Chemical analysis and evolutionary relationship among four quelite cultivars

Quelites are a group of tender herbs widely consumed as vegetables in Mexico since pre-Hispanic times.
However, their consumption has slowly decreased due, among other reasons, to information loss regarding available species, uses and nutritional properties.
The aim of this work then, was to evaluate physical and chemical parameters in four quelite species (cenizo, purslane, pápalo, and pipicha) and to determine their evolutionary relationship based on the phylogenetic analysis.
Total phenolic compounds (TPC) were significantly lower in ‘Cenizo’ than in ‘Purslane’, and that the latter had the highest content of such compounds in its leaves (25.38 mg EGA g^‑1 dw). The FRAP method also had the highest correlation with TPC results (r²=0.34-0.99) and the phylogenetically related cultivars were ‘Pápalo’ with ‘Pipicha’ and ‘Cenizo’ with ‘Purslane’. The four quelite cultivars contain high levels of both minerals and phenolics; moreover, their phylogenetic relationship allowed us to preliminarily explore the evolutionary process in these plants at molecular level.

V International Conference on Postharvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions

D. Arrieta-Flores, C.Y. Ramírez-Zavaleta, F. Rivera-Cabrera, F. Díaz de León-Sánchez, C. Pelayo-Zaldívar, L.L. Rodríguez-Verástegui

dendogram, native plants, mineral content, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1340.34