1,721,010 research outputs found
Improving the shelf-life and quality of fresh and minimally-processed fruits and vegetables for a modern food industry: A comprehensive critical review from the traditional technologies into the most promising advancements
No full textThe market size of fresh and minimally-processed fruits and vegetables (MPFVs) have grown rapidly in the last years as a result of consumer attitudes change due to their increasing use in prepared mixed salad for fresh, healthy and convenient food. Handling and mechanical operations of cutting and peeling induce injures and release of on-site cellular contents which promote the growth of harmful microbes. Chlorine has been widely adopted in fresh and MPFVs disinfection in washing due to its low cost and high efficacy against a broad spectrum of microorganisms; but, continuous replenishment of chlorine into high organic wash water can promote the formation of suspected carcinogenic compounds. There is a real need to find new alternatives to chlorine to preserve MPFVs quality for longer time. Although several methods and chemicals can be used to achieve similar reduction of microorganism counts without the production of harmful compounds, nor compromising the quality of MPFVs produce, fewer amount of them have gained widespread acceptance by the food industry. The challenge of this work was to give an upgraded level of understanding for producers and retailers to underpin future research directions for a modern food industry in order to resolve existing issues that limit fresh-cut quality and shelf-life. This paper covers a comprehensive review to improve shelf-life and quality of MPFVs, from the traditional technologies toward the most promising advancements
Disease-suppressive compost enhances natural soil suppressiveness against soil-borne plant pathogens: A critical review
No full textPlant diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens have been recognized as a critical factor worldwide for plant health and productivity overall in intensive cropping systems characterized by low organic matter content and frequent soil tillage. Very important goals have been reached in soil microbiota manipulation using organic amendment based on disease-suppressive compost where a specific soil disturbance addressed to change and shape the soil microbial communities network was stimulated. The supplementation of beneficial microbiota from compost into conducive soils represents a promising strategy for increasing suppression against soil-borne pathogens in view to search alternatives to synthetic chemicals. Soil microbiota plays a key role in crop protection improving natural soil suppressiveness. To limit inconsistencies, drawbacks and failures related to indiscriminate use of compost derived from feedstocks of different origin and composition, a detailed understanding of the microbial communities inhabitant the composts and their mechanisms of action in suppressing soil-borne pathogens have been elucidated in this paper overall in relation to role of soil organic matter. This review describes and discusses the main effects and impacts due to long-term application of disease-suppressive compost against soil-borne pathogens inducing soil microbiota change. The most reliable findings related to biocontrol-based microbiota have been discussed within a wider scenario regarding the agriculturally important microorganisms for sustainable agricultural productivity in a circular economy system. In particular, the role of the soil microbiota in plant health and productivity has been introduced in the first section of the paper. The key role of the compost microbiota explaining how a disease-suppressive compost can enhance soil suppressiveness has been recalled in the second section. The key roles of the soil organic matter, soil microbial biomass and biodiversity as support of the microbial activity of disease-suppressive compost have been in-depth presented and discussed in the third section. The predictors of suppressiveness in compost-amended soils have been critically discussed in the fourth section. The different methodological approaches for characterizing compost microbiota have been compared in the fifth section. Concluding remarks were drawn in the last section overall as to support the future research directions
Soil microbiota manipulation and its role in suppressing soil-borne plant pathogens in organic farming systems under the light of microbiome-assisted strategies
Full text linkSoil microbiota plays a key role in suppressing soil-borne plant pathogens improving the natural soil suppressiveness. Microbiome disturbance triggers specific perturbation to change and shape the soil microbial communities’ network for increasing suppression against phytopathogens and related diseases. Very important goals have been reached in manipulation of soil microbiota through agronomical practices based on soil pre-fumigation, organic amendment, crop rotation and intercropping. Nevertheless, to limit inconsistencies, drawbacks and failures related to soil microbiota disturbance, a detailed understanding of the microbiome shifts during its manipulation is needed under the light of the microbiome-assisted strategies. Next-generation sequencing often offers a better overview of the soil microbial communities during microbiomes manipulation, but sometime it does not provide information related to the highest taxonomic resolution of the soil microbial communities. This review work reports and discusses the most reliable findings in relation to a comprehensive understanding of soil microbiota and how its manipulation can improve suppression against soil-borne diseases in organic farming systems. Role and functionality of the soil microbiota in suppressing soil-borne pathogens affecting crops have been basically described in the first section of the paper. Characterization of the soil microbiomes network by high-throughput sequencing has been introduced in the second section. Some relevant findings by which soil microbiota manipulation can address the design of novel sustainable cropping systems to sustain crops’ health without use (or reduced use) of synthetic fungicides and fumigants have been extensively presented and discussed in the third and fourth sections, respectively, under the light of the new microbiome-assisted strategies. Critical comparisons on the next-generation sequencing have been provided in the fifth section. Concluding remarks have been drawn in the last section.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]
