Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of garlic (Allium sativum L.) as affected by pre- and post-harvest conditions: a review

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is considered one of the twenty most important vegetables, with various uses throughout the world, either as a raw vegetable for culinary purposes, or as an ingredient of traditional and modern medicine. Furthermore, it has also been proposed as one of the richest sources of total phenolic compounds, among the usually consumed vegetables, and has been highly ranked regarding its contribution of phenolic compounds to human diet. This review aims to examine all the aspects related with garlic chemical composition and quality, focusing on its bioactive properties. A particular emphasis is given on the organosulfur compounds content, since they highly contribute to the effective bioactive properties of garlic, including its derived products. The important effects of pre-harvest (genotype and various cultivation practices) and post-harvest conditions (storage conditions and processing treatments) on chemical composition and, consequently, bioactive potency of garlic are also discussed

Editorial: Rediscovering local landraces: shaping horticulture for the future, volume II

The ongoing climate change accompanied by weather extremes has increased uncertainty in the crop production sector, with a severe impact on yield and quality of crops (FAO, 2022). Moreover, the increasing world population, along with the continuous reduction of available irrigation water and agricultural land degradation due to anthropogenic activities, necessitates the redesign of the existing farming systems through the integration of valuable and underexplored genetic material, such as the local landraces of various vegetable species. Local landraces are cultivated in restricted regions and have been adapted over the years to specific growing conditions (soil and climate characteristics). Usually, they possess high genotypic diversity, which allows the crops to overcome the pressure from abiotic and biotic stressors from time to time (Conesa et al., 2020), while increasing on-farm agrobiodiversity at the same time (Conversa et al., 2020). For this reason, this genetic material is highly valuable for breeding purposes and the selection of new genotypes with improved characteristics (Formisano et al., 2012). Their use is becoming more and more limited due to the intensification of crop production sections and restrictions from marketing standards mostly related to visual appearance and the uniformity of the final product. However, the current trends show increasing interest not only from farmers who seek alternative farming options in the climate change scenario but also from consumers who seek products of known origin and high quality that have been produced in a sustainable manner.The authors thank all the peer reviewers who took the time to review this Research Topic. The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020), and for LB contracts, through the Institutional Scientific Employment Program contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical composition, nutritional value and antioxidant properties of Mediterranean okra genotypes in relation to harvest stage

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of fruit size on nutritional value, chemical composition and antioxidant properties of Mediterranean okra genotypes. For this purpose, pods from four okra cultivars and local landraces commonly cultivated in Greece, as well as pods from four commercial cultivars from North America were collected at two sizes (3–5 and > 7 cm). Significant differences were observed between the studied genotypes for both nutritional value and chemical composition parameters. Small fruit had a higher nutritional value, whereas chemical composition differed in a genotype dependent manner with most of the studied cultivars showing better results when harvested in small size. In conclusion, fruit size has a genotype dependent impact on chemical composition and nutritional value of okra pods and the common practice of harvesting okra fruit while they still have a small size helps to increase nutritional value for most of the studied genotypes.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), A. Fernandes (SFRH/BPD/114753/2016) grant and L. Barros contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Aspects of Ornamental Plants Adaptation to Deficit Irrigation

There is increasing concern regarding global warming and its severe impact on the farming sector and food security. Incidences of extreme weather conditions are becoming more and more frequent, posing plants to stressful conditions, such as flooding, drought, heat, or frost etc. Especially for arid lands, there is a tug-of-war between keeping high crop yields and increasing water use efficiency of limited water resources. This difficult task can be achieved through the selection of tolerant water stress species or by increasing the tolerance of sensitive species. In this scenario, it is important to understand the response of plants to water stress. So far, the response of staple foods and vegetable crops to deficit irrigation is well studied. However, there is lack of literature regarding the responses of ornamental plants to water stress conditions. Considering the importance of this ever-growing sector for the agricultural sector, this review aims to reveal the defense mechanisms and the involved morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes in ornamental plant’s responses to deficit irrigation

Leaf parts from Greek artichoke genotypes as a good source of bioactive compounds and antioxidants

Globe artichoke is an important vegetable in the Mediterranean diet. However, the marketable part of the plant constitutes a small portion of its total crop biomass and large amounts of waste are produced during its cultivation. In this study, the phenolic compound content and composition and the antioxidant activity of leaf parts [blades (SLB), petioles and midribs (SPM)] from various Greek artichoke genotypes were evaluated. The results showed significant variation in antioxidant activities and bioactive compound contents between the studied genotypes, with the leaf blades of most of the genotypes having a high content of flavonoids (mainly luteolin glycoside derivatives), which ranged betw een 49 and 78% of total phenolic compounds (TPC). In contrast, in petioles and midribs phenolic acids (mainly hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives) were the main phenolic compounds, ranging between 64 and 76% of TPC. The antioxidant activity of blades was significantly higher than that of petiole and midribs for all the genotypes and the tested assays. In conclusion, artichoke leaves (blades, petioles and midribs) of the studied genotypes showed different bioactive compound profiles and significant antioxidant properties, and could be further used in the food and nutraceuticals industries as a cheap source of phenolic compounds and antioxidants.The authors acknowledge the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Lisbon, Portugal) and the FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (Pest-OE/AGR/ UI0690/2015) and L. Barros (SFRH/BPD/107855/2015) grants. Thanks are due to POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 (LA LSRE-LCM), funded by the FEDER, through POCI-COMPETE2020 and FCT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phytochemical composition, health effects and crop management of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.): a medicinal plant

