Attachment and removal of porcine rotavirus (PRV) and Tulane virus (TV) on fresh and artificial phylloplanes of Romaine lettuce and Carmel spinach as affected by ultrasonication in combination with oxidant- or surfactant-based sanitizer(s)

International Journal of Food Microbiology · 2024-12-16

Artificial phylloplanes resembling physicochemical characteristics of selected fresh produce and their potential use in bacterial attachment/removal studies

Food Control · 2023-03-09 · 2 citations

Increasing aleurone layer number and pericarp yield for elevated nutrient content in maize

G3 Genes Genomes Genetics · 2023-04-18 · 6 citations

The bran is a nutritive fraction of the maize (Zea mays L.) kernel containing micronutrients, quality protein, and antioxidants beneficial for human health. Bran consists of two major components: aleurone and pericarp. Increasing this nutritive fraction would therefore have implications on biofortification of maize. Since quantification of these two layers is difficult, the goals of this study were to develop efficient techniques for analyzing these layers and to develop molecular markers for pericarp and aleurone yield. Two populations with various characteristics were genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing. The first was a yellow corn population with contrasting pericarp thicknesses. The second was a blue corn population segregating for Intensifier1 alleles. Both populations segregated for the multiple aleurone layer (MAL) trait that is known to increase aleurone yield. In this study, it was found that MALs are mostly determined by a locus on chromosome 8, but several minor loci are also involved. The inheritance of MALs was complex and seemingly more additive than dominant. In the blue corn population, anthocyanin content increased 20 to 30% with the addition of MALs demonstrating its effectiveness at increasing aleurone yield. Elemental analysis was performed on MAL lines and indicated a role of MALs in increasing iron content in the grain. Iron content was increased 17.5% in the MAL lines over the single aleurone layer lines and 35.5% over the recurrent parent, Mo17. Zinc content was increased 15.5% in the MAL lines compared to the recurrent parent. QTL analyses are presented in this study on many pericarp, aleurone, and grain quality traits. Molecular markers were also tested for the MAL locus on chromosome 8, and candidate genes are discussed. Results of this study may assist plant breeders enhancing anthocyanin content and other beneficial phytonutrients in maize.

Corrigendum to “Artificial phylloplanes resembling physicochemical characteristics of selected fresh produce and their potential use in bacterial attachment/removal studies” [Food Control 149 (2023) 109730]

Food Control · 2023-07-28

R3-MYB repressor Mybr97 is a candidate gene associated with the Anthocyanin3 locus and enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in maize

Theoretical and Applied Genetics · 2023-03-01 · 16 citations

R3-MYB repressor Mybr97 is a candidate gene associated with the Anthocyanin3 locus and enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in maize

Research Square · 2022-09-22

Assessing the diversity of anthocyanin composition in various tissues of purple corn (Zea mays L.)

Phytochemistry · 2022-06-07 · 31 citations

Artificial Phylloplanes Resembling Physicochemical Characteristics of Selected Fresh Produce and Their Use in Bacteria Attachment/Removal Studies

Research Square · 2021-11-12

Abstract The recurrence of food-borne illness outbreaks caused by consumption of fresh produce highlights the importance of developing a good understanding of the bacteria-leaf-surfaces interactions. In this study, we proposed and developed a new method to fabricate artificial phylloplanes that mimic the topographical and epicuticular characteristics of fresh produce, to be used as a platform for the development of food safety interventions for fresh produce. Romaine lettuce and spinach were selected to create phylloplane replicas using a double-cast procedure. The surface hydrophobicity of the artificial phylloplanes made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was modified by adding a non-ionic surfactant with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values to match the hydrophobicity of produce leaves. Key epicuticular wax compounds identified from the natural spinach and lettuce leaves were coated on the leaf replica to mimic the chemical composition of natural leaf surfaces. These surrogate surfaces were used to study the attachment Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria innocua . In addition, these surfaces are reusable, and have surface hydrophobicity, surface roughness values and epicuticular wax compositions similar to fresh produce. The artificial phylloplanes of fresh produce can be used as a platform for studying the interactions between human pathogens with produce surfaces and for developing new sanitation strategies.

Functional Characterization of an Anthocyanin Dimalonyltransferase in Maize

Molecules · 2021-04-01 · 12 citations

Anthocyanins are pigments with appealing hues that are currently being used as sources of natural colorants. The interaction of acylation on the stability of anthocyanin molecules has long been known. Maize is an abundant source of malonylglucoside and dimalonylglucoside anthocyanins. The enzyme Aat1 is an anthocyanin acyltransferase known to synthesize the majority of acylated anthocyanins in maize. In this paper, we characterize the substrate specificity and reaction kinetics of Aat1. It was found that Aat1 has anthocyanin 3-O-glucoside dimalonyltransferase activity and is only the second enzyme of this type characterized to this date. Our results indicate that Aat1 can utilize malonyl-CoA; succinyl-CoA and every anthocyanin 3-O-glucoside tested. Results of this study provide insight into the structure–function relations of dimalonyltransferases and give a unique insight into the activity of monocot anthocyanin acyltransferases.

Linking anthocyanin diversity, hue, and genetics in purple corn

G3 Genes Genomes Genetics · 2021 · 55 citations

• Biology
• Botany
• Food science

While maize with anthocyanin-rich pericarp (purple corn) is rising in popularity as a source of natural colorant for foods and beverages, information on color range and stability-factors associated with anthocyanin decorations and compositional profiles-is currently limited. Furthermore, to maximize the scalability and meet growing demands, both anthocyanin concentrations and agronomic performance must improve in purple corn varieties. Using the natural anthocyanin diversity present in a purple corn landrace, Apache Red, we generated a population with variable flavonoid profiles-flavanol-anthocyanin condensed forms (0-83%), acylated anthocyanins (2-72%), pelargonidin-derived anthocyanins (5-99%), C-glycosyl flavone co-pigments up to 1904 µg/g, and with anthocyanin content up to 1598 µg/g. Each aspect of the flavonoid profiles was found to play a role in either the resulting extract hue or intensity. With genotyping-by-sequencing of this population, we mapped aspects of the flavonoid profile. Major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for anthocyanin type were found near loci previously identified only in aleurone-pigmented maize varieties [Purple aleurone1 (Pr1) and Anthocyanin acyltransferase1 (Aat1)]. A QTL near P1 (Pericarp color1) was found for both flavone content and flavanol-anthocyanin condensed forms. A significant QTL associated with peonidin-derived anthocyanins near a candidate S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase was also identified, warranting further investigation. Mapping total anthocyanin content produced signals near Aat1, the aleurone-associated bHLH R1 (Colored1), the plant color-associated MYB, Pl1 (Purple plant1), the aleurone-associated recessive intensifier, In1 (Intensifier1), and several previously unidentified candidates. This population represents one of the most anthocyanin diverse pericarp-pigmented maize varieties characterized to date. Moreover, the candidates identified here will serve as branching points for future research studying the genetic and molecular processes determining anthocyanin profile in pericarp.