title: Inoculation of the nonlegume Capsicum annuum (L.) with Rhizobium strains. 1. Effect on bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and fruit ripeness.
abstract: Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important agricultural crop and an excellent dietary source of natural colors and antioxidant compounds. The levels of these compounds can vary according to agricultural practices, like inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. In this work we evaluated for the first time the effect of the inoculation of two Rhizobium strains on C. annuum metabolites and bioactivity. The results revealed a decrease of organic acids and no effect on phenolics and capsaicinoids of leaves from inoculated plants. In the fruits from inoculated plants organic acids and phenolic compounds decreased, showing that fruits from inoculated plants present a higher ripeness stage than those from uninoculated ones. In general, the inoculation with Rhizobium did not improve the antioxidant activity of pepper fruits and leaves. Considering the positive effect on fruit ripening, the inoculation of C. annuum with Rhizobium is a beneficious agricultural practice for this nonlegume.
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto , Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, No. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carro
authors.forename: Encarna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velazquez
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peix
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentão
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D059827:Agricultural Inoculants / Q000502:physiology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002212:Capsicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000502:physiology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Capsicum annuum L.; Rhizobium spp.; bioactivity; maturation; metabolites profile