Date Fruits as Raw Material for Vinegar and Non-Alcoholic Fermented Beverages

Nowadays foods and beverages with healthy and functional properties, especially those claimed to prevent chronic diseases, are obtaining more and more interest. As a result, numerous foods and beverages have been launched on the market. Among products with enhanced properties, vinegar and fermented beverages, have high potential of growth. Date palm fruits are a versatile raw material, rich in sugars, dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, and phenolic compounds, thus they are widely used for food production, including date juice, jelly, butter, and fermented bever-ages, such as wine and vinegar. Moreover, their composition makes them suitable for the formu-lation of functional foods and beverages. Microbial transformations of date juice include alco-holic fermentation for producing wine as end product or as a substrate for acetic fermentation. Lactic fermentation is also documented for transforming dates juice and syrup. However, con-sidering acetic acid bacteria, little evidence is available on the exploitation of date juice by acetic and gluconic fermentation for producing beverages. This review presents an overview of date fruit’s composition, the related health benefits for hu-man health, vinegar and date-based fermented non-alcoholic beverages obtained by acetic acid bacteria fermentation

Zero- and Low-Alcohol Fermented Beverages: A Perspective for Non-Conventional Healthy and Sustainable Production from Red Fruits

The growing health consciousness among consumers is leading to an increased presence of functional foods and beverages on the market. Red fruits are rich in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins with high antioxidant activity. In addition, red fruits contain sugars and are rich in phenolic compounds, vitamin C, dietary fibers, and manganese. Due to these characteristics, they are also suitable substrates for fermentation. Indeed, nowadays, microbial transformation of red fruits is based on alcoholic or lactic fermentation, producing alcoholic and non-alcoholic products, respectively. Although products fermented by acetic acid bacteria (AAB) have been thoroughly studied as a model of health benefits for human beings, little evidence is available on the acetic and gluconic fermentation of red fruits for obtaining functional products. Accordingly, this review aims to explore the potential of different red fruits, namely blackberry, raspberry, and blackcurrant, as raw materials for fermentation processes aimed at producing low- and no-alcohol beverages containing bioactive compounds and no added sugars. AAB are treated with a focus on their ability to produce acetic acid, gluconic acid, and bacterial cellulose, which are compounds of interest for developing fruit-based fermented beverages

Genetic distance and the relationship with heterosis and reproductive behavior in tetraploid bahiagrass hybrids

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) is one of the main components of the South American grasslands, and it is cultivated for forage and turf around the world. At present, hybridization is the most common breeding technique for the species, and its goal is to obtain superior apomictic hybrids. The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between heterosis, reproductive behavior, and genetic distances between parents in tetraploid bahiagrass. Genetic distance between 24 sexual tetraploid genotypes and 24 apomictic tetraploid genotypes of P. notatum was evaluated using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. Crosses were made between parents with low, intermediate or high genetic distances. Six families were generated. A marker linked to apospory in bahiagrass was used to determine segregation for mode of reproduction, and embryo sac were characterized to estimate the level of apospory expressivity. The ratio between sexual and aposporous hybrids ranged from 1:1 to 9:1 among families. Discontinuous variation for apospory expressivity was observed among hybrids, with either low or high levels being exhibited. A significant relationship between genetic distance and proportion of aposporous hybrids was observed. Heterosis was observed for all the evaluated traits and its level was dependent on the parental combination. Genetic distances between parents was related to heterosis, mainly for forage yield, which is the most important trait in forage species. Hence, molecular markers may be useful to predict the occurrence of heterosis for this trait.Fil: Marcón, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Gustavo Rubén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

Widening the gene pool of sexual tetraploid bahiagrass: Generation and reproductive characterization of a sexual synthetic tetraploid population

