Agronomy

Editorial

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5 pages, 230 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest

by Ana V. González-de-Peredo and Gerardo Fernández Barbero

Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2181; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082181 - 21 Aug 2023

Viewed by 718

Abstract

Consumers are increasingly asking for products with better organoleptic characteristics, flavors, aromas, colors, attractiveness, etc [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

Research

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13 pages, 1546 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Capsaicinoid Content in the Pericarp and Placenta of Bolilla Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) throughout the Ripening of the Fruit at Two Different Stages of Plant Maturation

by Mercedes Vázquez-Espinosa, María Álvarez-Romero, Ana V. González-de-Peredo, Ana Ruíz-Rodríguez, Marta Ferreiro-González, Gerardo F. Barbero and Miguel Palma

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020435 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1349

Abstract

Peppers are a very popular ingredient in many dishes, either as the fruit itself or as derived products. They are not only consumed because of their organoleptic characteristics, but also because of their high content of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work [...] Read more.

Peppers are a very popular ingredient in many dishes, either as the fruit itself or as derived products. They are not only consumed because of their organoleptic characteristics, but also because of their high content of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to determine the optimal time to harvest the Bolilla pepper, based on the capsaicinoid concentration in the pericarp and placenta at two different plant maturities (young and adult), in order to maximize their potential biological properties. In the case of the pericarp, the maximum capsaicinoid concentration was reached at 30 days post-anthesis (dpa) (with values of 1565.98 and 2158.82 µmol/kg, for the young and adult plant, respectively), while in the placenta it was registered at 41 dpa with greater values (5898.12 and 2349.67 µmol/kg). In either case, from that moment on, there was a drastic reduction in the capsaicinoid content. With regard to the capsaicinoid content levels in the pericarp, this was greater in older plants, while the placenta presented greater content in younger plants, which is of considerable importance from an economic point of view. This work allows a better selection of the final product, taking full advantage of its beneficial effects on health and taste, which would be very interesting for analytical laboratories or industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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10 pages, 313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Harvest Date on Kernel Quality and Antioxidant Activity in su1 Sweet Corn Genotypes

by Tatjana Ledenčan, Daniela Horvat, Sanja Špoljarić Marković, Zlatko Svečnjak, Antun Jambrović and Domagoj Šimić

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051224 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2034

Abstract

In order to achieve a high-quality product, sweet corn should be harvested at the optimal stage of maturity. The taste of sweet corn depends largely on the kernel moisture (KM) and total sugars (TS) content while its health properties are attributed to the [...] Read more.

In order to achieve a high-quality product, sweet corn should be harvested at the optimal stage of maturity. The taste of sweet corn depends largely on the kernel moisture (KM) and total sugars (TS) content while its health properties are attributed to the content of total phenols (TPH) and antioxidant activity (AO). This study aimed to estimate quality in sugary (su1) sweet corn hybrids based on the maximum content of kernel chemical compounds and the content change during maturation. During two growing seasons, five harvests by year were made at 2-day intervals from 17 to 25 days after pollination (DAP). KM decreased among hybrids from 6.6% to 14% over an eight-day period, or 0.8% to 1.8% per day. TS content was the highest at 17 DAP (16.5–28.7 mg/g DW) and decreased during maturation from 27% to 67%. Hybrids differed significantly in TPH at 17 DAP (204.4–357.1 mg GAE/100 g DW). TPH change during maturation ranged from the no significant differences up to a 29.3% decrease. DPPH- radical scavenging activity ranged among genotypes from 52.5% to 74.9% inhibition at 17 DAP and significantly increased during maturation. A well-defined hybrid-specific harvest window is necessary to maintain kernel quality in su1 sweet corn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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14 pages, 2800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Fruit By-Products

by Lulum Leliana, Widiastuti Setyaningsih, Miguel Palma, Supriyadi and Umar Santoso

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051102 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6157

Abstract

Coconut is widely used as a food source in producing countries, and during consumption, the waste that is generated needs to be reduced through by-products processing to ensure environmental sustainability. This study aimed to assess the functionality of by-products (endo- and mesocarp) of [...] Read more.

