Effects of Special Plant Nutritional Elements on Honey Pomelo Fruits

[Objective] The effects of special plant nutritional elements on honey pomelo fruits were investigated. [Method] After the honey pomelo flowers faded, the special plant nutritional elements （SPNE） were sprayed on the honey pomelo plants. After an interval of 20 d or more, the SPNE were sprayed again. A total of 4 times of spraying were carried out before the harvesting. Then difference in yield, quality, fruit weight, fruit appearance, ball weight and internal characteristics were compared between the SPNE treatment group and the control group. [Result] Compared to that of the control group, the fruit number per plant of the SPNE treatment group was more, and the average fruit weight was higher, resulting in the higher yield in the SPNE treatment group. At the same time, the vitamin C and soluble solids con- tent in honey pomelo fruits of the treatment group was higher than that of the con- trol group. The quality of honey pomelo fruits was higher in the SPNE treatment group. The honey pomelo fruits treated with SPNE were bigger, more shining and cleaner. The fruits in the treatment group had no scar, but had more beautiful shape. The exocarp of the treatment group was thinner than that of the control group. The ball weight of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group. Moreover, the ball appearance of the treatment group was cleaner. In the treatment group, the pulp segments were bigger and more consistent in size. In ad- dition, there were no internal cracks in the pulp segments. The fruits of the treat- ment group were more sparkling and more transparent. They tasted better. [Con- clusion] We hoped to provide a theoretical basis for the high-quality and high-yield- ing production of honey pomelo.

An update on iron physiology

Iron is an essential micronutrient, as it is required for adequate erythropoietic function, oxidative metabolism and cellular immune responses. Although the absorption of dietary iron (1-2 mg/d) is regulated tightly, it is just balanced with losses. Therefore, internal turnover of iron is essential to meet the requirements for erythropoiesis (20-30 mg/d). Increased iron requirements, limited external supply, and increased blood loss may lead to iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anemia. Hepcidin, which is made primarily in hepatocytes in response to liver iron levels, inflammation, hypoxia and anemia, is the main iron regulatory hormone. Once secreted into the circulation, hepcidin binds ferroportin on enterocytes and macrophages, which triggers its internalization and lysosomal degradation. Thus, in chronic inflammation, the excess of hepcidin decreases iron absorption and prevents iron recycling, which results in hypoferremia and iron-restricted erythropoiesis, despite normal iron stores (functional ID), and anemia of chronic disease (ACD), which can evolve to ACD plus true ID (ACD + ID). In contrast, low hepcidin expression may lead to iron overload, and vice versa. Laboratory tests provide evidence of iron depletion in the body, or reflect iron-deficient red cell production. The appropriate combination of these laboratory tests help to establish a correct diagnosis of ID status and anemia.

The partitioning patterns of nutrients between pods and seeds of Zanthoxylum fruits impacted by environmental factors

The nutritive quality in plant organs is related to the different partitioning patterns of nutrient resources among the organs under various environmental conditions.This study examined the relationship between the nutritive quality of pods and seeds in Zanthoxylum and environmental factors, such as temperature and preciptation by using numerous samples collected from Southwest China to the East China of Shandong peninsula. The increasing accumulations of N, P and C in seeds implied that the nutritive quality in seeds was higher at the regions with relative higher mean annual temperature(MAT) and mean annual precipitation(MAP), while that in pods was on the contrary. By contrast, pod nutritive content was relatively high, but seed nutritive content was relatively low at the regions with relative high MAT and MAP. In addition, C:N ratio in pods was significantly and negatively correlated with MAT and MAP, while that in seed was significantly and positively correlated with MAT and MAP. The partitioning patterns of N-compounds between pods and seeds reflected different nitrogen translocations in the plant organs under various climate condition. The N:P ratios were negatively correlated with MAP, implying a higher proportional allocation of P to seeds than that of N in the areas with a relative high MAP. Therefore, the strategies to assess pod nutritional quality should be taken into accountfor nutritive translocation under various environmental conditions.

Pre-harvest Treatment of Zn ＆ B Affects the Fruit Quality and Storability of Sweet Orange

Physico-chemical composition of sweet orange （Citrus sinensis L.） cv. blood red was determined in relation to different storage conditions and micronutrients application at department of horticulture, Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. The post-harvest quality of sweet orange was evaluated for 60 days storage with 20 days intervals. Fruit were harvested after the foliar application of zinc and boron in two consecutive seasons. The harvested fruits were stored at an ambient temperature （ATS） of 25 ＋ 2 ℃ and at low temperature storage （LTS） of 15 ± 2 ℃ with 60%-70% relative humidity （RH） for 60 days. Sweet oranges stored at LTS maintained better fruit quality than ATS. The foliar application of zinc and boron significantly enhanced fruit juice content, total soluble solids （TSS）, ascorbic acid （AA） and non-reducing sugar （NRS） of fruit. However, fruit juice content, TSS and AA were observed significantly higher, when the fruit was treated with high zinc （1%） and low boron （0.02%）. The percent of weight loss, disease incidence, TSS and reducing sugar （RS） increased with increasing the storage durations. A reduction was noted in fruit juice, AA and NRS with increasing the storage durations.

