Explore the vast range of titles available.

The chemo-mechanical extraction of sayote (Sechium edule) fibers and their use as reinforcement to biodegradable starch/polyvinyl alcohol composite blends were studied. Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed the removal of hemicelluloses from the fiber surface after 7 and 10 h of acid hydrolysis time. Scanning electron micrographs show the removal of surface impurities during chemical-mechanical treatment. There was a more exposed fiber surface after 7 and 10 h of acid hydrolysis time. However, fibers acid hydrolyzed for 10 h revealed the presence of more cracks on the fiber surface. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that 7 h acid hydrolyzed fiber had the highest relative crystallinity index of 64.9% as compared to the fiber that was acid hydrolyzed for 10 h with a relative crystallinity index of 58.6%. Both 7 h and 10 h acid hydrolyzed fibers gave 20% yield after extraction. The fiber that was hydrolyzed for 7 h was used as reinforcement to starch/polyvinyl alcohol composite and gave a bending and tensile strength of 5.36 MPa. The unreinforced composite gave a bending and tensile strength of 2.85 MPa. The scanning electron micrograph of the reinforced composite revealed a more homogeneous surface and lesser starch granule exposure as compared to the unreinforced composite with a rough and bumpy surface. The onset of degradation and carbonization of the fiber reinforced composite was seen at around 280 and 580 °C respectively.

β-Glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) is a prominent member of the GH1 family of glycoside hydrolases. The properties of this β-glucosidase appear to include resistance to temperature, urea, and iodoacetamide, and it is activated by 2-ME, similar to other members. β-Glucosidase from chayote (Sechium edule) was purified by ionic-interchange chromatography and molecular exclusion chromatography. Peptides detected by LC-ESI-MS/MS were compared with other β-glucosidases using the BLAST program. This enzyme is a 116 kDa protein composed of two sub-units of 58 kDa and shows homology with Cucumis sativus β-glucosidase (NCBI reference sequence XP_004154617.1), in which seven peptides were found with relative masses ranging from 874.3643 to 1587.8297. The stability of β-glucosidase depends on an initial concentration of 0.2 mg/mL of protein at pH 5.0 which decreases by 33% in a period of 30 h, and then stabilizes and is active for the next 5 days (pH 4.0 gives similar results). One hundred μg/mL β-D-glucose inhibited β-glucosidase activity by more than 50%. The enzyme had a Km of 4.88 mM with p-NPG and a Kcat of 10,000 min−1. The optimal conditions for the enzyme require a pH of 4.0 and a temperature of 50 °C.

Chayote (Sechium edule) produces edible tubers with high starch content after 1 year of growth but the mechanism of chayote tuberization remains unknown. ‘Tuershao’, a chayote cultivar lacking edible fruits but showing higher tuber yield than traditional chayote cultivars, was used to study tuber formation through integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles at three tuber-growth stages. Starch biosynthesis- and galactose metabolism-related genes and metabolites were significantly upregulated during tuber bulking, whereas genes encoding sugars will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) and sugar transporter (SUT) were highly expressed during tuber formation. Auxin precursor (indole-3-acetamide) and ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, were upregulated, suggesting that both hormones play pivotal roles in tuber development and maturation. Our data revealed a similar tuber-formation signaling pathway in chayote as in potatoes, including complexes BEL1/KNOX and SP6A/14-3-3/FDL. Down-regulation of the BEL1/KNOX complex and upregulation of 14-3-3 protein implied that these two complexes might have distinct functions in tuber formation. Finally, gene expression and microscopic analysis indicated active cell division during the initial stages of tuber formation. Altogether, the integration of transcriptome and metabolome analyses unraveled an overall molecular network of chayote tuberization that might facilitate its utilization.

Chayote squash (Sechium edule), commonly known in Indonesia as labu siam or sayur peria, offers not only its fiber content but also various bioactive compounds. Transforming chayote into powder may enhance its industrial versatility. Milling duration influences the functional properties of the powder; hence, an investigation into the effects of milling duration is essential. Dried chayote was prepared by hot-air-drying chayote slices at 70 °C with a Relative Humidity (RH) measurement until a moisture content of 10% was achieved. To produce chayote squash powder, the dried slices were milled for 2, 4, or 6 min with intermittent cooling. The study evaluated yield, bulk density, tapped density, color, water-holding capacity (WHC), wettability, swelling capacity, particle size distribution, moisture content, and water activity (aw). The results indicate that milling duration did not significantly impact the moisture content or overall yield (∼4%). More extended milling produced finer particles, which significantly increased bulk and tapped densities and decreased brightness (L*) with values of 6 min treatment of 0.67±0.02 g/mL, 0.86±0.06 g/mL, and 51.39±0.41, respectively. While flowability remained poor (Hausner Ratio ∼1.27–1.28). Extended milling reduced the water-holding capacity and aw, negatively affected wettability and swelling capacity, and increased the proportion of fine-sized particles. The 6-min milling duration yields the highest portion at 100 mesh of 21.00±0.03%; however, the particle distributions of these samples have not met the national common fine-flour standards.

