#pericarp

Inside of a Seed: Two Monocots

“Seeds are travelers in space and time – small packages of DNA, protein, and starch that can move over long distances and remain viable for hundreds of years. These packages have everything they need not only to survive, but also to grow into a plant when they encounter the right conditions.”      — The Book of Seeds by Paul Smith

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As illustrated in last week’s post, the mature seeds of…

I was enjoying some citrus the other day when I got to thinking about these peculiar fruits. They are some of my favorites yet I know very little about their development. What is a citrus fruit exactly and why are they so juicy?

To start with, citrus fruits are produced by members of the citrus or rue family - Rutaceae. Not all members of this family produce them either. Technically speaking, the oranges, lemons, limes (etc.) we eat are specialized berries called "hesperidia." They are characterized by their tough rind and juicy interior.

Following fertilization, the ovary of each flower begins to swell. The rind is referred to as the pericarp. The pericarp itself has a few layers associated with it but this is where the oil-filled pits are located. Anyone that has ever squeezed an orange peel has seen these pits spurt their contents.

Inward from the pericarp are a series of segments, which are the carpels. The individual carpels are the reason why oranges can be so easily segmented. Inside each carpel is a locule. These are small cavities where the seeds are housed. Lining the walls of these loculi are tiny hairs that, as the fruit matures, gradually fill with juices.

These juice-filled hairs makeup the pulp of a citrus fruit. Look closely and you can see that they are indeed individual compartments. This not only provides some nutrients to the developing seeds, it also provides a meal for potential seed dispersers, thus increasing the chances of successful recruitment away from the parent tree.

From a quick snack I spiraled into a world of new information. It is amazing what you can learn from simple questions. As a botanically oriented person, every meal offers a sea of discovery!

Photo Credit: [1] [2]

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a subtropical fruit crop having high commercial value and consumer acceptance due to its rich juicy aril and attractive bright red pericarp. Anthocyanin, the major pigment present in litchi pericarp reaches its maximum content in fully ripen fruit contributing to its bright red colour. The biosynthesis of anthocyanin occurs via an intricate phenyl propanoid pathway controlled by plethora of structural and regulatory genes. Several genes encoding enzymes responsible for anthocyanin synthesis have been isolated and characterised in different plants. Litchi fruit being highly perishable, exhibit relatively shorter postharvest shelf-life of 2–3 days at ambient conditions which in part can be attributed to the enzymatic and non-enzymatic degradation of anthocyanin. In contrast to the comprehensive understanding of molecular basis of anthocyanin synthesis, the studies on its catabolism or degradation are meagre. Polyphenols oxidases and peroxidases are the major enzymes responsible for anthocyanin degradation leading to the problem of pericarp browning. Laccase, an anthocyanin degradation enzyme expresses about thousand fold higher than the polyphenols oxidase in the pericarp with epicatechin as favourable substrate. A detailed study of the anthocyanin degradation pathway in litchi may be helpful in managing the problem of pericarp browning to preserve its bright red colour as well as to enhance the shelf life and marketability of this valuable fruit crop.

Author(s) Details

Khushboo Azam Department of Horticulture (F&FT), Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India.

Hidayatullah Mir Department of Horticulture (F&FT), Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India.

Dr. Tushar Ranjan Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India.

Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Pal Department of Biochemistry and Crop Physiology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India.

Dr. Ruby Rani Department of Horticulture (F&FT), Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India.

Fruit is a lot more complicated than you think - for instance, which of the following are “berries”? 

Antioxidant Xanthones From The Pericarp Of Garcinia Mangostana Mangosteen

Quote:"Never in a million years would I want to live at Versailles with Marie Antoinette or anybody else. I hate to tell you this but I did not even like visiting Versailles. I found it just too ornate. It was like a complete diet of cotton candy, marzipan, and whipped cream."

Super Flat Belly Exercises According To Dr Oz

If you happen to be at all like me you know what I'm talking when I say that I'm on the age in the event the battle from the bulge has developed into a daily challenge. No wonder there's a whole class of products marketed directly at persons who want to defeat this challenge. There are books on flat belly, diets for flat belly, belts/clothing for flat belly, exercises and use equipment for flat belly; I mean you name it and its particular out there, all aimed in some way to offer the enviable flat belly. Now I mentioned in the opening the goal is always to defeat the center age bulge, but even before we attain the challenges of middle age we strenuously push to have whilst the ever impressive six-pack. I guess the lesson the following is that the market always finds a way to win.

Let me return to the guts age bulge. Dr. Oz recognizes the humongous opportunity this problem presents and contains designed a full system which includes, among other things, diet and exercise to fix this concern. I was interested in the exercise routine he recommends given it won't include sit-ups. Instead, 10 ' 20 reps from the following training is recommended:

1. The Leg Kick: Simply stand erect along with your arms stretched out in front of you then lower your arms while you lift one of the legs up and out. Do this at least much for every leg. (Try to produce a good steady rhythm.)

2. Knee Lifts: Clasp both your hands behind your face because you stand confident. Bend your head slightly when you lessen your elbow; lift your knee up at the same time until it touches your elbow. (Right knee to right elbow; left knee to left elbow.) Do no less than 10 reps per knee.

3. Twist and Squat: Stand together with your feet apart and hold your arms up perpendicular on the floor as if you were lifting barbells. Twist the body to a single side and when you twist reduce your knees to some squat then gradually raise your body up as you release the twist and relax. Start off with 10 of those to a single side then 10 to the next.

In a nut shell, fundamental essentials exercises Dr. Oz recommends to get over the battle with the bulge. Now, I'm not sure whether these workouts are effective outside the sanctity of Dr. Oz's entire program but it's curious that this traditional belly busting workouts are not included. Should these exercises act as promised this could indeed be described as a major breakthrough within the combat the bulge. It is not clear whether this change inside our bodies is a result of inactivity or signs and symptoms of underlying illnesses like hypertension and diabetes, but any treatment that could effectively remedy this disorder would be welcomed by everyone.

Fernando Crighton, before and after (-7kg)

Fernando Crighton. He found us on request - "Antioxidant xanthones from the pericarp of garcinia mangostana mangosteen". Raiting: 85