Silvia Tavarini

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni as a source of bioactive compounds: the effect of harvest time, experimental site and crop age on steviol glycoside content and antioxidant properties.

BACKGROUND This study was aimed at identifying the effect of harvest time, experimental site and crop age on the no-calorie sweetener steviol glycosides (SG) and on the antioxidant properties of stevia leaf extracts. The experiment was conducted over two growing seasons at two sites in the northeastern plain of Italy. RESULTS The results showed that all analysed factors played an important role in defining the SG profile and the antioxidant properties of stevia extracts. A high level of phenols (78.24 mg GAE g⁻¹ DW by Folin-Ciocalteu method) and high antioxidant activity (812.6 µmol Fe²⁺ g⁻¹ DW by FRAP assay) were observed. The inhibition of DPPH free radicals was evaluated and an IC₅₀ mean value of 250 µg mL⁻¹ was obtained. Significant relationships among the total antioxidant capacity and the analysed compounds were found. CONCLUSION The results showed the possibility of obtaining, in the tested environments, very high SG yields thanks to the long-day conditions during the spring/summer season. The harvest time played a key role in determining the stevia quality, influencing the rebaudioside A/stevioside ratio. The strong antioxidant properties make very interesting the possibility of using stevia extracts to improve functional food properties.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Harvest Time on Steviol Glycosides, Flavonoid Composition, and Antioxidant Properties in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

This work investigated the effect of nitrogen fertilization and harvest time on the flavonoid composition and antioxidant properties of Stevia rebaudiana leaves. At the same time, changes in stevioside (Stev) and rebaudioside A (RebA) contents were recorded. A pot trial under open air conditions was set up, testing five N rates and three harvest times. The results showed that, by using an adequate N rate and choosing an appropriate harvest time, it was possible to significantly increase and optimize the bioactive compound levels. In particular, higher RebA, RebA/Stev ratio, total phenols and flavonoids, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and apigenin-7-O-glucoside levels and antioxidant capacity were recorded by supplying 150 kg N ha(-1). Reduced or increased N availability in comparison with N150 had no consistent effect on Stevia phytochemicals content. Significant correlations were also found between stevioside and some of the flavonoids, indicating a possible role of flavonoids in the stevioside metabolic pathway, which deserves more investigations.

Impact of nitrogen supply on growth, steviol glycosides and photosynthesis in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

This work investigated the agronomic, physiological and biochemical response of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni grown under different nitrogen (N) rates. A pot trial in open air conditions was set up in 2012 with the aim to evaluate the effect of four N rates on the biometric and productive characteristics, steviol glycoside (SG) content as well as on leaf gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, Rubisco activity and N use efficiency. N deficiency caused a decrease in leaf N content, chlorophylls and photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, resulting in a lower dry matter accumulation as well as in reduced SG production. The application of 150 kg N ha− 1 seems to be the most effective treatment to improve rebaudioside A (Reb A) content, Reb A/stevioside ratio, photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, N use efficiency, ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and PSII efficiency. The results demonstrate that by using an appropriate N rate it is possible to modulate the SG biosynthesis, with a significant increase in the Reb A content and in the ratio between Reb A and stevioside. This finding is of great relevance in order to obtain a raw material designed to meet consumer needs and bio-industry requirements for high-quality, Reb A content, and safe and environmentally friendly products.

Crop Productivity, Steviol Glycoside Yield, Nutrient Concentration and Uptake of Stevia rebaudiana Bert. under Mediterranean Field Conditions

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (Asteraceae Family), characterized by a high content of steviol glycosides (SG) in its leaves, represents an interesting source of non-sucrose and no-calorie sweeteners. Stevia, which is native to Paraguay, is a relatively new crop for the Mediterranean region, where it is grown as an annual or poly-annual crop. In order to assess the crop’s environmental requirements, productive performance and nutrient uptakes, a two-year field experiment was carried out in north-eastern Italy, where the species had never previously been cultivated. The aim was to evaluate the effects of important pre-harvest factors, such as cultivation site, harvest time and their reciprocal interaction, on productivity, leaf SG yield and nutrient requirements. Results showed that the timing of the harvest and the pedo-climatic conditions of the cultivation sites had a significant effect on the main biometric traits, total and leaf dry yield, SG production, macronutrient concentration and uptake.

