Citrulline and Arginine Are Moderately Heritable in Two Red-fleshed Watermelon Populations

Abstract

Watermelon fruit [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb) Matsum & Nakai] is a natural source of phytonutrients, including lycopene, citrulline, and arginine. Two segregating, highly outcrossed North Carolina watermelon populations, NC High Yield (NCHYW) and NC Small Fruit (NCSFW), were evaluated for these traits and for indicators of ripeness (pH and soluble solids content). Parents tested in 2015 (N SF = 300, N HY = 300) were sampled for the above and offspring were tested in 2016 if the sampled fruit of the parents were of qualifying ripeness [soluble solids concentration (SSC) ‡8, pH 5.5-6.5], resulting in 251 families (N SF = 72, N HY = 175). Narrow-sense heritability was estimated in each of the populations using the methods of 1) parent-offspring regression and 2) variance of half-sibling family means. Heritability for citrulline in NCHYW was moderate in both parent-offspring and half-sibling estimations (38% and 43%), as was arginine (40% and 44%) and lycopene (46% and 47%, respectively). Estimates for these traits in NCSFW were considerably different, with parent-offspring and half-sibling estimations for citrulline (65% and 22%), arginine (9% and 20%), and lycopene (44% and 68%). In NCHYW, moderate phenotypic correlations were found between SSC and citrulline (0.40), arginine (0.40), their combination (0.45), and lycopene (0.30) all of which were significant, except lycopene. Lycopene was significantly and weakly correlated to citrulline (0.22), but was not correlated to arginine (0.06). Similar correlations were found in NCSFW; SSC was significantly correlated to citrulline (0.24), arginine (0.18), and their combination (0.23), whereas lycopene was slightly correlated to citrulline (0.15) and not significantly correlated to arginine. Based on these heritabilities and phenotypic correlations, tandem selection for high lycopene and citrulline content may be accomplished efficiently using progeny rows with minimal replication using the NCSFW population, whereas replication with multiple years, rows, and locations may be necessary for creating stable lines using the NCHYW population.

Fruit Morphology, Citrulline, and Arginine Levels in Diverse Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Germplasm Collections

“…An increased citrulline and arginine content in watermelon could enhance tolerance of watermelon plants towards drought. Breeding could improve the levels of arginine in watermelon fruit, as both are heritable traits [ 26 , 35 ]. Because of the intensification of the demand for high yielding, diseases resistant, and highly nutritive food crops, including watermelon, the conservation and collection of genetically diverse genetic resources are essential activities for the maintenance and improvement of the current level of production.…”

Review Artikel: Pengaruh Diet Semangka Merah (Citrullus lanatus) terhadap VO2Max

“…Perbedaan dalam tingkat kandungan terjadi karena kulit buah berisi hanya setengah kadar gula daging semangka, maka hasil kajian ini juga menyatakan kandungan tertinggi citrulline konsentrasi ditemukan di spesies semangka (Citrullus lanatus). 16 Isi citrulline ditemukan di semangka merah (Citrullus lanatus) dalam tubuh manusia akan dikonversi dalam arginin dan kemudian ke nitrit oksida (NO) yang akan meningkatkan vasodilatasi dan berguna bagi kesehatan sistem kardiovaskular, maka tubuh akan dalam kondisi bagus. Konsumsi peroral citrulline dinilai lebih efisien dari arginin yang menyebabkan diare dan muntah pada manusia, karena menurut studi diketahui bahwa citrulline dapat meningkatkan bioavailabilitas sehingga proses penyerapan di pembuluh darah lebih baik dan dampak efek samping yang muncul lebih kecil.…”

“…25 Konsentrasi citrulline (citrullus lanatus dalam warna merah semangka) lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan kuning oranye semangka dan salmon dalam segar atau kondisi kering. 16 Penelitian invivo pada tikus dengan memberikan kulit semangka merah murni (citrullus lanatus) jus dan semangka jus daging merah (citrullus lanatus) dengan l-citrulline tingkat tinggi selama 14 hari, dalam melakukan penilaian kinerja ketahanan fisik selama olahraga. Konsumsi jus buah semangka merah (citrullus lanatus) sesuai ke prosedur pada tikus tersebut terbukti untuk secara meyakinkan (p<0.05) dapat memperpanjang durasi kolam resistensi dalam tikus, mengurangi konsentrasi dari asam laktat dan amonia di otot yang menyebabkan kelelahan, dan meningkatkan produksi NO untuk tujuan optimalisasi sehingga nilai VO2max naik.…”