No abstract

Limited information exists on the effectiveness of potential treatments to reduce levels of opium alkaloids that may be present in seeds from poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). Poppy seeds containing morphine at relatively lower (14.7 mg kg–1) and higher (210.0 mg kg–1) concentrations were subjected to dry heat and steam treatments, water washing, and baking. Sample extracts were then analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the opium alkaloids morphine, codeine, and thebaine. The results indicated that thermal treatment promoted opium alkaloid degradation in poppy seed samples, with a 50% loss of morphine observed after 30–40 min at 200 °C. Water washing reduced concentrations of opium alkaloids in poppy seeds by approximately 50–80%, while steam treatment resulted in reduction of morphine in only one sample type. Importantly, baking had no significant effect on concentrations of opium alkaloids. Overall, these results indicate that opium alkaloids may not be significantly affected by baking or steam application and that poppy seeds may require water washing or extended thermal treatment to promote reduction of these compounds.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an attractive alternative to high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps for plant growth because of their energy-saving potential. However, the effects of supplementing broad-waveband solar light with narrow-waveband LED light on the sensory attributes of greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are largely unknown. Three separate studies investigating the effect of supplemental light quantity and quality on physicochemical and organoleptic properties of greenhouse-grown tomato fruit were conducted over 4- or 5-month intervals during 2012 and 2013. Tomato cultivars Success, Komeett, and Rebelski were grown hydroponically within a high-wire trellising system in a glass-glazed greenhouse. Chromacity, Brix, titratable acidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH measurements of fruit extracts indicated plant response differences between lighting treatments. In sensory panels, tasters ranked tomatoes for color, acidity, and sweetness using an objective scale, whereas color, aroma, texture, sweetness, acidity, aftertaste, and overall approval were ranked using hedonic scales. By collecting both physicochemical as well as sensory data, this study was able to determine whether statistically significant physicochemical parameters of tomato fruit also reflected consumer perception of fruit quality. Sensory panels indicated that statistically significant physicochemical differences were not noticeable to tasters and that tasters engaged in blind testing could not discern between tomatoes from different supplemental lighting treatments or unsupplemented controls. Growers interested in reducing supplemental lighting energy consumption by using intracanopy LED (IC-LED) supplemental lighting need not be concerned that the quality of their tomato fruits will be negatively affected by narrow-band supplemental radiation at the intensities and wavelengths used in this study.

Tomato steroidal glycoalkaloids (tSGAs) are a class of cholesterol-derived metabolites uniquely produced by the tomato clade. These compounds provide protection against biotic stress due to their fungicidal and insecticidal properties. Although commonly reported as being anti-nutritional, both in vitro as well as pre-clinical animal studies have indicated that some tSGAs may have a beneficial impact on human health. However, the paucity of quantitative extraction and analysis methods presents a major obstacle for determining the biological and nutritional functions of tSGAs. To address this problem, we developed and validated the first comprehensive extraction and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) quantification method for tSGAs. Our extraction method allows for up to 16 samples to be extracted simultaneously in 20 min with 93.0 ± 6.8 and 100.8 ± 13.1% recovery rates for tomatidine and alpha-tomatine, respectively. Our UHPLC-MS/MS method was able to chromatographically separate analytes derived from 18 tSGA peaks representing 9 different tSGA masses, as well as two internal standards, in 13 min. Tomato steroidal glycoalkaloids that did not have available standards were annotated using high resolution mass spectrometry as well as product ion scans that provided fragmentation data. Lastly, we utilized our method to survey a variety of commonly consumed tomato-based products. Total tSGA concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 3.4 mg/serving and represent some of the first reported tSGA concentrations in tomatobased products. Our validation studies indicate that our method is sensitive, robust, and able to be used for a variety of applications where concentrations of biologically relevant tSGAs need to be quantified.

Fruits harvested from off-season, greenhouse-grown tomato plants have a poor reputation compared to their in-season, garden-grown counterparts. Presently, there is a gap in knowledge with regard to the role of UV-B radiation (280-315 nm) in determining greenhouse tomato quality. Knowing that UV-B is a powerful elicitor of secondary metabolism and not transmitted through greenhouse glass and some greenhouse plastics, we tested the hypothesis that supplemental UV-B radiation in the greenhouse will impart quality attributes typically associated with garden-grown tomatoes. Environmentally relevant doses of supplemental UV-B radiation did not strongly affect antioxidant compounds of fruits, although the flavonol quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin) significantly increased in response to UV-B. Physicochemical metrics of fruit quality attributes and consumer sensory panels were used to determine if any such differences altered consumer perception of tomato quality. Supplemental UV-A radiation (315-400 nm) pre-harvest treatments enhanced sensory perception of aroma, acidity, and overall approval, suggesting a compelling opportunity to environmentally enhance the flavor of greenhouse-grown tomatoes. The expression of the genes COP1 and HY5 were indicative of adaptation to UV radiation, which explains the lack of marked effects reported in these studies. To our knowledge, these studies represent the first reported use of environmentally relevant doses of UV radiation throughout the reproductive portion of the tomato plant life cycle to positively enhance the sensory and chemical properties of fruits.

