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#1
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Hey guys,
I'm a college student and I'm trying to dig up information about the evolutionary advantage of bromelain in pineapples. Could anyone give me a few pointers or lead me in the right direction? Thanks! |
#2
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
In article ,
Lambert wrote: I'm a college student and I'm trying to dig up information about the evolutionary advantage of bromelain in pineapples. Could anyone give me a few pointers or lead me in the right direction? Do an experiment. Buy a whole fresh pineapple. Peel and eat. Reflect that domestic pineapples have been highly selected for palatability. Note that cooked (e.g. canned) pineapple does not have the same effect. |
#3
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
I know about the effects of bromelin on polypeptide chains and how it
hydrolizes proteins. Also, the canning process denatures the enzymes via heat. Hence you don't get the tingling sensation on your tongue (the pineapple is actually catalysing proteins on your tongue.) I'm just wondering about why the pineapple and other fruits (papayas, pawpaws) have evolved to have bromelin enzymes. What exactly is the particular survival advantage of having such a trait? "Beverly Erlebacher" wrote in message . .. In article , Lambert wrote: I'm a college student and I'm trying to dig up information about the evolutionary advantage of bromelain in pineapples. Could anyone give me a few pointers or lead me in the right direction? Do an experiment. Buy a whole fresh pineapple. Peel and eat. Reflect that domestic pineapples have been highly selected for palatability. Note that cooked (e.g. canned) pineapple does not have the same effect. |
#4
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Lambert schreef
I know about the effects of bromelin on polypeptide chains and how it hydrolizes proteins. Also, the canning process denatures the enzymes via heat. Hence you don't get the tingling sensation on your tongue (the pineapple is actually catalysing proteins on your tongue.) I'm just wondering about why the pineapple and other fruits (papayas, pawpaws) have evolved to have bromelin enzymes. What exactly is the particular survival advantage of having such a trait? + + + One of the avenues to explore is the direct one: these enzymes are in the fruits the fruits are eaten, and hopefully the seeds are spread the plants that has the fruits that are preferred by those animals that spread the fruits the furthest or to the most suitable locations will survive best etc Another is the systematic approach in what plant groups do these enzyms occur? do these plant groups have similar enzyms used for something else? etc PvR |
#5
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
I've done some rough research and all I can come up with is that the enzyme
may have something to do with the plant's method to acquire nutrients. The crown at the top of the pineapple collects decomposing material and absorbs nutrients this way. I thought about the enzymes being appealing for eating etc. but Bromelin hydrolizes proteins and would be generally uncomfortable for an animal to eat (speculation)? Certainly when humans eat pineapples their tongues can feel itchy/raw/red etc... "P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in message .. . Lambert schreef I know about the effects of bromelin on polypeptide chains and how it hydrolizes proteins. Also, the canning process denatures the enzymes via heat. Hence you don't get the tingling sensation on your tongue (the pineapple is actually catalysing proteins on your tongue.) I'm just wondering about why the pineapple and other fruits (papayas, pawpaws) have evolved to have bromelin enzymes. What exactly is the particular survival advantage of having such a trait? + + + One of the avenues to explore is the direct one: these enzymes are in the fruits the fruits are eaten, and hopefully the seeds are spread the plants that has the fruits that are preferred by those animals that spread the fruits the furthest or to the most suitable locations will survive best etc Another is the systematic approach in what plant groups do these enzyms occur? do these plant groups have similar enzyms used for something else? etc PvR |
#7
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
This is assuming that a diet consists of pineaple only
PvR Lambert schreef I've done some rough research and all I can come up with is that the enzyme may have something to do with the plant's method to acquire nutrients. The crown at the top of the pineapple collects decomposing material and absorbs nutrients this way. I thought about the enzymes being appealing for eating etc. but Bromelin hydrolizes proteins and would be generally uncomfortable for an animal to eat (speculation)? Certainly when humans eat pineapples their tongues can feel itchy/raw/red etc... + + + "P van Rijckevorsel" wrote One of the avenues to explore is the direct one: these enzymes are in the fruits the fruits are eaten, and hopefully the seeds are spread the plants that has the fruits that are preferred by those animals that spread the fruits the furthest or to the most suitable locations will survive best etc Another is the systematic approach in what plant groups do these enzyms occur? do these plant groups have similar enzyms used for something else? etc PvR .... Lambert schreef I know about the effects of bromelin on polypeptide chains and how it hydrolizes proteins. Also, the canning process denatures the enzymes via heat. Hence you don't get the tingling sensation on your tongue (the pineapple is actually catalysing proteins on your tongue.) I'm just wondering about why the pineapple and other fruits (papayas, pawpaws) have evolved to have bromelin enzymes. What exactly is the particular survival advantage of having such a trait? |