Background Chayote is an underutilized species of Cucurbitaceae. It is rich in nutrients such as protein, minerals, phenols and its extracts have anti-cardiovascular and anti-cancer effects, making it a versatile plant for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Although research on its root tuber is limited, they are rich in starch and have a structure similar to that of potatoes, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Therefore, they can serve as potential substitutes for potatoes and offer promising prospects as agricultural and industrial resources. However, the physiological and cellular mechanisms of chayote root tuber formation and development are still unclear. Results In this study, we observed the growth habit of ‘Tuershao’ (high yield of root tuber). The results revealed that the tuber enlargement period of ‘Tuershao’ lasts approximately 120 days, with the early enlargement phase occurring during 0–30 days, rapid enlargement phase during 30–90 days, and maturation phase during 90–120 days. Physiological indicators demonstrated a gradual increase in starch content as the tuber developed. The activities of sucrose synthase (SUS) and invertase (VIN) showed a consistent trend, reaching the highest level in the rapid expansion period, which was the key enzyme affecting tuber expansion. Moreover, the special petal like structure formed by the secondary phloem and secondary xylem of the tuber resulted in its enlargement, facilitating the accumulation of abundant starch within the thin-walled cells of this structure. Principal component analysis further confirmed that starch content, SUS and VIN activities, as well as the concentrations of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se), were the major factors influencing tuber development. Moreover, the low temperature environment not only promoted the growth of ‘Tuershao’ tubers but also enhanced the accumulation of nutritional substances. Conclusions These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the formation and developmental mechanisms of ‘Tuershao’ tubers, providing valuable guidance for cultivation practices aimed at improving crop yield.

Background Chayote is a high economic crop in the Cucurbitaceae family, playing an important role in food production, disease treatment and the production of degradable materials in industries. Due to the harsh environment, such as high temperature, drought and frost, some chayote resources are gradually disappearing. It is crucial to collect, characterize, and conserve chayote resources. However, the genetic diversity of chayote resources in China has not been studied so far. Results In this study, we collected 35 individuals of chayote from 14 provinces in China. Subsequently, we found 363,156 SSR motifs from the chayote genome and designed 57 pairs of SSR primers for validation. Out of these, 48 primer pairs successfully amplified bands, with 42 of them showing polymorphism. These 42 primer pairs detected a total of 153 alleles, averaging 3.64 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.03 to 0.78, with an average value of 0.41, indicating a high level of polymorphism. Based on the analysis using STRUCTURE, PCoA, and UPGMA methods, the 35 chayote individuals were divided into two major clusters. Through further association analysis, 7 significantly associated SSR markers were identified, including four related to peel color and three related to spine. Conclusions These molecular markers will contribute to the analysis of genetic diversity and genetic breeding improvement of chayote in the future.

