Diffusional limitations to photosynthesis, relative water content (RWC), pigment concentrations and their association with reflectance indices were studied in olive (Olea europaea) saplings subjected to water-stress and re-watering. RWC decreased sharply as drought progressed. Following rewatering, RWC gradually increased to pre-stress values. Photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), meso...

PURPOSE Because of the potential protective function of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) within the retina and lens, a better understanding of factors influencing tissue deposition is needed. The largest fractions of L and Z are stored in adipose tissue. Thus, higher body fat content and body mass index (BMI) may be expected to influence the quantities of L and Z in the retina (measured as macular...

Carotenoids exert beneficial effects on human health through their excellent antioxidant activity. To increase carotenoid productivity in the marine Pennales Phaeodactylum tricornutum, we genetically engineered the phytoene synthase gene (psy) to improve expression because RNA-sequencing analysis has suggested that the expression level of psy is lower than other enzyme-encoding genes that are i...

The grape berries due to containing organic acids, sugars, aromatic compounds, phenolic compounds (including anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonols, stilbenes (resveratrol)), tannins, and oil in the pulp, skin, and seed have numerous health benefits for human health. In this study, we investigated genetic and phytochemical characteristics of four famous grapevine cultivars (Shiraz, Sirch, Panje Aro...

A dietary source of retinoid or carotenoid has been shown to be necessary for the biosynthesis of functional visual pigment in flies. In the present study, the larvae or adults of Drosophila melanogaster were administered specific carotenoid-containing diets and high performance liquid chromatography was used to identify and quantify the carotenoids in extracts of wild type and ninaD visual mut...

Herbicides adversely affect both the target plant and its environment. In this study, Helianthus annuus L. cv. “Oliva CL” was treated post-emergence with 0.3 to 3.1 mM quizalofop-p-ethyl. The peroxidase activity (POD), ascorbate peroxidase activity (APX), lipid peroxidation, pigment system and total phenolic content were then determined on the 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th days following treatment. T...

Several decontamination agents including water, sodium hypochlorite, peroxyacetic acid, neutral electrolyzed oxidizing water, and chlorine dioxide gas were tested for their effectiveness to reduce the natural microflora on grated carrots. Microbial reductions of the total aerobic count obtained after the different treatments varied between 0.11 and 3.29 log colony-forming units (cfu)/g. Whether...

208 The natural food colorants, carotenoids, are of great importance to human health. The scientists at Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Canada enhanced the efficiency of SC-CO 2 extraction of carotenoids from carrots, by using canola oil as a continuous cosolvent. The carotenoid content of the starting material was determined by traditional solve...