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Comparative study of carotenoid and fat-soluble vitamin levels in alpine vs. industrial dairy products
No full textApplication of new breeding techniques in fruit trees
No full textClimate change and rapid adaption of invasive pathogens pose a constant pressure on the fruit industry to develop improved varieties. Aiming to accelerate the development of better-adapted cultivars, new breeding techniques have emerged as a promising alternative to meet the demand of a growing global population. Accelerated breeding, cisgenesis, and CRISPR/Cas genome editing hold significant potential for crop trait improvement and have proven to be useful in several plant species. This review focuses on the successful application of these technologies in fruit trees to confer pathogen resistance and tolerance to abiotic stress and improve quality traits. In addition, we review the optimization and diversification of CRISPR/Cas genome editing tools applied to fruit trees, such as multiplexing, CRISPR/Cas-mediated base editing and site-specific recombination systems. Advances in protoplast regeneration and delivery techniques, including the use of nanoparticles and viral-derived replicons, are described for the obtention of exogenous DNA-free fruit tree species. The regulatory landscape and broader social acceptability for cisgenesis and CRISPR/Cas genome editing are also discussed. Altogether, this review provides an overview of the versatility of applications for fruit crop improvement, as well as current challenges that deserve attention for further optimization and potential implementation of new breeding technique
Class-wide genomic tendency throughout specific extremes in black fungi
No full textThe classes Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes include constitutively melanized fungi adapted to extreme conditions and they are widely distributed in diverse hostile habitats worldwide. Yet, despite the growing interest in these fungi, there is a considerable gap of knowledge on their functionality. Their genomic analysis is still in its infancy and the possibility to understand their adaptive strategies and exploit their potentialities in bioremediation is very limited. Here, we supply a genome catalog of 118 black fungi, encompassing different ecologies, phylogenies and lifestyles, as a first example of a comparative genomic study at high level of diversity. Results indicate that, as a rule, Dothideomycetes show more variable genome size and that larger genomes are associated with harshest conditions; low temperature tolerance and DNA repair capacity are overrepresented in their genomes. In Eurotiomycetes high temperature tolerance and capacity to metabolize hydrocarbons are more frequently present and these abilities are positively correlated with the human presence. The genomic features are consistent with the prevalent ecologies in the two classes. Indeed, Dothideomycetes are more common in cold and dry environments with high capacity for DNA repair being consistent with the normally highly UV-impacted conditions in their habitats; in contrast, Eurotiomycetes spread mainly in hot human-impacted sites with industrial pollution. Mean annual temperature and isothermality are positively correlated with tolerance to high temperatures in Dothideomycetes, suggesting that, despite their preference for the cold, they are potentially equipped to survive even when temperatures rise due to the global warmin
The volatile composition of wine is affected by the Hanseniaspora vineae-to-Saccharomyces cerevisiae inoculum ratio
No full textThe non-Saccharomyces yeast, Hanseniaspora vineae Hv205 (Hv), is an apiculate yeast proposed for winemaking due to its good alcohol tolerance. Moreover, its metabolic characteristics can enhance some organoleptic traits, contributing to the aroma and texture of wines. Previous studies have demonstrated that sequential inoculation of Hv and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) leads to the overproduction of ß-phenylethyl acetate, associated with an increase in rose-like hints in wine. However, sequential inoculation management with Sc could be complicated in white winemaking. In this study, the fermentation of a Glera must was performed with an initial inoculum of 2×106 CFU/mL at five different co-inoculation ratios of Hv and Sc: 67%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and 98%. The kinetics of fermentation and wine aroma were compared with the results obtained from pure inoculation with Sc. Compared with Sc, the presence of Hv accelerated fermentation until 30% of the process was reached, regardless of the co-inoculation ratio. After that point, the superior performance of Sc became most apparent, leading to an earlier completion of fermentation. Moreover, increasing the Hv ratio slowed sugar consumption rate, and the 67% Hv protocol delayed only 2% the time needed to complete