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This study aimed to carry out the physical–chemical characterization, assess the functional potential and sensory analysis of bread made with 2.10, 5, 7.1 and 10% of caja-manga peel flour (Spondias cytherea Sonn.; CMPF), using a mixture experimental design. CMPF showed high antioxidant activity and content of phenolic compounds (PCs). Breads showed a reduction in PC content due to the baking process; however, it still maintained a fraction of them, in greater quantity in breads containing CMPF. In general, the formulations showed good scores for sensory acceptability, with emphasis on formulations with lower addition of CMPF, being flavor and texture the most influential attributes. Formulations containing from 5 to 10% of CMPF (presented higher correlation for physical–chemical variables and PCs) differed from those containing from 0.0 to 2.10% of CMPF (presented higher correlation for texture variables), through principal component (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Therefore, the addition of CMPF in breads, especially to a concentration of 5%, is an effective alternative for using fruit residue, obtaining a product with antioxidant potential, which contributes to the popularization of caja-manga consumption.

Wheat crop is very sensitive to osmotic stress conditions. As an abiotic stress, drought may exert a considerable effect on the levels of specialized metabolites in plants. These metabolites may exert beneficial biological activities in the prevention or treatment of disorders linked to oxidative stress in plants and humans. Furthermore, osmoprotector accumulation helps wheat to increase the maintenance of osmotic balance. Therefore, identifying wheat genotypes with better drought tolerance is extremely important. In this sense, this research aimed to understand agronomic, physiological and biochemical responses of spring wheat strains and cultivars to drought stress, under field conditions, and jointly select strains via multi-trait index. We evaluated agronomic, physiological and biochemical variables in 18 genotypes under field condition. The results demonstrated that all variables were affected by the drought. Most genotypes were significantly reduced in grain yield, except VI_14774, VI_14668, VI_9007 and TBIO_ATON. The variables related to photosynthesis were also affected. An increase above 800% was observed in proline contents in genotypes under drought. Sodium and potassium also increased, mainly for VI_131313 (Na), while VI_130758 and VI_14774 presented increased K. We evaluated the antioxidant potential of the different strains and the total content of phenolic compounds. The most drought-responsive genotypes were BRS_264, VI_14050 and VI_14426. Reduced grain yield and photosynthetic variables, and increased specialized metabolism compounds are due to plant defense mechanisms against drought conditions. Furthermore, variation in genotypes can be explained by the fact that each plant presents a different defense and tolerance mechanism, which may also occur between genotypes of the same species. Four strains were selected by the multivariate index: VI_14055, VI_14001, VI_14426 and VI_1466. Such results allow us to predict which genotype(s) performed best in semi-arid environments and under climatic fluctuations.

Phenylpropanoids are secondary metabolites produced by plants. They, by differential expression, are involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and confer plant plasticity. In addition, t...

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are encoded by a large gene family and play important roles against biotic and abiotic stresses and in plant growth and development. To date, little is known about the CDPK genes in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). In this study, analysis of Fragaria x ananassa CDPK gene family was performed, including gene structures, phylogeny, interactome and expression profiles. Nine new CDPK genes in Fragaria x ananassa were identified based on RNA-seq data. These identified strawberry FaCDPK genes were classified into four main groups, based on the phylogenetic analysis and structural features. FaCDPK genes were differentially expressed during fruit development and ripening, as well as in response to abiotic stress (salt and drought), and hormone (abscisic acid) treatment. In addition, the interaction network analysis pointed out proteins involved in the ABA-dependent response to plant stress via Ca2+ signaling, especially RBOHs. To our knowledge, this is the first report on CDPK families in Fragaria x ananassa, and it will provide valuable information for development of biofortified fruits and stress tolerant plants.

Strawberry crop is very sensitive to osmotic stress conditions. We investigated the effect of the stress induced by mild drought (DS) and salt (SS) stresses, on molecular, physiological, and metabolic processes in the strawberry crop (Fragaria ananassa), cv. Camarosa. The results showed that the fruit yield was not affected. Mild DS and SS also resulted in an increased content of phenolics, anthocyanins, and l-ascorbic acid, and an increased antioxidant activity. These effects were accompanied by increased levels of ABA and its derivatives (phaseic and dehydrophasic acids), alongside the upregulation of several genes involved on their synthesis. Therefore, the results obtained in this study suggest that mild DS and SS improve the functional quality of strawberry fruits through and ABA-dependent mechanism.

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is an economically important fruit with a high demand owing to its good taste and medicinal properties. However, its cultivation is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses. Plants exhibit several intrinsic mechanisms to deal with stresses. In the case of strawberry, the mechanisms highlighting the response against these stresses remain to be elucidated, which has hampered the efforts to develop and cultivate strawberry plants with high yield and quality. Although a virtual reference genome of F. ananassa has recently been published, there is still a lack of information on the expression of genes in response to various stresses. Therefore, to provide molecular information for further studies with strawberry plants, we present the reference transcriptome dataset of F. ananassa, assembled and annotated from deep RNA-Seq data of fruits cultivated under salinity and drought stresses. We also systematically arranged a series of transcripts differentially expressed during these stresses, with an emphasis on genes related to the accumulation of ascorbic acid (AsA). Ascorbic acid is the most potent antioxidant present in these fruits and highly considered during biofortification. A comparison of the expression profile of these genes by RT-qPCR with the content of AsA in the fruits verified a tight regulation and balance between the expression of genes, from biosynthesis, degradation and recycling pathways, resulting in the reduced content of AsA in fruits under these stresses. These results provide a useful repertoire of genes for metabolic engineering, thereby improving the tolerance to stresses.

