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Nutritional Quality of Crops

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 21959

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Dr. Dominika Średnicka-Tober

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Guest Editor

Department of Functional and Organic Food, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: food production; food quality; food safety; food chemistry; food composition; food security; environmental footprint of agronomic systems and food production; sustainable food systems; sustainable diet
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ewelina Hallmann

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Co-Guest Editor

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Dear Colleagues,

Consumers are increasingly searching for high-quality crops, free from residues of agrochemicals and rich in health-promoting bioactive compounds, vitamins and minerals, ideally grown in the sustainable agronomic systems with a limited environmental impact. At the same time, these expectations come together with a need for sufficient yielding, to address the needs of a growing human population.

In this regard, this Special Issue will deal with various factors that can modulate the broad range of crops’ nutritional quality parameters or indicators. The nutritional quality of crops of different genotypes, grown in different agronomic systems, under various weed and pest control methods and soil fertility management practices, in different environmental conditions, will be taken into consideration. Particular interest will be given to the relationship between specific agronomic practices and the nutritional quality of field and horticultural crops. Studies that encompass the relation between nutritional quality and crop physiology, genomics, adaptation to climate change, and ecological footprint will also be of great interest.

The main goal of this Special Issue is to report the current state-of-the-art, giving useful information to improve the nutritional quality of crops produced in various agronomic and environmental conditions and systems. Studies identifying research needs that would contribute to the production of nutritious and safe crops are also welcome.

We invite researchers to contribute with original studies and reviews covering all the abovementioned aspects related to the nutritional quality of crops.

Assoc. Prof Dominika Średnicka-Tober
Assoc. Prof Ewelina Hallmann
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nutritional quality
crops
fruit and vegetables
bioactive compounds
macronutrients
micronutrients
vitamins
minerals
food quality
agronomic systems
plant cultivars
plant genotype
environmental factors

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fruit Physiology and Sugar-Acid Profile of 24 Pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) Cultivars Grown in Subtropical Region of China

by Tengfei Pan, Muhammad Moaaz Ali, Jiangmei Gong, Wenqin She, Dongming Pan, Zhixiong Guo, Yuan Yu and Faxing Chen

Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2393; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11122393 - 24 Nov 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5609

Abstract

In the present study, the fruit physiology and sugar-acid ratio of 24 pomelo cultivars grown in ten different locations of the subtropical region of China were measured. The contents of soluble sugars and organic acids were quantified using high-performance (HPLC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), respectively. The results revealed that the physiological and basic quality attributes of 24 pomelo cultivars, including fruit weight, fruit width, fruit length, peel thickness, number of segments, pulp weight, pulp color, soluble solids, and Vitamin C, ranged between 264.63–1945.85 g, 8.60–19.56 g, 7.40–20.70 g, 0.46–3.33 mm, 11–18.66, 210.25–1351.66 g, 8.59–15.14 Brix°, and 34.79–84.58 mg/100 g, respectively. Soluble sugars, i.e., fructose, glucose, and sucrose, ranged between 16.25–24.25, 16.17–24.22, and 19.90–55.28 mg/g, respectively. Similarly, Organic acids, i.e., pyruvate, fumaric acids, succinic acid, tartaric acid, quinic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and cis-aconitic acid, in 24 pomelo cultivars ranged between 0.48–1.84, 0.02–0.45, 0–0.05, 0.01–0.1, 0–0.14, 3.01–11.85, 0.18–1.42, and 0.01–0.16 mg/g, respectively. The pomelo cultivars ‘Hongzuanmi’, ‘Minihong’, and ‘Hangwanmi’ exhibited maximum contents of citric acid and pyruvate and showed ultimately excessive organic acids. Overall, the ‘Guanximi’ and its budding cultivars, i.e., ‘Hongroumi’, ‘Huangjinmi’, and ‘Sanhongmi’, had the best quality fruits having maximum sugar-acid ratio. Correlation analysis showed that total soluble sugars had a significantly positive correlation with sucrose contents, while citric acids, malic acid, and pyruvate were positively correlated with total organic acids. The determined sugar-acid profile of pomelo cultivars provides the basis for future elucidation of key mechanisms regulating sugars and acids biosynthesis in pomelo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

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11 pages, 751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous Application of Thiourea for Improving the Productivity and Nutritional Quality of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

by Ahmad Sher, Xiukang Wang, Abdul Sattar, Muhammad Ijaz, Sami Ul-Allah, Muhammad Nasrullah, Yamin Bibi, Abdul Manaf, Sajid Fiaz and Abdul Qayyum

Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1432; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11071432 - 18 Jul 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2706

