Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)

This study investigates the impact of high temperature (HT) on the metabolic profile, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity of broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>) at different developmental stages—microgreens, seedlings, and two organs at th...

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Main Authors: Daria Gmižić, Ivana Šola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1825
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author Daria Gmižić
Ivana Šola
author_facet Daria Gmižić
Ivana Šola
author_sort Daria Gmižić
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the impact of high temperature (HT) on the metabolic profile, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity of broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>) at different developmental stages—microgreens, seedlings, and two organs at the mature stage (leaves and head). We used spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods to quantify the concentrations of different groups and individual phenolic compounds, <i>L</i>-ascorbic acids, soluble sugars, proteins, glucosinolates, nitrates, pigments, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity. The highest number of analyzed variables significantly impacted by HT was in mature broccoli heads, with the most substantial change being an increase in proline by 168%. The lowest number of variables susceptible to HT (66%) was in the leaves of mature broccoli. The most dramatic change observed in this study was an increase in proline in seedlings by 587%. Statistical analyses showed that developmental stage plays a dominant role in shaping metabolic profiles, while HT further modulates it. Based on the measured parameters, the average contribution of developmental stage to the variance was 75%, while temperature explained 39% of the variance. The highest proportion of variance caused by temperature was seen in proline (92%), followed by kaempferol (80%), chlorophyll <i>a</i>/<i>b</i> (76%), soluble sugars (73%), total flavonoids (65%), antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH (58%), and chlorophyll/carotenoids ratio (56%). Temperature explained more variance than developmental stage for the concentration of soluble sugars, total hydroxycinnamic acids, and total tannins, which indicates an important role of these metabolites’ groups in the response of broccoli to HTs. The interaction of developmental stage and temperature explained more variance than developmental stage alone for the concentration of total proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and phenolic acids. These findings underscore the complexity of metabolic regulation in broccoli and emphasize the importance of considering both developmental stage and environmental conditions when assessing its nutritional and functional properties.
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spelling doaj-art-6be6d2be04ae4c64a1ef3ef224a9c5842025-08-20T02:21:46ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011412182510.3390/plants14121825Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)Daria Gmižić0Ivana Šola1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaThis study investigates the impact of high temperature (HT) on the metabolic profile, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity of broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>) at different developmental stages—microgreens, seedlings, and two organs at the mature stage (leaves and head). We used spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods to quantify the concentrations of different groups and individual phenolic compounds, <i>L</i>-ascorbic acids, soluble sugars, proteins, glucosinolates, nitrates, pigments, oxidative-stress parameters, and antioxidant capacity. The highest number of analyzed variables significantly impacted by HT was in mature broccoli heads, with the most substantial change being an increase in proline by 168%. The lowest number of variables susceptible to HT (66%) was in the leaves of mature broccoli. The most dramatic change observed in this study was an increase in proline in seedlings by 587%. Statistical analyses showed that developmental stage plays a dominant role in shaping metabolic profiles, while HT further modulates it. Based on the measured parameters, the average contribution of developmental stage to the variance was 75%, while temperature explained 39% of the variance. The highest proportion of variance caused by temperature was seen in proline (92%), followed by kaempferol (80%), chlorophyll <i>a</i>/<i>b</i> (76%), soluble sugars (73%), total flavonoids (65%), antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH (58%), and chlorophyll/carotenoids ratio (56%). Temperature explained more variance than developmental stage for the concentration of soluble sugars, total hydroxycinnamic acids, and total tannins, which indicates an important role of these metabolites’ groups in the response of broccoli to HTs. The interaction of developmental stage and temperature explained more variance than developmental stage alone for the concentration of total proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and phenolic acids. These findings underscore the complexity of metabolic regulation in broccoli and emphasize the importance of considering both developmental stage and environmental conditions when assessing its nutritional and functional properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1825Brassicaceaeclimate changehigh temperaturemature broccolimicrogreensmetabolic response
spellingShingle Daria Gmižić
Ivana Šola
Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)
Plants
Brassicaceae
climate change
high temperature
mature broccoli
microgreens
metabolic response
title Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)
title_full Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)
title_fullStr Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)
title_short Developmental and Temperature-Driven Variations in Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>cymosa</i>)
title_sort developmental and temperature driven variations in metabolic profile and antioxidant capacity of broccoli i brassica oleracea i var i cymosa i
topic Brassicaceae
climate change
high temperature
mature broccoli
microgreens
metabolic response
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1825
work_keys_str_mv AT dariagmizic developmentalandtemperaturedrivenvariationsinmetabolicprofileandantioxidantcapacityofbroccoliibrassicaoleraceaivaricymosai
AT ivanasola developmentalandtemperaturedrivenvariationsinmetabolicprofileandantioxidantcapacityofbroccoliibrassicaoleraceaivaricymosai