No abstract

No abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a staple food widely consumed in Tunisia and a source of nutrients beneficial for human health. The tubers are, indeed, important source of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. However, data regarding the functional quality of potato varieties grown and consumed in Tunisia are very scarce. For this reason, two field trials were conducted to focus on the effect of the growing season on the functional quality of four potato genotypes (Selena, El Beidha, Naima, and CL07F172.5): a first autumnal trial in Teboulba, Monastir (September 2015–February 2016), which is the late cropping season (LCS) and a second summer cropping season (SCS) in El ksour, El Kef region at an altitude > 1000 m (July 2015–October 2015). Total carotenoids, total phenolics, and flavonoids contents, as well as the hydrophilic radical scavenging activity and lipophilic radical scavenging activity (LRSA) were determined. The obtained results confirmed the importance of potato tubers as a source of bioactive compounds. All quality traits varied significantly among varieties and cropping seasons. Tubers grown under colder weather conditions (LCS: minimum and maximum averages temperatures and relative humidity (RH) ranging between 14.25 and 22.55°C and 25.46% and 83.07%, respectively) accumulated the highest total vitamin C content and exhibited the highest LRSA values. However, temperature and warmer growing conditions (SCS: minimum and maximum averages temperatures and RH ranging between 19.74 and 34.22°C and 35.46% and 87.51%, respectively) probably enhanced the synthesis and accumulation of total carotenoids, total phenolics, and total flavonoids, associated with higher LRSA values.

Two new species of Typhlocharis Dieck, 1869 from the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula included in baetica species group are described: T. acutangula n. sp. and T. mixta n. sp. The new species can be easily recognized by the presence of an anterodistal dentiform projection in metatibia (T. acutangula sp.n) and pseudotetramery and a medial tooth in clypeus (T. mixta sp.n), features not observed in any other species of the group, but present in quadridentata and gomezi groups respectively. An updated key of baetica group is provided. The large series of T. mixta n. sp. allowed a good study of intraspecific variation, which is detailed and compared within the genus. Implications for the systematics and relations of the baetica group are discussed. Intraspecific variations are grouped in four categories: individual variations in shape, size and proportions, alterations in chaetotaxy, asymmetries, and teratologies or malformations. Finally, implications and problems of intraspecific variability for the systematics of the genus are discussed.

No abstract