| Resumo: |
Melatonin and serotonin are important phytochemicals with hormonal, antioxidant, immunoactive, and neuroactive biological properties, and have been identified and quantitated in a broad range of fruits, vegetables, and derivative products. Relatively little is known about the temporal profiles of these compounds during fruit and vegetable development. Improved knowledge in this area would help guide our understanding of fundamental plant physiology, as well as potentially facilitate better control of melatonin and serotonin concentrations and relative abundances in functional foods. The current work synthesizes the current state-of-the-art regarding the presence and trends of these compounds during fruit and vegetable development. The literature reflects sometimes conflicting conclusions regarding the temporal profiles of melatonin and serotonin during fruit and vegetable ripening. At present, it is unclear whether consistent trends can be identified within a particular species, and the direction and magnitude of effects from different geographic locations and management practices.
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