Journal of Berry Research - Volume 1, issue 2

Authors: Laimer, Margit | Maghuly, Fatemeh

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Food allergy is a widespread phenomenon: An estimated 1–2% of the population suffers from some type of food allergy. Fruits and vegetables are considered among the most important elicitors of food allergy. Berry fruits rich in phenolic compounds including flavonols, flavones and anthocyanins have recently gained increasing interest due to their possible beneficial effects on human health. However, they may harbour a series of allergenic proteins that cause discomfort or even represent serious threats to certain individuals. The identification and characterization of allergens in fruits like berries from distant taxa, requires novel approaches involving genomic and proteomic tools. The allergen …content of blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), strawberries (Fragaria ananassa), raspberries (Rubus idaeus), and blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) was determined. Different extraction procedures are required to improve protein detection with polyclonal and monoclonal antisera raised against different allergens from Malus domestica in Western blotting. Due to the cross-reactivity they are able to recognize similar epitopes in highly conserved protein families of other plant species. Fruit extracts were analysed by two dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Using clinical screening tools from a high number of patients and patient sera delivered conclusively results on allergenic proteins present in the small fruits. Show more

Keywords: Small fruit allergens, non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs), pathogenesis-related proteins, thaumatin like proteins (TPLs), strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, IgE-reactivity, Fra a 1, Fra a 3, Rub i 1, Rub i 3, class III acidic chitinase, cyclophilin, profilin

DOI: 10.3233/BR-2010-012

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 61-71, 2010

Authors: Giné Bordonaba, Jordi | Chope, Gemma A. | Terry, Leon A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that anthocyanins, as natural antioxidants, exert anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, vaso-protective and anti-obesity effects when tested in vitro or in vivo. Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) berries are a rich source of anthocyanins with concentrations up to 4-fold greater than that of other common fruits. However, there is a paucity of information on how blackcurrant anthocyanins change during ripening on the bush or during postharvest storage, which could lead to better selection of fruits with enhanced health-promoting properties. Accordingly, the present study describes the temporal changes in anthocyanins in different blackcurrant genotypes during the late stages of development or as …a result of postharvest storage at different temperatures. In all cases, four major anthocyanins (viz. cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-rutinoside) were identified, accounting for over 80% of the total anthocyanin concentrations. Three different development stages (viz. early ripe (ER), fully ripe (FR) or over ripe (OR)) were chosen when fruit were at commercial maturity but presented different colorations. Anthocyanin concentration was nearly double in OR berries than ER, however the temporal changes during ripening were genotype-dependent, with some cultivars reaching maximum concentrations at the FR stage. During postharvest storage anthocyanin synthesis was observed in both ER and FR berries during storage, but ER berries never reached the concentrations of those harvested at FR stage. Storage temperature crucially affected anthocyanin concentrations in FR but not in ER berries. The results from this study may provide both growers and industry with additional information for maximising anthocyanin concentrations in blackcurrant berries. Show more

Keywords: Maturity, Ribes nigrum L., temperature

DOI: 10.3233/BR-2010-008

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 73-80, 2010

Authors: Azzini, E. | Intorre, F. | Vitaglione, P. | Napolitano, A. | Foddai, M.S. | Durazzo, A. | Fumagalli, A. | Catasta, G. | Rossi, L. | Venneria, E. | Testa, M.F. | Raguzzini, A. | Palomba, L. | Fogliano, V. | Maiani, G.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this study the antioxidant composition of fresh and stored strawberries and the bioavailability of the main strawberry bioactive compounds were determined in humans. In addition we have investigated plasma total antioxidant capacity. On 13 healthy volunteers, blood samples were collected before and after acute ingestion of fresh and stored strawberries, 300g respectively. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) values after consumption of fresh and stored strawberries showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) at 5 and 8 hours time interval, while significantly decreased TRAP (Total Radical-Trapping Antioxidant Parameter) values (P < 0.05) were found at 8 hours respect to baseline …after stored strawberries consumption. After consuming fresh strawberries, plasma levels of α-carotene increased significantly (P < 0.05) respect to stored ones. Moreover, consumption of fresh and stored strawberries resulted in a significant increase of vitamin C at 2, 3 and 5 hours (P < 0.05). The bioavailable amount of strawberries antioxidant compounds reflects the variations observed in fresh and stored fruits. We could summarize that the global food quality is related to both native quantity of bioactive compounds and storage treatments. Show more

Keywords: Strawberry, domestic storage, bioactive compounds, plasma antioxidant status

DOI: 10.3233/BR-2010-009

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 81-89, 2010

Authors: Martinussen, Inger | Uleberg, Eivind | McDougall, Gordon J. | Stewart, Derek | Junttila, Olavi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this study we investigated the interaction between temperature and genotype on fruit development and levels of total phenols and anthocyanins in cloudberry. The experiment was done in a phytotron using one female (‘Fjellgull') and one hermaphroditic (‘Nyby') cultivar. Plants were grown at 9, 12, 15 and 18°C in 24-h photoperiod. The female cultivars were pollinated with pollen from a male (‘Apollen') clone and from the hermaphrodite clone. Parthenocarpic fruit development was induced by gibberellic acid (GA3 ). Ripe berries were frozen individually at −80°C and stored until analyses. There was a linear, double logarithmic relationship between temperature and number …of days from pollination/GA3 -treatment to ripening. ‘Fjellgull' had significantly larger berries than ‘Nyby', and the largest berries were obtained at 12 and 9°C. Pollen clone did not have a significant effect on berry size. GA3 induced parthenogenesis in ‘Fjellgull' and partial parthenogenesis in ‘Nyby'. In ‘Fjellgull', the parthenocarpic berries were comparable to pollinated ones at low temperatures, but at 18°C their development was restricted. The level of total anthocyanins was significantly higher in ‘Fjellgull' than in ‘Nyby', and these levels were significantly enhanced at 9 and 12°C compared to higher temperatures. Levels of total phenolic compounds were not significantly affected. In conclusion, the present results indicate that low temperature is favourable both for size and quality of cloudberries. Show more

Keywords: Cloudberry, temperature, gibberellin, berry development, anthocyanins, phenols, Rubus chamaemorus

DOI: 10.3233/BR-2010-010

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 91-101, 2010

Authors: Diamanti, Jacopo | Capocasa, Franco | Battino, Maurizio | Mezzetti, Bruno

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: During the last few years, the nutritional value of fruit has been widely studied and requested by consumers, especially for the general health benefits it can provide. Some of these benefits can be ascribed to the antioxidant capacity of fruit. Both quality and antioxidant attributes are currently considered as good tools to describe the nutritional quality of fruit. In this study, offspring from inter and intra-specific strawberry cross combinations were studied with the aim of evaluating and identifying new genotypes that can show the best compromise between quality and nutritional characteristics. Parents and offspring populations were studied by analyzing fruit …nutritional quality taking in account the following parameters: Total antioxidant capacity, total phenol and anthocyanin content. Eighty strawberry offspring, originating from 8 Fragaria spp. inter and intra-specific crosses, were screened to study the role of the genetic origin of the parents in segregating new genotypes with an improved nutritional quality of the fruit. Strawberry progenies having F. virginiana glauca as a common parent showed a significant enhancement of their fruit quality and nutritional features confirming the interest that wild species are useful in improving several characteristics in cultivated strawberries. Show more

Keywords: Strawberry, F. virginiana spp. glauca, antioxidant capacity, phenols, anthocyanins, breeding methods

DOI: 10.3233/BR-2010-011

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 103-114, 2010