Background: Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are an economically and nutritionally important crop colored by carotenoids such as lycopene and β-carotene. Market diversification and interest in the health benefits of carotenoids has created the desire in plant, food, and nutritional scientists for improved extraction and quantification protocols that avoid the analytical bottlenecks caused by current methods.

19Tomato steroidal glycoalkaloids (tSGAs) are a class of cholesterol-derived metabolites uniquely 20 produced by the tomato clade. These compounds provide protection against biotic stress due to 21 their fungicidal and insecticidal properties. Although commonly reported as being anti-nutritional, 22 both in vitro as well as pre-clinical animal studies have indicated that some tSGAs may have a 23 beneficial impact on human health. However, the paucity of quantitative extraction and analysis 24 methods presents a major obstacle for determining the biological and nutritional functions of 25 tSGAs. To address this problem, we developed and validated the first comprehensive extraction 26 and UHPLC-MS/MS quantification method for tSGAs. Our extraction method allows for up to 16 27 samples to be extracted simultaneously in 20 minutes with 93.0 ± 6.8% and 100.8 ± 13.1% 28 recovery rates for tomatidine and alpha-tomatine, respectively. Our ultra-high-performance liquid 29 chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was able to 30 chromatographically separate analytes derived from 16 tSGAs representing 9 different tSGA 31 masses, as well as two internal standards, in 13 minutes. Tomato steroidal glycoalkaloids that did 32 not have available standards were annotated using high resolution mass spectrometry as well as 33 product ion scans that provided fragmentation data. Lastly, we utilized our method to survey a 34 variety of commonly consumed tomato-based products. Total tSGA concentrations ranged from 35 0.7 to 3.4 mg/serving and represent some of the first reported tSGA concentrations in tomato-36 based products. Our validation studies indicate that our method is sensitive, robust, and able to be 37 used for a variety of applications where concentrations of biologically relevant tSGAs need to be 38 quantified. 39 40 Introduction 41Solanaceous plants produce a spectrum of cholesterol derived compounds called steroidal 42 glycoalkaloids. While each solanaceous clade produces its own unique assortment of steroidal 43 glycoalkaloids, these metabolites share commonality in their role as phytoanticipins and anti-44 herbivory agents (Etalo et al., 2015; Fontaine et al., 1948; Irving et al., 1945; Ökmen et al., 2013). 45Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum and close relatives) is no exception, and over 100 tomato steroidal 46 glycoalkaloids (tSGAs, Fig. 1) have been suggested (Iijima et al., 2013(Iijima et al., , 2008. Although these 47 compounds are typically reported as anti-nutritional (Ballester et al., 2016; Cárdenas et al., 2016 Cárdenas et al., , 48 2015 Itkin et al., 2013), other studies suggest a health-promoting role. In fact, emerging evidence 49 suggests that some tSGAs may play a role in positive health outcomes associated with tomato 50 consumption (Cayen, 1971; Choi et al., 2012; Cooperstone et al., 2017; Lee et al., 2004). While 51 these compounds continue to be evaluated both in planta and in vivo, there is a lack of quantitative 52 and validated methods to extract and measure tSGAs from tomato...

In addition to photosynthesis, light is a critical mediator of secondary metabolism in plants, signaling the production of potentially health-promoting phytochemicals and regulating the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can alter the sensory perception of a tomato. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a viable way to test the effects of individual wavebands of light and are being quickly adopted by the greenhouse tomato industry. However, studies characterizing the effects of specific wavelengths of light or supplemental lighting on phytochemical content in general are lacking. We hypothesized that enriching the amount of supplemental blue and/or red light that tomatoes receive would positively affect the amount of carotenoids and phenolic compounds that accumulate in tomato fruits through cryptochrome and/or phytochrome-dependent signaling pathways. To test this hypothesis, we compared the chemical and sensory characteristics of tomatoes grown with overhead high-pressure sodium (OH-HPS) lamps to those grown with intracanopy (IC)-LEDs emitting different ratios of red, blue, and far red light. Tomatoes were profiled for total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, pH, total phenolics, and prominent flavonoids and carotenoids. Our studies indicated that greenhouse tomato fruit quality was only marginally affected by supplemental light treatments. Moreover, consumer sensory panel data indicated that tomatoes grown under different lighting treatments were comparable across the lighting treatments tested. Our research suggests that the dynamic light environment inherent to greenhouse production systems may nullify the effects of wavelengths of light used in our studies on specific aspects of fruit secondary metabolism.