The positive role of steviol glycosides in stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) under drought stress condition

Steviol glycosides (SVglys) are a group of diterpenoids mainly present in the leaves of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni). An experiment was conducted to find the functional role of SVglys compounds in stevia affected by drought stress. In this study, a liquid blend of SVglys (200 ppm) was sprayed on stevia plants grown in well-watered (90% field capacity) and drought-stress conditions (45% field capacity) and then the morphological traits and metabolites were evaluated. It was observed that leaf losses caused by drought stress were stopped through external application of SVglys and consequently the harvest index of stevia was increased. Metabolite analysis of stevia leaves showed that the total SVglys content was significantly decreased due to drought stress, but was compensated by external application of SVglys. Among the SVglys, Rebaudioside A responded more to external SVglys. A slight promotion in total antioxidant activity of stevia leaves was observed when external SVglys was applied. The glucose availability in stevia leaves was increased by external application of SVglys but only in well-watered plants. According to our findings, it can be concluded that in stevia, SVglys may have a positive function in drought stress tolerance by exerting a protective role under such conditions.

Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum L.) as New Fiber for Biocomposites: The Effect of Crop Age and Microbial Retting on Fiber Quality

Recently, there has been a revival of interest in Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.) as a possible source of fibers to be used in biocomposite materials. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of two selected strains of Clostridium felsineum (NCIMB 10690 and NCIMB 9539) in the retting of Spanish broom vermenes. Chemical composition and physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of fibers were investigated. The obtained results indicate that the process provides an ecofriendly method for Spanish broom retting and support the hypothesis that these fibers can be successfully used in composite materials.

Influence of insect pollinators and harvesting time on the quality of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni seeds

Abstract Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni has sporophytic self-incompatibility and this may lead to poor seed yield and quality, which are obstacles to large-scale crop establishment. This research investigated the influence of insect pollinators and the harvesting time on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the ripe seeds. A pot trial under open field conditions was established to evaluate the abundance of insect pollinators and three harvesting times on the production of ripe seeds, germination percentage, mean germination time and thousand seed weight (TSW) in 36 F1 open-pollinated genotypes. Large variability in the number of corymbs of capitula, flowering time, reproductive period and seed yield was observed among the genotypes. Genotypes with promising phenological and reproductive properties were identified. The worst germination percentage and TSW were recorded in the latest harvest. Significant linear regressions were found among the investigated parameters (insect number, germination percentage, TSW, seeds yield per plant and cycle length), confirming complex interactions on the yield and quality of stevia seeds. Results indicate that earlier flowering genotypes produced higher seed quantity, due to favourable weather conditions during the reproductive phase. Moreover, cross-pollination and the insect abundance, as Apidae and Syrphidae, play a crucial role for enhancing the stevia seed yield and quality.

Flower scent bouquet variation and bee pollinator visits in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (Asteraceae), a source of natural sweeteners

Pollinators provide a key service to both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Little is reported on the pollination chemoecology of Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), a hermaphroditic species producing self-incompatible florets in small corymbs. We investigated the chemistry of volatiles potentially involved in its pollination system. The VOCs emitted by the corymbs of 27 F1 open-pollinated genotypes were collected by solid-phase micro-extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), as well as morphometric data of the genotypes were recorded. Finally, we quantified the abundance of pollinators for each genotype. S. rebaudiana flowers were mainly visited by bees (Apidae and Halictidae), followed by hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). GC–MS indicated that S. rebaudiana was characterized by a complex scent profile with large variability among F1 plants. Discriminant analysis showed that limonene, δ-elemene and bicyclogermacrene were the compounds explaining most of the scent bouquet difference between high attractive (>40 pollinators/plant) from low attractive pollinator power (<40 pollinators/plant). Limonene was the most representative VOC among plants that are more attractive to pollinators, while high emissions of δ-elemene and bicyclogermacrene were linked to plants that are less attractive to pollinators. S. rebaudiana morphometric data highlighted that, besides floral VOCs, corymb abundance and size, as well as plant height, may route pollinator visits. Overall, this study adds knowledge on floral phenology and pollinator ecological traits of S. rebaudiana, allowing a deeper understanding of its chemical ecology and pollination.

Effects of Green Compost on Soil Biochemical Characteristics and Nutritive Quality of Leafy Vegetables

Green compost can improve the quality of fruits and vegetables through an increase in sugars and organic acids, which is extremely important because todays consumer is concerned about healthy and nutritional properties of food. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of green compost used as soil amendment on phenols and vitamin C content and on antioxidant capacity of leafy vegetables. Plants of Lactuca sativa var. acephala cultivar Red Salad Bowl and Spinacia oleracea cultivar Lorelay were grown in three soil treatments: a) 100% soil, b) 75% soil plus 25% compost c) 50% soil plus 50% compost. Results show that adding green compost to soil improved its fertility and the growth of plants. The use of compost for lettuce did not show any differences in antioxidant capacity and vitamin C content at either compost concentration (25 and 50%) while a significant reduction in phenols was evident. The Chl content decreased in spinach as a consequence of compost addition while no changes were observed in lettuce. However, the healthy properties of spinach decreased as a function of the compost concentration in the soil.