322,823 research outputs found
Latial Vitis vinifera L.: biodiversity, characterization and preservation
No full textSouth of the Latium region is the geographic site where different Italic tribes, such as Aequians,
Volscians, Hernicans, and Marsians, lived until the last century BC when Romans conquered the whole area. Wine was one of the most important agricultural products of these populations, and, consequently, the establishment of vineyards was highly promoted. Now as then, grapevine represents for south Latial farmers an important source of economic profit and social development. Indeed, probably because of the advantageous microclimate of these territories, white and red wines produced in Frosinone district gained international prestige. Nevertheless, Latial grapevine
biodiversity has changed during the centuries and many cultivars have been lost, forsaken, or modified by natural or artificial events. On the basis of these observations, and according to the aims of the PIF project, different south Latial grapevine accessions were collected and subjected to ampelographic, ampelometric, and molecular analysis to: scientifically identify and classify them; study sample similarities and differences; identify new cultivars; detect new and rare allelic variants; compare morphological and molecular results; clarify synonymy and homonymy cases determined by uncorrected oral history; evaluate the phenotypic convergences of different varieties in response to the environment; and give value to new and ancient Latial autochthonous cultivars. Analyses were carried out according to the methods and guidelines developed by European Union programs of grapevine research and standardization (GENRES-081 2001; GrapeGen06 2007) to produce
data that are scientifically correct, comparable, and supplemental with respect to the results reported in European grapevine certified databases. Furthermore, another important aim of this work was the biochemical characterization of V. vinifera accessions. In particular, to generate a specific metabolic profile for each grape specimen (sampled in autumn in hilly areas of Frosinone district), the total phenolic content and wine specific anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids, tannins and stilbenes were detected and quantified by LC-MS and spectrophotometric analysis. Since the analyzed V. vinifera samples were typical autochthonous cultivars or peculiar new ecotypes, naturally selected by evolution during the time, an additional purpose of this study was the identification of possible correlations between sample biochemical composition and their bioactivity. Therefore, the antioxidant properties of each berry extract were evaluated by two different in vitro antiradical assays, and a preliminary screening on their antiproliferative effect on HTC-116 human colorectal cancer cells was investigated. A final goal of this research was the conservation ex situ of all samples to preserve Latial grapevine biodiversity and, in particular, recovered ancient varieties. For this purpose, in this work, in vitro culture techniques have been developed. This part of the work represents a preliminary approach since the study was carried out only on one variety, of which we had more source material. Numerous other experiments will be conducted to find the optimal
conditions culture for all studied varieties
Metabolic and biological profile of autochthonous Vitis vinifera L. ecotypes
No full textVitis vinifera L. is a plant species rich in phenolic compounds that are usually associated with the health benefits of wine and grape consumption in the diet. Anthocyanins, catechins, flavonol, phenolic acids and stilbenes are key molecular constituents of the Vitis berries, affecting the quality of grape products. The purpose of this work was to identify the metabolic profiles of 37 genetically certified V. vinifera Latial accessions. In particular, qualitative and quantitative analyses of specific secondary metabolites and total phenolic and tannin contents were performed by LC-MS and spectrophotometric analysis. In addition, since plant molecules are well-known for their free radical scavenging properties, the antioxidant effects of the sample extracts were evaluated through two different antiradical assays: DPPH and FRAP tests. Finally, a preliminary screening of the antiproliferative activity of each specimen on HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cells was conducted. All the results showed a great variety and amount of phenolic compounds in all accessions; moreover, we observed a significant correlation in the extracts between the metabolite concentration and bioactivity. Besides, some samples presented extraordinary biological effects, such as reduction of tumor cell growth not associated with cytotoxicity, supporting their use as possible future adjuvants for cancer therapy. In conclusion, the present research increased the scientific knowledge about Italian autochthonous vine ecotypes in order to valorize them and support their reintroduction in the local economic system
Geographical, botanical and chemical profile of monofloral Italian honeys as food quality guarantee and territory brand
No full textDiffusive author(s), cohesive author: Analysis of S/N (1994)
