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Increasing the content in bioactive phenolics in the eggplant (Solanum melongena) fruit is of interest, but may result in enhanced browning. We evaluated six varieties of S. melongena, 22 accessions of wild related species and 42 interspecific hybrids between cultivated eggplant and wild relatives for phenolics content, fruit flesh colour, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and fruit flesh browning. Wild relatives generally had a higher content in phenolics and a broader range of variation than cultivated eggplant. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant (>65.0%) phenolic acid in cultivated eggplant and its primary genepool wild ancestor S. insanum, while for the other wild species on average represented <50% of the chromatogram peak area. Fruit flesh colour was lighter in S. melongena than in the wild species, while PPO activity and browning was much higher in wild species of the secondary and tertiary genepools. Interspecific hybrids between S. melongena and S. insanum were intermediate in their characteristics, while those with secondary and tertiary genepool species were more similar to the wild species. No significant correlations were found between total phenolics or chlorogenic acid contents and fruit flesh browning, but PPO activity was correlated to both the degree of browning (r=0.404) and colour difference (r=0.458). The results indicate that wild species can contribute to improving the bioactive properties of eggplant without affecting negatively fruit flesh colour and browning., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pepino (Solanum muricatum) fruits from 15 accessions of cultivated pepino as well as six accessions from wild relatives were evaluated for contents in dry matter, protein, β-carotene, chlorophylls and seven minerals. Several-fold differences among accessions were found for most traits. Average values obtained were similar to those of melon and cucumber, but the phenolic contents were much higher. Wild species had significantly higher average contents for all traits vs. the cultivated pepino accessions. And, the comparisons among the cultivated pepino varieties showed that the modern varieties were more uniform in composition, and they possessed significantly lower concentrations of protein, P, K, and Zn than local land races. Most of the significant correlations among composition traits were positive. Our studies show that regular consumption of pepino fruits could make a significant contribution to the recommended daily intake of P, K, Fe and Cu as well as to the average daily intake of phenolics. Furthermore, the higher values for most nutrients measured in the wild species and in the local land races indicate that new pepino varieties with improved fruit contents in nutrient and bioactive compounds can be developed., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are one of the most important vegetables and their double use (vegetable or spice) and two commercial stages (unripe and fully ripe) contributed to their use in many recipes and fast diffusion from America. Nowadays, Spain is a center of diversity for C. annuum, with many landraces, offering a great opportunity for adaptation to organic cultivation. Furthermore, Capsicum peppers contain many bioactive compounds, essential to provide high added-value to these cultivars, especially for organic markets, although knowledge about the effect of organic cultivation on Capsicum fruit quality is still scarce. Here, 37 accessions of Spanish landraces and foreign materials from C. annuum and other species were grown under organic and conventional conditions and evaluated for ascorbic acid (AAC), total phenolics (TP) and total red and yellow/orange carotenoids, considering both ripening stages. A large genotypic variation was found within each ripening stage and growing condition for the studied traits. Also, both stages showed high levels, although fully ripe fruits were the richest. Organic conditions enabled higher levels in fully ripe fruits of AAC and TP on average (135 vs 117 mg·100 g-1 and 232 vs 206 mg·100 g-1) and in most accessions, although the genotype×growing conditions interaction also contributed, but at lower extent, to the observed variation. Significant genotype×ripening stage and growing conditions×ripening stage interactions were also found, suggesting that the magnitude of the increase with ripening depends on the accession and growing conditions. By contrast, there were no differences between growing conditions for carotenoids and differences were mainly due to the genotype factor. Finally, the large genotypic variation and favourable organic conditions allowed identifying several materials from different types and uses with very high levels of bioactive compounds for organic cultivation, in both ripening stages but particularly at fully ripe stage (>500 mg·100 g-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public opinion has a growing concern for food health issues and is interested in the consumption of food of improved quality, which is defined by several aspects, like the internal composition, appearance of the produce, technological/commercial issues, and social and environmental criteria. In this respect, conventional agriculture has resulted in a reduction of the internal quality, resulting from a decrease in the concentrations