The improvement of bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Flüggé, has been inhibited by reduced levels of genetic diversity in sexual tetraploid germplasm. A few experimental sexual tetraploid genotypes (ESTGs) have been generated by chromosome doubling, but these plants typically exhibit low vigor. The objectives of this work were to generate and characterize the ploidy level, mode of reproduction, and fertility of a novel 308 individual sexual synthetic tetraploid population (SSTP) developed by intercrossing 29 sexual F1 hybrids originated by hybridizing several naturally occurring apomictic tetraploids from diverse origin with a few ESTGs. Ploidy levels were determined using flow cytometry, and reproductive modes were evaluated by a molecular assay with apospory-linked markers and embryo sac observations. The tetraploid level and the sexual mode of reproduction remained stable after two cycles of recombination during the generation of the SSTP. Fertility was evaluated based on seed set under self- and open pollination during 3 yr. The SSTP exhibited in average 30.2 and 15.2% seed set under open and self-pollina-tion, respectively, showing a predominantly cross-pollination behavior with variable levels of self-fertility. There were no differences in terms of fertility between the SSTP and the ESTG. The novel tetraploid population behaves as sexual and cross-pollinated, and it is expected to allow a more efficient genetic improvement under the proposed breeding approaches.Fil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Schulz, R. R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Guidalevich, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Quarin, Camilo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

Heterosis, and expressivity of apospory in tetraploid Bahiagrass hybrids

Breeding procedures developed for apomictic species are based on the idea of fixing superior hybrids by apomixis. However, scarce information is available about the occurrence of heterosis in apomictic hybrids. The objective was to generate a group of apomixis-segregating tetraploid bahiagrass families, evaluate the occurrence of heterosis for a series of agronomic and morphological traits, determine the level of apospory expressivity among hybrids, and estimate the genetic distance among parents and its relationship to heterosis and apospory expressivity. In total, 11 tetraploid families were generated by crossing sexual and apomitic genotypes. The segregation for mode of reproduction was analyzed using a RAPD marker linked to apospory in bahiagrass, and the level of apospory expressivity was determined using embryo sac observations. The genetic distances between parents were determined using ISSR markers. The ratio between sexual and aposporic hybrids varied from 1:1 to 7:1 among families. Discontinuous variation for apospory expressivity was observed in the hybrids, with either low or high levels being exhibited. Mid-parent, high-parent, and standard-heterosis was observed for all evaluated agronomic characteristics. The level of heterosis was dependent on the combination of parents involved, and also on the specific trait. There was a low correlation between genetic distances among parents and initial growth and the level of apospory expressivity. The occurrence of heterosis, and the segregation and expressivity for apospory were highly dependent on the combination of sexual and apomictic parents.Fil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Marcón, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Billa, M. B.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Rios, Esteban Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentin

Reproductive Systems in Paspalum: Relevance for Germplasm Collection and Conservation, Breeding Techniques, and Adoption of Released Cultivars

The objective of this review is to analyze and describe the impact that mode of reproduction in Paspalum has on germplasm conservation, genetic improvement and commercialization of cultivars. Germplasm collection and conservation can now berethought considering the new available information related to how diversity is allocated in nature and how it can be transferred between the sexual and apomictic germplasm using novel breeding approaches. A quantification of species and accessions conserved around the world is analyzed in relation to the main germplasm banks. Because of the importance of apomixis in Paspalum species different breeding approaches have been used and tested. Knowledge related to the inheritance of apomixis, variable expressivity of the trait and techniques for early identification of apomicts has helped to improve the efficiency of the breeding methods. Novel breeding techniques are also being developed and are described regarding its advantages and limitations. Finally, the impact of reproductive mode on the popularity of the released cultivars is discussedFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Espinoza, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Marcón, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Urbani, Mario Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Quarin, Camilo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

Reproductive and Agronomic Characterization of Novel Apomictic Hybrids of Paspalum (Poaceae)

The tetraploid germplasm of Paspalum contains a large diversity that can be used to generate better forages. The objective was to evaluate a group of Paspalum notatum and Paspalum simplex apomictic hybrids for a set of agronomic traits and apomixis expressivity. Forage yield, cold tolerance, winter regrowth, and seed yield were evaluated. The expressivity of apomixis was evaluated in P. simplex hybrids by flow cytometry. Progeny testing with molecular markers was used to determine the genotypic variability in the progeny. Differences within P. notatum and P. simplex hybrids were observed for all traits, and some of them were superior in comparison with the controls. The accumulated forage yield during three years was 988 g m−2 in the P. notatum hybrids, whereas, in P. simplex, the average forage yield per harvest (40 days of regrowth) was 180 g m−2. In P. simplex, the apomixis expressivity varied between 0 and 100%, and 65% of the hybrids showed high apomixis expressivity (superior to 70%). The genotypic mean homogeneity in the progeny was 76% and 85% in P. notatum and P. simplex, respectively. The generation of hybrids with high apomixis expressivity that combine good agronomic performance and homogeneity in the offspring is possible in tetraploid P. notatum and P. simplex