No full textThis study indicates the ways in which various aspects of the author(s) are brought forth in Dumb type’s performance art, the S/N production. Previous research has suggested a non-hierarchical organization of Dumb type and the absence of a “privileged author” in Dumb type’s collaborative work, S/N. However, the results that I have investigated from member’s interviews on the creative process of S/N along with my analysis of the recorded images of S/N, indicate a different aspect of the author(s). First, S/N was created through, so to speak, the collective ideas of the members of Dumb type. Further, S/N has at least nine quotations from previous performances, installations, and printed writings, besides the work-in-progress technique. Explicating one of the “author functions” as given by Michel Foucault, each text has plural subjects of the author. However, it has been revealed from members’ interviews that Teiji Furuhashi had a decision-making role in selecting the members’ ideas within the performance. Since then, S/N has had plural subjects of creation; however, Furuhashi is one of the subjects of creation along with the “privileged author.” S/N has plural authors (diffusive authors) yet at the same time, it has a “privileged author,” Teiji Furuhashi (cohesive author)
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Detection of new genetic profiles and allelic variants in improperly classified grapevine accessions
No full textThirty-seven grapevine accessions, collected in Central Italy, were characterized by morphological and genetic analysis, according to guidelines developed by European Union programs of grapevine research and standardization. Traditional denominations of some sampled varieties were revealed to be incorrect; moreover, 10 synonymies and 12 homonymies were recognized. Ampelographic and ampelometric measurements of leaf characters were performed. These data generated a phenotypic similarity matrix and a relative diagram showing morphological differences between specimens. Many samples presented different morphology even in the presence of the same genotype, probably as a result of various environmental pressures. Grapevines were typed by 12 microsatellite loci and then compared with the CRA-VIT genetic resource database. Twenty-five SSR profiles were clearly identified as well-known cultivars, while nine genotypes did not find a direct correspondence: these samples could represent putative new autochthonous Latial Vitis vinifera cultivars or hybrid varieties. The genetic approach also detected three new (169 and 173 in VVMD27 locus; 179 in ISV2 locus) and seven rare allelic variants. Plant sample classification by oral history, morphological observations, and molecular results were compared and discussed. Scions of samples were planted in the Botanic Garden of the University of Rome "Tor Vergata", to preserve grapevine biodiversity and to protect possible new autochthonous varieties
Botanical influence on phenolic profile and antioxidant level of Italian honeys
No full textHoneybees directly transfer plant compounds from nectar into honey. Each plant species possesses a specific metabolic profile, the amount and the typology of plant molecules that may be detected in honey vary according to their botanical origin. Aim of the present work was the spectrophotometrical determination of concentration ranges of simple phenols and flavonoids in 460 several Italian monofloral honeys, in order to individuate specific intervals of plant metabolites for each typology of honey. Moreover, an LC–MS analysis was performed to determine amount of various secondary metabolites in the samples, with the purpose to use them as potential molecular markers in support to honey melissopalynological classification. As plant molecules have a strong reducing power, the antioxidant activity of the honeys was evaluated by two antiradical assays, DPPH and FRAP. The free radical scavenging effect of each monofloral group was correlated to the concentration of simple phenols and flavonoids, with the aim to deduce the existence of possible relationships between these parameters. In conclusion, dark honeys (Castanea sativa, honeydew, Erica sp. and Eucalyptus sp.) appeared to be the richest in secondary metabolites and, consequently, showed higher antioxidant activity. However, all analyzed monofloral honeys showed to be good sources of antioxidants
Nutraceutical properties of honey and pollen produced in a natural park
No full textHoney bees and bee products are optimal moni-tors of the environmental quality; experimental beehives were placed in strategic places of Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga Park. Pollen and honey, produced in this protected area, were analyzed in order to demonstrate their good quality re-spect to those commercials. Physico-chemical parameters (water content, hydroxymethylfur-fural), total flavonoid and phenolic contents and residue analysis (heavy metals, pesticides, tet-racycline, sulfathiazole) were carried and evi-denced their high quality. Moreover, melissopa-lynological analysis allowed us to establish a floristic census within the different places of the park. Data show that bee products are good quality, contain high levels of phenolics and fla-vonoids and show absence of pesticides and low concentration level of heavy metals and an-tibiotics. Due to this the human impact, even in protected areas, cannot be neglected; similarly environmental contamination by wild livestock was seen in different monitored sites
- …