The hybrid Sechium edule H387 07, commonly known as chayote, has shown potential as an antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and pro-apoptotic agent in the murine leukemia cell lines P388 (macrophagic) and J774 (monocytic) and in the myelomonocytic leukemia cell line WEHI-3. However, despite these reported bioactivities, its pharmacokinetic profile remains largely unexplored. Understanding the absorption, distribution, and elimination of this hybrid is critical for addressing unmet therapeutic needs and for advancing the development of natural product-based therapies. These effects are attributed to the presence of phenols, flavonoids, and cucurbitacins in its organic extracts. In this study, the pharmacokinetic parameters of secondary metabolites from methanolic extracts of Sechium H387 07 were evaluated after oral administration in mice, while its segregant H387 M16 was subjected to complementary phytochemical characterization. Methanolic extracts of Sechium edule H387 07 were orally administered to mice at doses of 8, 125, and 250 mg/kg, and plasma, liver, and urine samples were collected at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h post-treatment. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified polyphenols and cucurbitacins, notably cucurbitacin B (CuB) and cucurbitacin IIA (CuIIA), in the biological samples, and pharmacokinetic variables such as the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax), half-life (T1/2), and volume of distribution (Vd) were determined. For instance, CuB exhibited a Cmax of 37.56 µg/mL at 1 h post-dose after oral administration of 125 mg/kg, confirming its rapid absorption and systemic distribution. Notably, the presence of CuIIA in plasma was documented for the first time, along with the pharmacokinetic profiles of apigenin, phloretin, CuB, CuE, and CuI. In parallel, the segregant H387 M16 was characterized via colorimetric assays, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), HPLC, and antioxidant activity tests, which revealed high levels of flavonoids, phenols, and cucurbitacins, with an antioxidant activity of approximately 75% at the highest tested dose (1 mg/mL), supporting its suitability for future bioassays. Overall, these findings not only provide novel pharmacokinetic data for key metabolites of the H387 07 hybrid but also establish the phytochemical and antioxidant profile of its segregant H387 M16. This dual characterization strengthens the evidence of the therapeutic potential of Sechium genotypes and provides a valuable foundation for future studies aiming to develop standardized protocols and explore translational applications in drug development and natural product-based therapies.

Background ‘Tuershao’ is a new chayote ( Sechium edule ) variety whose tuberous roots and tender shoots are edible. These parts are rich in beneficial substances, including amino acids, proteins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, cucurbitacin, and selenium, demonstrating their unique value. However, its ovary cannot develop into a mature fruit, and cutting techniques help to achieve the breeding of ‘Tuershao’. Results This study found that using peat soil as the substrate and treating semi-hard branches with 1.0 g·L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) achieved the highest rooting rate of 94.33%, with the maximum values in root length, root surface area, root volume, and root diameter. Additionally, exogenous hormone treatment led to greater fluctuations in the contents of soluble sugar, starch, and soluble protein in ‘Tuershao’. The activities of catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also enhanced. The contents of endogenous hormones such as auxin (IAA), cytokinin (CTK), and gibberellin A 3 (GA 3 ) increased, while abscisic acid (ABA) decreased. Conclusions Treating semi-hard branches with 1.0 g·L⁻¹ IBA on peat soil shows the best effect in promoting rooting of ‘Tuershao’ cuttings. Exogenous IBA can promote nutrient metabolism, enhance antioxidant enzyme activities, and regulate endogenous hormone levels in ‘Tuershao’ cuttings, thereby further promoting rooting.

Sticks are a type of snack food that is commonly made from wheat flour. However, there are ongoing efforts to reduce the reliance on wheat flour in such products. In this context, the use of mocaf as a substitute for wheat flour and the addition of chayote to the processing of sticks can significantly impact the properties of the final product. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of chayote and mocaf on the physical, chemical, and sensory attributes of sticks. The research used a factorial randomized block design with treatment; C: chayote (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) and F:wheat flour: mocaf ratio (1:1; 1:2; 1:3) for three replicates. The results showed that the addition of chayote and mocaf affected the characteristics of the sticks produced. The most preferred treatment by the panelists was C3F1 with values for water content, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrate, a-value, b-value, L-value, and yield of 5.31; 1.85; 29.75; 7.33; 55.76; 3.67; 60.00; 79.67 and 98.94, respectively. Increasing the amount of chayote makes the stick dough more difficult to shape. The more the addition of mocaf makes the texture of the stick more crumbly and easily crushable; the more the aroma and distinctive taste of mocaf become stronger; so the stick was less preferred.

Chayote ( Sechium edule ) is an agricultural crop in the Cucurbitaceae family that is rich in bioactive components. To enhance genetic research on chayote, we used Nanopore third-generation sequencing combined with Hi–C data to assemble a draft chayote genome. A chromosome-level assembly anchored on 14 chromosomes (N50 contig and scaffold sizes of 8.40 and 46.56 Mb, respectively) estimated the genome size as 606.42 Mb, which is large for the Cucurbitaceae, with 65.94% (401.08 Mb) of the genome comprising repetitive sequences; 28,237 protein-coding genes were predicted. Comparative genome analysis indicated that chayote and snake gourd diverged from sponge gourd and that a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event occurred in chayote at 25 ± 4 Mya. Transcriptional and metabolic analysis revealed genes involved in fruit texture, pigment, flavor, flavonoids, antioxidants, and plant hormones during chayote fruit development. The analysis of the genome, transcriptome, and metabolome provides insights into chayote evolution and lays the groundwork for future research on fruit and tuber development and genetic improvements in chayote.