Phenolic Acids Content and Nutritional Quality of Conventional, Organic and Biodynamic Cultivations of the Tomato CXD271BIO Breeding Line (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of growing systems (conventional, organic and biodynamic performed with two types of manuring) on some nutritional traits of the tomato breeding line CXD271BIO (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Experimental fields were in the same geographical area and the cultivations were performed over five years. The content of macronutrients, minerals (Ca, K, Mg, P, Na), trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids) was determined. The biodynamic A growing system showed the highest protein and carbohydrates content compared to the other growing systems. Data on minerals and trace elements content showed significant differences (mainly in Ca, Na, Fe and Zn content) between conventional and biodynamic tomatoes, whereas no major impact of the fertilization among organic and the two biodynamic growing systems was observed. Appreciable differences in phenolic acids biosynthesis were observed, with the year of harvest showing a marked effect especially on chlorogenic, p-cumaric and ferulic acids content. Conversely, the cultivation system did not show major influence. Principal Components Analysis (PCA), performed on mineral and phenolic acids content, substantiated the large effect of the year of harvest, also suggesting an effect of the conventional cultivation system.

Nutritional Value of Italian Pistachios from Bronte ( <i>Pistacia vera</i>, L.), Their Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity

This study gives an overview on the nutritional value, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP) of Bronte’s pistachio (Pistacia vera, L., cv. Bianca) from Sicily (Italy). Bronte’s pistachios are rich in fat, protein, dietary fiber, trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and minerals (Ca, P, K, Mg, Na). Lipids mainly consist of MUFA (33.8 g/100g), primarily oleic acid (32.4 g/ 100g);PUFA is mostly represented by linoleic acid (7.49 g/100g). Bronte’s pistachios are also a valuable source of bioactive compounds such as total polyphenols (501.5 mg/100g), lutein (1.26 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.18 mg/100g), γ-tocopherol (19.2 mg/100g) and phytosterols (134.4 mg/100g). Among phytosterols, the main is β-sitosterol (86% of total content), followed by Δ5-avenasterol (6.3%). Phytic acid content is 1763 mg/100g;Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5 and Ins(1,2,3,4,5,)P5 have been detected too (31 mg/100g and 10 mg/100g, respectively). The antioxidant activity was determined both in hydrophilic and lipophilic fraction of pistachios, showing >80% of the total antioxidant activity in the hydrophilic, predominately due to phenolic compounds.

Nutrients and Bioactive Molecules of the <i>Early</i>and <i>Late</i>Cultivars of the Treviso Red Chicory (<i>Cichorium intybus</i>L.)

The study provides original data on the compositional profile (macronutrients, dietary fiber, mineral and trace elements, bioactive molecules) of an Italian typical plant foods, Treviso Red Cichory, studying the two cultivars (Early, Late) grown following two different traditional cultivation systems. For two consecutive years plants from three growing areas, were studied. Major, significant differences, between Early and Late cultivars, were observed in minerals (Ca, Mg, P), trace elements (Fe, Zn) and bioactive molecules content. The Late cv. was found the richest in minerals and trace elements content than the Early cv., but for Ca. Treviso Red Cichory was found a valuable source of bioactive molecules such as ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and total polyphenols. The Early cv. showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) ascorbic acid and total anthocyanins content (8.63 and 92.15 mg/100g, respectively) than the Late cv. (6.15 and 24.38 mg/100g, respectively), by contrast total polyphenols content was significantly higher (p Late cv. A marked variability in bioactive molecules content among the growing areas was found only for the Late cv. The observed differences between the Early and Late cultivars could be strictly related to the traditional growing systems applied during plant’s growth.