Effects of different products of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) from a variety developed in southern Brazil on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in vitro and ex vivo.

Antioxidant, anti-glycation and anti-inflammatory activities of fresh and conserved peach fruits (Prunus persica L. Batsch) were compared. Fresh peach pulps, peels, preserve peach pulps and the preserve syrup were prepared at equal concentrations. Rat liver, kidney and brain cortex tissue slices were pre-incubated with peach samples, subjected to oxidative stress with FeSO4 and hydrogen peroxide. Fresh peach pulps and peel conferred higher protection against cytotoxicity and oxidative stress than preserve peach pulps in most tissues. Release of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß was also significantly decreased by Fresh peach pulps and peel, followed by preserve peach pulps. Total phenolic determination and HPLC analysis of carotenoids showed that the content of secondary metabolites in Fresh peach pulps and peel is significantly higher than in preserve peach pulps, while the syrup had only small or trace amounts of these compounds. Fresh peach pulps and Peel demonstrated high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects preventing against induced damage.

Preventive supplementation with fresh and preserved peach attenuates CCl4-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and tissue damage.

The present study was elaborated to comparatively evaluate the preventive effect of different peach-derived products obtained from preserved fruits (Syrup and Preserve Pulp Peach [PPP]) and from fresh peels and pulps (Peel and Fresh Pulp Peach [FPP]) in a model of liver/renal toxicity and inflammation induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. Tissue damage (carbonyl, thiobarbituric acid reactive species and sulfhydril), antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase and superoxide dismutase) and inflammatory parameters [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß levels, and receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and nuclear factor (NF)κB-p65 immunocontent] were investigated. Our findings demonstrated that Peel, PPP and FPP (200 or 400 mg/kg) daily administration by oral gavage for 30 days conferred a significant protection against CCl4-induced antioxidant enzymes activation and, most importantly, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins as well as blocked induction of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, RAGE and NFκB. This antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effect seems to be associated with the abundance of carotenoids and polyphenols present in peach-derived products, which are enriched in fresh-fruit-derived preparations (Peel and FPP) but are also present in PPP. The Syrup - which was the least enriched in antioxidants - displayed no protective effect in our experiments. These effects cumulated in decreased levels of transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase leakage into serum and maintenance of organ architecture. Therefore, the herein presented results show evidence that supplementation with peach products may be protective against organ damage caused by oxidative stress, being interesting candidates for production of antioxidant-enriched functional foods.

Comparative analysis of the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of red (Psidium cattleianum) and yellow (Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum) strawberry guava fruit.

UNLABELLED: Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) is a native fruit of Brazil widely consumed fresh and used in the food industry. In this context, the present study deals with the chemical characterization and the antioxidant activity of the red (Psidium cattleianum) and yellow (P. cattleianum var. lucidum Hort.) strawberry guava fruits, cultivars Irapuã and Ya-Cy, respectively. Knowledge of chemical composition is fundamental to human nutrition, contributing to the quality of foods. Phenolic compounds in both fruits were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and the total flavonoid content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the total reactive antioxidant (TRAP) method. Psidium cattleianum presented a higher content of polyphenolic compounds than P. cattleianum var. lucidum (501.33 and 292.03 mg/100 g, respectively), with hyperoside being one of the major flavonoids identified for both cultivars. In addition to flavonoids, P. cattleianum presented an anthocyanin, identified as cyanidin. The antioxidant activity varied in a concentration-dependent manner for both strawberry guava species. The volatile oils in fruits and fatty acids in seeds were quantified by GC-EM. The analysis of the essential oil of yellow strawberry guava was compared with a previous study on the red cultivar, revealing ß-caryophyllene as the main component in both oils. The fatty acid composition was also quite similar and was especially characterized by the presence of unsaturated fatty acids (86.25% and 76%, respectively), among which linoleic acid as the most abundant. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, the chemical characterization and the antioxidant activity of the red (Psidium cattleianum) and yellow (P. cattleianum var. lucidum Hort.) strawberry guava fruits were investigated. This is important for potential application of strawberry guava as functional food. Moreover, it may be the experimental basis for further development and use in food industry.

