Search results for "CAROTENOID"

Flashing light emitting diodes (LEDs) induce proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and pigments in three microalgae

2020

As the periodic emission of light pulses by light emitting diodes (LEDs) is known to stimulate growth or induce high value biocompounds in microalgae, this flashing light regime was tested on growth and biochemical composition of the microalgae Nannochloropsis gaditana, Koliella antarctica and Tetraselmis chui. At low flashing light frequencies (e.g., 5 and 50 Hz, Duty cycle = 0.05), a strain-dependent growth inhibition and an accumulation of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, chlorophyll or carotenoids (lutein, β-carotene, violaxanthin and neoxanthin) was observed. In addition, a 4-day application of low-frequency flashing light to concentrated cultures increased productivities of eicos…

2020

Fucoxanthin and its derivatives are the main light-harvesting pigments in the photosynthetic apparatus of many chromalveolate algae and represent the most abundant carotenoids in the world's oceans, thus being major facilitators of marine primary production. A central step in fucoxanthin biosynthesis that has been elusive so far is the conversion of violaxanthin to neoxanthin. Here, we show that in chromalveolates, this reaction is catalyzed by violaxanthin de-epoxidase-like (VDL) proteins and that VDL is also involved in the formation of other light-harvesting carotenoids such as peridinin or vaucheriaxanthin. VDL is closely related to the photoprotective enzyme violaxanthin de-epoxidase t…

Protein hydrolysates and mo-biofortification interactively modulate plant performance and quality of ‘canasta’ lettuce grown in a protected environme…

2021

Since the use of protein hydrolysates (PHs) enhances overall plant performance and quality of vegetables, they might be considered as a toll to face a number of concerns essentially associated to the growing request of premium quality foodstuff realized in agreement with eco-friendly agriculture practices. Molybdenum (Mo) is considered a fundamental trace element for human body. Thus, its shortage determines several disorders mainly related to neurological lesion and esophageal cancer. Biofortification of fruiting and leafy vegetables is a promising tool to prevent Mo deficiency in the human diet. The current study was carried out to assess the interactive effect of plant-derived PHs and Mo…

Geographical variation in egg mass and egg content in a passerine bird

2011

Reproductive, phenotypic and life-history traits in many animal and plant taxa show geographic variation, indicating spatial variation in selection regimes. Maternal deposition to avian eggs, such as hormones, antibodies and antioxidants, critically affect development of the offspring, with long-lasting effects on the phenotype and fitness. Little is however known about large-scale geographical patterns of variation in maternal deposition to eggs. We studied geographical variation in egg components of a passerine bird, the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), by collecting samples from 16 populations and measuring egg and yolk mass, albumen lysozyme activity, yolk immunoglobulins, yolk and…

Pulsed electric field assisted extraction of nutritionally valuable compounds from microalgae Nannochloropsis spp. using the binary mixture of organi…

2015

Abstract This work studies the potential of the pulsed electric field (PEF) assisted extraction of nutritionally valuable compounds from microalgae Nannochloropsis spp. using the binary mixture of organic solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO and ethanol, EtOH) and water. The one-stage (E I ) and two stage (E II ) extraction procedures were compared. The procedure E I included the common extraction using the binary mixtures. Two stage (E II ) extraction procedure involved PEF-treatment (20 kV/cm) of microalgae suspension (1% wt.) and extraction in water as the first step. The second step included the common extraction using the binary mixtures. The effects of extraction procedure and concentra…

Improved Extraction Efficiency of Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds from Tetraselmis chuii and Phaedoactylum tricornutum Using Pulsed Electric Fields

2020

Pulsed electric fields (PEF) is a promising technology that allows the selective extraction of high-added value compounds by electroporation. Thus, PEF provides numerous opportunities for the energy efficient isolation of valuable microalgal bioactive substances (i.e., pigments and polyphenols). The efficiency of PEF-assisted extraction combined with aqueous or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvents in recovering pigments and polyphenols from microalgae Tetraselmis chuii (T. chuii) and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum) was evaluated. Two PEF treatments were applied: (1 kV/cm/400 pulses, 3 kV/cm/45 pulses), with a specific energy input of 100 kJ/kg. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) …

The Application of a Plant Biostimulant Based on Seaweed and Yeast Extract Improved Tomato Fruit Development and Quality

2020

Plant biostimulants are under investigation as innovative products to improve plant production and fruit quality, without resulting in environmental and food contaminations. Here, the effects of the application of Expando, a biostimulant based on seaweed and yeast extracts, on plant productivity, fruit ripening times, and fruit quality of Solanum lycopersicum var. Micro-Tom were evaluated. After biostimulant treatment, a two-week reduction of ripening times and a concomitant enhancement of the production percentage during the earliest ripening times, in terms of both fruit yield (+110%) and size (+85%), were observed. Concerning fruit quality, proximate analysis showed that tomatoes treated…

Influence of Harvest Stage and Rootstock Genotype on Compositional and Sensory Profile of the Elongated Tomato cv. “Sir Elyan”

2020

The present experiment addressed the effects of two harvest stages, namely breaker (S1) and turning (S2), on compositional and sensory profile of grafted, greenhouse elongated tomatoes cv. &ldquo

Impact of Pressurized Liquid Extraction and pH on Protein Yield, Changes in Molecular Size Distribution and Antioxidant Compounds Recovery from Spiru…

2021

The research aims to extract nutrients and bioactive compounds from spirulina using a non-toxic, environmentally friendly and efficient method—Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE). In this work, Response Surface Methodology (RSM)–Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to evaluate and optimize the extraction time (5–15 min), temperature (20–60 °C) and pH (4–10) during PLE extraction (103.4 bars). The multi-factor optimization results of the RSM-CCD showed that under the pressure of 103.4 bars, the optimal conditions to recover the highest content of bioactive compounds were 10 min, 40 °C and pH 4. Furthermore, the compounds and antioxidant capacity of PLE and non-pressurized extraction extra…

Fruit Yield and Quality of ‘Valencia’ Orange Trees under Long-Term Partial Rootzone Drying

2020

Climate, soil and tree water status, fruit yields and quality of &lsquo