Abstract

Because it is a staple food, sustainable production of wheat is crucial for global food security. Arid and semi-arid regions are worst affected by climate change, which has resulted in poor productivity of different crops, including wheat. To this end, this study aimed to investigate the effect of foliage-applied thiourea on the growth, yield, and nutritional-quality-related traits of bread wheat. The treatments consisted of thiourea levels (control, 500, and 1000 mg L⁻¹) factorally combined with two diverse wheat cultivars (Gandam-1 and Galaxy-2013) at different growth stages (tillering, booting, and heading) and was repeated over two years. The analysis of the data shows that thiourea treatments and the cultivars significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected the growth, nutritional quality traits, and morphological traits, and the interaction of the two factors was also significant. Improvement in productivity and nutritional quality was observed from the application of thiourea in both cultivars. Galaxy-2013 performed best at 1000 mg L⁻¹ thiourea application for both productivity- and nutritional-quality-related traits at the heading stage. In conclusion, exogenous application of thiourea improves the productivity and nutritional quality of wheat on sandy loam soils in semi-arid regions; however, for wider recommendations, more trials may be conducted across various agro-ecological regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

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12 pages, 262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Xenia and Deficit Nitrogen Influence the Iron and Zinc Concentration in the Grains of Hybrid Maize

by Sajjad Akhtar, Maryke Labuschagne, Gernot Osthoff, Kingston Mashingaidze and Akbar Hossain

Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1388; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11071388 - 09 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1429

Abstract

Xenia is the immediate effect of pollen on seed development after pollination. This study was conducted to investigate xenia’s effects on Fe and Zn concentration in self- and open-pollinated maize seeds. Eighteen maize hybrids derived from parents with varying concentrations of Fe and Zn were planted at Potchefstroom, Cedara and Vaalharts in South Africa for two seasons, 2017 and 2018. Open- and self-pollinated seeds were compared. Self-pollination of five selected healthy maize hybrids of uniform height from each plot was performed. Fe, Zn and phytic acid (Pa) analysis was conducted on self -and open-pollinated maize seeds, and the molar ratios of Fe and Zn to Pa were also calculated to assess the bioavailability of Fe and Zn. The ranges of Fe, Zn and Pa, and the molar ratios of Fe and Zn to Pa in self-pollinated maize seeds were 15.93–21.36 mg kg⁻¹, 18.50–24.34 mg kg⁻¹, 4.63–5.84 mg g⁻¹, 21.97–31.22 and 23.53–30.16 under high N, and 12.76–19.29 mg kg⁻¹, 16.78–23.50 mg kg⁻¹, 5.05–6.48 mg g⁻¹, 26.12–44.54 and 25.44–35.94 under low N conditions, respectively. The ranges of Fe, Zn and Pa, and the molar ratios of Fe and Zn to Pa in open-pollinated seeds were 14.34–19.12 mg kg⁻¹, 17.27–23.27 mg kg⁻¹, 4.96–5.89 mg g⁻¹, 20.90–28.22 and 22.92–29.37 under high N, and 12.54–18.39 mg kg⁻¹, 16.94–20.93 mg kg⁻¹, 5.30–6.17 mg g⁻¹, 27.90–38.75 and 27.95–36.34 under low N conditions, respectively. The bioavailability of Fe and Zn was high in self-pollinated seeds under high N conditions, while Fe was higher in self-pollinated seeds, and Zn was higher in open-pollinated seeds under low N conditions. Combined over seasons, there were no significant differences between the values of Fe and Zn in self- and open-pollinated seeds under both high N and low N conditions. This indicated that unknown males had no influence on Fe and Zn concentration in maize. Therefore, either self- or open-pollinated seeds can be used for Fe and Zn determination in maize crosses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

11 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Different Water Quality on the Nutritive Value and Chemical Composition of Sorghum bicolor Payenne in Cape Verde

by Vanessa Mendoza-Grimón, Regla Amorós, Juan Ramón Fernández-Vera, Jose Manuel Hernádez-Moreno and María del Pino Palacios-Díaz

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11061091 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2154

Abstract

Cape Verde is a semiarid country where lack of rainfall exacerbates the scarce resources available for livestock which, therefore, make it very vulnerable to climate change. By providing reclaimed water (RW) for irrigation, it is possible to decrease forage importation. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) improves health security by preventing contact between water and harvested plants. Sorghum is a water-efficient crop that provides good nutritional value. The aim of this experiment was to study the nutrient and fiber contents of the Sorghum Payenne variety using subsurface (T1) and surface (T2) drip irrigation by RW vs. conventional water (T3) and plant maturity to assure the feasibility of water reuse to produce forage. Ntot–Ptot–Ca–Mg and Na were significantly higher in the RW plants than in the conventional water ones. Ntot–Ptot–K and Fe contents significantly lowered, while Ca–Na and Mn significantly rose as plant maturity increased. All the fiber values meet the Nos. 2 and 3 quality standards, and the Prime and No. 1 for NDF and ADF, respectively. The obtained good forage quality let to avoid the competence of conventional water and to reuse nutrients added by RW. If generalized, this solution would reduce forage importation by improving food sovereignty and farmers’ profitability, and would enhance resilience against climate change effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

