In Silico Analysis of Glutamate Receptors in Capsicum chinense: Structure, Evolution, and Molecular Interactions.

Plant glutamate receptors (GLRs) are integral membrane proteins that function as non-selective cation channels, involved in the regulation of developmental events crucial in plants. Knowledge of these proteins is restricted to a few species and their true agonists are still unknown in plants. Using tomato SlGLRs, a search was performed in the pepper database to identify GLR sequences in habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.). Structural, phylogenetic, and orthology analysis of the CcGLRs, as well as molecular docking and protein interaction networks, were conducted. Seventeen CcGLRs were identified, which contained the characteristic domains of GLR. The variation of conserved residues in the M2 transmembrane domain between members suggests a difference in ion selectivity and/or conduction. Also, new conserved motifs in the ligand-binding regions are reported. Duplication events seem to drive the expansion of the species, and these were located in the evolution by using orthologs. Molecular docking analysis allowed us to identify differences in the agonist binding pocket between CcGLRs, which suggest the existence of different affinities for amino acids. The possible interaction of some CcGLRs with proteins leads to suggesting specific functions for them within the plant. These results offer important functional clues for CcGLR, probably extrapolated to other Solanaceae.

Evaluation of the Volatile Composition and Sensory Behavior of Habanero Pepper during Lactic Acid Fermentation by L. plantarum

Habanero pepper is recognized for its appealing aroma and flavor. Lactic acid fermentation can improve these sensory properties, especially aroma, by the synthesis of volatile compounds, which might also increase the consumer preference. Thus, the aim of this research was to compare the volatile composition as well as different sensory parameters such as preference and emotions related to the lactic acid fermentation of Habanero pepper by two strains (wild and commercial) of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. A multiple factor ANOVA was used to compare the volatile composition with different fermentation times and strains. The results demonstrated that the interaction between the strain and fermentation time had significant effects on the volatile compound production that includes 1-hexanol, cis-3-hexenyl hexanoate, linalool, and 3,3 dimethyl-1-hexanol while only time influenced the production of trans-2-hexen-1-al. The wild strain (WIL) at 48 h of fermentation produced the highest concentration of 3,3 dimethyl-1-hexanol and trans-2-hexen-1-al. On the other hand, the commercial strain (COM) presented the highest concentration of 1-hexanol and cis-3-hexenyl hexanoate with a 72 h fermentation. The most preferred sample was that fermented by WIL for 48 h for the attribute of odor, while for taste, the most preferred sample was that fermented for 72 h with COM.

Growth and macronutrient content of Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq) subjected to organic fertilization / Crescimento e conteúdo de macronutrientes da pimenta Habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq) sujeito à fertilização orgânica

Studies on the nutritional status of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) in relation to organic fertilization are still incomplete and preliminary. The aim of study were to evaluer the effect of rates of organic fertilizer produced from Family agriculture waste on growth and nutritional status habanero pepper. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse located at the Federal Rural University of Amazonia, municipality of Belém, State for Pará, Brazil. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used, with five treatments and four replications. Each experimental plot consisted of a pot with a volume of 3.6 dm3of soil, in which the seeds were sown. Five doses of organic fertilizer were tested : 0%, 15% (525 g), 30% (1050 g), 45% (1575 g) and 60% (2100 g) of substrate volume, composed of a mixture of chicken manure (10%), duck manure (20%), cassava peel (15%) , cassava leaf (15%), bean straw (15%), rice husk (15%) and corn cob (10%), mixed in volumetric proportions in the substrate. To mix the different amounts of organic fertilizer, a Yellow Latosol with a sandy texture was used, removed from the surface layer (0-20 cm). The best results were achieved at 103 days using a dose of 60% of organic fertilizer. The content and accumulation of macronutrients in leaf tissues showed the following order: N˃K≥S˃Ca≥Mg˃P and N˃K˃S˃Mg˃Ca˃P. In the fruits, the content and accumulation of macronutrients presented the following order: N˃K˃S˃P˃Mg˃Ca.

Os estudos sobre o estado nutricional da pimenta habanero (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) em relação à adubação orgânica ainda são incompletos e preliminares. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito de doses de adubo orgânico produzido a partir de resíduos da agricultura familiar no crescimento e estado nutricional da pimenta habanero. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação localizada na Universidade Federal rural da Amazônia, município de Belém, Estado do Pará, Brasil. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Cada parcela experimental foi composta por um vaso com volume de 3,6 dm3de solo, no qual foram semeadas as sementes. Foram testadas cinco doses de adubo orgânico: 0%, 15% (525 g), 30% (1050 g), 45% (1575 g) e 60% (2100 g) do volume do substrato, composto pela mistura de esterco de galinha (10%), esterco de pato (20%), casca de mandioca (15%), folha de mandioca (15%), palha de feijão (15%), casca de arroz (15%) e sabugo de milho (10%), misturados em proporções volumétricas no substrato. Para a mistura das diferentes quantidades de adubo orgânico, utilizou-se um Latossolo Amarelo de textura arenosa, retirado da camada superficial (0-20 cm). Os melhores resultados foram alcançados aos 103 dias utilizando a dose de 60% de adubo orgânico. O teor e acúmulo de macronutrientes nos tecidos foliares apresentaram a seguinte ordem: N˃K≥S˃Ca≥Mg˃P e N˃K˃S˃Mg˃Ca˃P. Nos frutos, o teor e acúmulo de macronutrientes apresentaram a seguinte ordem: N˃K˃S˃P˃Mg˃Ca.

