The Antonio Narro Agrarian Autonomous University or Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro in Spanish (UAAAN) is a public university in Mexico dedicated to the Agricultural, Silvicultural, Animal Production, food and Environmental Sciences. It is located 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Saltillo, in the Mexican state of Coahuila. The Antonio Narro Agrarian Autonomous University is one of the most important agricultural college of America Latina and the "Narro" have national and international recognition in the agricultural and animal industry and the high academic level. There is also a campus in Torreón, Coahuila. It is also called "Universidad Antonio Narro" for short, or simply, "La Narro". In 2008 the UAAAN has an enrollment of about 4,500 students in both campuses, all in agriculture and related sciences.....
This study assessed short-term postharvest changes in morphological, colorimetric, and biochemical traits of Opuntia ficus-indica (nopal) cladodes across four commercial categories (Cambray, C, B, and A) over 10 days, with measurements at 3, 6, and 9 days. Parameters included weight, size, texture, thickness (base, center, tip), color (hue angle, chroma), chlorophyll a, b, total, pheophytins, antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP), and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD tests were applied. Size, chroma, and hue angle did not vary significantly across categories. Thickness remained stable for categories C and B; Cambray varied at base, center, and tip; A varied at base and tip. Weight changed in Cambray and A but remained constant in C and B. Firmness differences were observed in Cambray and B, but not in C and A. Category B had the highest chlorophyll a (412 mg/100 g DW), chlorophyll b (327 mg/100 g DW), total chlorophyll (739 mg/100 g DW), and pheophytins (9229.2 mg/100 g DW). Ascorbic acid was highest in A (7.81 mg/g). ABTS values were highest in C (3.51 mmol TE/100 g DW) and A (3.43 mmol TE/100 g DW), while DPPH (0.63 mmol TE/100 g DW) and FRAP (1.70 mmol TE/100 g DW) peaked in C. Polyphenols were highest in Cambray (103.8 GAE/100 g DW) and C (99.2 GAE/100 g DW), and flavonoids were highest in A (280.5 mg QE/100 g DW). The optimal category showed stable size, firmness, thickness, and color, alongside the highest chlorophyll and pheophytin contents. These findings reveal postharvest dynamics and biochemical diversity in nopal, providing valuable insights for agricultural management and industrial applications.
Bioactive compounds present in agro-industrial waste have been an attractive alternative for reducing current health problems. However, high concentrations of bioactive compounds may affect the growth of intestinal microbiota and cause unpleasant flavors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reducing the content of bioactive compounds present in Agave salmiana waste on antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP), the prebiotic potential using probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium lactis, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, and Enterococcus faecium), and cytotoxicity. Agave waste was treated with an ethanol:water (70:30, v/v) solution to reduce the content of bioactive compounds, and methanolic extracts from treated and untreated samples were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction. The treated samples showed a notable reduction in total polyphenols and saponins, while flavonoid content remained relatively unchanged. In parallel, antioxidant activity measured by DPPH and FRAP assays exhibited a moderate decrease, whereas ABTS values remained comparable between treatments. The antioxidant capacity was mainly associated with the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and saponins. Regarding the prebiotic effect, samples with reduced bioactive compound content showed a general increase in the growth of prebiotic strains, reaching higher cell counts compared to the untreated sample, which exhibited a lower prebiotic potential. Finally, cytotoxicity assays indicated that the reduction of bioactive compounds led to a decrease in the potential cytotoxic effect, reflected by higher IC50 values. These results suggest that A. salmiana waste with a reduction of bioactive compounds may represent a safer ingredient with potential application in the development of functional foods with prebiotic properties.
Abstract Calreticulins are multifunctional proteins involved in calcium homeostasis, protein folding, and cellular signaling. In common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), the molecular mechanisms that regulate infection and nodule development remain incompletely understood. The main objective of this study was to characterize the role of the calreticulin gene PvCRT08 during infection and nodulation processes. We first analyzed the calreticulin gene family in the P. vulgaris genome and identified three members, with PvCRT08 showing the highest transcript accumulation in roots and after inoculation with rhizobia. Spatial and temporal promoter analyses in transgenic composite bean roots revealed PvCRT08 activity in root hairs and in infected cells and vascular bundles of mature nodules. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated PvCRT08 down-regulation in transgenic roots increased the number of infection threads and enhanced nitrogen fixation efficiency, leading to the formation of larger and more functional nodules, although total nodule number was unaffected. In contrast, overexpression of PvCRT08 impaired infection thread progression, reduced the expression of key nodulation marker genes ( PvCyclin and PvNIN) , decreased nodule number, and diminished nitrogen fixation capacity. These findings identify PvCRT08 as a key regulatory component of early infection events and nodule development in common bean. Furthermore, the study provides new insights into the molecular control of symbiotic efficiency and highlights PvCRT08 expression is critical to optimize the equilibrium between infection efficiency and nodule functionality.
Selenium is an essential micronutrient for humans, underscoring its importance in enhancing the nutritional and physiological attributes of agricultural and horticultural crops through exogenous application. At low doses, selenium improves growth and development, and increases crop yield and quality, particularly under stress conditions. It is believed that abscisic acid and sucrose work together to regulate strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit ripening. This study aimed to provide comprehensive biochemical and molecular insights into the selenium mediated effects on ripening and quality changes in ‘Camarosa’ strawberry fruits. Selenium treatment increased chlorophyll levels in leaves, suggesting a positive impact on overall plant health. Foliar application of 1 mM selenium significantly accelerated ripening. Treated fruits exhibited higher levels of total soluble solids, along with a decrease in titratable acidity. About lipid peroxidation indices, foliar application of 1 mM selenium decreases hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde. Consistently, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant capacity, as well as the activity of the enzymes SOD, CAT, APX and PAL, were increased by selenium treatment. Interestingly, the ABA content in strawberry fruits also increased with selenium treatment. The selenium treatment upregulated genes involved in abscisic acid biosynthesis, phenolic compound biosynthesis, and anthocyanin production, namely, FaNCED1, FaG2BD, FaCHS, FaPAL, and FaSUT1. This study highlights the potential of selenium as a biostimulant and quality-enhancing agent in strawberries, improving fruit biochemical composition and ripening dynamics while contributing to better nutritional value and market appeal.