16 pages, 571 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Foliar-Supplied Molybdenum Improves Phyto-Nutritional Composition of Leaves and Fruits of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

by Muhammad Moaaz Ali, Binqi Li, Cao Zhi, Ahmed Fathy Yousef and Faxing Chen

Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 892; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11050892 - 01 May 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2451

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of molybdenum (Mo) on the level of macronutrients (Mg, K, Ca), micronutrients (Na, Zn, B, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) and toxic elements (Cd, Sn, As, Cr, Hg, Pb) in leaves and fruit tissues (peel, pulp & seed) of loquat using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fruits were obtained from a loquat orchard located in Fujian (Yun Xiao/Zhangzhou). Loquat leaves showed 3.99, 23.90, 57.68 and 9.79-fold increase in the concentrations of Mg, K, Ca and B as affected by exogenously applied Mo, while a significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction was observed in Na, Mo, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, As, Cr, Hg, and Pb contents. In fruit peel, Mo induced 1.05, 1.56, 2.26, 1.15, 1.39, 1.30 and 1.89-fold increase in Mg, K, Na, Zn, B, Co and Ni, respectively, and Mo, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb contents were reduced. Fruit pulp showed elevated contents of Na, B, Co, Ni, and Sn by 25.65, 26.57, 70.09, 12.33 and 0.99%, respectively, and decreased concentrations of Mg, K, Ca, Zn, Mo, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Cr. Similarly, in loquat seeds, under the influence of Mo application, levels of K, Na, Zn, Fe, and Cr were uplifted by 14.75, 41.54, 12.71, 536.47 and 656.27%, respectively, while Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Cu, Sn, and Hg were reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, mineral concentrations detected in the leaves and fruit tissues of loquat were greatly influenced by the application of Mo. Although the concentration of Sn in fruit pulp was increased by the foliar application of Mo, the fruits were under safe limits for human consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

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11 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum Bacteria and L-Alpha Proline Amino Acid on Iron Content in Soil and Triticum aestivum L. Plants in Sustainable Agriculture System

by Anna Płaza, Emilia Rzążewska and Barbara Gąsiorowska

Agronomy 2021, 11(3), 511; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11030511 - 09 Mar 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3270

Abstract

Research was conducted in Poland in 2017–2019 at Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce. It aimed at determining the effect of the bacteria Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, the amino acid L-alpha proline, and the mineral nitrogen fertiliser regime on iron content in soil during the period of rapid growth of spring wheat plants, as well as in spring wheat grain and straw. The following two factors were examined: (I) biological products: untreated control, Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, L-alpha proline, Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum + L-alpha proline; (II) mineral nitrogen fertiliser regime: nonfertilised control, 60 kg N·ha⁻¹, 90 kg N·ha⁻¹, 90 kg N·ha⁻¹ + foliar fertilisation. The study demonstrated that, during the period of rapid spring wheat plant growth, Fe content was the highest in the soil following an application of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum + L-alpha proline + mineral nitrogen fertiliser applied at the rate of 90 kg N·ha⁻¹. This combination resulted in the highest concentration and uptake of iron by spring wheat grain, whereas for straw, the same result was also achieved following mineral nitrogen fertiliser at a rate of 90 kg N·ha⁻¹ + foliar fertilisation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

20 pages, 2652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Disclosing the Nutritional Quality Diversity of Portuguese Common Beans—The Missing Link for Their Effective Use in Protein Quality Breeding Programs

by Elsa Mecha, Sofia Natalello, Bruna Carbas, Andreia Bento da Silva, Susana T. Leitão, Carla Brites, Maria Manuela Veloso, Diego Rubiales, Judite Costa, Maria de Fátima Cabral, Maria E. Figueira, Maria C. Vaz Patto and Maria R. Bronze

Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 221; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11020221 - 24 Jan 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3062

Abstract

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) represents a sustainable and affordable source of protein, namely, to populations with vegetarian dietary habits. Despite the national germplasm genetic diversity, little is known about the Portuguese accessions’ nutritional and protein quality, leading to their underuse in breeding programs. To fill this gap, a representative collection (106 accessions) was cropped under two contrasting environments (traditional versus heat stress) and evaluated in terms of nutritional quality by near-infrared spectroscopy. Protein quality was assessed, under the stressful environment, considering the individual amino acid contents and the activity of trypsin inhibitors through mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and spectrophotometry, respectively. On top of strong genotypic control, the nutritional composition (protein, fat, fiber, moisture and ash) was also highly influenced by the environment and by genotype × environment interaction, with a clear nutritional quality ranking change for the accessions in heat stress conditions. Classified into three clusters, the accessions from the cluster with the highest individual amino acid and protein contents also showed higher trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA). Since different levels of TIA had no translation into contrasting protein digestibility, breeders focusing on common beans’ protein quality improvement, especially under challenging warming climate conditions, may take advantage of this group of accessions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Quality of Crops)

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