Receptividade do estigma e desenvolvimento do tubo polínico em flores de pessegueiro submetidas à temperatura elevada / Stigma receptivity and pollen tube development in peach flowers submitted to high temperature

Dentre os diversos fatores que afetam a produtividade do pessegueiro em regiões subtropicais, está a ocorrência de temperaturas elevadas no início da floração. Tais temperaturas podem causar danos ao estigma e à germinação do grão de pólen, ocasionando decréscimo na fecundação e na fixação dos frutos. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo detectar diferenças entre genótipos quanto à tolerância à temperatura elevada (29±2ºC), bem como verificar se tais diferenças poderiam ser detectadas por um processo simples, utilizando ramos destacados. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo um com ramos destacados e outro com plantas inteiras em vasos, obtidas por enxertia, no outono. As estimativas de graus de receptividade do estigma e de comprimento do tubo polínico nos ramos destacados sugerem que as seleções Conserva 1566 e Conserva 693 e a cv. 'Maciel' não sofrem negativamente influência da temperatura de 29°C. A receptividade do estigma, mesmo em ramos destacados, pode discriminar os genótipos quanto à tolerância da parte feminina a temperaturas próximas a 29°C.

Several factors can cause an erratic production of peaches under subtropical conditions. The occurrence of high temperatures on the beginning of blooming is one of them. Such temperatures can damage the stigma and the pollen germination, causing a decrease on fecundation and fruit set. The present work had the objective of looking for differences in tolerance to 29±2ºC among peach genotypes, as well as checking if a simple method using detached twigs would be suitable to detect differences. Two experiments were conducted using whole plants in vase, on one and detached twigs on the other. Estimates of pollen tube growth on the pistil and stigma receptivity suggested that selections Conserva 1566 and Conserva 693 and cv. 'Maciel' were tolerant to temperatures around 29°C at begining of blooming. Stigma receptivity, even in detached twigs, showed differences among genotypes.

Repetibilidade de caracteres de fruto em araçazeiro e pitangueira / Repeatability traits of strawberry guava and surinam cherry fruits

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a repetibilidade de carateres de fruto em araçazeiro e pitangueira. Foram avaliados, em quatro ciclos produtivos, os caracteres peso, diâmetro, sólidos solúveis totais e produção de frutos em 10 seleções de araçazeiro e peso, diâmetro e sólidos solúveis totais em nove seleções de pitangueira, do Banco de Germoplasma da Embrapa Clima Temperado, em Pelotas-RS. O coeficiente de repetibilidade, o número de medições necessárias e o coeficiente de determinação foram estimados pelos métodos de análise de variância, componentes principais e análise estrutural. O coeficiente de repetibilidade foi mais eficientemente estimado pelo método dos componentes principais, com base na matriz de covariâncias. O caractere peso de fruto é mais adequado para ser utilizado na seleção fenotípica em araçazeiro e pitangueira. É necessária apenas uma medição para predizer o valor de peso de fruto de genótipos de araçazeiro, com 90 por cento de acurácia. Com quatro anos de avaliação, é possível inferir o valor real com confiabilidade acima de 80 por cento para todos os caracteres. Isso facilita a seleção fenotípica para esses caracteres em programas de melhoramento de araçazeiro e pitangueira.

The aim of this research was to estimate the repeatability traits of strawberry guava and surinam cherry fruits. It was evaluated in four productive cycles, the traits weight, diameter, total soluble solids and fruit production in ten selection of strawberry guava and weight, diameter and total soluble solids in nine selection of surinam cherry from the Germplasm Bank of the Embrapa Clima Temperado, in Pelotas-RS, Brazil. The repeatability coefficient, minimum observations number and determination coefficient were estimated by analysis of variance, principal components analysis and structural analysis. The repeatability coefficient was better estimated by the method of principal components analysis, based on covariance matrix. The fruit weight is adequate to phenotypic selection in strawberry guava and surinam cherry. It's only required a measurement to obtain the value of fruit weight value of strawberry guava selections, with 90 percent accuracy. With four years of evaluation, it's possible to infer the actual value with reliability above 80 percent for all characters. This facilitates phenotypic selection for these traits in strawberry guava and surinam cherry breeding programs.

