Academic literature on the topic 'Mini-carrot'

Twelve carrot varieties with different colours (purple, orange, yellow, and white) and sizes (normal, mini, and micro) were analysed for prospective health benefits (activities against diabetes-, obesity-, and aging- related enzymes—α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, acetylocholinesterase, and butyrylocholinesterase, respectively) and nutritional contents (polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls). The conducted studies showed that the highest content of total polyphenols was observed in different sizes of purple carrots. The normal yellow and mini orange carrots demonstrated the highest content of carotenoids. According to the study results, the mini purple carrot showed the highest activities against diabetes-related enzyme (α-glucosidase); furthermore, the highest activities of cholinesterase inhibitors were observed for micro purple carrot. Nevertheless, normal orange carrot exhibited the highest activity against lipase. The results of the present study showed that purple-coloured carrot samples of different sizes (normal, mini, and micro) exhibited attractive nutritional contents. However, their pro-health effects (anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-aging) should not be seen in the inhibition of amylase, glucosidase, lipase, and cholinesterase. Probably the mechanisms of their action are more complex, and the possible health-promoting effect results from the synergy of many compounds, including fibre, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, it would be worth continuing research on different varieties of carrots.

Cenourete® is a cut and peeled mini carrot, produced by the abrasion of 55-60 mm cylindrical carrot root segments. The longer and the thinner the carrot root, the higher is the recovery of Cenourete®. Two new carrot genotypes obtained at Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília, Brazil, populations 1012568 (P68) and 1012575 (P75), and the cultivar Esplanada were evaluated in relation to the production of roots for mini carrot manufacture. Two crops were cultivated in the summer of 2010-2011 under the densities 8, 10 and 12 lines/meter in order to obtain respectively 1.06, 1.33 and 1.60 million plants/ha and harvested approximately 3 months after sowing. We evaluated the total root production (kg/ha), the diameter, the length and the weight of individual roots and the production of root pieces 60 mm long with diameter in the ranges <15 mm, 15-25 mm, 25-30 mm. Total yield of 60 mm root pieces varied from 19,000 to 34,000 kg/ha depending on treatment. Total yield from cv. Esplanada was significantly higher than yield from genotypes P68 and P75 which did not differ from each other. The new genotypes produced longer and thinner roots compared to cv. Esplanada, what resulted in higher production of smaller root pieces (diameter <15 mm) and a corresponding lower proportion of larger pieces (diameter of 25-30 mm). Plant density had no influence on the total production of root pieces but affected the recovery of particular size ranges, with the proportion of smaller pieces increasing at higher density. The amount of cut waste varied from about 3,000 to 7,000 kg/ha depending on treatment. Cv. Esplanada produced a higher mass of cut waste than P68 and P75 due to a larger amount of pieces with diameter higher than 30 mm. Although increased plant density reduced root size of all genotypes, the variation in root length and root diameter was mainly due to genotype effect.

In 2008 and 2009, symptoms of curling, yellow and purple discoloration of leaves, stunting of shoots and tap roots, and formation of bunchy, fibrous secondary roots were observed in commercial carrot (Daucus carota L.) fields located in several production areas of Spain (Alicante, Albacete, Segovia, and Valladolid). Incidence of this disease was almost 100% in individual affected fields. Similar symptoms were reported from 1997 to 1998 in various carrot production areas of Spain (the Canary Islands, Segovia, and Madrid) and were associated with infection of stolbur and aster yellows phytoplasmas (2). Moreover, the observed symptoms resembled those caused by Spiroplasma citri in carrots affected by the carrot purple leaf disease recently reported in the United States (4). Studies were conducted to investigate whether S. citri and phytoplasmas were associated with the observed carrot symptoms. Total DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of phloem tissue of 13 symptomatic and 3 asymptomatic plants with DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). DNA samples were analyzed by nested-PCR assays using primers pair P1/P7 (1) and R16F2n/R16R2n (3) for phytoplasmas and ScR16F1/ScR16R1 followed by ScR16F1A/ScR16R2 (4) for S. citri detection. DNA of a known strain of S. citri (Sediag, Longvic, France) was used as a positive control of the assay. Analyses revealed that 8 of the 13 symptomatic plants tested positive for S. citri; the plants were collected from three different provinces of Spain, namely, Alicante, Valladolid, and Segovia. Two symptomatic plants were double infected by S. citri and a phytoplasma strain belonging to the Aster yellows group (16SrI), subgroup 16SrI-A. However, none of the symptomatic plants presented single infection with phytoplasmas. S. citri identity was determined by sequencing two nested PCR products (1.1 kb) that yielded identical sequences deposited in the GenBank database (Accession Nos. HM124555 and HM124556). BLAST analysis showed 100% nt identity with a sequence of S. citri from carrot (Accession No. DQ112019) associated with the new carrot disease referred to as ‘carrot purple leaf reported in Washington State (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. citri associated with carrot in Europe. References: (1) S. Deng and C. Hiruki. J. Microbiol. Methods 14:53, 1991. (2) M. I. Font et al. Bol. San. Veg. Plagas 25:415, 1999. (3) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (4) I. M. Lee et al. Plant Dis. 90:989, 2006.