Agricultural waste recycling in horticultural intensive farming systems by on-farm composting and compost-based tea application improves soil quality and plant health: A review under the perspective of a circular economy
No full textThe vegetables supply chain of intensive farming systems has gained huge relevance due to environmental pollution, residual toxicity towards microorganisms and humans, development of plant pathogen resistance, biodiversity loss, and hazard to human health. Studies addressed to clean from misuse of plant fungicides, soil fumigants, and fertilizers have encouraged the search of eco-friendly alternatives. This paper aims to give deeper understand of new insights for on-farm composting and compost-based tea application for soil and plant through the virtuous reuse of agricultural waste. On-farm composting is viable option thanks to benefits on soil quality and plant health which valorize underused biomass. This paper critically discusses and compares the most promising technologies in order to recycle in situ residual biomass into high-value added products for soil amendment (compost) and plant treatment (compost-based tea). Compost contains minerals, heavy metals, humic substances, and endogenous microorganisms to improve soil quality. Compost application had many benefits against plant pathogens and diseases due to innovative tailored formulates. Compost can be employed either alone or in combination with exogenous microbial consortia (protists, fungi, oomycetes, yeast, actinomycetes, and bacteria) acting as biological control agents by fitting the agrochemical market requirements for improving soil quality and plant health. Liquid formulations made of crude compost-based teas and/or tailored mixtures of humic acids, fulvic acids, humin, macro-micronutrients, and endogenous microbiota have many benefits for plant growth and crop health. Nonetheless, the complex European regulations and national laws, manure surplus, variability in availability and transporting of compost, variability in compost quality and feedstock composition, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy requirement were very hard barriers for on-farm composting and compost derivatives application. Recommendations, novelties, innovations, sustainability, and directions of future researches that may help to solve a number of these issues under the new perspective of a circular economy system were presented and discussed
Suppressiveness of white vinegar and steam-exploded liquid waste against the causal agents of Pleurotus eryngii yellowing
No full textDuring a survey of mushroom-beds in Apulia and Basilicata (southern Italy), several bacterial strains belonging to the fluorescent pseudomonads group have been isolated from the basidiomata of Pleurotus eryngii on account of symptoms of yellowing. On the basis of LOPAT tests, 95% of the recovered bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. In particular, 83% of them were recognized as P. '. reactans' because they were able to produce a white line against P. tolaasii strain NCPPB-2192. In preliminary invitro experiments, commercial white vinegar (WV) and steam-exploded liquid waste (SELW) solution derived from Miscanthus sinensis biomass proved to have an effective antibacterial activity against P.'reactans', P.tolaasii and fluorescent pseudomonads isolates used as targets. In particular, WV induced a bacterial inhibition reaching 89% and 65% on tested P.'reactans' and fluorescent pseudomonads strains, respectively. Undiluted M.sinensis SELW reached an inhibition of 20-50% against tested strains. No antibacterial effects were associated with Arundo donax and wheat straw SELWs. The bacterial suppressiveness of WV and M.sinensis SELW was subsequently studied invivo throughout two "cardoncello" mushroom cropping cycles performed under protected environmental mushroom-bed conditions using the P.eryngii commercial strain "3065" and six Pseudomonas strains (3 belonging to P.'reactans', 2 to P.fluorescens and 1 to P.tolaasii). Cell suspensions of the single Pseudomonas strains were sprayed as inoculum onto covering soil as soon as "cardoncello" primordia appeared. Specifically, WV with 6‰ acidity and M.sinensis SELW, were effective as antibacterial substances. In particular WV led to a 4.5-6.1, 2.2-4.3 and 3.5-4.4-fold increase in sporophore yield when sprayed: a) on the surface of substrates colonized by "cardoncello" mycelium right before casing soil distribution, b) right after casing soil distribution and c) on casing soil and basidioma surface at 3-4-day intervals. M.sinensis SELW increased the sporophore yield 6.1-fold when sprayed right after casing soil distribution. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd
Governance of soil amendment to enhance suppression to soil-borne plant pathogens from a long-term perspective
No full textSoil amendment is a viable alternative to chemical fumigants thanks its benefits on soil quality, microbial biodiversity, and plant health being valorized underused biomass. Nonetheless, the concepts of durability and stability for disease suppressive soils are became a critical issue in the advanced organic cropping systems. Although a comprehensive and critical literature is available, this paper briefly analyzes the governance of the soil organic amendments as an external source of organic matter and beneficial microbiota in view of new opportunities and technological advancements. Particularly, it discusses some possible solutions for developing the suppressive properties of the amended-soils by helping grower to well understand the complex processes/interactions that lead to soil suppressiveness from the most practical viewpoints according to the principles of green economy