#8
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Perhaps the "purpose" is insecticidal. Ananas comosus wasn't always seedless
and the enzyme might have functioned as a toxin or repellant to insect larvae that could have damaged the fruit before the seeds could be dispersed. "Sean Houtman" wrote in message ... From: "P van Rijckevorsel" I'm just wondering about why the pineapple and other fruits (papayas, pawpaws) have evolved to have bromelin enzymes. What exactly is the particular survival advantage of having such a trait? + + + One of the avenues to explore is the direct one: these enzymes are in the fruits the fruits are eaten, and hopefully the seeds are spread the plants that has the fruits that are preferred by those animals that spread the fruits the furthest or to the most suitable locations will survive best etc Another is the systematic approach in what plant groups do these enzyms occur? do these plant groups have similar enzyms used for something else? etc I think the question sounds like, "why would a plant develop an enzyme that digests a potential seed distributor?" Maybe the seeds are distributed by a some organism with a salivary component that neutralizes the bromelin, and this is a way to get specificity for a distributor. Sean -- Visit my photolog page; http://members.aol.com/grommit383/myhomepage Last updated 08-04-02 with 15 pictures of the Aztec Ruins. Address mungled. To email, please spite my face. |
#9
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
From: "Jeff Shimonski"
Perhaps the "purpose" is insecticidal. Ananas comosus wasn't always seedless and the enzyme might have functioned as a toxin or repellant to insect larvae that could have damaged the fruit before the seeds could be dispersed. This also is a reasonable theory. It can easily be tested by examining wild species of Ananas for fruit predation by insects through various stages of developement. Sean -- Visit my photolog page; http://members.aol.com/grommit383/myhomepage Last updated 08-04-02 with 15 pictures of the Aztec Ruins. Address mungled. To email, please spite my face. |
#11
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Definitely some pineapples set seed, and I was incorrect in implying that all
A. comosus were infertile, but you might want to check out some of the literature by David H. Benzing or perhaps Studies in the Bromeliaceae by Lyman B. Smith, Contributions from the Reed Herbarium No. 28, 1977 under Ananas pp. 56 "Berry sterile in cultivated forms" "MMMavocado" wrote in message ... From: "Jeff Shimonski" Perhaps the "purpose" is insecticidal. Ananas comosus wasn't always seedless and the enzyme might have functioned as a toxin or repellant to insect larvae that could have damaged the fruit before the seeds could be dispersed. This also is a reasonable theory. It can easily be tested by examining wild species of Ananas for fruit predation by insects through various stages of developement. Sean BRBR This may be a bit off topic, but thought I'd reply to the "Ananas comosus wasn't always seedless," above. As far as I know, all pineapples are still completely fertile, and will make plenty of viable seeds IF they are pollenized by a different cultivar. They are quite self-incompatible, and are grown commercially in single-variety plantings to force seedlessness. |
#12
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Lambert schreef
I've done some rough research and all I can come up with is that the enzyme may have something to do with the plant's method to acquire nutrients. The crown at the top of the pineapple collects decomposing material and absorbs nutrients this way. I thought about the enzymes being appealing for eating etc. but Bromelin hydrolizes proteins and would be generally uncomfortable for an animal to eat (speculation)? Certainly when humans eat pineapples their tongues can feel itchy/raw/red etc... + + + A key question is the concentration of such enzymes in the fruits of the wild progenitors. The present properties of pineapples have been set by selection in cultivation. PvR |
#13
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Also does anyone happen to know the evolutionary history of the pineapple?
"Lambert" wrote in message u... Hey guys, I'm a college student and I'm trying to dig up information about the evolutionary advantage of bromelain in pineapples. Could anyone give me a few pointers or lead me in the right direction? Thanks! |
#14
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
Lambert schreef
Also does anyone happen to know the evolutionary history of the pineapple? ----- Original Message ----- From: P van Rijckevorsel Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 10:37 AM + + + A key question is the concentration of such enzymes in the fruits of the wild progenitors. The present properties of pineapples have been set by selection in cultivation. PvR Addendum: the pineapple likely is a hybrid PvR |
#15
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Bromeliads - Pineapples
You sound like a horticulturist when you dismiss a plant as being a hybrid.
They always confuse cultivars with hybrids. If Ananas comosus is a hybrid, what are the parent species? There are more than one species in the genus Ananas, so you have a few to choose from! P van Rijckevorsel wrote in message .. . Lambert schreef Also does anyone happen to know the evolutionary history of the pineapple? ----- Original Message ----- From: P van Rijckevorsel Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 10:37 AM + + + A key question is the concentration of such enzymes in the fruits of the wild progenitors. The present properties of pineapples have been set by selection in cultivation. PvR Addendum: the pineapple likely is a hybrid PvR |
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