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Anaerobic co-digestion of agri-industrial residues in livestock manure management for circular bioeconomy enhancement in alpine territories
No full textThe alpine regions are inclined to tourism and livestock farming but their territory shows some peculiarities, such as sloped fields and roads, remote small-scale agri-food farms with a heterogeneous distribution, and site-specific industrial companies with seasonal residues. In some cases, agri-food residues are sent outside the region or disposed of as wastes, even if they contain a high amount of nutrients that could be reintegrated into agriculture (mainly through co-digestion). The main aim of this study is to put the basis for a mountain-district management model for energy and nutrient exploitation of the organic residue streams deriving from farming and the agri-food sector, thus proposing solutions for local bioeconomy business models at the district level, with new biobased alternatives to replace the conventional synthetic fertilizers. Firstly, an inventory of local organic waste characterization of Trentino region (Italy) was realized, reporting for each stream its quantity, localization, typology, seasonality, actual destination, biomethane potential (BMP), and nutrient content when available from literature (N, P, K). The implementation of the organic waste inventory allowed an estimation of maximum biomethane potential of about 21.1·106 Nm3 CH4/year (of which 17.5·106 from livestock manure, 2.2·106 from non-seasonal agri-food residues, and 1.3·106 from seasonal agri-food residues). Moreover, as regards nutrient availability (N and P), selected local agri-food residues (MIX: fruit processing residues, brewery spent grains, exhausted grape marc, and bread residues) could provide a theoretical stock of 208 and 41 tons/year for total nitrogen and total phosphorus, respectively. The integration of these quantities in the circular bioeconomy has the potential for fossil fertilizer substitution and local sustainable recycling of nutrients of, respectively, 12.4%N (over 1678 tonsN/year) and 14.1%P (over 290 tonsP/year) of the total nutrient content in the fertilizers distributed in Trentino (ISTAT, 2022). Secondly, the experimental activity focused on the integration of agri-industrial residues with livestock slurry in anaerobic digestion (AD). The batch tests on their biomethane potential (BMP) were analysed to assess the synergistic effect of different substrates in co-digestion (as in Li et al., 2018), sometimes even negative (from -13% to +30% concerning the weighted sum of a single BMP). The MIX was also analysed. The MIX was tested in a semi-continuous anaerobic test with cow slurry manure in the ratio of 30:70 w/w, respectively, as it is admitted in anaerobic digesters located in agricultural lands. There is a significant increase in biogas production in co-digestion tests but, together with the increase in specific methane potential, there is a higher increase in specific carbon dioxide potential. Thus, innovative techniques to enhance the methanogenic activity and/or carbon capture and utilization (CCU) techniques are advocated in future evaluations to improve the carbon footprint of the whole processing chain
Assessing the impacts of land use and climate change on the distribution patterns of Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae) in the Canary Islands
Get PDFBiological invasions are one of the major threats to biodiversity, but their impact is particularly detrimental on oceanic islands like the Canary Archipelago. The common gorse (Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae)) is a highly invasive shrub with established populations in Tenerife, the sole island of the archipelago where it is present. Understanding the habitat preferences of U. europaeus is essential for predicting its current and potential future distribution across Tenerife and other Canary Islands, guiding effective local management practices. In 2019 and 2020, we surveyed different populations of U. europaeus in Tenerife, retrieving information on its abundance, presence of other invasive species and most frequent natural and anthropogenic characteristics of the landscape. We used this information to build explanatory and predictive models to identify the key natural and anthropogenic drivers of U. europaeus abundance in Tenerife and estimate the potential distribution of the species across the whole archipelago under current and future climatic conditions. Our findings showed that U. europaeus thrives in humid areas impacted by human activities where other invasive species persist. Both current and future climatic conditions do not support the presence of the species in the more arid islands of the archipelago (i.e., Fuerteventura and Lanzarote), rather highlight that the windwards, and thus more humid, areas of the other islands might support the species also under future warmer climatic scenarios. These findings deepen our understanding of U. europaeus local dynamics and are crucial to inform targeted management strategies to mitigate its impact across the Canary Archipelago and, ultimately, oceanic island