fermentation in comparison with the pure inoculum of Sc. The GC-MS/MS volatilome analysis confirmed that both the presence of Hv and the co-inoculation ratio significantly affected the content of specific yeast-derived aroma compounds in wines. Regarding 2-phenylethanol, Sc wines showed the highest values (⁓20 mg/l), followed by the 67% Hv protocol (⁓11 mg/l), and were lower in the rest of the trials (⁓8 mg/l). Regarding its acetate, the results were reversed: increasing Hv ratio led to a higher content of ß-phenylethyl acetate in wine, racing 20-folds the concentration obtained with only Sc. Concerning isoamyl acetate, the pure Sc fermentation was comparable to those with a higher Hv inoculum (90%, 95%, 98%), while the 67% and 80% inoculations were even higher. The concentration of ethyl hexanoate was affected by yeast species, and Sc produced up to 3-folds the concentration compared with the Hv protocols, for which it was not found any difference between them. Interestingly, the concentration of the four yeast-derived metabolic markers was linearly correlated with the co-inoculation ratio: positive for ß-phenylethyl acetate and negative for the other markers. Overall, Hv co-inoculum can be considered a good alternative to sequential inoculation, shortening fermentation time while maintaining the Hv aroma characteristics
Coupling stem water potential and soil water potential on irrigated and not irrigated vines: preliminary results for Vitis vinifera L. cv Teroldego
Get PDFConsapevolezza, comprensione e credenze dei termini di durabilità nei consumatori italiani e implicazioni sugli sprechi alimentari domestici
Get PDFHistorical overview of the presence of common ragweed airborne pollen since 2000 in Northern Italy
No full textThe aim of this study is to investigate the spatial and temporal changes of Ambrosia pollen in the geographical area of Northern Italy during the last 23 years. Ambrosia sp., also referred to as ragweed, is considered an invasive alien species in Europe. Originally native to North America, this annual plant prefers mostly anthropogenic habitats and can tolerate different climatic conditions. This geographical variety, from habitats in the Po Plain to alpine locations, characterizes the regions of Northern Italy, considered in this study. In addition to its broad ecological niche, the common ragweed causes health, environmental, and agronomical problems in many parts of the world. To evaluate the potential risk to human health due to the exposure levels to this highly allergenic pollen, investigating the change in pollen concentrations over time can be relevant. Furthermore, this study gains insight into the trend of the concentration of ragweed pollen during the new century in Italy. Considering the time interval 2000-2023, Ambrosia pollen data were collected at 34 aerobiological monitoring sites in North Italy; all sites had at least 12 years of daily pollen concentration ( P*m-3) data. 31 out of 34 monitoring sites belong to the Italian pollen network POLLnet. All stations performed the aerobiological monitoring using a volumetric Hirst sampler and adopting a common method consistent with UNI EN 16868:2019 EU standard procedure. The dataset has been checked for completeness. Referring to the flowering period of Ambrosia (i.e., July-October), 3% of the yearly data series were excluded since the completeness was lower than 80%. Ambrosia pollen concentrations were analyzed to verify if changes occurred in the study area regarding pollen amounts (i.e., Seasonal Pollen Integral, SPIn, the sum of daily concentrations in the July-October period) and seasonality. Firstly, considering the SPIn values averaged over the entire 2000-2023 study period, results show a large spatial variability, from the lowest values in Brunico (BZ) (9 P*m-3*day) to the highest values in Magenta (MI) site (3667 P*m-3*day). This confirms previous results, evidencing in the Milan area mean SPIn values above 2000 P*m3*day, while the seven stations in the Alpine and pre-Alpine area display on average values below 100 P*m-3*day; eastern stations show intermediate values ranging from 100 to 500 P*m3*day. Referring to the first occurrence in Italy of Ophraella communa verified in 2013, the comparison (Mann-Whitney U Test) of mean APIn values registered before (i.e., in 2000-2012 period) and after (i.e., 2013-2023 period) displays a significant decrease only for Legnano, Magenta, Rho, Piacenza (p<0.001), Omegna, Novara (p<0.01), and Bolzano (p<0.05). Further analyses will include the pollen seasonality and the spatial distribution with thematic map production. Considering the spatial and temporal variation of Ambrosia pollen amounts, it is of crucial importance to continuously monitor this invasive plant and its pollen, for human health and environment protection, in a large and inclusive One Health perspective. The findings of this study can build the base to improve the current management measures, by adding new ones, which are increasingly comprehensive and can be used as supportive information for decision makers for future handling steps of this invasive speci
