1,721,094 research outputs found
Advances in DNA typing in the agro-food supply chain
No full textBackground: DNA typing is increasingly being applied to assess the genetic origin and authenticity of products entering and exiting the food supply chain. The growing interest in DNA typing has arisen from an expanding array of contexts, such as the need to protect manufacturers, ensure compliance with food regulations, validate labels, fight misbranding, evaluate product ingredients and defend consumers' rights and freedom of choice. Scope and approach: This review presents current practices and emerging technologies about the genetic traceability in the agro-food chain, providing an overview of the specificity and challenges related to the analysis of commercial products of plant origin. We also discuss unsolved needs and specific features of DNA testing in the agro-food supply chain. These include the biochemical and physical variability of the samples under investigation, the possible DNA degradation, and the necessity to distinguish among plant varieties and not only different species. Key findings and conclusions: We acknowledge that a number of DNA typing systems have been successfully used, and the vast majority are based on the PCR technique. Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies are expected to greatly expand data range and the amount of information accessible to a DNA analysis. The evaluation and implementation of novel technologies and tools, along with concerted efforts to increase information sharing and to establish standard operating protocols, are main priorities of genetic typing in the agro-food chain. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Towards a bottom-up system biology view of the interaction between plants and biotic stressors
No full textLa risposta delle piante agli organismi dannosi è classicamente descritta come una reazione complessa che è specifica per ogni tipo di stress. Recenti studi dimostrano che tali risposte si basano su un numero ridotto di molecole segnale che attivano vie metaboliche interconnesse. Ciò lascia supporre che potrebbe esistere un set di geni e molecole che è condiviso tra le risposte ai diversi stress biotici, e che probabilmente ne governa e ne controlla le funzioni principali. Attraverso un approccio di “bottom-up system biology”, il progetto vuole individuare questo possibile set e verificare, tramite uno studio associativo in genotipi resistenti, la loro rilevanza nel determinare la resistenza naturale delle piante a stress biotici. Poiché la risposta di difesa altera notevolmente il “fenotipo molecolare” delle piante, il progetto vuole anche determinare il potenziale impatto sull’uomo dell’interazione pianta-bionte. Tale scopo sarà perseguito tramite la valutazione di alcune attività farmacologiche a seguito della risposta di resistenza in pianta, usando modelli sperimentali cellulari e animali. Il sistema proposto prevede l’uso del pomodoro (come specie coltivata modello nello studio delle resistenze in pianta e di notevole importanza economica), dell’afide M. euphorbiae (l’insetto chiave del pomodoro), del Fusarium spp (il fungo più dannoso in coltura protetta) e del Trichoderma spp. (come bionte benefico che incrementa le difese della pianta)
Recenti progressi nella genetica agraria. Le attività di ricerca del gruppo Castello negli ultimi dieci anni
No full textThe Evolution of DNA Typing in Agri-Food Chain
No full textBackground: DNA typing has revolutionized not only diagnostics and forensics but also how we can analyze food. A number of techniques have been successfully applied for DNA analysis of plant-derived food. However, unlike forensics, a universally employed method has not yet emerged.
Methods: A keyword-based search was performed using the ISI-Web of Science database to look for research articles on DNA testing in agri-food chain. After screening and eligibility check, a Systematic Review was compiled focusing on the techniques used to detect DNA polymorphisms.
Results: The collection and summarization of the eligible peer-reviewed empirical studies indicated that PCR-based methods are the predominant technical approach for DNA testing in the agri-food chain. Simple Sequences Repeats are the preferred DNA molecular markers. In recent years, approaches based on DNA-sequencing are expanding, with the DNA barcoding representing the most popular option for species identification. Hypothesis-free NGS approaches are limited.
Conclusions: The choice of the method is mainly dictated by the aim of the genetic analysis (e.g., to distinguish plant species or varieties) and the need of quantitative information rather than the features of the food product or beverages. The implementation of new technologies (e.g., NGS-based) is growing but their use remains narrow compared to diagnostics
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