Coconut is widely used as a food source in producing countries, and during consumption, the waste that is generated needs to be reduced through by-products processing to ensure environmental sustainability. This study aimed to assess the functionality of by-products (endo- and mesocarp) of coconuts at early and mature stages. The aqueous and ethanolic (50 and 100% ethanol in water) extracts of coconut by-products were evaluated for the DPPH radical scavenging activity and subjected to linoleic acid-β-carotene system assay in contrast with synthetic antioxidants. Ultrasound-producing extract of young coconut mesocarp provided the highest antioxidant activity with a lower IC₅₀ value (117 µg mL⁻¹) than butylhydroxytoluene (BHT, 170 µg mL⁻¹). Based on the linoleic acid-β-carotene system assay, the extract exhibited a higher antioxidant activity (1.25×) than tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ, 200 µg mL⁻¹); and comparable with butylhydroxyanisole (BHA, 250 µg mL⁻¹). Therefore, extracts of coconut by-products, particularly the young mesocarp, can be an alternative natural antioxidant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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14 pages, 4182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Betalain Content and Morphological Characteristics of Table Beet Accessions: Their Interplay with Abiotic Factors

by Diana V. Sokolova, Natalia A. Shvachko, Aleksandra S. Mikhailova and Vitaliy S. Popov

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051033 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2943

Abstract

Table beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a source of the natural red-colored food dye (E162), highly demanded for the broad spectrum of its biological activity. The relevance of this study is dictated by the lack of knowledge about the dynamics of changes [...] Read more.

Table beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a source of the natural red-colored food dye (E162), highly demanded for the broad spectrum of its biological activity. The relevance of this study is dictated by the lack of knowledge about the dynamics of changes in the crop’s betalain content during the growing season, which impedes identifying the optimal timing of harvesting in order to obtain the dye. This paper presents the results of research into betacyanins (BC) and betaxanthins (BX), separately in the peel and flesh of roots, in 15 differently colored table beet accessions from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov Institute (VIR). There was no statistically significant accumulation of betalains in beets during the growing season. The pigment’s significant fluctuations associated with abiotic environmental factors were shown. The ratio of BC/BX in red-colored accessions was measured: 2.65 in the peel and 2.9 in the flesh. Strong positive relationships were found between BC and BX in the peel (r = 0.97) and flesh (r = 0.79) of red-colored biotypes, which stably persisted throughout the growing season. The beetroot peel was more sensitive to temperature changes, in contrast to the flesh. The negative effect of a temperature increase on betalains in red-colored beetroots intensified on the second or third day. The pigment composition of the flesh was less susceptible to the negative impact of increased temperatures, but reacted negatively to rainfall, becoming more expressed on the second or third day. A conclusion was made about the morphotype with high betalain content. Recommended cultivars are mid-ripening, with rounded and medium-sized roots, a large number of narrow leaf blades, and short and thin petioles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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14 pages, 2795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology for Olive Fruit Quality Assessment by Means of a Low-Cost Multispectral Device

by Miguel Noguera, Borja Millan, Arturo Aquino and José Manuel Andújar

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12050979 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2682

Abstract

The standard methods for determining the quality of olives involve chemical methods that are time-consuming and expensive. These limitations lead growers to homogeneous harvesting based on subjective criteria such as intuition and visual decisions. In recent times, precision agriculture techniques for fruit quality [...] Read more.