Tuskegee University is conducting research on salad crops as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) goal of supporting humans on near-term space missions, such as on the International Space Station. Small areas of salad crops are ideal candidates for growing in limited volumes, and would provide a source of fresh food to enhance the crew's nutrition. Baseline controlled environment studies were initiated to evaluate the response of eight carrot cultivars (`Baby Mini', `Nantes Touchan', `Danvers 126', `Kundulus', `Nanco Hybrid', `Thumbelina', `Early Nantes', and `Juwarot') to growth and yield in hydroponics. Seeds were sown in moist arcillite and transplanted into growth troughs (0.15 × 0.15 × 1.2 m) after 18 days in reach-in growth chambers, and nutrients continuously supplied by a half-Hoagland solution. Growth chambers conditions included 300 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux, 16/8 photoperiod, a constant 25 °C and relative humidity of 50%. Plants were harvested at about 80 days. All eight cultivars grew well in the hydroponic system. Seven cultivars produced greater shoot fresh than root mass except `Baby Mini', which showed the reverse. `Danvers 126', followed by `Nanco Hybrid' and `Nantes Touchan', produced highest root yields. The β-carotene content varied by cultivars. The highest level of 10,400 IU/100 g was obtained for `Thumbelina', followed by `Baby Mini' (8040 IU/100 g), `Juwarot' (6160 IU/100g), and `Early Nantes' (5210 IU/100 g), and the lowest by `Nantes Touchan' (3510 IU/100 g). These results show that while carrots adapted well to growth in hydroponics, carotene, a major nutrient, was at relatively low levels.

In 2009 and 2010, commercial carrot (Daucus carota L.) fields located in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) showed symptoms of curling, yellow, bronze, and purple discoloration of leaves, stunting of shoots and tap roots, and proliferation of secondary roots. A large population of the psyllid Bactericera trigonica was noted in those fields. Similar symptoms were reported previously in carrot-production areas of the Canary Islands and mainland Spain that were associated with stolbur and aster yellows (1997 and 1998) (2) and Spiroplasma citri and phytoplasmas (2009 and 2010) (1). These symptoms were also reported in southern Finland in 2008 and associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacerum’ (4). Studies were conducted to investigate whether these pathogens and the psyllid B. trigonica were associated with the observed symptoms in carrot in Tenerife. A total of 18 petiole samples of symptomatic carrots were collected (13 samples in 2009 and 5 samples 2010). Five asymptomatic plants were also sampled. Three samples of psyllids (five individuals grouped) collected from one affected field in 2010 were also included in the assay. Total DNA was extracted with the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA), and analyzed by nested-PCR assays using primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2n for phytoplasmas and ScR16F1/ScR16R1 followed by ScR16F1A/ScR16R2 for S. citri detection as described previously (3). PCR was performed using primer pairs OA2/OI2c and CL514F/R to amplify a portion of 16S rDNA and rplJ/rplL ribosomal protein genes, respectively, for ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ (4). S. citri and phytoplasmas were not detected in any of the studied samples. However, a 1,168-bp 16S rDNA fragment and a 669-bp rplJ/rplL fragment were amplified from DNA from 16 symptomatic carrot samples and three psyllid grouped samples using specific primers for ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’. No DNA was amplified from the asymptomatic samples. These results indicate the presence of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ in the affected carrot and psyllid samples collected in Tenerife (Canary Islands). Four and one PCR products obtained from DNA of carrot and psyllid samples, respectively, with both primer pairs were sequenced. BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences obtained from infected carrots (GenBank Accession Nos. HQ454312, HQ454313, HQ454314, and HQ454315) and psyllids (HQ454316) showed 99% identity to those of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ amplified from carrot in Finland (GU373049) and B. cockerelli (EU812557). The rplJ/rplL nucleotide sequences obtained from infected carrots (Accession Nos. HQ454317, HQ454318, HQ454319, and HQ454320) and psyllid (HQ454321) were 98% identical to the analogous rplJ/rplL ‘Ca.L. solanacearum’ ribosomal protein gene from carrot (GU373051) in Finland and tomato (EU834131) from New Zealand. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ associated with psyllid-affected carrots in the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Spain) and also the first report of this plant pathogen associated with B. trigonica. References: (1) M. C. Cebrián et al. Plant Dis. 94:1264, 2010. (2) M. I. Font et al. Bol. San. Veg. Plagas 25:405, 1999. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Plant Dis. 90:989, 2006. (4) J. E. Munyaneza et al. Plant Dis. 94:639, 2010.

Carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Thell., Apiaceae), a widely consumed antioxidant-rich plant, is among the major vegetable crops grown in Serbia, with average annual production of 65,400 tons on approximately 7,000 ha (4). In May 2013, a severe root rot was observed on approximately 20% of cold-stored carrot roots originating from Gospođinci, South Bačka District, Serbia. Symptoms included dry rot of the collar and crown as well as large, brown to dark brown, circular, sunken lesions on the stored roots. Frequently, abundant whitish mycelium was observed covering the surface of the colonized roots. To determine the causal agent, small pieces of infected tissue were surface-disinfested with 2% NaOCl without rinsing, air-dried, and placed on potato dextrose agar. Five single-spore isolates obtained from collar and crown tissue sections, as well as nine isolates from root sections, all formed abundant, cottony white to pale salmon fungal colonies with reddish orange pigment on the reverse surface of the agar medium when grown at 25°C under 12 h of fluorescent light per day. All recovered isolates formed numerous, three- to six-septate, hyaline, needle-like, straight to slightly curved, fusoid macroconidia (30 to 80 × 4 to 5.5 μm, average 58.3 × 4.9 μm, n = 100 spores) each with a tapering apical cell. Microconidia of all isolates were generally scarce, two- to four-septate, spindle-shaped, and 15 to 35 × 3 to 5 μm (average 21.3 × 4.2 μm). Chlamydospores were not observed. Based on these morphological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Fusarium avenaceum (Fries) Saccardo (1). The pathogenicity on carrot was tested for isolate 19-14 by inoculating each of five carrot roots surface-disinfected with 2% NaOCl, by placing a mycelial plug into the surface of a wound created with a cork borer. Carrot roots inoculated with sterilized PDA plugs served as a negative control treatment. After 5 days of incubating the roots at 25°C, root rot symptoms identical to those observed on the source carrot plants developed on all inoculated roots, and the pathogen was re-isolated from each of these roots using the same procedure descibed above. There were no symptoms on the control roots. Morphological species identification was confirmed by sequencing the translation elongation factor (EF-1α) gene (2). Total DNA was extracted directly from fungal mycelium of isolate 19-14 with a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), and PCR amplification was performed with primer pair EF-1/EF-2 (2). Sequence analysis of the EF-1α gene revealed 100% nucleotide identity of isolate 19-14 (GenBank Accession No. KM102536) with the EF-1α sequences of two F. avenaceum isolates from Canada (KC999504 from rye and JX397864 from Triticum durum). To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. avenaceum causing collar, crown, and root rots of stored carrot in Serbia. Since F. avenaceum can produce several mycotoxins, including moniliformin, acuminatopyrone, and chrysogine (3), the presence of this pathogen on stored carrots could represent a significant constraint for carrot production in Serbia, for both direct yield losses and potential mycotoxin contamination. References: (1) J. F. Leslie and B. A. Summerell. The Fusarium Laboratory Manual, Blackwell Publishing, London, UK, 2006. (2) K. O'Donnell et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95:2044, 1998. (3) J. L. Sorenson. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57:1632, 2009. (4) Statistical Office, Republic of Serbia. Retrieved from http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs in May 2014.

