Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract
The global popularity of tea is due to its unique taste and health benefits, which are highly linked with its nutrient and antioxidant activity (AOA). However, diverse growing habitats, including distinct altitudes and soil edaphic factors, may regulate foliar nutrition and AOA of tea. Thus, this study aimed to (1) compare the nutritional characteristics and AOA of clonal tea grown in lowland and highland plantations and (2) investigate the influence of soil edaphic factors on tea foliar nutrition and AOA. Tea leaves and soils of fourteen tea clones were sampled between October 2021 to March 2022 from lowland and highland plantations in Peninsular Malaysia. Leaves were analysed for nutritional content and antioxidant activity, while soil samples underwent physical and nutritional analysis. Results showed significant variations in most foliar nutrients, except for Ca in the lowlands and Fe in the highlands. While the highland-grown tea exhibited higher nutrient concentration, lowland-grown tea demonstrated superior AOA. AT53 and 1248 were identified as promising among the clones, characterized by the highest nutrients and AOA levels, respectively. Soil nutrient availability significantly influenced foliar nutrient uptake, while soil pH was associated with the AOA. These findings highlight the critical role of soil edaphic factors in shaping tea quality, providing valuable insight for tea growers to optimize soil management strategies and maintain tea yield and quality in the future. We found that soil nutrients have a significant association with nutrient uptake, while soil pH is associated with the agronomic characteristics of tea. Investigating the association between ecological variables and tea foliar properties (nutrients and AOA) is of great importance for tea growers as they develop strategies to maintain the yield and quality of tea in the future.
Volume 24, Issue 5 (9-2022)
Abstract
Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a warm-season plant, which is originated from Andes and Mesoamerica. There are wide range of morphological and biochemical characteristics in snap bean varieties. Snap bean is harvested for its green pods. The pods are a valuable source of dietary protein, essential vitamins, low-calorie carbohydrates, fiber, and minerals for human health. The evaluation of eight different snap bean varieties, namely, ‘Pirbakran’, ‘Sunray’, ‘Burpees’, ‘Valentine’, ‘Dragon’, ‘Kentucky’, ‘Cherokee’, and ‘Id-Market’ for their cultivation and nutritional value illustrated that P. vulgaris var. Burpees’ had higher carotenoid (56%), antioxidant (16%), and phenolic compound (69%) than the popular commercial variety’ Pirbakran’. Folate content was 33%, and total essential amino acids were 20.6% higher than ‘Pirbakran’, while the pole type ‘Kentucky’ showed better vegetative and pod yield indices. Additionally, ‘Burpees’ had the highest calcium content, which was almost 40% higher than the other varieties and two times higher in Zn compared to ‘Valentine’ and ‘Kentucky’. In conclusion, ‘Burpees’ can be recommended based on its high productivity in terms of vegetative growth and pod yield, and nutraceutical values, including folate and total essential amino acids, compared to the other seven varieties.
