ranging from 3762 ± 332 to 5893 ± 353 mg kg-1 for Ca, 19.9 ± 1.6 to 26.2 ± 2.7 mg kg-1 for Zn, 36.3 ± 4.6 to 52.9 ± 9.1 mg kg-1 for Fe and 36.6 ± 11 to 60.9 ± 22 µg kg-1 for Se. Phytate (308-360 µg g-1), tannin (0.15-0.51 mg g-1) and oxalate (1.26-4.41 mg g-1) concentrations were also influenced by genotype. Antinutritional factors to minerals molar ratio were also significantly different by genotypes but were below the threshold for low mineral bioavailability. Genotype significantly influenced mineral and antinutritional concentrations of finger millet grains. In addition, all finger millet genotypes possess good mineral bioavailability. Especially, the high Ca concentration in finger millet, compared to in other cereals, could play a vital role to combating Ca deficiency. The result suggests the different finger millet genotypes possess good nutrient content and may contribute to the nutrition security of the local people.

Use of tannase-producing bacteria isolated from the rumen to improve the nutritional value of pomegranate peel for fattening lambs.

BACKGROUND: The use of plants and by-products, which are containing a high amount of secondary and anti-nutritional compounds such as tannins, in animal feed is limited. The methods that can reduce these compounds make facilitate their use in animal feed. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to reduce the adverse effects of pomegranate peel (PP) tannin for fattening lambs using the tannase-producing bacteria. METHODS: Twenty-one Arabi male lambs (averagely 35 ± 3.8 kg weight and 8 ± 1.0 months age) were used in a completely randomized design with three treatments and seven replications in the present experiment. The experimental treatments included 1 - control diet (CNT, no PP), 2 - diet containing untreated PP (raw PP, UTPP) and 3 - diet containing PP treated with tannase-producing bacteria (bacteria treating PP, BTPP). RESULTS: Using UTPP decreased nutrient intake compared to the control and treatment with tannase-producing bacteria again significantly increased nutrient intake compared to the UTPP (p < 0.05). The digestibilities of organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in the control treatment were significantly higher than UTPP and BTPP and in the BTPP were significantly higher than the UTPP (p < 0.05). The use of UTPP in the diet significantly decreased the pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration and the total protozoa population of the rumen compared to the control (p < 0.05), and treatment with bacteria increased them again. The lowest total protozoa population was observed in UTPP treatments (p < 0.05). The highest concentration of blood glucose was observed in UTPP; however, the highest concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (non-significant) and low-density lipoprotein were in the control treatment. The effect of experimental treatments on the dry matter consumption of the whole period was significant; however, there was no significant effect on average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency and longissimus muscle colorimetric systems. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, considering the positive effects of treatment PP with tannin-degrading bacteria relative to raw PP, using these bacteria is a proper way to reduce tannin, thus improving the nutritional value of PP for ruminants.

Antioxidant and UV-blocking activity of PVA/tannin-based bioplastics in food packaging application.

In this study, bioplastics with antioxidant and UV protection properties based on tannin and PVA were created for packaging uses. Using a hot water extraction method at various extraction temperatures (60-100 °C), tannins were removed from the bark of Acacia mangium. Tannins with the best antioxidant activity were extracted at 80 °C. In order to create bioplastic formulations (PVA/Tannins), the extract is then employed. The non-heating bioplastic method's preparation (M3) stage produced the highest levels of antioxidant activity. Therefore, subsequent tests were conducted using the non-heating method (M3). On the opacity, UV protective activity, antioxidant capacity, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and water vapor permeability of the resultant bioplastics, the impact of tannin concentration (0.1-0.5 g) was examined. The findings of the experiments demonstrate that PVA/Tannin bioplastics are less transparent than pure PVA. The PVA/tannin bioplastics that are formed, on the whole, show strong antioxidant and UV protection action. Comparing PVA/Tannin bioplastics to pure PVA also revealed a small improvement in thermal stability and tensile strength. In PVA bioplastics with resistant tannins, moisture content was marginally greater even at low tannin concentrations (0.1 g). Based on the findings, bioplastics made from PVA and the tannin A. mangium have the potential to be used to create packaging that is UV and active antioxidant resistant. It can be applied as the second (inner) layer of the primary packaging to protect food freshness and nutrition due to their antioxidant activity.