A mini-lysimeter study conducted showed that use of lower dilution of sewage water improved the physico-chemical properties and nutrient status of the soils but resulted higher per cent build up of metallic cations in them, particularly Zn, Pb and Ni in sandy clay loam soil and Cu and Cd in sandy loam soil. Indian spinach (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis) irrigated with lower dilution of sewage water improved OC content of the soils, while cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.) decreased the CaCO3 content. Metallic cations content in the leaves and roots of the crops increased when irrigated with lower dilution sewage water but the level of metallic cations contamination was quite below the maximum permissible limits suggested. However, contamination of the soils and phyto-toxicity cannot be ruled out if such sewage irrigation is used on long-term basis.

Miniature vegetables have become mildly popular in the United States and elsewhere. These include small forms of carrot, pumpkin, bok choi, tomato, potato, corn, eggplant, squash, and watermelon. Some of the miniature vegetables are based upon harvest of immature edible portions. Others are genetically reduced in size. Miniature lettuce forms include romaine and butterhead cultivars, as well as young leaves harvested for mesclun, or baby leaf mixes. Miniature iceberg lettuce was derived from crosses of early flowering dwarf forms with standard iceberg lettuce cultivars. Three slow-bolting miniature cultivars, Ice Cube, Mini-Green, and Blush, were released from this program. Another miniature iceberg cultivar, LeCup, was developed by Asgrow Seed. Co. Crosses among these types and normal size iceberg cultivars showed that the two miniature types were based on two different single recessive genes with an epistatic relationship. Further breeding goals in the program will include earlier maturing miniature cultivars with variations in color, including green, red, and yellow.

A produção anual brasileira de cenoura é de 750 mil toneladas. Cerca de 10% desta produção é constituída por raízes consideradas finas, classificadas comercialmente como tipo 1A, que, dependendo da época de plantio, da região e do sistema de produção empregado, este percentual pode representar até 20% da produção total. Em geral, esta categoria de raiz apresenta cotação de preço inferior em relação às demais categorias, sendo que em algumas regiões nos períodos de maior oferta de produto, grande parte destas é descartada por ser antieconômico a sua retirada da lavoura. A tecnologia proposta viabiliza a utilização desta categoria de raízes, possibilitando a obtenção de CENOURETE, mini cenouras semelhantes à "baby carrot" americana, ou de CATETINHO, mini cenouras em forma de bolinhas, utilizando-se o processamento mínimo como forma de agregação de valor ao produto final. O produto final obtido é atrativo visualmente, saudável e 100% pronto para consumo. Em face disto, espera-se um aumento do consumo de cenoura, particularmente entre crianças e donas de casa dos grandes centros urbanos brasileiros. O processamento consiste basicamente no torneamento de pedaços cilíndricos de raiz, pelo atrito contra uma superfície abrasiva. Após o processamento, os pedaços que se apresentam com formato de pequenas cenouras ou bolinhas, são submetidos a uma etapa de acabamento, para reduzir a aspereza da superfície, sendo então sanitizados e embalados para serem consumidos como aperitivos, crus ou cozidos. Essa tecnologia é de baixo custo de investimento, sendo acessível a qualquer agroindústria familiar.

O processamento mínimo de hortaliças compreende as operações que eliminam as partes não comestíveis, seguidas pelo corte em tamanhos menores, tornando-as prontas para consumo imediato e mantendo a condição de produto in natura. A oferta e o interesse do consumidor por esses produtos têm sido crescentes, tanto para o mercado institucional (restaurantes e cozinhas industriais), como para o consumidor final. A cenoura é, dentre as hortaliças, uma das principais espécies comercializadas nessa forma, ou seja, ralada, picada em cubos ou rodelas ou na forma de mini-cenoura (`baby-carrot'). As operações de processamento causam uma série de estresses e alterações metabólicas indesejáveis que reduzem a vida útil da hortaliça processada em relação ao produto inteiro. Dentre as principais, incluem-se o aumento da taxa respiratória e da transpiração, a deterioração microbiana, a produção de metabólitos secundários e a degradação de membranas lipídicas. São apresentados os efeitos de diversos fatores como cultivares, formas de corte, tratamentos químicos, uso de revestimentos, irradiação, atmosfera modificada e refrigeração sobre a magnitude das alterações fisiológicas resultantes do processamento.

