carotenoid consumption in the U.S. diet as carrots ( Simon et al., 2009 ). Despite its importance, the molecular regulation of carotenoid accumulation in the storage root of carrot has not been extensively researched. The genetic basis of carotenoid
are considered the cause of Se toxicity in plants. Selenium is an essential trace nutrient in the human diet. There is a narrow range between Se sufficiency and toxicity ( Lemly, 1997 ). Se can be delivered to the human daily diet through standard
E is an essential nutrient in the human diet, critical for membrane integrity and stability, and has a variety of health promoting properties ( Hunter and Cahoon, 2007 ). Seeds, nuts, and oils are recognized as good sources of vitamin E and some
Epidemiological data show that a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables can reduce the risk from a number of cancers. Several protection mechanisms for the cancer prevention from cruciferous vegetables have been demonstrated for the breakdown
. Kawatra, B.L. 2002 Effect of domestic processing on zinc bioavailability from ricebean ( Vigna umbellata ) diets Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 57 307 318 Lorenz, K. 1980 Cereal sprouts: Composition, nutritive value, food
significant sources of carotenoids in the diet, and Brassica vegetables are relatively abundant sources that exhibit antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activity ( Kurilich et al., 1999 ). Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the variation
years. Lettuce is commonly linked to a healthy diet because of its low caloric content, but it is not considered as a top provider of vitamins and minerals ( Murray et al. 2021 ). However, lettuce possesses nutrients essential to humans including
European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, can severely affect sweet corn quality. Selection techniques in field experiments have improved ear feeding resistance associated with morphological features and/or allelochemicals. A laboratory bioassay was used to detect chemical resistance factors in silk and kernel tissues of 10 variously resistant sweet corn genotypes. When added to a nutritively complete diet, kernel tissue from W182E, MN275, and MN272 decreased (P ≤ 0.05) 10-day larval weight (66.3, 61.7, and 54.5 mg, respectively) while kernel tissue from MG15, MN270, and MN3053 increased (P ≤ 0.05) 10-day larval weight (88.3, 81.5, and 80.8 mg, respectively) compared to a cellulose control (71.0 mg). These weight differences, however, were not significant developmentally as 10-day larval maturation (fourth to fifth instar) and pupation time (13.9 to 16.3 days) were similar to the cellulose control (fifth instar and 14.8 days). Silk tissue additions to the diet decreased (P ≤ 0.05) 10-day larval weight compared to the cellulose control (71.0 mg). Larvae exposed to diet containing silk tissue from MN3053, W182E, and `Apache' were lightest (9.1, 8.3, and 7.8 mg, respectively). The heaviest larvae exposed to silk tissue were from diet including `Jubilee' tissue (54.1 mg). Contrary to the instar levels found on the cellulose control, larvae feeding for 10 days on a diet containing silk tissue mainly were at third or early fourth instar excluding larvae exposed to `Jubilee' silk (fourth to fifth instar). For all genotypes, silk additions to diet increased the pupation time compared to kernel additions. Kernel, and especially silk tissue, may contain chemical resistance factors which decrease larval weight and increase developmental time. Identifying sweet corn genotypes with chemical resistance factors may enhance ECB resistance breeding efficiency.
Shiitake mushrooms [Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler] have several therapeutic effects such as antibiotic, immunoregulatory, hypocholesterolemic, and hypotensive. Human studies have proven that serum cholesterol can be lowered by consuming shiitake mushrooms on a regular basis. However, few studies have evaluated shiitake mushroom effects for more than a few weeks. In this study, male spontaneously hypertensive rats were divided into six groups. Each group received one of the following diets: 0% cholesterol (C); C + 5% shiitake mushrooms; C + 5% Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach; 1% cholesterol (1C); 1C + 5% shiitake; 1C + 5% A. bisporus. Serum cholesterol was measured at the end of 9 weeks and systolic blood pressure was measured weekly for 6 weeks. At the end of the study, total serum (TC) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (mg·dL–1) were significantly lower in both of the shiitake diets compared to 1C or 1C + 5% A. bisporus. The total cholesterol for diets 1 through 6 were 44, 34, 36, 71, 34, and 54 mg·dL–1, respectively. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower over the 6-week period for the shiitake and A. bisporus amended diets. The addition of cholesterol to the diets did not significantly affect systolic blood pressure. Results of this study indicate that both shiitake and A. bisporus mushrooms may help reduce hypertension. Shiitake mushrooms may be superior to white mushrooms for hypocholesterolemic effect when cholesterol in the diet is high. The results of this study reinforce other work conducted in Japan on animals and humans. Promotion of shiitake mushrooms as a product that can reduce cholesterol or blood pressure can increase sales if scientific information supports these claims.
Abstract
Quality measurement in all foods has been extremely important in the past and certainly will be no less so in the future. The trend towards a better nutritional delivery system, combined with a reduction in overall calories in our diet, will make fruits and vegetables even more important (5). Improved nutritional content will have to be accompanied by good sensory appeal because food that isn't eaten is of little importance in our diet Sensory appeal will have to be quantified, so it behooves the scientists in related areas to develop and interpret sophisticated tools to measure sensory appeal as an aid to the plant breeders.