Quality Evaluation of Peony Petals Based on the Chromatographic Fingerprints and Simultaneous Determination of Sixteen Bioactive Constituents Using UPLC-DAD-MS/MS.

In this study, a validated quality evaluation method with peony flower fingerprint chromatogram combined with simultaneous determination of sixteen bioactive constituents was established using UPLC-DAD-MS/MS. The results demonstrated that the method was stable, reliable, and accurate. The UPLC chemical fingerprints of 12 different varieties of peonies were established and comprehensively evaluated by similarity evaluation (SE), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and quantification analysis. The results of SE indicated that similar chemical components were present in these samples regardless of variety, but there were significant differences in the content of chemical components and material basis characteristics. The results of HCA and PCA showed that 12 varieties of samples were divided into two groups. Four flavonoids (11, 12, 13, and 16), five monoterpenes and their glycosides (3, 4, 6, 14, and 15), three tannins (7, 9, and 10), three phenolic acids (1, 2, and 5), and one aromatic acid (8) were identified from sixteen common peaks by standards and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The simultaneous quantification of six types of components was conducted with the 12 samples, it was found that the sum contents of analytes varied obviously for peony flower samples from different varieties. The content of flavonoids, tannins, and monoterpenes (≥19.34 mg/g) was the highest, accounting for more than 78.45% of the total compounds. The results showed that the flavonoids, tannins, and monoterpenes were considered to be the key indexes in the classification and quality assessment of peony flower. The UPLC-DAD-MS/MS method coupled with multiple compounds determination and fingerprint analysis can be effectively applied as a feature distinguishing method to evaluate the compounds in peony flower raw material for product quality assurance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Moreover, this study provides ideas for future research and the improvement of products by these industries.

In quest for improvement of dyeing properties using agriculture waste: utilization of Oleaster as new bio-mordant for wool yarns.

Agricultural waste is an unwanted material that is not only unmarketable, but also has secondary costs such as environmental pollution. Oleaster, also known as olive Russian fruit, has various uses, but it also produces waste such as seeds and peels. Oleaster fruit and all its parts are tannin rich, which can be utilized as natural mordant. Improvement of fastness and color properties of natural dyed fibers is obtained by using mordant. The employing of this mordant is effective in reducing agricultural waste and the production of dyeing chemical waste. Reseda extract was utilized as natural dye to investigate the color characteristics. The study of the phenolic percentage of different components of the Oleaster fruit, including peel, seed, and flesh, showed that each of these materials can be used as natural mordant. The formation of physical bonds in the presence of all kinds of mordant was investigated using the FTIR method, and the results showed that their performance is similar and they are effective in surface treatment of wool. Investigation of color characteristics of the yarns showed that the color strength increases in the presence of mordant. Studying the fastness of yarns dyed with ISO methods showed that the samples have high washing fastness.

Development of Tannins and Methoxypyrazines in Grape Skins, Seeds, and Stems of Two Pinot Noir Clones during Ripening.

Two Pinot noir clones (AM10/5 and UCD5) were analyzed for tannin and methoxypyrazines (MPs) in different grape tissues during berry development using liquid chromatography and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On a per berry basis, skin tannins reached the maximum level about 2-3 weeks after véraison, seed tannins at around véraison, and stem tannins 4 weeks before véraison. Clone AM10/5 showed significantly higher levels of seed and stem tannins on a per berry basis at harvest. Tannin concentration and composition varied among the different tissues. On a per berry basis, stem tannin levels were comparable to skin tannins but were 3 to 4 times lower than seed tannins, while stem tannins had an intermediate galloylation (5-7%) between seed tannins (12-18%) and skin tannins (2%) and lower prodelphinidin (4-7%) than skin tannins (31-36%). The mean degree of polymerization of stem tannins was similar to seed tannins but lower than skin tannins. MPs, including 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IPMP), 3-s-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (SBMP), and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP), showed significantly higher concentrations than their sensory thresholds in grape stems but not in skins. The MPs development in stems showed an increasing trend toward véraison and then a decreasing trend toward harvest. Compared to AM 10/5, UCD5 stems showed a higher level of MPs, especially significantly higher concentrations of IPMP and IBMP at harvest. The extraction of MPs from grape stems could contribute negative green and vegetative characters to Pinot noir wines.