Chitosan from mushroom by-products: sustainable extraction process and winemaking application
No full textSeed-borne fungi associated with tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle)
Get PDFAilanthus is a highly invasive alien tree species that produces numerous seeds with a high germination rate, facilitating long-distance dispersal by wind. Ailanthus decline, attributed to the genus Verticillium has been reported in recent years. In other plant species, Verticillium spp. can overwinter as mycelium in propagative plant organs such as tubers, bulbs, and seeds. Given that the association between seeds and pathogens is a crucial strategy for pathogen dispersal and survival in the environment, it was hypothesized that seed infestation could play a role in the transmission system of Verticillium dahliae. in Ailanthus. To test this hypothesis, seeds were collected from both healthy and infected plants, disinfested with sodium hypochlorite, plated on agarized media, and then incubated at 22°C. The plates were monitored for 10 days, and fungal colonies were isolated. Additionally, seed DNA was analyzed by qPCR using specific primers (VertBtF/VertBt-R) to detect the presence of V. dahliae. The fungus was not isolated from seeds in media plates, nor was its presence detected by molecular method. Instead, other fungal species were identified with Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Bipolaris sorokiana, Cladosporium herbarum, Clonostachys rosea and Diaporthe eres being the most frequently isolated fungi. Adittionally, two yeasts genera, Sporobolomyces and Kwoniella, were isolated. Future analysis using Metabarcode sequencing will be conducted to better investigate the presence of Verticillium dahliae and to explore deeper the fungal biodiversity on Ailanthus seeds
Effect of DEM used for terrain correction on forest windthrow detection using COSMO SkyMed data
Get PDFPreprocessing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data is a crucial initial stage in leveraging SAR data for remote sensing applications. Terrain correction, both radiometric and geometric, and the detection of layover/shadow areas hold significant importance when SAR data are collected over mountainous regions. This study aims at investigating the impact of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) used for terrain correction (radiometric and geometric) and for mapping layover/shadow areas on windthrow detection using COSMO SkyMed SAR images. The terrain correction was done using a radiometric and geometric terrain correction algorithm. Specifically, we evaluated five different DEMs: (i–ii) a digital terrain model and a digital surface model derived from airborne LiDAR flights; (iii) the ALOS Global Digital Surface Model; (iv) the Copernicus global DEM; and (v) the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM. All five DEMs were resampled at 2 m and 30 m pixel spacing, obtaining a total of 10 DEMs. The terrain-corrected COSMO SkyMed SAR images were employed for windthrow detection in a forested area in the north of Italy. The findings revealed significant variations in windthrow detection across the ten corrections. The detailed LiDAR-derived terrain model (i.e., DTM at 2 m pixel spacing) emerged as the optimal choice for both pixel spacings considere
Comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of Zika virus: Insights into its origin, past evolutionary dynamics, and global spread
Get PDFBackground Zika virus (ZIKV), a Flaviviridae family member, has been linked to severe neurological disorders. Despite detailed studies on recent outbreaks, the early evolutionary history of ZIKV remains partially unclear. This study elucidates ZIKV origin and evolutionary dynamics, focusing on recombination events, early lineage diversification, and virus spread across continents. Methods We assessed recombination using multiple methods. We conducted Bayesian phylogenetic analyses to understand the evolutionary relationships and timing of key diversification events. Model selection was carried out to determine the most appropriate evolutionary model for our dataset. Results Our phylogenies revealed recent recombination between Singaporean and African lineages, indicating the co-circulation of diverse lineages during outbreaks. Thailand was identified as a crucial hub in the spread across Asia. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that the ZIKV lineage dates back to the eleventh century, with the first significant diversification occurring in the nineteenth century. The timing of the re-introduction of the Asian lineage into Africa and the delay between probable introduction and outbreak onset were also determined. Conclusions This study provides novel insights into ZIKV's origin and early evolutionary dynamics, highlighting Thailand's role in the spread of the virus in Asia and recent recombination events between distant lineages. These findings emphasize the need for continuous surveillance and a better understanding of ZIKV biology to forecast and mitigate future outbreak
Involving citizen scientists in monitoring arthropod vectors of human and zoonotic diseases: the case of Mosquito Alert in Italy