Seasonal "Windows of opportunity" in Alpine headwaters: implication for diatom assemblages
Get PDFIn the European Alps, around 80% of glacier volume is predicted to vanish within the end of this century because of global warming. The progressing glacier retreat is affecting the Alpine hydrological dynamics as well as the distribution and biodiversity of glacier-fed streams. Within this scenario of vanishing glaciers, mountain permafrost is becoming increasingly significant since the thawing of its subsurface ice occurs at a slower rate in comparison to surface glacier ice. The most common evidence of mountain permafrost are the rock glaciers, i.e., creeping rocky landforms made of rock fragments that host subsurface ice. Springs and streams emerging from intact (containing ice) and relict (not containing ice) rock glaciers are increasingly considered as a climate-resistant source of cold water, as well as ecological refugia for cold-stenothermic aquatic organisms. Nonetheless, the knowledge of benthic biodiversity and dynamics in relation to the seasonal changes of habitat and water chemical setting is still patchy and incomplete. Ecological Windows of Opportunity (WOs) are defined as seasonal periods of mild environmental conditions supporting the development of benthic primary producers, especially diatoms, in Alpine glacial streams. The primary WO occurs in autumn when glacier ablation is reduced, and glacier-fed streams have stable channels and less turbid waters. Differently, the spring WO more strongly depends on stochastic meteorological factors and is more irregularly paralleled by benthic growth. Although WOs have been conceptually modelled based on field surveys of primary producers in glacial streams of the European Alps, much scarcer field evidence is available for headwaters of different origin. In particular, the seasonal development of diatom biomass and diversity in Alpine headwaters fed by rock-glaciers and in non-glacial reference streams (i.e., not influenced by permafrost and glaciers) in the present context of Alpine deglaciation is poorly known. Here we present the first results of a two-year investigation on seasonal development of diatom biomass and diversity in headwater streams of different origin in two deglaciating catchments of the Italian Central- Eastern Alps. The study has been conducted within the Euregio project “Rock-me” (2022-2025, https://rock-glaciers-euregio.fmach.it/) by investigating physical (temperature, turbidity) and chemical (nutrients, major ions, and trace elements) parameters of water, organic and chlorophyll-a content of epilithic biofilm, as well as density and taxonomic composition of epilithic diatoms in streams fed by glaciers and rock glaciers, and in non-glacial reference streams in both catchments. We found different patterns of seasonal WOs, outlined by higher diatom density and biofilm chlorophyll content, either in early or late summer, in headwaters of different origin in relation to differing hydrological dynamics and habitat settings. The early summer WO appears to be more pronounced in headwaters fed by glaciers or rock glaciers, as a possible effect of the climate-related hydrological dynamics in deglaciating Alpine catchments. On the other hand, non-glacial springs and streams with more stable water discharge are characterised by a more evident late summer WO. Seasonal changes of diatom biodiversity seem to be related to differing hydrological dynamics at catchment scal
Assessment and partial characterization of candidate genes in dihydrochalcone and arbutin biosynthesis in an apple−pear hybrid by de novo transcriptome assembly
No full textApples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) and pears (Pyrus communis L.) are valuable crops closely related within the Rosaceae family with reported nutraceutical properties derived from secondary metabolites including phloridzin and arbutin, which are distinctive phenolic metabolites characterizing apples and pears, respectively. Here, we generated a de novo transcriptome assembly of an intergeneric hybrid between apple and pear, accumulating intermediate levels of phloridzin and arbutin. Combining RNA-seq, in silico functional annotation prediction, targeted gene expression analysis, and expression–metabolite correlations, we identified candidate genes for functional characterization, resulting in the identification of active arbutin synthases in the hybrid and parental genotypes. Despite exhibiting an active arbutin synthase in vitro, the natural lack of arbutin in apples is reasoned by the absence of the substrate and broad substrate specificity. Altogether, our study serves as the basis for future assessment of potential physiological roles of identified genes by genome editing of hybrids and pear