The mini-carrot commerce is increasing, in Brazil, alongside of the years. An exigent market presuppose high-quality products and in sufficient amount to attend it. So, organic fertilization shows itself like a very important instrument to obtain more healthy products and to maintenance a no expensive sustainable production. Thus, this work searched evaluate the development of carrot Esplanada roots, cultivated using different organic compounds. The treatments consisted in the application of 12 compounds, bovine manure and mineral fertilizer, on a Podzol hydromorphic eutrophic from Arapiraca-AL, being the plants of carrot cultivated in a greenhouse resulting in 14 treatments. These treatments were put in a completely randomized blocks design using four replications. Were evaluated: length, diameter, roots production and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium content. The organic compounds were made up from two basic mixes: MBsugarcane (mix with sugarcane bagasse + sugar plant filter cake + bovine manure + natural phosphate) and MBcoconut (mix where the sugarcane bagasse was changed by coconut bagasse) using increasing stillage doses, obtaining different compounds: C1: MBsugarcane; C2: MBsugarcane + 25% stillage solution; C3: MBsugarcane + 50% stillage solution; C4: MBsugarcane + 75% stillage solution; C5: MBsugarcane + 100 % stillage; C6: MBsugarcane + water + potassium sulfate; C7: MBcoconut; C8: MBcoconut + 25% stillage solution; C9: MBcoconut + 50% stillage solution; C10: MBcoconut + 75% stillage solution; C11: MBcoconut + 100 % stillage and C12: MBcoconut + water + potassium sulfate. The data had been submitted to the analysis of variance and the averages compared between itself for the Tukey test, with P < 0,05, besides of the orthogonal contrast for phosphorus content of the roots. Statistical differences were not found between the treatments to the length, diameter and roots production variables. In relation to the nutrients absorption, there were not statistical difference, except to the phosphorus absorption, with the compounds made up of sugarcane bagasse, showing a better result than the others treatments.
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O mercado de minicenouras vem crescendo, no Brasil, a cada ano que passa. Um mercado exigente pressupõe produtos de boa qualidade e em quantidade suficiente para atendê-lo. A adubação orgânica, nesse sentido, tem se mostrado uma ferramenta muito importante para a obtenção de produtos mais saudáveis e para a manutenção de uma produção sustentável e sem gastos excessivos. Assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento de raízes de cenoura da variedade Esplanada, cultivadas com diferentes compostos orgânicos. Os tratamentos consistiram da aplicação de 12 compostos, esterco bovino e fertilizante mineral em um Espodossolo Ferrocárbico Órtico êutrico, proveniente de Arapiraca-AL, em condições de cada de vegetação, totalizando 14 tratamentos, no qual cultivou-se cenoura, variedade Esplanada. Estes tratamentos foram dispostos em delineamento de blocos casualizados com 4 repetições. Avaliaram-se as variáveis: comprimento, diâmetro, produção de raízes e absorção de nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio, cálcio e magnésio. Estes compostos orgânicos foram mesclados a partir de duas misturas básicas: (MBcana, mistura contendo bagaço de cana + torta de filtro + esterco bovino + fosfato natural e MBcoco, mistura onde o bagaço de cana foi substituído por bagaço de coco-verde), nos quais adicionouse soluções com concentrações crescentes de vinhaça, obtendo-se 12 compostos distintos: C1: MBcana; C2: MBcana + solução com vinhaça a 25%; C3: MBcana + solução com vinhaça a 50%; C4: MBcana + solução com vinhaça a 75%; C5: MBcana + 100 %vinhaça; C6: MBcana + água + sultafo de potássio; C7: MBcoco; C8: MBcoco + solução com vinhaça a 25%; C9: MBcoco + solução com vinhaça a 50%; C10: MBcoco + solução com vinhaça a 75%; C11: MBcoco + 100 % vinhaça e C12: MBcoco + água + sulfato de potássio. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas entre si pelo teste Tukey, com P < 0,05, além de terem sido feitos contrastes ortogonais para o teor de fósforo das mesmas, mediante o software Sisvar. Não foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas entre os tratamentos para as variáveis comprimento, diâmetro e produção de raízes. Em relação à absorção de nutrientes, também não houve diferença estatística entre os tratamentos, com exceção à absorção de fósforo, onde pôde se observar um melhor desempenho dos tratamentos à base de bagaço de cana.