3,266 research outputs found
Flavonoid facilitated/passive transport: Characterization of quercetin microsomal uptake by a DPBA-dependent assay
No full textChitosan nanoparticles for sustainable agriculture: interactions with leaf surface and protective effect on dsRNA as functionalizing agent
No full textClimate change and population growth are causing significant issues in the agricultural world, among which the worsening of environmental stresses suffered by crops and the inefficient use of resources must be highlighted. That’s why it’s necessary to find eco-sustainable solutions that can guarantee adequate production efficiency without affecting environmental health. Among the most advanced technologies, the development of nanomaterials partially replacing the conventional treatments with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, stands out, given their more efficient transport of bioactive substances to plants and protection from damaging factors. Considering organic materials, nano-chitosan is even eco-compatible and obtainable through circular economy.
Another innovation concerning the defense of crops is the exploitation of the so-called RNA-interference mechanism. Specific dsRNAs targeting an essential gene of a pathogen or weed can be applied exogenously, triggering a pathway that leads to gene silencing into the organism. A major issue, however, consists in the easy degradability of these sequences if applied naked, which makes the technology still unlikely for agricultural up-scaling.
In this regard, the aim of our research was to verify the feasibility of dsRNA application on plants by means of functionalized chitosan nanoparticles (NPs), thus allowing its efficient delivery and protection. After defining the best synthesis protocol of NPs, these were used for different tests. To verify their ability to adhere to the leaf surface, they were observed by confocal microscope on two plant species thanks to a fluorescent probe. Subsequently, after their functionalization with nucleotides, their protective capacity was studied. These tests proved to be fundamental for the prosecution of the work concerning the evaluation of the formulation efficacy on plant pathogens
Ecophysiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) to water stress: remote sensing and upscaling techniques for a more efficient management of water resources in agriculture
No full textFlora - Catalogazione floristica per la didattica
No full textBanca dati con 1517 schede informative, dotate di immagini (al momento oltre 6000), relative alla Flora del Friuli Venezia Giuli
Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using plant metabolites
No full textNano-biotechnology is one of the most promising areas in modern nanoscience and technology. In this
emerging area of research, nanoparticles (NPs) play an important role since the large-scale production and huge numbers
of utilization. Gold and silver nanoparticles are among the most extensively studied nanomaterials, since they show high
stability and low chemical reactivity in comparison to other metals. They are commonly synthesized using toxic chemical
reducing agents able to reduce metal ions into uncharged NPs and/or high energy supplied procedures. The most
commonly used method for the synthesis of NPs requires toxic chemicals like N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) or
trisodium citrate, but recently a green technique, based on natural reducing agents, has been suggested to substitute the
nature-unfriendly chemical methods. Many scientific works put in evidence the efficacy of plant extracts to reduce metal
salts into the respective NPs, but this process lacks a clear control of NPs shapes and dimensions, since many different
metabolites present into the extracts could participate to the process. This paper aims to clarify the reducing action of
single pure natural compounds usually present in plant tissues and to obtain a stable and reproducible protocol for NPs
synthesis
Chitosan nanoparticles doped with dsRNA as a tool for sustainable viticulture: preliminary results
No full textAgriculture is recently undergoing a period of transition towards sustainability, with the aim of providing sufficient food for the growing population by reducing the environmental impact. In this context, nanotechnologies are arousing interest in research thanks to the versatility and peculiar properties of some nanomaterials, which appear promising to make some agronomic practices, such as nutrition and crop protection, more eco-sustainable. Chitosan (CH) is an interesting organic polymer to be used to obtain nanoparticles (NPs), thanks to its biocompatibility and to the possibility of sourcing it through the circular economy. CH is known for its ability to induce several biological responses in plants concerning their growth and their defense against diseases, and it shows also good performances as a shuttle for a variety of molecules. This opens the possibility both to profit from the CH carrier function and its protective action against external agents, and to obtain a synergistic effect between it and the transported molecule. In our case, the goal is the functionalization of CH-NPs with specific dsRNA sequences of grapevine pathogens to exploit the RNA-interference (RNAi) mechanism, which has been suggested as an innovative strategy to limit pathogen infections.
Preliminary results will be here presented, concerning the development of a protocol for the synthesis of CH-NPs, their characterization and the first information regarding their interaction with dsRNA sequences. Two variants of NPs have been produced (from chitosan as it is, or treated with hydrogen peroxide), which were doped with dsRNA sequences of Esca disease pathogens. The difference in synthesis procedures determined opposite interactions with nucleotides, resulting in a lower dimensional size and greater retention of the doping agent by the NPs obtained with untreated chitosan
ATP/ADP ANTIPORTER IS INVOLVED IN UNCOUPLING OF PLANT-MITOCHONDRIA INDUCED BY LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF PALMITATE
No full textCarboxyatractyloside partially restored the transmembrane electrical potential difference (ΔΨ) dissipated by low concentrations of palmitate in pea stem mitochondria. This effect was more marked when mitochondria from sunflower were assayed. It is suggested that the ATP/ADP translocator is involved in the free fatty acid-induced uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in plant mitochondria, only when its level is sufficiently high and the concentration of the fatty acid is low to collapse only partially the ΔΨ
Carboxyatractyloside restores the palmitate-induced uncoupling in sunflower mitochondria
No full textSuccess of native hay-seed mix for dry grassland restoration: do not neglect the role of soil seed bank
No full textEcological restoration has been proved to be an effective strategy to contrast biodiversity loss due to land use change. Among terrestrial ecosystems, dry grasslands represent biodiversity hotspot strongly threatened by soil consumption. Passive grassland restoration, based on spontaneous succession, is highly unpredictable and, in some cases, unsuitable to re-establish native communities. The use of spontaneous seeds (hay seed) and or/ commercial seed mix might contribute to boost early restoration stages by triggering native plant colonization. A crucial stage for the success of any restoration action and for determining community composition is the seeds germination. In addition, the soil seedbank of restoration sites can exert main effect on the final plant assembly, even if
it is often neglected. We designed a controlled environment experiment in which commercial grassland seed-mix and spontaneous hay seeds collected in local dry grassland were sown on commercial soil (seedbank less) and agricultural soil (with seedbank) with two seed density. We hypothesized soil, seed mix type and density to interplay in determining community diversity and composition. Commercial seed provided greater species abundance and rapid containment of seedbank species. The abundance of the seedbank ruderal species greatly contributed to the total biodiversity in the case of hay seeds. The number of individuals of species not belonging to the seedbank has always been higher if commercial seed mix was sown; in the case of hay seeds this parameter was favored by agricultural soil probably due to the substrate or to positive interaction with seedbank species. The composition of functional groups (i.e. monocot vs dicot and life span) and species assembly were also influenced by the soil and seed mix type. Soil seedbank effect in determining the success of site restoration when operating seed sowing
should not be overlooked, alternative management actions aimed at curb seedbank germination should be, hence, considered
EFFECT OF CARBOXYATRACTYLATE ON TRANSMEMBRANE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL OF PLANT-MITOCHONDRIA IN DIFFERENT METABOLIC STATES
No full textThe effects of carboxyatractylate (CAtr) on delta psi in sunflower hypocotyl and pea stem mitochondria were compared. In sunflower mitochondria, (1) CAtr at higher concentration increased delta psi in the presence of palmitate and delta psi in metabolic state 3; (2) ]1 microM CAtr did not prevent delta psi decrease, induced by ADP addition (in contrast to pea mitochondria); (3) The ATP-generated delta psi was small and was insensitive to 40 microM CAtr. Under the same conditions, in pea mitochondria generation of delta psi by ATP was inhibited by 1 microM CAtr
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