Gene structure and potential regulation of the lycopene cyclase genes in L.

Unlabelled: Lycopene cyclases (LCYs) are a key branching point in regulating the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in plants. L. is characterized by the presence in its seed of bixin, an apocarotenoid of significant importance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Advancing carotenoid Quantification: A new method for semi-quantitative assessment of β -Carotene and lycopene content in food extracts.

Carotenoids, such as lycopene and β-carotene, have been widely recognized for their antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Accurate quantification of carotenoids in plant extracts is essential for nutritional assessment, quality control, and research investigations. This study introduces an innovative method for quantifying lycopene and β-carotene, in plant extracts and aims to bridge the gap between complex and expensive carotenoid quantification techniques and the need for accessible methods that can be widely adopted.

Gene expression profile during seed development of accessions varying in bixin pigment.

Diverse morphological, cellular and physiological changes occur during seed maturation in when the seed tissues form specialized cell glands that produce reddish latex with high bixin amounts. Transcriptomic profiling during seed development in three accessions (P12, N4 and N5) with contrasting morphologic characteristics showed enrichment in pathways of triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and cuticular wax biosynthesis. WGCNA allows groups of all identified genes in six modules the module turquoise, the largest and highly correlated with the bixin content.

Gene expression analysis during the fruit development in dehiscent and indehiscent L. accessions.

Unlabelled: Fruit morphology and dehiscence-related genes were analyzed in dehiscent N4P and dehiscent P12 accessions. Fruit architecture (exocarp and pericarp cells, trichomes, vascular bundles, vesicles, and bixin cells) documented by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphology, blue toluidine stain, and phloroglucinol and hydrochloric acid (PHCL) stain was similar in both accessions. Although, the dehiscent zone (DZ) was higher in the indehiscent P12 accession, lignification values, obtained by phloroglucinol and hydrochloric acid stain, within the DZ remain was similar in both variants being lower at 34 days after floral anthesis in the dehiscent N4P accession.