Investigating the therapeutic potential of aqueous extraction of curry plant (Murraya koenigi) leaves supplementation for the regulation of blood glucose level in type 2 diabetes mellitus in female human subjects.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. It is spreading around the globe like a pandemic. Major factors behind the development of diabetes can be genetics, environmental factors, dietary choices and obesity. Many medicinal plants have anti-diabetic potential. This study has investigated the anti-diabetic effect of curry leaves extract. This study also investigated the chemical characterization of curry leaves. Phytochemicals including saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and glycosides were also investigated. Encapsulated 5mg per kg of the body weight and 10mg per kg of the body weight were given to treatment groups I and II. Random blood sugar, fasting blood sugar and HbA1c of 45 diabetic female adults were measured on the 0-day and 45th days. All results were analyzed using the two-sample t-test in IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Curry leaves contained moisture (24.1±1.78)%, ash (17.82±2.13)%, nitrogen free extract (36.12±3.52)%, crude protein (8.32±0.83)%, crude fiber (6.98±2.31)% and crude fat (6.87±0.21)%. Mineral analysis showed that magnesium and calcium were major minerals present in curry leaves. Curry leaves extract contained saponins 2.71±0.23, flavonoids 7.84±0.42, tannins 0.91±0.09, glycosides 0.17±0.01, phenols 3.89±0.12, alkaloids 2.01±0.87. These phytochemicals were expressed in mg/100 g of the sample. Curry leaf extract showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin in both treatment groups.

Fruit Characteristics of Transgenic pear (Pyrus communis L.) Trees During Long-Term Field Trials.

The quality of transgenic fruits was studied only for apple, plum and citrus. We first evaluated the transgenic fruit characteristics of pear, which is one of the most consumed fruit crops. The size, shape and biochemical composition of fruits from field-grown pear trees with marker genes were analyzed for 5 years. Soluble solids, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds varied significantly between transgenic lines, but these deviations were inconsistent. Arbutin content and sugar:acidity ratio were the most stable parameters. One transgenic line showed a stable increase in fruit weight (by 12.2-21.2%). The extremely dry and hot season increased the total phenolics (2.6-3.6 times) and tannin (3.2-3.6 times) levels, but not flavonoids. The harvest year had a stronger effect on analyzed fruit parameters than the genotype. Our study found no unintended effects of genetic transformation on pear fruit quality and confirms the importance of long-term field tests for perennial transgenic plants.

Combined effect of harvest time and postharvest dehydration length on the composition of withered grapes for Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG wine production.

BACKGROUND: Sforzato di Valtellina (Sfursat) is a PDO reinforced red wine produced in Valtellina (northern Italy) from partially withered red grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Nebbiolo. The present study aimed to evaluate the combined influence of different grape ripeness levels and withering length on the chemical composition, mechanical properties, and phenolic profile of Nebbiolo winegrapes from two Valtellina vineyards. During three consecutive vintages (2019, 2020, and 2021), three different technological binomials have been tested: early harvest/long withering (EL), medium-term harvest/medium-term withering (MM), and late harvest/short withering (LS). RESULTS: At the end of the withering process, EL thesis usually presented the highest values of sugars and acidity. Extractable seed polyphenols showed a decreasing trend by leaving the grapes on the plant longer, and this effect increased considerably after withering with respect to fresh samples. EL and MM evidenced the greater concentration of these compounds expressed on grape weight, particularly for tannins. Instead, skin-extracted total phenolics were less influenced by the harvest time, whereas their concentration increased after withering. The harvest time appears to have a higher impact than the withering length on the final extractable anthocyanin content, although the trend was no stable during the vintages or common for the two vineyards evaluated. EL and MM experienced the highest contents of grape skin tannins in most cases, suggesting that a longer withering increases their concentration. CONCLUSION: Harvest time and withering length can be modulated according to the desired oenological objective, promoting the valorization of grape potentialities. The choice to harvest the grapes earlier and enhance the withering length should be preferred to obtain wines with higher acidity and phenolic content, more suitable for long-ageing period. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Environment and Genotype Influence Quantitative and Qualitative Variation in Condensed Tannins in Aspen.