Liquorice has been widely appreciated as an important medicinal plant. Its rhizomes and roots have been used for centuries in traditional medicine due to their renowned therapeutic properties. However, increasing market demands and irrational harvesting of wild liquorice plants has rendered the cultivation of the species of major importance. This review, presents aspects related with chemical composition and health effects of the species, and the effect of various cultivation practices. Particular interest is given on glycyrrhizin and its extraction procedures, since it is the main bioactive compound of liquorice roots and its content determines the final product quality.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Halophytic herbs of the Mediterranean basin: an alternative approach to health

Wild native species are usually grown under severe and stressful conditions, while a special category includes halophytic species that are tolerant to high salinity levels. Native halophytes are valuable sources of bioactive molecules whose content is higher in saline than normal conditions, since the adaptation to salinity mechanisms involve apart from changes in physiological functions the biosynthesis of protectant molecules. These compounds include secondary metabolites with several beneficial health effects which have been known since ancient times and used for medicinal purposes. Recent trends in pharmaceutical industry suggest the use of natural compounds as alternative to synthetic ones, with native herbs being strong candidates for this purpose due to their increased and variable content in health promoting compounds. In this review, an introductory section about the importance of native herbs and halophyte species for traditional and modern medicine will be presented. A list of the most important halophytes of the Mediterranean basin will follow, with special focus on their chemical composition and their reported by clinical and ethnopharmacological studies health effects. The review concludes by suggesting future requirements and perspectives for further exploitation of these valuable species within the context of sustainability and climate change.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Edible halophytes of the Mediterranean basin: Potential candidates for novel food products

Background: Recent trends in the food science industry and consumers’ preferences for diversified diets suggest the consumption of wild greens not only as diet complements but also as healthy and functional foods for targeted conditions, rendering its commercial cultivation of major importance in order to avoid irrational gathering and genetic erosion threats. The Mediterranean basin abounds in wild edible species which have been used for food and medicinal purposes by human throughout the centuries. Many of these species can be found near coastal areas and usually grow under saline conditions, while others can adapt in various harsh conditions including high salinity. Scope and approach: The aim of this review focuses on listing and describing the most important halophyte species that traditionally have been gathered by rural communities of the Mediterranean basin, while special interest will be given on their chemical composition and health promoting components. Cases of commercially cultivated halophytes will be also presented to highlight their potential as alternative cash crops, while results from in vitro and in vivo health effects will be presented. Key findings and conclusions: The recent literature has provided useful information regarding the potential of wild halophytes as promising ingredients in functional food products and/or as sources of bioactive compounds. However, further research is needed regarding the chemical characterization of these species under commercial cultivation practices, while further clinical and model trials have to be conducted to assess their long term bioactivity and elucidate potential toxic effects and regulations of safe consumption.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Microgreens: from trendy vegetables to functional food and potential nutrition security resource

Starting as trendy high-value gourmet greens, today, microgreens have gained great popularity among consumers for their nutritional profile and high content of antioxidant compounds. Microgreens’ nutritional profile is associated with the rich variety of colors, shapes, textural properties, and flavors obtained from sprouting a multitude of edible vegetable species, including herbs, herbaceous crops, and neglected wild edible species. Grown in a variety of soilless production systems, over the last five years in many urban and peri-urban areas of the world, microgreens have literally exploded as a cash crop produced in various protected culture systems and especially indoors through the use of artificial lighting systems. The ability to grow microgreens indoors in very small space, the short growth cycle required, and only minimum inputs required to produce them may allow the micro-scale production of fresh and nutritious vegetables even in areas that are considered food deserts. The current COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of our food system and the need to address malnutrition issues and nutrition security inequality which could be exacerbated by potential future situations of emergency or catastrophe. Microgreens have great potential as an efficient food resilience resource, since they can provide essential nutrients and antioxidants. Using simple soilless production systems, seeds, and minimal inputs, nutrient-dense microgreens and shoots may be produced under different lighting conditions ranging from darkness to full sunlight or under artificial lighting in controlled environmental conditions, providing a rich source of essential nutrients and antioxidant compounds in a very short time. Moreover, using simple agronomic techniques, it is possible to produce biofortified or tailored functional micro-vegetables that could address specific dietary needs and/or address micronutrient deficiencies and nutrition security issues in emergency situations or limiting environmental conditions.Contribution of F. Di Gioia have been supported by the Food Resilience in the Face of Catastrophic Global Events grant funded by Open Philanthropy and by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Hatch Appropriations under Project #PEN04723 and Accession #1020664.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Editorial: Bio-based solutions for sustainable development of agriculture

In summary, this Research Topic comprises a collection of 16 articles that offer new and updated knowledge about biofertilizers, biocontrol and improved resilience to environmental stressors. The information presented can be useful in the future development of bio-based products that are expected to be used, as an alternative to current agrochemicals, in modern and more sustainable agriculture.ES and HS are grateful to the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support, funded by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 (Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho) and UIDB/50006/2020 (Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry - Clean Technologies and Processes, LAQV-REQUIMTE) unit, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio