Breeding for Fruit Nutritional and Nutraceutical Quality

Abstract

VitaminsVitamins are organic molecules that are essential in trace amounts for human metabolism. They may be grouped into six categories: A, B complex, C, D, E, and K. Fresh fruits contain significant amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and E.Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the retina of the eye and is crucial for normal vision. Deficiency leads to impaired vision and even blindness (Rice et al., 2004). In developing regions of the world, vitamin A deficiency is estimated to cause blindness in 250,000 to 500,000 children each year. Additionally, it plays an important role in gene transcription, cell division and differentiation, reproduction, and the maintenance of normal skin health, as well as being a powerful antioxidant (Rice et al., 2004). Vitamin A can be of animal or plant origin. In plants, the carotenoids (i.e., α-carotene, β-carotene, γ-carotene, and the xanthophyll, β-cryptoxanthin) function as precursors of vitamin A. The human organism requires about 700 (female adults) to 900 μg (male adults) vitamin A per day. Fruits that are particularly good sources of provitamin A include cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Naud.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), and mango (Mangifera indica L., 40-170 μg 100 g −1 fresh weight) (Kays, 1991).The B vitamins (i.e., B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 5 , B 6 , B 7 , B 9 , and B 12 ) are a group of water-soluble compounds that contribute to human health by supporting cell growth and metabolism, skin and muscle tone, the function of the immune system, erythrocyte metabolism, and the prevention of anemia. With the exception of vitamin B 12 , all the other B complex vitamins are available from plant sources; for example, avocado (Persea americana Mill.) contains vitamins B 2 , B 3 , B 5 , B 6 , and B 9 ; chili pepper (Capsicum spp. L.) contains vitamins B 2 and B 6 ; okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench.) contains vitamins B 1 and B 9 ; and banana contains vitamins B 3 , B 5 , and B 6 . A regular intake of the B vitamins is required because any excess is excreted in the urine. A lack of B vitamins is associated with various skin disorders and dermatitis, as well as diseases such as beriberi (B 1 [thiamine]), hyperemia (B 2 [riboflavin]), and anemia (B 6 [pyridoxine], B 9 [folic acid], and B 12 [cobalamin]).Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble sugar-lactone and a strong antioxidant. In humans it acts as an enzyme cofactor for biosynthetic reactions, a substrate for ascorbate peroxidase, and an electron donor for certain enzymes (Hancock & Viola, 2005). Vitamin C (in the form of lime juice) was used to prevent scurvy among seamen long before its isolation in 1932. Moreover, patients suffering from oxidative stress, such as that related to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic inflammatory disease, and diabetes, exhibit a lower plasma ascorbate concentration (45 μmol l −1 ) than that of healthy individuals (61.4-80 μmol l −1 ) (Schorah et al., 1996). Fruits that are particularly rich in vitamin C include blackcurrant (Ri...

Diversity in composition of scarlet (S. aethiopicum) and gboma (S. macrocarpon) eggplants and of interspecific hybrids between S. aethiopicum and common eggplant (S. melongena)

“…This will require the study of the variation and identification of sources of variation for the traits of interest and also will benefit from hybridization for obtaining new genetic combinations with enhanced values for the target traits (Diamanti et al, 2011). Many studies have been devoted to the composition of common eggplant and its diversity (Stommel and Whitaker, 2003;Hanson et al, 2006;Raigón et al, 2008;San José et al, 2013;Kaur et al, 2014).…”

“…In this case, although total vitamin C contents were higher in scarlet eggplant than in common eggplant, revealing a higher antiescorbutic activity in the former (Tsujimura et al, 2008), the content in the reduced form of vitamin C (AA) was higher for common eggplant parents, indicating an increased antioxidant capacity derived from this compound in common eggplant (Atkinson et al, 2005). Interspecific hybrids again presented AA amounts similar to the ones of scarlet parental varieties, and so lower levels than the ones of common eggplant parents; however, interspecific hybrids presented an improvement in the AA/DHA ratio compared to scarlet eggplant parentals, which is of interest in breeding for antioxidant activity (Diamanti et al, 2011;San José et al, 2013). Regarding phenolics, the values have been much higher in common eggplant than in scarlet eggplant, confirming previous results (Stommel and Whitaker, 2003;Prohens et al, 2007Prohens et al, , 2012Kaur et al, 2014).…”

“…The high diversity found for African scarlet and gboma eggplants for many of the chemical and nutritional traits studied, in particular for carbohydrates, vitamin C and total phenolics, indicates that they are amenable to selection and that varieties with higher content in nutritional and bioactive compounds can be selected with a limited effort (Diamanti et al, 2011). Also, given that both species can be crossed with S. melongena (Daunay et al, 1991;Oyelana and Ugborogho, 2008;Prohens et al, 2012;Khan et al, 2013;Rotino et al, 2014), they may represent a valuable genetic resource for common eggplant breeding.…”

“…In this respect, development of new varieties with a higher content of nutritional and functional constituents is an important breeding objective (Diamanti et al, 2011;Plazas et al, 2013a). Therefore, the study of the diversity for chemical and nutritional composition in different types of cultivars will be useful for the selection and breeding of improved varieties of scarlet and gboma eggplant.…”

Breeding Vegetables with Improved Bioactive Properties

“…Consumers are increasingly demanding vegetables with bioactive properties that contribute to maintaining a good health and preventing diseases (Weatherspoon et al, 2014). In consequence, breeding programmes in vegetables are increasingly considering the content in bioactive compounds as a major breeding objective (Diamanti et al, 2011).…”