Black Carrot Anthocyanin Boost via Pre-Harvest Ethylene Spraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for obtaining anthocyanin pigment from carrot plants do not effectively enhance the yield or amount of anthocyanin pigment, making the use of ethylene-releasing compounds economically unattractive despite their potential benefits.
Innovation Solution
A method involving pre-harvest foliar spraying of an ethylene-releasing compound, such as 2-Chloroethylphosphonic acid, on black carrot leaves to increase the anthocyanin concentration in the roots by more than 35%, followed by harvesting and isolating the anthocyanins to obtain a higher yield of anthocyanin pigment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pre-harvest foliar spraying of ethylene-releasing compound is applied to black carrot plants, then the anthocyanin concentration in roots increases by more than 35%, but the production cost and complexity increase due to additional spraying operations
Solution Approach 1:
The ethylene-releasing compound is applied through foliar spraying before harvest to trigger anthocyanin accumulation in advance. This preliminary action allows the plants to accumulate the desired pigment concentration before root extraction, ensuring high anthocyanin yield when the roots are harvested and processed for pigment extraction.
2Quantity of substance
If pre-harvest foliar spraying of ethylene-releasing compound is applied to black carrot plants, then the anthocyanin concentration in roots increases by more than 35%, but the production time and labor costs increase due to additional spraying operations
Solution Approach 1:
The spraying operation is performed at an optimized time point before harvest to initiate anthocyanin accumulation. By timing the application correctly, the method allows sufficient time for pigment accumulation while minimizing the additional production time required compared to conventional methods that would require larger cultivation areas or multiple harvests.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method significantly enhances the anthocyanin concentration in carrot roots by 49-65% compared to controls, allowing for a higher yield of anthocyanin pigment suitable for coloring edible and pharmaceutical products.
Implementation Method 1
Compounds that release ethylene when sprayed on plants have become of major economic importance, being used to accelerate diverse ethylene responses such as induction of flowering, stimulation of latex flow, leaf and branchlet abscission, fruit ripening, fruit abscission, and pod dehiscence.
Implementation Method 2
Anthocyanins are regarded as both secondary metabolites and as antioxidants. The accumulation of secondary metabolites often requires elicitors, which usually act as signalling molecules of plant stress responses.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for obtaining an anthocyanin pigment color composition from carrot plants (preferably black carrot plants) comprising pre-harvest foliar spraying of an ethylene-releasing compound and the use of the obtained anthocyanin pigment color composition for coloring of an edible product or a pharmaceutical product.