Diversity in diploid, tetraploid and mixed diploid-tetraploid populations of Paspalum simplex

The tetraploid cytotype of Paspalum simplex has a wide geographical distribution and reproduces by apomixis, while the diploid grows in a restricted area in northern Argentina and behaves as cross-pollinated. The objective was to evaluate the genetic diversity among and within natural diploid and tetraploid populations of P. simplex growing in sympatry and allopatry by studying the phenotypic variability and DNA polymorphisms. Twenty three phenotypic traits and ten ISSRs molecular markers were used for evaluating the variability present in 6 populations of P. simplex. Two populations were diploid and four were tetraploid. One of the tetraploid populations was sympatric to a diploid population, while the rest of the populations were allopatric. A rich diversity was observed for specific traits, especially for seasonal biomass yield, presence of a terminal raceme in the inflorescence, and leaf pubescence. The 2x and 4x populations growing in proximity were closely related. Diversity was higher within diploid populations when compared with the evaluated tetraploid populations. Among the tetraploid populations, the one sympatric with a diploid population exhibited the greatest diversity. Gene flow occurs between 2x sexual and 4x apomictic populations of P. simplex. Diploid populations seem to be the main source of the diversity observed among tetraploid populations.Fil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Urbani, Mario Hugo. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Quarin, Camilo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentin

Eucalyptus nitens plant regeneration from seedling explants through direct adventitious shoot bud formation

Hypocotyls, cotyledons, and expanded leaves of Eucalyptus nitens were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing naphthalene acetic acid or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzyl adenine (BA). The most effective treatment for shoot bud formation, 0.5 μM IAA and 2.5 μM BA, was used in additional experiments. After 30 days of culture, the highest rate of regeneration (40 ± 5.8%) and the maximum number of buds differentiated per hypocotyl explant (10.3 ± 4) were obtained when explants were subjected to darkness for the first 10 days and then transferred to light-emitting diode lights mimicking daylight for 20 days of incubation. Histological examination confirmed direct shoot regeneration of E. nitens. For shoot growth, half-strength MS plus 0.09 M sucrose under forced ventilation yielded elongated shoots after 1 month. After 12 weeks from the onset of an experiment, 40 ± 11.5% of elongated shoots produced 5.3 ± 0.8 roots after pretreatment with indole-3-butyric acid aqueous solution and culture on basal medium without plant growth regulators under a temporary immersion system. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker analysis revealed the genetic uniformity among the in vitro raised plants, demonstrating the reliability of the procedure.Fil: Ayala, Paula Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Claudia Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: González, Ana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Pezzutti, Raúl. Forestal Bosques del Plata SA ; ArgentinaFil: Sansberro, Pedro Alfonso. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

Diversity in Apomictic Populations of Paspalum simplex Morong

Paspalum is considered a genetic model for studying the sources of genotypic variability, and breeding techniques in apomictic plants. Paspalum simplex is a warm-season forage grass that well represents the genus since it contains different ploidy levels and apomixis is linked to polyploidy. The objective was to evaluate the diversity present within and among apomictic polyploid populations of Paspalum simplex. Germplasm was collected from 17 sites covering the species? region of natural distribution. The diversity present at the molecular level within and among populations was evaluated using ISSR markers. Variability for agronomic traits was also evaluated by cultivating all populations into the field. The 17 analyzed populations were all polyploid, including 13 pure tetraploid, and 4 mixed tetraploid-hexaploid with predominance of the tetraploid cytotype. Most of the diversity was present among polyploid populations (85% of the total variation), and there was not a correlation between genetic and geographical distances. The within-population diversity was low for most populations with the exception of one of them. Each genotype was restricted to a single location. Variability for initial growth, spring and fall growth, and the extent of the vegetative phase was observed within and among polyploid populations. The within-population variation for these phenotypic traits was mainly due to the presence of one or a few off-type plants. A highly genotype-specific colonization of new sites appears to occur in P. simplex, and then apomixis mediates the formation of uniform populations.Fil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Urbani, Mario Hugo. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Quarin, Camilo Luis. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentin