S. Pal

Antioxidant Constituents and Enzyme Activities in Chilli Peppers

It is important that the antioxidant quality of green chilli (Capsicum annuum var. longum L.) be improved through selection or breeding. To better understand antioxidant levels in existing germplasm, biochemical screening of 10 cultivars was performed. The level of the antioxidant constituents vitamin C, carotene, phenol, and capsaicin ranged between 0.160 and 2.987 mg·g−1 wet weight, 0.167 and 0.913 mg·g−1 wet weight, 0.09 and 0.214 mg·g−1 wet weight, and 4.54 and 7.233 mg·g−1 dry weight, respectively. The antioxidative enzyme activities of peroxidase and catalase ranged between 1.070 to 11.507 ΔA·min−1·g−1 and 64.040 to 335.127 units, respectively. Pearsons correlation matrix of all variables indicated associations between pairs of measured variables. Mean results of the experiment along with principal component analysis indicated that ‘AC-588-1’ had the highest levels of antioxidants followed by ‘BCC-62’ and ‘AC-465’. These cultivars can likely be used as genetic material in future breeding programs.

Chemical Composition of Potato at Harvest and After Cold Storage

ABSTRACT In order to improve potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes through selection or breeding it is helpful to determine the chemical composition of tubers. Eleven potato genotypes were tested at harvest and after 6 months of cold storage for levels of water, starch, sugar, protein, trypsin inhibitor, oxalate, vitamin C, phenol, carotene, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and manganese. Almost all chemical compounds except sugar, trypsin inhibitor, and phenol decreased significantly during cold storage. A large number of significant correlations between chemical compounds indicate biochemical relationships. Principal component analysis, which explained 74.81 and 85.60% of variance at the fresh market and after cold storage, respectively, along with results of ANOVA indicated that cv. Diamond appeared to be the most promising candidate from which improved lines could be obtained. Discriminant function analysis indicated that 7 of 16 variables distinguished between tubers at the fresh market state and after cold storage.

Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of Elephant Foot Yam

There is little information on quantitative and qualitative aspects of elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst) Nicholson] specifically concerning nutritional status. Various traits of 12 cultivars of this crop were evaluated. Variability was observed for growth and yield components. Some traits were correlated. Potassium was the most abundant (327.83 mg/100 g) macromineral followed by phosphorus (166.91 mg/100 g), calcium (161.08 mg/100 g) and iron (3.43 mg/100 g). The mean soluble oxalate content (13.53 mg/100 g) was safe from the viewpoint of accumulation of urinary oxalate leading to kidney stones. The cvs. Singur and NDA-9 appear to be the most promising ones from which improved lines could be obtained. This information will provide breeders with the ability to develop desirable types having high yield and better nutritional profile.

Antioxidants and Antioxidant Activity in Green Pungent Peppers

Mature pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit are used raw and processed and contain various levels of phytonutrients. It is necessary to screen peppers for levels of these important compounds. Mature green fruit from pepper germplasm were examined to determine levels of chain-breaking antioxidants, activity of preventive antioxidants, and antioxidant activity. Levels of chain-breaking antioxidants, activity of preventive antioxidants, and antioxidant activity were germplasm dependent. Total antioxidant capacity, 1,1-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation, indices of antioxidant activity, were significantly and positively correlated and related to phenol content and superoxide dismutase activity. Based on averages and principal component analysis, the cv. AC-573 appears to be a promising candidate followed by cvs. Bullet, AC-462, and BCC-49 for use in breeding programs.

Antioxidants and Pungency of Onion

Information on levels of antioxidants and pungency can be utilized for improvement of onion (Allium cepa L.) through selection or breeding. Several genotypes were evaluated for these criteria. Phenol (128.51 mg/100 g) was found to be the most abundant antioxidant followed by ascorbic acid (11.49 mg/100 g). Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities averaged as 4.80 mg·mL−1, 1.71 ΔA430·min−1·g−1, and 0.73 units, respectively. Antioxidant capacity, as determined by ascorbic acid and quercetin equivalents, was highest in ‘AVT-II(01)’ and ‘Sukhsagar’, whereas that determined by 2,2-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was highest (i.e., the lowest IC50 value) in ‘AVT-I(05)’. Lipid peroxidation, an indirect measure of antioxidant capacity, ranged between 0.019 and 0.036 μmol of malondialdehyde/100 g of substrate. Pyruvic acid development, an index of onion pungency, was between 6.86 and 15.33 μmol·g−1. Based on averages and principal component analysis, genotype ‘AVT-I(03)’ followed by ‘AVT-II(01)’ and ‘Sukhsagar’ can be used for future breeding programs.

Peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities and phenol content in fruit of eggplant and their relationship to infestation by shoot and fruit borer.

The shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.) does severe damage to eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). In order to predict the level of fruit infestation and perhaps correlate it to specific biochemical characteristics, the basis of resistance against the shoot and fruit borer in eggplant was investigated. Seven cultivars of eggplant were sampled at 10, 15, 20, and 25 days after flowering (DAF) for peroxidase (PO) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and at 15, 20, and 25 DAF for phenol content. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that there was a lack of correlation between fruit infestation and PO activity. However, a correlation between fruit infestation; PPO activity at 15, 20, and 25 DAF; and phenol content at 15 and 20 DAF was observed. Principal components analysis indicated that BCB-38 was the best performing cultivar and can likely be used as improved genetic material in future breeding programs.

Variation in Antioxidants and Antioxidant Activity in Garlic Cultivars

Little is known about the antioxidant content of garlic (Allium sativum L.). Garlic cultivars were assessed for levels of enzymatic (peroxidase and catalase) and nonenzymatic (ascorbic acid and phenol) antioxidants and their activity in molybdenum-reducing antioxidant potential (MRAP), superoxide radical scavenging activity (SRAC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (DPPHRAC), and lipid peroxidation (LP) assays. Total phenol (4.14 mg·g−1) was the most abundant nonenzymatic antioxidant compared to free phenol (1.12 mg·g−1) and ascorbic acid (0.15 mg·g−1). Enzymatic antioxidants such as peroxidase and catalase activities averaged 5.82 ΔA430·min−1·g−1 and 2.06 units, respectively. The highest antioxidant activity in terms of MRAP and DPPHRAC was found in cv. G-41, whereas that in terms of SRAC and LP the highest antioxidant activity was found in cv. G-323. The highest value of pyruvic acid development, the index of pungency, was found in cv. G-1. Based on the averages and principal component analysis, cv. Gangajali appeared to have the most antioxidants, followed by cv. G-41 and cv. G-50. These cultivars are promising candidates from which improved lines can be developed.

Quality Evaluation of Cormels of New Germplasm of Taro

ABSTRACT There has been little qualitative evaluation of nutrients in taro Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum L. The improvement of cultivars and human diet through selection or breeding for 1) nutrient; 2) antinutrient; i.e., trypsin inhibitor, total oxalate, soluble oxalate, and calcium oxalate; 3) antioxidant; i.e., vitamin C, carotene, and phenol compositions; and 4) activities of two antioxidative enzymes, peroxidase, and catalase and one oxidative enzyme, polyphenoloxidase, of cormels of cultivars of taro were determined. Correlation analysis indicated biochemical relationships between chemicals. Principal component analysis, explaining 64.93% of variance, indicated that cv. BCC 25 appeared to be the most promising candidate from which improved lines could be obtained.