Get PDFCitizen science has been particularly effective in gathering reliable, timely, large-scale data on the presence and distributions of animal species, including mosquito vectors of human and zoonotic pathogens. This involves the participation of citizen scientists in research projects, with success strongly dependent on the capacity to disseminate project information and engage citizen scientists to contribute their time. Mosquito Alert is a citizen science that aids in the system surveillances of vector mosquitoes. It involves citizen scientists providing expert-validated photos of targeted mosquitoes, along with records of bites and breeding sites. Since 2020 the system has been disseminated throughout Europe. This article uses models to analyze the effect of promotion activities carried out by the Mosquito Alert ITALIA team from October 2020 to December 2022 on the number of citizen scientists recruited and engaged in the project, and their performance in mosquito identification. Results show a high level of citizen scientist recruitment (N > 18.000; 37 % of overall European participants). This was achieved mostly through articles generated by ad hoc press releases detailing the app's goals and functioning. Press releases were more effective when carried out at the beginning and end of the mosquito season and when mosquito's public health significance was emphasized. Despite the high number of records received (N > 20.000), only 30 % of registered participants sent records, and the probability of a participant sending a record dropped off quickly over time after first registering. Among participants who contributed, ∼50 % sent 1 record, ∼30 % ≥3 and 4 % >10 records. Participants showed good capacity to identify mosquitoes and improve identification skills with app usage. The results will be valuable for anyone interested in evaluating citizen science, as participation and engagement are seldom quantitatively assessed. Our results are also useful for designing dissemination and education strategies in citizen science projects associated with arthropod vector monitorin
Biometano dagli scarti agroalimentari della Provincia di Trento: stima del potenziale
No full textIl Piano Energetico Ambientale della Provincia di Trento 2021-2030 individua, fra i vari propositi, opportunità di valorizzazione energetica attraverso la produzione di biogas/biometano delle biomasse di scarto generate dalle filiere agroalimentari trentine. Per la prima volta in Provincia di Trento, grazie ad uno studio iniziato nel 2022 su incarico dell’Agenzia provinciale per le risorse idriche e l’energia, la Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) ha quantificato il biogas potenziale ottenibile dai principali scarti agroalimentari generati sul territorio provinciale, individuando aree territoriali ottimali – anche con riferimento alle zone vulnerabili ai nitrati – e verificando la resa di possibili mix di co-fermentanti, al fine di fornire un supporto preventivo alle successive fasi di pianificazione per la realizzazione degli impianti di valorizzazione degli effluenti zootecnici abbinabili a scarti agroindustriali, nel rispetto della normativa di settor
Deciphering the genetic control of the tolerance to mal secco in lemon through a multi-parental QTL approach
No full textLemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.] is one of the most important citrus species, mainly prized for the organoleptic and nutraceutical properties of the juice and the peel (Muccilli et al., 2020). Since more than a century, mal secco, a tracheomycosis caused by the fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus, represents a major threat for lemon cultivation in many Mediterranean countries, and mainly in Italy, causing the desiccation of twigs and branches leading, often, to the death of the plant (Catalano et al., 2021). To detect candidate genes linked to tolerance to mal secco, one inter- and one intra-specific segregating populations were obtained crossing two tolerant genotypes namely: ‘Interdonato’ lemon, and Citrus latipes, with the highly susceptible ‘Femminello Siracusano 2Kr’ lemon, generating a total of 240 seedlings. Two phenotyping methods were applied in parallel for two consecutive seasons: the artificial inoculation of the leaves and the in vivo assessment of symptoms through the cultivation in an area characterized by a high selective pressure of the pathogen. The genotyping was performed using a single-primer enrichment technology (SPET), leading to the definition of 49,478 robust SNPs; the known ancestors of lemon (citron, pummelo, mandarin and sour orange) were also genotyped to achieve a more complete picture of the allelic flow through generations. Marker-trait association analysis was carried out employing a pedigree-based approach (PBA) in which all accessions are analyzed simultaneously taking advantage of the availability of the pedigree records. Preliminary results highlighted the presence of a major QTLs in LG5. The understanding of the genetic regulation of the tolerance to mal secco and the availability of molecular markers linked to this trait will play a crucial role toward the obtainment of novel varieties coupling resistance to mal secco with optimal fruit quality and productivit