Carrots are a multi-nutritional food source. They are an important root vegetable, rich in natural bioactive compounds, which are recognised for their nutraceutical effects and health benefits. This review summarises the occurrence, biosynthesis, factors affecting concentration, and health benefits of phytochemicals found in Daucus carota. Two hundred and fifty-five articles including original research papers, books, and book chapters were analysed, of which one hundred and thirty articles (most relevant to the topic) were selected for writing the review article. The four types of phytochemicals found in carrots, namely phenolics, carotenoids, polyacetylenes, and ascorbic acid, were summarised. These chemicals aid in the risk reduction of cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, plasma lipid modification, and anti-tumour properties. Numerous factors influence the amount and type of phytochemicals present in carrots. Genotype (colour differences) plays an important role; high contents of α and β-carotene are present in orange carrots, lutein in yellow carrots, lycopene in red carrots, anthocyanins in the root of purple carrots, and phenolic compounds abound in black carrots. Carotenoids range between 3.2 mg/kg and 170 mg/kg, while vitamin C varies from 21 mg/kg to 775 mg/kg between cultivars. Growth temperatures of carrots influence the level of the sugars, carotenoids, and volatile compounds, so that growing in cool conditions results in a higher yield and quality of carrots, while higher temperatures would increase terpene synthesis, resulting in carrots with a bitter taste. It is worthwhile to investigate the cultivation of different genotypes under various environmental conditions to increase levels of phytochemicals and enhance the nutritional value of carrot, along with the valorisation of carrot by-products.

Broomrapes (Orobanche sp.) are root holoparasitic plants causing severe damage to various families of horticultural crops. A Preliminary survey was carried in tomato fields infested with orobanche in Potohar plateau of Pakistan. Results indicated that each planting bed comprising10-12 tomato plants contained 7-8 parasitic weeds. Overall survey indicated the 65-70% plants suffered partial or complete yield loss. Further, it was estimated that the number of weeds inhabiting plant^-1 was ranged from 2-4. Yield loss was estimated at 57.17 tons/ha while in terms of financial loss, it was 2579.87 $/ha. Hence total estimated loss on the total surveyed area of 16 hectares was 41395.85 $. The high potential of tomato cultivation in Pakistan reinforces the urgent protection measures to resolve this emerging issue.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is an important commercial fruit in southern China. In this study, the antioxidant activity and total contents of phenolics and flavonoids of two guava cultivars that with different pulp color were examined. The contents of total phenolics and flavonoids increased during maturation in guava fruit. And red-flesh guava showed higher contents of total phenolics and flavonoids than white-flesh guava. Both DPPH and FRAP assays indicated that antioxidant activity increased during fruit maturation. Strong and positive correlations between total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were observed in our study. Our results suggest that the antioxidant activity and contents of total phenolics and flavonoids in P. guajava vary significantly among different cultivar and pulp color.

Background. Carrot is a multi-nutritional food source. It is an important root vegetable, rich in natural bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties, such as antioxidants that have anti-carcinogenic properties. Aim. This review summarises the occurrences and biosynthesis of phytochemicals and factors affecting their concentration in carrot and their pharmacological functions related to human health. Method. 155 articles including original research papers, books, book chapters were downloaded and 94 articles (most relevant to the topic) were selected for writing the review article. The rejected research papers were too old or irrelevant. Results. Carrot contains important phytochemicals i.e. phenolic compounds, carotenoids, polyacetylenes and ascorbic acid which are bioactive compounds and recognised for their nutraceutical effects and health benefits. These chemicals aid in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, plasma lipid modification and anti-tumour properties. This vegetable can be used to improve the health of poor people, especially in developing countries. Discussion. We recommend carrot to be promoted as a food security and food safety crop in the future to meet the global food demands in developed as well as in developing countries. Future cultivation programmes should focus on the cultivation of carrot for its phytochemicals to improve the health of impoverished people.

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a popular crop grown as field and backyard vegetable in Asian countries. A field experiment was performed using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) to assess the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the productivity of bitter gourd cv. Faisalabad Long. There were four treatments viz. control (no PGR), GA3 100 mg L-1, IAA 200 mg L-1 and GA3 50 + IAA 100 mg L-1, and each treatment was replicated thrice. Results revealed that untreated (control) plants took maximum days to flower (45.66), while both GA3 100 mg L-1 and GA3 50 + IAA 100 mg L-1 treated plants behaved statistically alike with 41.00 and 42.33 days, respectively. Application of GA3 100 mg L-1 depicted significant superiority for fruit length, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and seed yield per plant. However, statistically similar response was recorded for all the PGR treatments for male and female flowers per plant, time to first harvest, number of fruits per plant and fruit diameter; while maximum vine length at final harvest was recorded when GA3 and IAA were applied in combination. Overall results indicated that application of GA3 100 mg L-1 resulted in early crop maturity and significantly higher fruit yield per plant when compared with other treatments.

| A field study was conducted to assess the potential role of phosphorus (P) on growth and yield of Phalsa ( Grewia asiatica L.). Healthy phalsa plants were fertilized with P 2 O 5 @ 50g, 100g and 150g plant -1 . Data were recorded on number of fruit bush -1 , yield bush -1 (kg), single fruit weight (g), fruit diameter (cm), number of fruiting nodes, length of new shoot (cm), number of sprouted shoots cane -1 and leaf area (cm 2 ). Treatments were applied under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in triplicates and means were compared by Tukey’s HSD test. Association of the biological traits of phalsa with phosphorus was further estimated by correlation analysis. Results indicated that phosphorus application @ 150g plant -1 has improved various traits i.e. number of fruit bush -1 (4866.7), yield bush -1 (2.19 kg), single fruit weight (0.656 g), number of fruiting nodes (12.18) and number of sprouted shoots cane -1 (13.89). However, vegetative characters particularly leaf area showed negative correlation (-0.264) with the increased amount of phosphorus. Fruit diameter (p=0.993) and length of new shoot (p=0.122) did not exhibited any correlation with applied phosphorus. Overall it is concluded that phosphorus is not only helpful but necessarily required for fruit quality and optimum yield of phalsa.