The differences of nutrient content, functional component content and total antioxidant capacity of 25 different varieties (lines) of Momordica charantia were compared, and the correlation between functional components and the total antioxidant capacity of Momordica charantia was analyzed, so as to provide the basis for the breeding of fresh and processed Momordica charantia varieties and the development of functional food of Momordica charantia . The results showed that the contents of vitamin C, soluble protein, cellulose, amino acid and total acid in pulp of different varieties (lines) were significantly different, the average values were 85.71 μg/g, 7.98 mg/g, 319.04 mg/g, 1.45 mg/g, 0.41%, and the coefficient of variation were 28.47%, 29.07%, 11.05%, 43.45% and 12.20%, respectively. There were significant differences in the contents of total saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids and total phenols in different varieties (lines), with the average values of 5.02 µg/g, 38.36 mg/g, 2.64 mg/g and 7.68 mg/g, respectively. The number of variation lines was 45.62%, 25.47%, 21.97% and 18.49%, respectively. The average antioxidant capacity of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy), ABTS +· (2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid diammonium salt) and FRAP (Ferric reducing/antioxidant power) were 1.73 μmol Trolox/g, 67.38 μmol Trolox/g and 11.62 μmol Trolox/g, respectively, and the variation coefficients were 19.65%, 17.25% and 31.50%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity of Momordica charantia . Over all, there were significant genotypic differences in the contents of nutrients, functional components and antioxidant value in the pulp of 25 varieties (lines), and the total phenol content in the pulp was the main material basis for the antioxidant activity of Momordica charantia . In the breeding and cultivation of new bitter gourd varieties, the corresponding varieties should be selected according to different uses, which is conducive to the development of the advantages and commercial value of the varieties.
Supplimental Data for Figures (Fig. 1 to Fig. 4) X. Ding, Y. Jiang, H. Zhao, D. Guo, L. He, F. Liu, Q. Zhou, D. Nandwani, D. Hui, J. Yu. Electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution influenced photosynthesis, quality, nitrate and nitrite accumulations, and antioxidant enzyme activity of pakchoi (Brassica campestris L) in a hydroponic system. Data sheets for Fig 1: Fresh weight, Dry weight Data sheets for Fig 2: Pn, Gs, Ci, Tr Data sheets for Fig 3: Nitrate content , Nitrite content Data sheets for Fig 5: G-POD, SOD
Many ryegrass cultivars are available on the market, but little research information exists on their comparative drought tolerance or the role of their commercially associated Epichloë endophytes in drought tolerance. Cloned plants of seven perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars (Grasslands Commando, Ceres One50, Banquet II, Alto, Bealey, Trojan and Avalon) and an unreleased elite line (URL) and one Mediterranean tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivar (Grasslands Flecha), in all cases both endophyte-free (E–) and -infected (E+) plants, were subjected to a cycle of summer drought and rehydration from December 2012 to May 2013. Other clones of the same plants were irrigated. Insecticide was used to protect plants from insect attack. We report data for shoot dry matter (DM), tiller survival rate (TSR) and reproductive development assessed approximately monthly during the experiment. In the second month of drought, only Banquet II and Grasslands Flecha showed no significant shoot DM reduction under water deficit. After 3 months of drought, shoot DM was reduced by 43% (Flecha) to 85% (URL) compared with irrigated plants. For Banquet II, Avalon and Grasslands Flecha, TSR was not significantly reduced by water deficit. During rehydration, growth of previously non-irrigated plants typically exceeded growth of irrigated clones across all cultivars. Banquet II and Grasslands Flecha were drought-tolerant in the sense that they showed a lower percentage yield reduction under drought than other cultivars tested; this was in part because they were not among the highest yielding under irrigation. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, the shoot DM of E+ plants of ryegrasses URL (with AR37 endophyte) and One50 (with AR1 endophyte) was reduced by almost 50% relative to their E– counterparts in each harvest from December to May, whereas the other six ryegrass varieties generally showed a small trend towards reduced shoot DM as E+ plants. This indicates that some novel cultivar–endophyte associations can incur a yield disadvantage compared with E– plants when protected from insect pressure.
Changes in leaf length, width, area, weight, chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, and photosynthetic variables with different leaf positions were investigated in fruit cucumber. Plants were grown on rockwool slabs in an environmentally controlled greenhouse and irrigated by drip fertigation. Leaf measurements were conducted from the first to the 15th leaf (the oldest to the youngest). The results showed that fresh weight per unit leaf area decreased from the second to the 15th leaf. Changes in cucumber leaf length, width, and area followed quadratic models from the first to the 15th leaf. The quadratic models of leaf length, width, and area fit the measurements well, with R 2 values of 0.925, 0.951, and 0.955, respectively. The leaf chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid contents increased from the oldest leaf (first leaf) to the youngest leaf and decreased after reaching the highest values. Changes in the net photosynthetic rate (P n ) also followed the quadratic model from the first to the 15th leaf, with R 2 values of 0.975. The leaf transpiration rate (T r ) increased from the first to the 14th leaf. Our results revealed patterns in leaf growth and photosynthetic changes at different leaf positions in fruit cucumber and improved our understanding of the growth and development of fruit cucumber in the greenhouse production system.
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) contains rich bioactive ingredients and secondary metabolites; hence, it has been used as medicine and food product. This study systematically quantified the nutrient contents, the total content of phenolic acids (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and triterpenoids (TTC) in seven different cultivars of bitter gourd. This study also estimated the organic acid content and antioxidative capacity of different cultivars of bitter gourd. Although the TPC, TFC, TTC, organic acid content, and antioxidative activity differed significantly among different cultivars of bitter gourd, significant correlations were also observed in the obtained data. In the metabolomics analysis, 370 secondary metabolites were identified in seven cultivars of bitter gourd; flavonoids and phenolic acids were significantly more. Differentially accumulated metabolites identified in this study were mainly associated with secondary metabolic pathways, including pathways of flavonoid, flavonol, isoflavonoid, flavone, folate, and phenylpropanoid biosyntheses. A number of metabolites (n = 27) were significantly correlated (positive or negative) with antioxidative capacity (r ≥ 0.7 and p < 0.05). The outcomes suggest that bitter gourd contains a plethora of bioactive compounds; hence, bitter gourd may potentially be applied in developing novel molecules of medicinal importance.
The objectives of this research were to investigate Lolium perenne L. responses to water deficit, compare drought tolerance of two cultivars derived from different germplasm and the role of endophyte in drought tolerance of the host cultivar. Plants of cultivars Ceres One50 and Grasslands Commando with and without AR37 endophyte were kept irrigated or unirrigated for two weeks and then rehydrated for one month in a glasshouse. A positive correlation between the extent of osmotic adjustment (OA) and leaf dry matter regrowth indicated that OA was correlated with the plant regrowth during recovery. For One50, the reduction in leaf elongation rate was less and the increase in proline was greater in response to drought, compared to Commando. From this observation, it was inferred One50 has enhanced capacity to continue growth, and had greater intra-cellular protection than Commando. Endophyte status did not affect plant responses to drought in this experiment.
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