Title:Improving of Nutraceutical Features of Many Important Mediterranean Vegetables by Inoculation with a New Commercial Product
VOLUME: 16 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):Assunta Raiola, Gian C. Tenore, Raffaele Petito, Roberto Ciampaglia and Alberto Ritieni
Affiliation:Assunta Raiola, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, Portici 80055, Naples, Italy.
Keywords:Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, nutraceutical vegetables, antioxidant activity, Micosat F®, nitrates.
Abstract:Several epidemiological studies show that fruits, vegetables and cereals can play a nutraceutical
role for their content of many antioxidant phytochemicals such as carotenoids, ascorbic acid and
phenolics. A commercial inoculant (MICOSAT F®) containing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
could improve the nutritional value in crops. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of AMF
on the production level of carotenoids, AsA, phenols including antocyanins and saponins, proteins, total
antioxidant activity and nitrates in fruits, vegetables, legumes and durum wheat var. grecale, whose
consumption is largely recommended according to Mediterranean diet. The treatment increased the antioxidant activity in
strawberries (37.50%), in giant lentils (29.17%) and in durum wheat (63.63%) but decreased it in kiwi (31.81%) and in
grape (19.81%). Nitrate levels decreased significantly in strawberries (39.78%) and in tomato intended for transformation
(37.79%). The application of MICOSAT F® enhanced the levels of several secondary metabolites. However, the amount
of phytochemicals and respective by-products were reduced in some cases. Environmental conditions and modality of
AMF inoculation could module both primary and secondary metabolites.