Antifungal activity of crude extracts from brown and red seaweeds by a supercritical carbon dioxide technique against fruit postharvest fungal diseases
No full textFungal infections are the main cause of decay on fresh fruit during postharvest phase determining severe losses. Postharvest control is performed by fungicides, but their intense use have aroused issue relating to environmental protection and human health prompting to search alternative control means. The use of biofuel-used seaweed extracts by a supercritical carbon dioxide technique could be a valid alternative during postharvest handling of fresh fruit. The aim of this work was to assess the in vitro and in vivo activity of extracts from two brown seaweeds (Laminaria digitata and Undaria pinnatifida) and three red seaweeds (Porphyra umbilicalis, Eucheuma denticulatum and Gelidium pusillum) against three postharvest pathogens (Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia laxa and Penicillium digitatum) using three concentrations of extract (10, 20 and 30 g L−1). The total content of fatty acids of the extracts was determined by CG-MS, those of polysaccharides by HIC, and phenolic compounds (phlorotannins) by HPLC-DAD. Twenty fatty acids were quantified in the extracts, while three polysaccharides categories and three phlorotannins classes were identified only in brown seaweed extracts. L. digitata, U. pinnatifida and P. umbilicalis showed the highest antifungal efficacy on in vitro cultures of the pathogens. L. digitata and U. pinnatifida completely inhibited mycelia growing and conidial germination of B. cinerea and M. laxa at the highest dose tested and strongly reduced those of P. digitatum. P. umbilicalis extract strongly inhibited mycelia and conidia growth on all the fungi. E. denticulatum and G. pusillum showed a lower but still significant reduction of mycelia growing and conidia germination on all the pathogens. In trials performed in vivo on wounded fruit, L. digitata, U. pinnatifida and P. umbilicalis extracts strongly suppressed grey mould on strawberries, brown rot on peaches, and green mould on lemons at 30 g L−1 dose both in preventive and curative treatments; E. denticulatum and G. pusillum poorly reduced disease development. In all cases, a dose-effect of the treatments was observed with an increase of fruit decay inhibition and reduction of disease severity as the dose of extract applied over the wound increased. Moreover, an increased peroxidase activity in the strawberries/B. cinerea and peaches/M. laxa systems by preventive treatment with 30 g L−1 extract was observed. The antifungal activity could be mainly ascribed to a direct toxicity of fatty acids found at the highest concentrations in L. digitata, U. pinnatifida and P. umbilicalis rather than to those of phenolic compounds and phlorotannins; but it could be related to possible peroxidase-mediated systemic resistance mechanisms elicited by the polysaccharides. © 2017 Elsevier B.V
Suppression of soil-borne pathogens in container media amended with on-farm composted agro-bioenergy wastes and residues under glasshouse condition
No full textThe aim of this work was to assess the potential suppression of three on-farm green composts for controlling seven soil-borne pathogens in container media under greenhouse condition. Suppression of Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani damping-off of cucumber and bean, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Sclerotinia minor root rot of azalea and lettuce, and Fusarium oxysporum wilt of melon, tomato, and basil was studied on artificially inoculated seedlings. Three feedstocks of bioenergy wastes and agricultural residues were selected, on-farm composted, characterized, and tested for their suppressive properties by in vitro and in vivo experiments in comparison with one commercial compost from municipal solid biowaste. The composts showed differences in the suppressive properties when mixed with sterile peat at dosage of 35%. All green composts meanly suppressed P. irregulare damping-off of cucumber of 80%, R. solani damping-off of bean of 75%, P. cinnamomi root rot of azalea of 65%, and Fusarium wilt of up to 25%. The reference compost suppressed F. oxysporum wilt of melon, tomato, and basil from 60 to 70% and Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Phytophthora diseases up to 30%. All composts suppressed S. minor root rot of lettuce of 35%. Suppression of Pythium damping-off and Phytophthora root rot was related to the sum of the bioactivities of the fungi and bacteria of compost. Suppression of Rhizoctonia damping-off and F. oxysporum wilt was associated with the specific bioactivity of a restricted number of fungi (Trichoderma, Aspergillus) and bacteria (Pseudomonas, actinomycetes) species. Suppression of Sclerotinia root rot was not related to any one variable of composts. © 2017, Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft
Use of omic approaches for characterizing microbiota from suppressive compost to control soil-borne plant pathogens
No full textMicrobiomes composition, diversity, and variability into a collection of suppressive composts were investigated for effective biological control of soil-borne phytopathogens. Pyrosequencing resulted be a reliable and faster method for characterizing fungal and bacterial microbiomes into composts derived from a varied feedstock of different composition, origin and provenience. Differences in taxonomic structure assessed by bioinformatics analyses were related to feedstock origin. Green composts derived from agro-waste and agroindustrial co/byproducts provided the most varied microbiomes either related to suppression of Rhizoctonia damping-off in bean and Verticillium wilt in eggplant, either to control of Phytium damping-off in cucumber and Phytophthora root rot in tomato. On the other hand, composted municipal solid wastes and co-composted cow manure with household waste prevalently given a most specific microbiota related to suppression of Fusarium wilt in melon
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