Condensed tannins (CTs) are abundant, ecologically-relevant secondary metabolites in many plants, which respond to variables associated with anthropogenic environmental change. While many studies have reported how genetic and environmental factors affect CT concentrations, few have explored how they influence CT molecular structure. Here, using trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) as a model organism, we report how foliar CT concentrations, polymer sizes, representation of procyanidins and prodelphinidins, and stereochemistry vary in response to changes in air temperature (warming and freeze damage), air composition (elevated CO2 and O3), soil quality (nutrients and microbiome), and herbivory (mammal and lepidopteran). Use of multiple aspen genotypes enabled assessment of genetic influences on aspen CTs. CT concentration and composition were analyzed by thiolysis-ultra high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in archived leaf samples from prior experiments. All environmental variables explored except for soil microbiome influenced both CT quantity and quality, with climate factors appearing to have larger effect magnitudes than herbivory. Climate, soil, and herbivory effects varied among genotypes, while air composition effects were consistent across genotypes. Considering that CT properties (concentrations and molecular structures) mediate functions at the organismal through ecosystem scales, intraspecific variation in responses of CT properties to environmental factors could provide a pathway through which environmental change exerts selective pressure on Populus populations. Future studies are needed to identify the molecular-level mechanisms by which environmental factors influence CT concentrations and structures, and to establish their ecological and evolutionary significance.

Phytochemical screening and allelopathic potential of phytoextracts of three invasive grass species.

Undoubtedly, it is important to remain vigilant and manage invasive grasses to prevent their spread and mitigate their negative impact on the environment. However, these aggressive plants can also play a beneficial role in certain contexts. For example, several invasive grasses provide valuable forage for livestock and have disease control potential. Therefore, a research experiment was conducted to explore the pros and cons of this approach, not only for surrounding vegetation but also for human and animal disease control. The study is primarily focused on developing livestock feed, plant-derived herbicides, and an understanding of the phytotoxic effects of invasive species. All plant parts of Cenchrus ciliaris L., Polypogon monspeliansis L., and Dicanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, were tested for their phyto-chemical screening, proximate, and toxicity analysis which was caused by the methanolic extract of these grass species. Qualitative phytochemical screening tests were performed for proximate composition analysis and toxicity assessment essays. The phytochemical analysis revealed the positive results for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, and glycosides, while negative for tannins. Comparison of proximate analysis intimated maximum moisture (10.8%) and crude fat (4.1%) in P. monspeliensis, whereas maximum dry matter (84.1%), crude protein (13.95%), crude fiber (11%), and ash (7.2%) in D. annulatum. Five (10, 100, 500, 100, 10,000 ppm) and three (10, 1000, 10,000 ppm) different concentrations of methanolic extract prepared from C. ciliaris, P. monspeliansis, and D. annulatum were used respectively for root inhibition and seed germination essay. Furthermore, three different concentrations (10, 30, 50 mg) of plant fine powder were used for sandwich method test. There was a significant decline in the growth rate of experimental model radish seeds (P > 0.005), and results from sandwich method tests showed suppressed growth of root hairs, inhibiting the anchoring of the radish seed. In comparison, results manifest that; P. monspeliansis indicated an upsurge of inhibition (66.58% at 10,000 ppm), D. annulatum revealed soar germination (75.86% in controlled conditions), and C. ciliaris exhibited dramatic shoot up of inhibition because of sandwich method test (14.02% at 50 mg). In conclusion, although grasses are toxic, it is important to consider the beneficiary account.

Evolution of Seed-Soluble and Insoluble Tannins during Grape Berry Maturation.

Condensed tannins (CT) in wine are derived from the seeds and skins of grapes, and their composition and content contribute to the bitterness/astringency characteristics and ageing potential of the wine. Global warming has accelerated the ripening process of grape berries, making them out of sync with seed ripening. To understand the influence of berry ripening on the seed CT composition and content, we analyzed the changes in the soluble and insoluble CT in the seeds of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes from two vineyards over two years. The results showed that the seed-soluble CT presented a slight downward trend in fluctuation during grape berry development, while the insoluble CT increased continuously before the véraison and remained at a high level afterwards. Relatively speaking, a lower sugar increment in developing grape berries favored the conversion of seed CT towards a higher degree of polymerization. The terminal unit of soluble CT was dominated by epigallocatechin gallate, the content of which decreased as the seeds matured. It is suggested that the seeds should be fully matured to reduce this bitter component in tannins. This study provides a reference for us to control the grape ripening process and produce high-quality grapes for wine making.