Mild temperatures on bud breaking dormancy in peaches / Temperaturas amenas na superação da dormência de pessegueiros

The search for low chill cultivars for peach production in areas with low chill accumulation (temperatures below 7.2°C) has stimulated studies about the higher temperatures effects on low chill cultivars. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of mild temperatures on flowering and leafing of 'Turmalina' and 'Ágata' cultivars with low and medium low chilling requirements, respectively. Plants obtained by grafting flower twigs in the autumn, after the grafting, were submitted to chilling treatments (150, 250, 350, 500 and 672 hours) at three temperature levels (5°C, 10°C and 15°C). After the end of the treatments, the plants had been taken to greenhouse (20°C±5°C) and evaluated weekly. The results showed that satisfactory flower and leaf development occur even at temperatures as high as 15°C for a period of 150 hours, in 'Turmalina' peach. Temperatures of 10°C for a period equal or superior to 350 hours promote satisfactory leafing in 'Ágata' peach. Temperatures of 10°C and 15°C cause earlier development of flowers and leaves in both cultivars when compared to 5°C.

A busca por cultivares pessegueiro com baixa necessidade em frio para regiões com pouco acúmulo de frio (temperaturas abaixo de 7,2°C) tem estimulado estudos sobre o efeito de altas temperaturas sobre cultivares de baixa necessidade de frio. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a influência de temperaturas amenas na floração e brotação da 'Turmalina' e 'Ágata', duas cultivares com baixa e média necessidade de frio, respectivamente. Plantas obtidas por enxertia no outono foram submetidas a tratamentos de frio (150, 250, 350, 500 e 672 horas) em três níveis de temperatura (5°C, 10°C e 15°C). Após os tratamentos, estas plantas foram colocadas em casa de vegetação a temperatura de 20°C±5°C e avaliadas semanalmente. Conclui-se que temperatura de até 15°C por um período de 150 horas é capaz de resultar em floração e brotação satisfatórias para a cultivar 'Turmalina'. Temperaturas de 10°C por um período igual ou superior a 350 horas promovem brotação satisfatória na cultivar 'Ágata'. Temperaturas de 10°C e 15°C comparadas a 5°C causam antecipação da floração e brotação e ambas cultivares.

Métodos de avaliação de pólen e influência do ácido giberélico em cruzamentos de batata / Methods for pollen evaluation and influence of gibberellic acid on potato crossing

Objetivou-se neste trabalho comparar métodos de avaliação da qualidade de pólen e avaliar a influência do ácido giberélico (GA3), na eficiência de cruzamento de genótipos de batata (Solanum tuberosum L.). Ambos os estudos foram conduzidos na sede da Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas-RS. O primeiro estudo foi conduzido no Laboratório de Melhoramento Genético, na primavera de 2003 e outono-inverno de 2004. Foram avaliados os métodos do carmin propiônico e da fertilidade do pólen, com dois meios de ágar, açúcar e boro (meio 1 e meio 2), utilizando cinco genótipos de batata. O segundo estudo foi realizado em casa-de-vegetação, no outono-inverno de 2004. Uma solução de 25mg.L-1 de GA3 foi pulverizada em 15 genótipos de batata, que são utilizados como genitores no programa de melhoramento. Conclui-se que ambos os meios de cultura podem ser utilizados na avaliação da qualidade do pólen de batata, e a influência do GA3 na eficiência de cruzamento é dependente do genótipo.

The aims of this work were to compare evaluation methods of pollen quality and to evaluate the influence of giberellic acid (GA3) on the efficiency of crossing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes. Both studies were carried out at Embrapa Clima Temperado headquarters, Pelotas-RS. The first study was accomplished in the Plant Breeding Laboratory, in the spring of 2003 and autumn-winter of 2004. The carmin propionic and the pollen fertility of two agar, sugar and boro media (culture medium 1 and culture medium 2) were evaluated, using five potato genotypes. The second study was carried out at greenhouse, in the autumn-winter of 2004. A GA3 solution of 25mg.L-1 was sprayed on 15 potato genotypes that are used as genitors in the breeding program. One concluded that both growing media can be used for potato pollen quality evaluation, and the influences of GA3 on the crossing efficiency is dependent of the genotype.