The effect of exogenous ethylene and methyl jasmonate on pal activity, phenolic profiles and antioxidant capacity of carrots (Daucus carota) under different wounding intensities Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In this study it was shown that wounding in combination with hormone stresses synergistically enhanced the accumulation of bioactive phenolic compounds in carrot tissue. Whole carrots and carrots cut in slices, pie-cuts and shreds were exposed to 250 L/L methyl jasmonate and 1000 L/L ethylene treatments. Results indicated that hormone stress-induced phenolic compounds and phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme activity were dependent upon wounding intensity. The synthesized phenolics correlated to an increase in antioxidant capacity (AOX). In addition, both stresses affected the phenolic profiles. The different proportions of chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid and ferulic acid, for each stress and combinations, influenced the specific AOX of the phenolic profiles (the effectiveness of the phenolic compounds to neutralize free radicals). The bitter compound isocoumarin was mostly affected by the ethylene treatment compared to methyl jasmonate or wounding alone. Exposure to combined abiotic stresses could provide more AOX to regular diets and be a less expensive alternative to genetic modifications and breeding programs. 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • Postharvest Biology and Technology

author list (cited authors)

  • Heredia, J. B., & Cisneros-Zevallos, L.

citation count

  • 121

complete list of authors

  • Heredia, J Basilio||Cisneros-Zevallos, Luis

publication date

  • February 2009