Berry Pigments When Stress Is Good Part 3 of 4 |
[follow the Wikipedia links] First, a brief review of Part 1 and Part 2 (click for complete files) A Plant's Only Purpose is to Regenerate and Propagate the Species How's that for a proposal? Given this as a premise, we can focus on how a plant uses its pigments to protect its seeds which store the genetic material for regeneration and propagation. Why is this of interest to consumers like us? Here are some simple relationships drawing all this together -- read them from top to bottom :
Pigment Power: Why All Berries Are Not Created Equal Click here for a ranking of the top 10 berries having high ORAC and why this list is a reasonable guide to pigment power. The research comparing these 10 berries is not sufficient to be precise for how anthocyanin concentration may vary from one berry specie to another. Many factors of environment, genetics, soil and cultivation quality, etc. would affect pigment strength among berry species. The plain fact is that they are very different in pigment amounts and types, and there is a general proportionality of pigmentation to antioxidant strength. But, as a berry that grows high on palm tress in regions close to the equator, açaí -- at the top of the antioxidant rankings for all fruits -- is likely exposed to greater amounts of sun and ultraviolet stress than other berries, perhaps explaining its exceptional ORAC. This is the subject of Part 3 in this series: Under stress from its environment, would a berry manufacture more antioxidant chemicals to improve its defenses?
Açaí palms, Euterpe oleracea the berries grow near the top of the leaf canopy on panicles exposed constantly to the sun, possibly an explanation for the stress producing exceptional amounts of pigmentation to "protect" the seeds
Horticulturalists Can Manipulate Pigment Content by Stressing the Plants ! [follow the Wikipedia links] Seem preposterous? It's been going on in plant food management for at least 30 years. One of the fastest growing and easiest to study plants with rich pigments is the tomato, a treasure of carotenoid pigments (click for a review). Sea-water (salinity), heat, drought, ultraviolet radiation, ozone and pathogens are all factors created by Nature and scientists that stress a plant into making more pigments. A reasonable theory is that this explains why organically-grown plants may have richer colors (pigmentation) and higher nutritional value. In other words, pesticides -- often necessary for crop protection from pests -- may "relax" antioxidant defenses and turn off pigmentation -- just a theory! Consider these recent research articles on strawberries and tomatoes: Modifications of strawberry fruit antioxidant poolsand fruit quality under salt stress (click!)Finding: certain species of strawberries can be grown under salt-stress to optimize fruit qualities and increase antioxidant strength Finding: ripening and saltwater stress combine to enhance antioxidant strength The purpose of this research, particularly the benefit to humans? Use environmental stress to stimulate the plant's production of oxygen free radicals, in turn causing the plant to produce more pigments as its defense. More pigments per plant food serving may impart health benefits to human consumers. Next!
Reading
* Simon PW. Plant Pigments for Color and Nutrition, US Department of Agriculture and University of Wisconsin Archives (click!)
Share this information! Refer a friend to http://berrydoctor.com for sign-up Dr. Paul |