of nutrients and bioactive substances, as well as in some non sustainable practices that have a profound impact in the environment. Organic agriculture allows the production of food without the use of chemical synthesis products and with practices that are friendlier to the environment than conventional agriculture. In addition, organic food usually has a higher concentration of nutrients and bioactive substances. In order to guarantee that the organic foods have been produced according to adequate practices, in the EU only the foods produced according to specific regulations can be labeled as organic. Several experiments, of which we summarize the results show that organic food is healthier than conventionally produced food as, depending on the crops, organic fruits and vegetables have lower concentration of nitrates, higher concentration of relevant minerals (e.g., K, Ca, Fe), and more vitamin C and total phenolics. We have also found that organic meat has more protein and less fat than conventionally produced meat. Organic eggs also have a better quality than conventionally produced eggs, with more protein and oleic acid and also keep freshness for longer time. All these results show that organic food is healthier than conventional food for human health and at the same time is produced using methodologies that are friendlier for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Development of eggplant (Solanum melongena) varieties with an improved content in phenolics and nutritionally relevant minerals in the fruit is an increasingly important breeding objective. We analyzed several proximate composition traits (dry matter and protein content), content in phenolics, and eight minerals (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, and Zn) in 31 varieties of eggplant from three different varietal groups (commercial varieties, landraces, and hybrids between the landraces). Considerable differences in the composition among varieties were detected in all the traits studied, with relative differences between the lowest and highest values of 42.9% for dry matter and 156.3% for Ca. Results show that eggplant provides relevant quantities of phenolics, P, K, and Cu to the diet, with global mean values of 48.26mg/100g, 26.6mg/100g, 198.5mg/100g, and 0.062mg/100g of fresh weight, respectively. Landraces had, as a mean, higher contents in phenolics (16.4%), P (34.6%), and Zn (30.0%) than commercial varieties. Positive mean heterosis was detected for dry matter content (8.4%) and Na concentration (12.1%), and negative mean heterosis for P (−16.0%), K (−5.5%), and Ca (−38.5%) concentrations. Mean heterosis was not significant for the content in phenolics, although positive values were found for some individual hybrids. Contents in dry matter, protein and the main macrominerals were positively correlated. Also, positive correlations between mid-parent and hybrid values were found for dry matter (r=0.596), P (r=0.658) and K (r=0.599). The results obtained indicate that there is ample variation within eggplant for composition traits and this can be exploited for the selection of varieties with nutritionally improved characteristics. In this respect, we have identified several landraces with high nutritional quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We propose the utilization of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) interspecific hybrids derived from crosses with closely related species as an approach for developing new improved rootstocks for eggplant. Here we investigate rootstock effects on fruit yield, apparent quality and proximate and mineral composition of S. melongena ‘Black Beauty’ (BB) scions grafted on interspecific hybrid rootstocks developed from crosses of S. melongena with Solanum incanum L. (SI×SM) and Solanum aethiopicum L. (SM×SA). The results are compared with non-grafted (BB control) and self-grafted (BB/BB) controls and with S. melongena ‘Black Beauty’ scions grafted onto Solanum torvum Sw. (STO) and Solanum macrocarpon L. (SMA) rootstocks. All treatments were grown in a soil naturally infested with root-knot nematodes (mostly Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood). SI×SM and SM×SA interspecific hybrids had high germination (≥90%) and total graft success (100%). Contrary to what occurred with all other treatments, no plants from scions grafted onto these hybrid rootstocks died during the experiment. In particular, the SI×SM hybrid rootstock conferred the highest vigour to the scion, which resulted in the highest values for fruit earliness and early and total yield. Little difference was observed among treatments for apparent fruit quality traits, except for a greater fruit calyx length and prickliness of fruit grafted onto SMA rootstocks. A similar result was obtained for fruit composition where phenolics content was higher in fruit from plants grafted onto SMA rootstocks. Grafting eggplant onto interspecific eggplant hybrids, especially on the SI×SM hybrid, has proved advantageous for eggplant production, as the high vigour and good compatibility of the rootstock with scion results in improved early and total yield without negative effects on apparent fruit quality or composition. Interspecific hybrids represent an alternative to the commonly used STO rootstock, which is a wild species with irregular germination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]