The standard methods for determining the quality of olives involve chemical methods that are time-consuming and expensive. These limitations lead growers to homogeneous harvesting based on subjective criteria such as intuition and visual decisions. In recent times, precision agriculture techniques for fruit quality assessment, such as spectroscopy, have been introduced. However, they require expensive equipment, which limit their use to olive mills. This work presents a complete methodology based on a new low-cost multispectral sensor for assessing quality parameters of intact olive fruits. A set of 507 olive samples were analyzed with the proposed device. After data pre-processing, artificial neural network (ANN) models were trained using the 18 reflectance signals acquired by the sensor as input and three olive quality indicators (moisture, acidity, and fat content) as targets. The responses of the ANN models were promising, reaching coefficient-of-determination values of 0.78, 0.86, and 0.62 for fruit moisture, acidity, and fat content, respectively. These results show the suitability of the proposed device for assessing the quality status of intact olive fruits. Its performance, along with its low cost and ease of use, paves the way for the implementation of an olive fruit quality appraisal system that is more affordable for olive growers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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12 pages, 2064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation and Comparative Analysis of Meteorological Data, Moisture Content, and Rice Panicle Threshability

by Tímea Szalóki, Árpád Székely, Flórián Tóth, Ákos Tarnawa, Noémi Valkovszki and Mihály Jancsó

Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030744 - 20 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2039

Abstract

Harvesting and threshing are crucial processes that influence the quantity, quality, and economic efficiency of rice production. Therefore, the threshability of rice varieties is an important agronomic trait for breeding programs. However, selection for threshability is hardly standardized. With the application of an [...] Read more.

Harvesting and threshing are crucial processes that influence the quantity, quality, and economic efficiency of rice production. Therefore, the threshability of rice varieties is an important agronomic trait for breeding programs. However, selection for threshability is hardly standardized. With the application of an improved threshing meter, the threshability of four local temperate japonica rice varieties was determined during the ripening phase (DAF 37–60) in three consecutive years. Panicle threshing force (TF in N) was measured parallel with seed moisture content (MC) to describe differences in ripening habits of the genotypes. Shapes of the separation pilei were observed and the relationship with the different types of grain shattering was found. The different threshability patterns of the genotypes were found as quite stable along these periods. Moreover, correlation among TF, MC, and 5-day averages of meteorological parameters during the ripening phase was determined. Precipitation, T_mean, T_max, and relative humidity had a significant influence on the MC. Based on our results, the MC had a low but significant positive correlation with the TF (0.312 *). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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Review

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21 pages, 2510 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Thermal Degradation of Bioactive Compounds during Drying Process of Horticultural and Agronomic Products: A Comprehensive Overview

by Ramadan ElGamal, Cheng Song, Ahmed M. Rayan, Chuanping Liu, Salim Al-Rejaie and Gamal ElMasry

Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061580 - 11 Jun 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3695

Abstract

Over the last few decades, many researchers have investigated in detail the characteristics of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, vitamins, flavonoids, and glycosides, and volatile compounds in fruits, vegetables and medicinal and aromatic plants that possess beneficial properties, as well as consumer acceptance [...] Read more.

Over the last few decades, many researchers have investigated in detail the characteristics of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, vitamins, flavonoids, and glycosides, and volatile compounds in fruits, vegetables and medicinal and aromatic plants that possess beneficial properties, as well as consumer acceptance and preference. The main aim of this article is to provide an updated overview of recent research endeavors related to the effects of the drying process on the major bioactive/effective compounds in agricultural products. Particular emphasis was placed on details related to the changes occurring in vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides and volatile compounds, as well as the antioxidant activity. An analysis of the degradation mechanisms of these compounds showed that vitamin C, phenols, flavonoids and glycosides react with oxygen during the convective drying process under high drying temperatures, and the reaction rate results in degradation in such bioactive compounds due to high reducibility. On the other hand, high temperature results in a short drying time, thus minimizing the degradation of bioactive compounds. The reviewed research works addressing this trend revealed that the ideal drying temperatures for retaining vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides, volatile compounds and their antioxidant activity were 50–60 °C, 55–60 °C, 60–70 °C, 45–50 °C, 40–50 °C and 50–70 °C, respectively. In conclusion, to maintain plant bioactive components, convective drying at relatively low drying temperatures is strongly recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Compounds and Characteristics of Crops during Ripening and after Harvest)

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