Grape juice is known as a relevant source of compounds with antioxidant potential, which are accumulated during grape growth and development. As these compounds come from specialized metabolism, postharvest stressors may increase the synthesis and accumulation of these metabolites. Thus, UV-C radiation (65.6 J m−2) was applied to ‘Concord’ grapes (from vineyards grown in conventional and organic systems), after harvest. The following dependent variables were analyzed: pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids, ratio, angle hue, L, a, b, ΔE, total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins, malvidin, delphinidin, peonidin, cyanidin, epicatechin, quercetin, kaempferol, trans-resveratrol, and cis-resveratrol. The UV-C treatment did not interfere with the basic physicochemical composition but resulted in juices with a more intense color. Juice from grapes grown in an organic system and subjected to postharvest UV-C treatment had also an increase in the levels of phenolic compounds, which was not observed in juice from grapes grown in a conventional system and subjected to the same treatment. Thus, responses to postharvest UV-C radiation depend on cultivation conditions.

Due mainly to the taste and appearance, the strawberry stands out in relation to the other fruits. and for the presence of antioxidant compounds. However, little attention has been devoted to the impact of abiotic stresses on the quality of strawberry and its agronomic performance. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of two levels of DS (L1 - 70% and L2 - 50% of crop evapotranspiration) on the quality of strawberry fruit and on some agronomic and physiological variables. There was a dose-dependent reduction in the evaluated agronomic variables in the DS plants, and the content of some minerals in the fruit and leaves was modified. The activities of the oxidative enzymes were higher in the fruit of L2 treatment, and the content of sucrose, reduced sugars, phenolic compounds and the total antioxidant activity were increased in the fruit from L2 treatment; while those of anthocyanins and L-ascorbic acid were reduced in L1 and L2 treatments, respectively. The phenylalanine ammonia lyase gene was upregulated and other genes related to phenylpropanoid and ascorbate pathways were downregulated in the fruit of stressed plants. Thus, our results indicate that DS seems to be a promising strategy to improve the content of antioxidant compounds and sugars.

Strawberry is one of the most popular fruits because of its shape, color and taste, and the presence of antioxidant compounds. Because severe abiotic stresses result in detrimental consequences to plant growth, the effect of cultivating under mild stress conditions has rarely been investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of mild salt stress on yield and quality of strawberry fruit. Mild salt stress did not affect yield. The lower level of mild salt stress evaluated showed increased vegetative growth (24%), higher photosynthetic effectiveness, and increased activity of phenoloxidase (22%) and polyphenoloxidase (33%), as well as the accumulation of sucrose (5%) and anthocyanins (60%) in the fruit, compared to non-stressed plants. The higher level of mild salt stress increased root growth (30%), the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (68%), and the accumulation of total phenolic compounds (14%), and total antioxidant activity (13%) in the fruit, compared to non-stressed plants. The only phenolic compound improved in these treatments was (+)- catechins. Both levels of salt stress affected the expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways, cell wall disassembly and abscisic acid-related genes. Therefore, mild salt stress improves strawberry fruit quality.

It is known that ultraviolet light has a major role in the ontogeny of the plants, and may also induce the production of secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cultivar ‘Concord’, produced in conventional and organic production systems, treated with UV-C radiation after harvest. Grapes were evaluated for chemical composition, the antioxidant activity and the relative accumulation of gene transcripts related to secondary metabolism of the grapevine. UV-C radiation stimulated gene expression of the phenolic compounds biosynthetic and also caused accumulation of these metabolites, and these changes were dependent on the production system. The results showed that the conventional grapes had a higher accumulation of transcripts of the genes PAL , CHS and STS which ANS compared to organically produced grape. After harvest, UV-C stimulates the accumulation of transcripts of these genes. Organic grapes had a higher antioxidant activity. UV-C radiation resulted in an increase of antioxidant activity in grapevines from different production systems.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a fertilizer matrix of shale-based by-products and shale water as an alternative fertilization on strawberry culture. Were used 16 treatments, which resulted from the combination of three factors levels: cultivar (with two levels: Camarosa and Camino Real), allocated in plot, complementary base fertilization (with two levels: with and without MBR fertilizer matrix at a dose of 2000 kg ha -1 ), allocated in subplots and foliar fertilization (with four levels: Shale water, shale water + boron, shale water + calcium and a control without foliar fertilization), allocated in the sub-subplot. Yield, functional com­pounds and fruit chemical analysis were investigated. The production obtained in strawberry crop was similar or higher than national average. In the conditions of this study, in area with high level of initial fertility, the complementary base fertilization with MBR and foliar fertilization with shale water-based, did not influence the variables of quality such as the functional properties and chemical characteristics of strawberry fruits. Similarly, the added micronutrients in leaf fertilization shale water-based, Ca and B did not influence the yield and quality variables of studied culture.