Changes in Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties of Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) and Its Products.

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) is a plant that is commonly cultivated around the world, known for centuries for its valuable nutritional and healing properties. Although quince fruit are extremely aromatic, due to their high hardness and sour, astringent, and bitter taste, they are not suitable for direct consumption in an unprocessed form. However, they are an important raw material in fruit processing, e.g., in the production of jams, jellies, and juices. Quince fruits fall under the category of temperate fruits, so their shelf life can be predicted. Considering that technological processing affects not only the organoleptic properties and shelf life but also the functional properties of fruits, the aim of this research was to determine the impact of various types of technological treatments on the physicochemical and bioactive properties of quince fruit. In fresh, boiled, and fried fruits and in freshly squeezed quince fruit juice, basic parameters, such as the content of dry matter, moisture, soluble solids (°Brix), pH, total acidity, water activity, and color parameters (L*a*b*) were determined. The content of key bioactive ingredients, i.e., tannins, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and total polyphenols, was also determined, as well as the antioxidant activity of raw and technologically processed (cooked, fried, and squeezed) quince fruits. The conducted research showed that fresh quince fruit and processed quince products can be a very good source of bioactive ingredients in the diet, such as tannins (3.64 ± 0.06 mg/100 g in fresh fruit; from 2.22 ± 0.02 mg/100 g to 5.59 ± 0.15 g/100 g in products), carotenoids (44.98 ± 0.18 mg/100 g in fresh fruit; from 141.88 ± 0.62 mg/100 g to 166.12 ± 0.62 mg/100 g in products), and polyphenolic compounds (246.98 ± 6.76 mg GAE/100 g in fresh fruit; from 364.53 ± 3.76 mg/100 g to 674.21 ± 4.49 mg/100 g in products). Quince fruit and quince products are also characterized by high antioxidant properties (452.41 ± 6.50 µM TEAC/100 g in fresh fruit; 520.78 ± 8.56 µM TEAC/100 g to 916.16 ± 6.55 µM TEAC/100 g in products). The choice of appropriate technological processing for the quince fruit may allow producers to obtain high-quality fruit preserves and act a starting point for the development of functional products with the addition of quince fruit in its various forms, with high health-promoting values and a wide range of applications in both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Variation in Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Extracts from Different Plant Organs of Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.).

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.) has been widely used in the treatment of various diseases. The pharmacological properties of meadowsweet are derived from the presence of phenolic compounds of a diverse structure in sufficiently large quantities. The purpose of this study was to examine the vertical distribution of individual groups of phenolic compounds (total phenolics, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, catechins, proanthocyanidins, and tannins) and individual phenolic compounds in meadowsweet and to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of extracts from various meadowsweet organs. It was found that the leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots of meadowsweet are characterized by a high total phenolics content (up to 65 mg g-1). A high content of flavonoids was determined in the upper leaves and flowers (117-167 mg g-1), with high contents of hydroxycinnamic acids in the upper leaves, flowers, and fruits (6.4-7.8 mg g-1); high contents of catechins and proanthocyanidins in the roots (45.1 and 3.4 mg g-1, respectively); and high tannin content in the fruits (38.3 mg g-1). Analysis of extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the qualitative and quantitative composition of individual phenolic compounds in various parts of the meadowsweet varied greatly. Among the flavonoids identified in meadowsweet, quercetin derivatives dominate, namely quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-ß-d-glucoside, and quercetin 4'-O-glucoside. Quercetin 4'-O-glucoside (spiraeoside) was found only in the flowers and fruits. Catechin was identified in the leaves and roots of meadowsweet. The distribution of phenolic acids across the plant was also uneven. In the upper leaves, a higher content of chlorogenic acid was determined, and in the lower leaves, a higher content of ellagic acid determined. In flowers and fruits, a higher contents of gallic, caftaric, ellagic, and salicylic acids were noted. Ellagic and salicylic acids were also dominant among phenolic acids in the roots. Based on the results of the analysis of antioxidant activity in terms of the ability to utilize the radicals of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazolino-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and in terms of iron-reducing ability (FRAP), the upper leaves, flowers, and fruits of meadowsweet can be considered plant raw materials suitable to obtain extracts with high antioxidant activity. Extracts of plant fruits and flowers also showed high antibacterial activity against the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

GWAS of grain color and tannin content in Chinese sorghum based on whole-genome sequencing.