Multi-micronutrient Fortified Beverage Delivered through the School-Based System Improved Iron Status and Test Scores of Children

Fortifying commonly consumed foods and beverages offers a great opportunity of filling the nutrient gap between actual and the needed nutrient intakes of young children. Ready-to-drink beverage as a vehicle for fortification is easy to administer, more consistent and least obstructive, because it can be consumed without further processing/cooking. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fortified beverage on the improving of iron status and school performance test of schoolchildren. About 5,000 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years old from 19 schools in Quirino province, Philippines were invited to participate in the study. Samples of 4,875 children with parental consent were screened for hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels. About 4,495 children had complete participation in the school performance test, which were developed and administered by school supervisors. Children were fed 200 mL ready-to-drink juice fortified with iron, zinc, lysine, vitamins A and C for 120 d. The beverage was delivered through the baseline. At end of the intervention, only 1,050 children had complete data set and the anemia rate reduced from 100% to 60%. Iron deficiency has increased insignificantly from 3.6% to 4.5%. Mean percentage of test scores increased significantly between base and end of the study： English （40% to 60%）, math （35% to 58%） and science （32% to 58%）. In conclusion, consumption of 200 mL fortified juice drink had contributed to the reduction of anemia and increased tests scores of children.

Modeling and Optimization of Relocation of Some Heavy Metals and Micro-nutrients in the Argan Trees

This work constitutes a contribution to the study of the physical-chemical performance of some heavy metals and micro-nutrients in the Argan trees. The samples are harvested from small Argan trees, three samples （soil, wood, leaves） per tree. The content of various heavy metals and micro-nutrient in aerial parts （leaves, wood and soil） were analyzed in the Argan tree by the method of ICP-ES. The results of analysis of data for the chemical variables were measured for several trees at different measurement times, do not affect the dispersion of the data. The use of chemometrics has allowed us to interpret the results obtained especially those related to the characterization of heavy metals and micro-nutrient after calibration by variable regression of these results in order to get an overall estimate of the optimal content, and to follow changes in the methods of treatment. The results of the characteristics of Argan trees have been treated using the statistical method of Principal Component Analysis （MFA）, The MFA was used to analyze the three groups simultaneously. These groups are fairly similar.

Dietary Fiber, Phytonutrients and Antioxidant Activity of Common Fruit Peels as Potential Functional Food Ingredientw

Mangiferaindica L. （carabao mango）, AnnonaMuricata L. （soursop）, Citrofortunellamicrocarpa（calamansi）, and Musa acuminate x balbisianaColla （ABB Group） （plantain banana） have long been used in the processed food industries. However, the peelsof these fruits are normally disposed as waste or at most used as fertilizer and feeds. The objective of the study is to characterize the peels of these fruits as functional food/ingredient. Freeze-dried fruits peels of carabao mango, soursop, calamansi and plantain banana were analyzed for proximate composition, dietary fiber and phytonutrients contents, fermentability invitro and antioxidant activity. Results showed soursop peels having significantly higher soluble （12.75 g/100 g sample） and insoluble （62.55 g/100 g sample） dietary fiber among the fruit peels studied. All peels produced significant amounts of short chain fatty acids, propionate 〉 acetate 〉 butyrate. Carabao mango peels produced the highest amount of acetate while calamansipeels, the highest propionate （215.8± 3.6 mg/100 g）. Carabao mango and soursop peels have significantly greater total polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins andantioxidant activity. The study showed that fruit peels of carabao mango, soursop, calamansi and plantain banana can be potential functional food ingredients.

FRUIT NUTRITIVE FACTOR NETWORK

As an research example of the widely existing cooperation-competition systems,the authorspresent an empirical investigation on a fruit nutritive factor network.It is described by a node-weightedbipartite graph.The fruit nutritive factors are defined as the nodes,and two nodes are connected by anedge if at least one fruit contains these two nutritive factors.The fruits are defined as the collaborationacts.The node-weight W_(nt),which signifies the 'importance degree' of each actor node,is defined as thecont ent of a nutritive factor in a fruit.The empirical investigation results show some unique features.The node-weight distributions take so-called 'shifted power law' function forms,but the act-weightdistribution takes a normal form.The degree and act-degree distributions show impulsive-spectrumlike forms.These observations may be helpful for the study of fruits.The network description methodproposed in this article may be universal for a kind of cooperation-competition systems.

Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in fruits

Carotenoids are a class of isoprenoids widely distributed in plants,algae,fungi and bacteria.Carotenoids are essential components for human diet,providing health promoting and nutritional benefits.Fruits are the major source of carotenoids for human consumption.Carotenoid biosynthesis and regulation in fruits are of great importance for development and maintenance of nutritional quality.In recent years,significant progress has been made in understanding the biosynthesis and regulation of carotenoids in tomato and other widely consumed fruits.Carotenoid accumulation in fruits is highly regulated by developmental programs,environmental factors,and metabolic signals at multiple levels.In this review,we highlight recent insights into transcriptional(transcription factor,alternative RNA splicing,epigenetic modification,miRNA),post-transcriptional and hormone regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants,especially in fruits.