Given the current promotion of more plant-based, nutrient-rich diets, secondary plant metabolites will draw increased attention. Carotenoids – a certain group of secondary plant metabolites – have been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases, i.e. degenerative eye diseases.
After Prof. Baldermann moved to the University of Bayreuth, this research group at the IGZ was assigned to QUALITY.1. The projects and staff will be supervised by Prof. Baldermann until the end of the term.
Moreover, specific carotenoids exhibit provitamin A activity. In addition, our Research Group has a strong interest in apocarotenoids (carotenoid degradation products), which are aroma impact compounds, serve as precursors of plant hormones and unknown carotenoid derived signalling compounds.
We are pursuing an integrated assessment of carotenoid homeostasis pathways in vegetables in order to understand how the plants interact with changing production and climate conditions. Building on our expertise on carotenoid biosynthesis and catabolism, our most important objectives are: to investigate the genetic diversity, to study the effect of environmental stimuli on carotenoid homeostasis, identify endogenous regulatory mechanisms of the carotenoid homeostasis, and elucidate the dietary effects of modulated (apo)carotenoid profiles.