Phytochemical Characterization of By-Products of Habanero Pepper Grown in Two Different Types of Soils from Yucatán, Mexico.

By-products of edible plants may contain potentially useful phytochemicals. Herein, we valorized the by-products of Capsicum chinense by phytochemical characterization of its leaves, peduncles and stems. Plants of habanero pepper were grown in a greenhouse, in polyethylene bags with two soils that were named according to the Maya classification as: K'ankab lu'um (red soil) and Box lu'um (black soil). Habanero pepper by-products were dried using an oven, the extracts were obtained by Ultrasound Assisted Extraction, and phytochemical quantification in all the extracts was conducted by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Diode Array Detector (UPLC-DAD). Differences in the phytochemical content were observed according to the by-product and soil used. Catechin and rutin showed the highest concentrations in the peduncles of plants grown in both soils. The leaves of plants grown in black soil were rich in myricetin, ß-carotene, and vitamin E, and the stems showed the highest protocatechuic acid content. While the leaves of plants grown in red soil were rich in myricetin and vitamin C, the stems showed the highest chlorogenic acid content. This novel information regarding the phytochemical composition of the by-products of C. chinense may be relevant in supporting their potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Polyphenols Content in Capsicum chinense Fruits at Different Harvest Times and Their Correlation with the Antioxidant Activity.

The aim of this work was to investigate the changes of the content of polyphenols in fruits of Capsicum chinense Jacq. at different harvest times and their correlation with the antioxidant activity. Habanero pepper plants grown in black soil (Mayan name: Box lu'um) and harvested at 160, 209, 223, 237 and 252 post-transplant days (PTD) were analyzed. The results indicated that subsequent harvesting cycles decreased the content of total polyphenols, catechin, chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid, while the content of gallic and protocatechuic acid increased. The antioxidant activity determined by DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and ABTS (2,2'-azino-di-3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid) assay decreased through the harvest days. Linear correlation analysis between total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in peppers resulted in a correlation of r2DPPH = 0.8999 and r2ABTS = 0.8922. Additionally, a good correlation of the antioxidant activity was found with catechin (r2DPPH = 0.8661 and r2ABTS = 0.8989), chlorogenic acid (r2DPPH = 0.8794 and r2ABTS = 0.8934) and ellagic acid (r2DPPH = 0.8979 and r2ABTS = 0.9474), indicating that these polyphenols highly contributed to the antioxidant activity in Habanero peppers. This work contributes to understanding the changes that take place during the development of Capsicum chinense, indicating that fruit harvested at earlier PTD showed the highest concentrations of total polyphenols and antioxidant activity, obtaining the best results at 160 PTD.

Extracts from Six Native Plants of the Yucatán Peninsula Hinder Mycelial Growth of Fusarium equiseti and F. oxysporum, Pathogens of Capsicum chinense.

Fusarium equiseti strain FCHE and Fusarium oxysporum strain FCHJ were isolated from the roots of wilting habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) seedlings with root rot. Toward developing a biorational control of these serious phytopathogenic strains, ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (AE) extracts of different vegetative parts of 40 tropical native plants of the Yucatán Peninsula were screened for antifungal activity. Extracts of six out of 40 assayed plants were effective, and the most inhibitory extracts were studied further. EEs from Mosannona depressa (bark from stems and roots), Parathesis cubana (roots), and Piper neesianum (leaves) inhibited mycelial growth of both strains. Each active EE was then partitioned between hexane and acetonitrile. The acetonitrile fraction from M. depressa stem bark (MDT-b) had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 1000 µg/mL against both pathogens and moderate inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 462 against F. equiseti and 472 µg/mL against F. oxysporum. After 96 h treatment with EE from M. depressa stem bark, both strains had distorted hyphae and conidia and collapsed conidia in scanning electron micrographs. Liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major component of the fraction was α-asarone. Its antifungal effect was verified using a commercial standard, which had an IC50 of 236 µg/mL against F. equiseti and >500 µg/mL against F. oxysporum. Furthermore, the P. cubana hexane fraction and P. neesianum acetonitrile fraction had antifungal activity against both Fusarium pathogens. These compounds provide new options for biorational products to control phytopathogenic fungi.

Capsaicin Synthesis Requires in Situ Phenylalanine and Valine Formation in in Vitro Maintained Placentas from Capsicum chinense.

Capsaicinoids (CAP) are nitrogenous metabolites formed from valine (Val) and phenylalanine (Phe) in the placentas of hot Capsicum genotypes. Placentas of Habanero peppers can incorporate inorganic nitrogen into amino acids and have the ability to secure the availability of the required amino acids for CAP biosynthesis. In order to determine the participation of the placental tissue as a supplier of these amino acids, the effects of blocking the synthesis of Val and Phe by using specific enzyme inhibitors were analyzed. Isolated placentas maintained in vitro were used to rule out external sources' participation. Blocking Phe synthesis, through the inhibition of arogenate dehydratase, significantly decreased CAP accumulation suggesting that at least part of Phe required in this process has to be produced in situ. Chlorsulfuron inhibition of acetolactate synthase, involved in Val synthesis, decreased not only Val accumulation but also that of CAP, pointing out that the requirement for this amino acid can also be fulfilled by this tissue. The presented data demonstrates that CAP accumulation in in vitro maintained placentas can be accomplished through the in situ availability of Val and Phe and suggests that the synthesis of the fatty acid chain moiety may be a limiting factor in the biosynthesis of these alkaloids.