KEY MESSAGE: Seventy-three QTL related to grain color and tannin content were identified in Chinese sorghum accessions, and a new recessive allelic variant of TAN2 gene was discovered. Sorghum is mainly used for brewing distilled liquors in China. Since grain tannins play an important role in liquor brewing, accurately understanding the relationship between grain color and tannin content can provide basis for selection standards of tannin sorghum. We resequenced a panel of 242 Chinese sorghum accessions and performed population structure and genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify quantitative trait locus (QTL) affecting pericarp color, testa pigment, and tannin content. Phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and admixture model were used to infer population structure. Two distinct genetic sub-populations were identified according to their corresponding northern and southern geographic origin. To investigate the genetic basis of natural variation in sorghum grain color, GWAS with 2,760,264 SNPs was conducted in four environments using multiple models (Blink, FarmCPU, GLM, and MLM). Seventy-three QTL were identified to be associated for the color of exocarp, mesocarp, testa, and tannin content on all chromosomes except chromosome 5, of which 47 might be novel QTL. Some important QTL were found to colocalize with orthologous genes in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway from other plants, including orthologous of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) TT2, TT7, TT12, TT16 and AT5G41220 (GST), as well as orthologous of rice (Oryza sativa) MYB61 and OsbHLH025. Our investigation of the variation in grain color and tannin content in Chinese sorghum germplasm may help guide future sorghum breeding for liquor brewing.

Contrasting seed traits of co-existing seeds lead to a complex neighbor effect in a seed-rodent interaction.

Scatter-hoarding rodents play important roles in seed dispersal and predation in many forest ecosystems. Existing studies have shown that the seed foraging preference of rodents is directly affected by seed traits and indirectly affected by the traits of other co-existing seeds nearby (i.e., neighbor effect). Plant seeds exhibit a combination of diverse seed traits, including seed size, chemical defense, and nutrient content. Therefore, it is difficult to evaluate the influence of each single seed trait on such neighbor effects. Here, by using artificial seeds, we investigated the impacts of contrasts in seed size, tannin content, and nutrient content on neighbor effects. We tracked 9000 tagged artificial seeds from 30 seed-seed paired treatments in a subtropical forest in southwest China. The contrast in seed size between paired seeds created obvious neighbor effects measured through three seed dispersal related indicators: the proportion of seeds being removed, the proportion of seeds cached, and the distance transported by rodents. However, the magnitudes and the signs of the neighbor effects differed among pairs, including both apparent mutualism and apparent competition, depending on the contrast in seed size between paired seeds. The contrasts of tannin and nutrient content between paired seeds showed relatively few neighbor effects. Our results suggest that the contrast in seed traits between the target seed and its neighboring seeds should be considered when studying rodent-seed interactions. Furthermore, we expect that similar complex neighbor effects may also exist in other plant-animal interactions, such as pollination and herbivory.

Characterization and metabolomic profiling of two pigment producing fungi from infected fruits of Indian Gooseberry.

Two pigment producing fungi, Talaromyces atroroseus and Penicillium choerospondiatis, were isolated and identified from infected fruits of Phyllanthus emblica L. based on amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region and beta-tubulin gene. This is the first occurrence report of these two fungi from fruits of P. emblica. Culture extract containing metabolites of T. atroroseus and P. choerospondiatis contained phenolics of 26.35 mg and 30.89 mg GAE/g dry extract respectively; whereas no significant amount of flavonoids and tannins were detected. P. choerospondiatis metabolites extract showed higher DPPH and ABTS activity with IC50 values of 21.94 mg/ml and 27.03 mg/ml respectively than T. atroroseus. LC-HRMS analysis of metabolites extract of T. atroroseus revealed presence of trimethyl-isopropyl-butanamide, perlolyrine, N-hexadecanoylpyrrolidine etc. whereas P. choerospondiatis displayed presence of tangeraxanthin, ugaxanthone, daphniphylline, etc. Therefore, fungal metabolites are rich natural sources of diversified compounds that can be utilized in dyeing industries, cosmetics and novel drug development.