Ternary blend films were prepared with different ratios of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/citric acid. The films were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), ...thermogravimetric analysis, as well as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The influence of different ratios of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/citric acid and different drying times on the performance properties, transparency, tensile strength (TS), water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility (WS), color difference (ΔE), and antimicrobial activity of the ternary blends films were investigated. The starch/polyvinyl alcohol/citric acid (S/P/C
, S/P/C
, and S/P/C
) films were all highly transparent. The S/P/C
had a 54.31 times water-holding capacity of its own weight and its mechanical tensile strength was 46.45 MPa. In addition, its surface had good uniformity and compactness. The S/P/C
and S/P/C
showed strong antimicrobial activity to
and
, which were the food-borne pathogenic bacteria used. The freshness test results of fresh figs showed that all of the blends prevented the formation of condensed water on the surface of the film, and the S/P/C
and S/P/C
prevented the deterioration of figs during storage. The films can be used as an active food packaging system due to their strong antibacterial effect.
Combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses were carried out with fig cultivar Green Peel and its color mutant "Purple Peel." Five and twenty-two metabolites were identified as having ...significantly different contents between fruit peels of the two cultivars at young and mature stages, respectively. Cyanidin O-malonylhexoside demonstrated a 3,992-fold increase in the mature purple peel, the first identification of a major cyanidin in fig fruit; cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin O-malonylhexoside O-hexoside and cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside were upregulated 100-fold, revealing the anthocyanins underlying the purple mutation. Beyond the visible differences, there was very significant accumulation of the colorless flavonoids procyanidin B1, luteolin-3',7-di-O-glucoside, epicatechin and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside in the mature "Purple Peel" compared to "Green Peel." At the young stage, only cyanidin O-malonylhexoside, cyanidin O-malonylhexoside O-hexoside and esculetin were upregulated a few fold in the mutant. Transcriptome analysis revealed a downregulated expression trend of genes encoding phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathway enzyme in the young "Purple Peel" compared to the young "Green Peel," whereas significant and simultaneous upregulation was revealed in almost all of the flavonoid and anthocyanin pathway components and relevant transcription factors in the mature-stage mutant. The role of R2R3-MYB transcription factors in the color morph mutation and its possible relation to the activity of retrotransposons are discussed. Moreover, large-scale upregulation of small heat-shock protein genes was found in the mature mutant. This is the first work to reveal comprehensive metabolome and transcriptome network changes underlying a fig mutation in a single horticultural attribute, and its profound effects on fruit nutrition and quality.
Due to its coloration, the fig (Ficus carica L.) peel, a by-product of fruit processing and/or consumption, is a potential source of anthocyanin compounds. In the present study different extraction ...techniques (heat, ultrasound, and microwave) were compared aiming to recover the anthocyanin pigments and optimize its extraction conditions. A response surface methodology tool with three factors and five levels for each factor was used according to a circumscribed central composite design. The variables tested for the heat and microwave extraction methods were time, temperature, and solvent proportion (ethanol/water ratio), meanwhile, for the ultrasound method, the variables tested were the ultrasonic power, time, and solvent proportion. The anthocyanin composition of the extract was determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, and the used criteria responses were: i) quantification of cyanidin 3-rutinoside (C) in the extracted residue (mg C/g R) and in the dried peel (mg C/g P dw), and the extraction yield of the obtained residue (g R/g P dw). Ultrasound extraction was the most effective method, yielding 3.82 mg C/g R at the optimal global extraction conditions (21 min, 310 W, and 100% of ethanol). Additionally, the solid-to-liquid ratio effect was studied at the optimal conditions, using a dose-response format, in view of its plausible transference to industrial level. For the ultrasound method, an increased non-linear relationship was observed for concentrations in the range 5 to 200 g/L, being the optimal solution close to 150 g/L. In brief, the obtained results show the potential of fig peels as a source of anthocyanin pigments, with potential uses in various industrial fields, such as food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic.
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•Recovery of anthocyanin pigments from Ficus carica L. by-products•Comparison of three different techniques for anthocyanin extraction maximization•Ultrasound assisted extraction was the most effective method•The optimal extraction conditions were 21 min, 310 W, and 100% of ethanol•The potential application of fig peels as a source of anthocyanins was highlighted.
This work aimed to evaluate changes in gas exchanges and chlorophyll a fluorescence in fig plants due to the film formed on the leaf surface by Bordeaux mixture applied to control rust. The ...experiment was conducted in an orchard with 7-month-old fig trees of the cultivar Roxo de Valinhos, in April 2020. A completely randomized experimental design with four replications was used, consisting of two treatments (with and without application of Bordeaux mixture), evaluating leaves in three different parts of the branch (apical, middle, and basal) in five evaluations. The evaluated gas exchange parameters were: carbon, leaf temperature, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis. The evaluated chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were: maximum and effective quantum yield of the photosystem, electron transport rate, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, and leaf area. The film formed by Bordeaux mixture application did not affect the photochemical phases of photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence. The leaf position on the branch affected internal CO2 concentration and net CO2 assimilation over time. Leaves in the middle part of the branch presented larger leaf areas than those in the apical and basal parts.
