Improved Liquid Chromatographic Method for Determination of Carotenoids in Carrot

 Improved Liquid Chromatographic Method for Determination of Carotenoids in Carro

Subspecies Variation of Daucus carota Coastal (“Gummifer”) Morphotypes (Apiaceae) Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing

The genus Daucus is widely distributed worldwide, but with a concentration of diversity in the Mediterranean Region. The D. carota complex presents the greatest taxonomic problems in the genus. We focus on a distinctive phenotypic group of coastal morphotypes of D. carota, strictly confined to the margins to within about 0.5 km of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, which we here refer to as coastal morphotypes or D. carota subsp. “gummifer” complex. They are loosely morphologically coherent, sharing a relatively short stature, thick, broad, sometimes highly glossy leaf segments, and usually flat or convex fruiting umbels. We analyzed 288 accessions obtained from genebanks in England, France, and the USA, and an expedition to Spain in 2016, covering the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts and Balearic Islands, where much of the gummifer complex variation occurs. Our study includes 112 accessions not examined before in this context. Genotyping-by-sequencing identified 29,041 filtered SNPs. Based on high bootstrap support from maximum likelihood and Structure analysis we highlight three main clades. The gummifer morphotypes are intercalated with members of Daucus carota subspecies carota and subspecies maximus in two of these main clades, including a clade containing accessions from Tunisia (also including D. carota subsp. capillifolius) and a clade containing accessions from western Europe (including the British Isles), southern Europe (including the Balearic Islands and the Iberian Peninsula) and Morocco. These results support five independent selections of the gummifer morphotypes in these restricted maritime environments in the Mediterranean and nearby Atlantic coasts. Daucus annuus (=Tornabenea annua) and Daucus tenuissimus (=Tornabenea tenuissima) also fall firmly within D. carota, supporting their classification as morphologically well-defined subspecies of D. carota, which are accepted here under the new combinations Daucus carota subsp. annuus and D. carota subsp. tenuissimus , respectively. Types are indicated for most of treated names, including designation of four lectotypes and three epitypes, which fix their further use.This research was partly funded by the research grant UA2004-47056131 (University of Alicante) to FMF and by the USDA

Identification of plant resistance inducers and evaluation of genotype receptivity for carrot protection against Alternaria leaf blight

The use of biopesticides represents an alternative strategy to synthetic chemical products for crop protection. To promote their adoption and effective use by growers, it is crucial to understand their modes of action and the optimal conditions for their application in crops, including their compatibility with specific varieties. Through a series of greenhouse experiments, this study describes the development and validation of a robust molecular diagnostic tool for enabling the evaluation of defence gene activation. The results identified plant resistance inducers (PRIs) among biopesticide products capable of protecting carrots against Alternaria leaf blight. By applying a PRI to a range of carrot varieties exhibiting varying levels of resistance to Alternaria dauci, preliminary findings on plant receptivity suggest that the efficacy of PRIs in conferring protection is highly dependent on the treated variety. Two distinct genotype-dependent effects were observed: sensitivity to the PRI and an enhancement of resistance. This study offers new insights into optimising biopesticide use in carrot cultivation

Carrot genetic diversity in Europe based on breeding traits

ECPGR European Evaluation Network (EVA

Differential Selection on Carotenoid Biosynthesis Genes as a Function of Gene Position in the Metabolic Pathway: A Study on the Carrot and Dicots

Background: Selection of genes involved in metabolic pathways could target them differently depending on the position of genes in the pathway and on their role in controlling metabolic fluxes. This hypothesis was tested in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway using population genetics and phylogenetics. Methodology/Principal Findings: Evolutionary rates of seven genes distributed along the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway

Carrot root quality

Carrot is considered a healthy vegetable as it is rich in fibre and antioxidant-related compounds and with a low level of kilocalories. Some compounds are involved in both the nutritional and sensory quality. In most cases, carrot quality is highly dependent on the variety. However, environment conditions and growing practices influence carrot composition significantly. Whether for breeding for product quality or for producing carrots with high and stable quality, such influence needs to be better understood and taken into account. This chapter discusses the determinants of carrot quality, focusing on the influence of growing environment (such as area and year of production, sowing date and crop cycle, temperature and soil nature), growing practices (e.g. soil preparation, application of nitrogen, water supply, cover crops and growth stimulators), and cropping systems (conventional and organic). The effects of various stresses, such as water, temperature, salinity, cold, hail and Alternaria dauci infection, on carrot root composition and sensory perception are also discussed