Keywords: Ficus Carica L.; chlorophyll a; rust; leaf area.
A película formada pela calda bordalesa na superfície foliar das figueiras interfere nos processos fotoquímicos?
RESUMO: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar se a camada formada pela solução da calda bordalesa na superfície foliar altera as características das trocas gasosas, bem como a Fluorescência da clorofila A, quando aplicada no combate a ferrugem. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com 2 tratamentos (com e sem calda bordalesa) com folhas em 3 partes distintas do ramo da figueira (apical, mediana e basal), sendo feitas 5 avaliações, com 4 repetições, em um pomar de 7 meses de idade da cultivar Roxo de Valinhos, no mês de abril de 2020. As avaliações das trocas gasosas foram referentes a: variação do carbono, temperatura da folha, transpiração, condutância estomática e fotossíntese. As avaliações da fluorescência da clorofila A, foram referentes a: rendimento quântico máximo e efetivo do fotossistema, taxa de transporte de elétrons, dissipação fotoquímica e não fotoquímica e área foliar. A película formada pela aplicação da calda bordalesa não interferiu nas etapas fotoquímicas da fotossíntese e na fluorescência da clorofila A. A Concentração interna, e a assimilação líquida do CO2 foram influenciadas pela posição da folha no ramo ao longo do tempo. As folhas da parte mediana do ramo apresentam a maior área, em detrimento das partes apical e basal.
Palavras-chave: Ficus Carica L.; clorofila A; ferrugem; área foliar.
Fig orchard expansion requires knowledge of the thermal requirements of genotypes available in different climatic regions. The budburst of fig cultivars was assessed by biological single-node cutting ...and exposure to artificial chilling. Cuttings from five cultivars were collected during two crop seasons, subsequently packaged in a horizontal position in a cold chamber (8 ± 0.5ºC), and artificially chilled for 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160h. Cuttings were preserved under controlled conditions (23 ± 1°C, RH 85%, and 16h photoperiod). The variables evaluated were the budding velocity, average time and final rate of sprouting, vigorous shoot rate, and average time to leaf opening. The single-node cutting test allowed the assessment of dormancy, which is influenced by the accumulation of chilling in each crop season. The average time and final budding rate varied depending on the temperature requirements for budding. The cultivars were classified on an increasing scale according to their chilling requirements as follows: Pingo de Mel < Roxo de Valinhos < Brown Turkey < White Genova < Troyano. The traditional cultivar in Brazil is Roxo de Valinhos, but all of the cultivars studied had the potential to diversify the fig orchards in this region.
•Fig (Ficus carica L.) skin: A novel alternative source for low-methoxyl pectin.•Sequential ultrasound-microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) of pectin from fig skin.•The practical optimization of key ...operating parameters in the UMAE of pectin.•A high yield, physicochemical quality and functionality of pectin extracted by UMAE.•The high association of microstructural changes and extraction efficiency of pectin.
Four operating parameters in ultrasound-microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) process including sonication time (ST, 10–30 min), microwave power (MP, 300–600 W), irradiation time (IT, 5–15 min), and the liquid to solid ratio (LSR, 10–30 mL/g) on the extraction yield of pectin from fig skin were optimized. The yield (13.97%) of pectin with an average molecular mass of 6.89 × 103 kDa was maximized at 21.35 min ST, 580.9 W MP, 11.67 min IT, and 24.66 mL/g LSR based on a second-order polynomial model (R2 = 0.986) with a high level of significance (p < 0.0001). Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) imaging and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectra of the pectin extracted under optimal conditions exhibited a disintegrated network in structural morphology and the main functional groups, respectively. The extracted low-methoxyl pectin (DE = 33.65%) with high lightness contained considerable amounts of uronic acids and neutral monosaccharides (glucose, fucose, arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, and mannose). A strong dose-depended behavior for antioxidant functions and cytotoxic inhibitory activities of pectin against HepG2 and A549 cells was found.
•The phylogenetic analysis and expression profile demonstrated that FcMADS9 may be involved in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation.•Transient overexpression of FcMADS9 in apple peels and calli ...promoted anthocyanin accumulation and expressions of related genes.•Ethylene is involved in FcMADS9-induced anthocyanin accumulation.
MADS-box proteins have been shown to regulate fruit coloration, however, no information is available on MADS-box proteins in fig (Ficus carica L.). In this study, a full-length MADS-box gene was cloned from fig peels, namely FcMADS9, and its open reading frame was 759 bp, encoding 252 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that it belonged to MIKCC family and SEPALLATA subfamily. Multiple sequence alignment showed that FcMADS9 contained the MADS-box, the Intervening, the Keratin and the C-terminal domains, and it composed a close relationship with MdMADS1, which regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple. Overexpression of FcMADS9 upregulated the expressions of several anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and promoted anthocyanin accumulation in apple peels and calli, indicating its regulatory role in anthocyanin biosynthesis. The expression of FcMADS9 in fig peels was significantly enhanced by 8.24 times by 150 mg L−1 ethephon, a generator of ethylene, indicating that FcMADS9-induced anthocyanin accumulation may have a close relationship with ethylene. Then, anthocyanin accumulation in FcMADS9-overexpressed apple calli was further significantly increased by ethephon treatment, but was partially inhibited by 1-methylcyclopropene, an antagonist of ethylene for receptor binding sites, indicating that FcMADS9 regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis and ethylene is involved in this effect.
•Use of fig peels and blackthorn fruits as natural colorants.•Incorporation in doughnut icing and in a pastry product “beijinhos”.•Appreciated changes in samples with natural extracts.•Dark purple ...tones for icings with blackthorn extract.•Lighter purple tones for “beijinhos”.
The present work describes the evaluation of fig peels and blackthorn fruit extracts as natural purple colorants in doughnuts (icing) and in a typical Brazilian pastry called “beijinho”. The extracts were screened for their antioxidant activity as well as their antibacterial capacity. Nutritionally, the employed extracts did not induce significant changes, contrarily to the observed for the rheological features, mainly the darker purple tone observed when blackthorn extract was used in the icing solution. After 24 h, both prepared formulations showed a decrease in color intensity, with no significant differences between fig and blackthorn extracts. In turn, the firmness and consistency of the doughnuts benefited from using natural colorants in the icing solution, while “beijinhos” became softer and chewier, which are valued attributes. A significant increase in the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities was also observed for both natural extracts. Accordingly, the evaluated extracts are promising candidates as natural food colorants.
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•DES was tailor-made for efficiently extraction target compounds from Fig leaves.•The tailor-made DES exhibit enhanced extraction yield for target compounds than traditional ...solvent.•The tailor-made DES based microwave assist extraction process was optimized.•The developed determination method was efficient and green.•The target compounds in the tailor-made DES were efficiently recovered.
Nowadays, green extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants has gained increasing attention. As green solvent, deep eutectic solvent (DES) have been highly rated to replace toxic organic solvents in extraction process. In present study, to simultaneous extraction five main bioactive compounds from fig leaves, DES was tailor-made. The tailor-made DES composed of a 3:3:3 molar ratio of glycerol, xylitol and D-(−)-Fructose showed enhanced extraction yields for five target compounds simultaneously compared with traditional methanol and non-tailor DESs. Then, the tailor-made DES based extraction methods have compared and microwave-assisted extraction was selected and optimized due to its high extraction yields with lower time consumption. The influencing parameters including extraction temperature, liquid-solid ratio, and extraction time were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Under optimal conditions the extraction yield of caffeoylmalic acid, psoralic acid-glucoside, rutin, psoralen and bergapten was 6.482mg/g, 16.34mg/g, 5.207mg/g, 15.22mg/g and 2.475mg/g, respectively. Macroporous resin D101 has been used to recovery target compounds with recovery yields of 79.2%, 83.4%, 85.5%, 81.2% and 75.3% for caffeoylmalic acid, psoralic acid-glucoside, rutin, psoralen and bergapten, respectively. The present study suggests that DESs are truly designer and efficient solvents and the method we developed was efficient and sustainable for extraction main compounds from Fig leaves.mg/g
Introduction: Plant polysaccharide are widely studied as potential prebiotics because of their potential to protect and enhance the immunity of lambs. Methods: In this study, the polysaccharide ...content of Alhagi maurorum Medik from Aksu (AK) and Shanshan (SS) at different cutting periods was determined, and the functions of Alhagi maurorum Medik polysaccharide were investigated to useas an immunomodulator. Results: Our results indicated that the content of Alhagi maurorum Medik polysaccharide is the highest at the maturity stage, and the polysaccharide content of Alhagi maurorum Medik produced in Shanshan area is higher as compared to the Aksu area. The serum IgG, duodenum IgA, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10 contents, jejunum IgA, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-17 contents, ileum IgA, IL-17 contents, duodenum villus height, crypt depth and jejunum crypt depth of lambs were significantly adjusted in the SS group as compared to CK control group and AK groups ( p < 0.05). Furthemore, the sequencing results showed that SS polysaccharide promoted the release of large amounts of IgA and enhanced the immunal function of intestine by regulating the IgA production pathway and B-cell receptor signaling to activate B cells in the T-dependent pathway. Discussion: Altogether, Alhagi maurorum Medik polysaccharide from SS group holds a promising potential to be used as a valuable immunopotentiator for optimizing the immune system of intestine in lambs.
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