118 research outputs found
Nutritional value of “Ready to Eat” endive during storage as influenced by conventional, integrate and organic farming
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Spatial scales of variation in lichens: Implications for sampling design in biomonitoring surveys
No full textThe variability of biological data is a main constraint affecting the quality and reliability of lichen biomonitoring surveys for estimation of the effects of atmospheric pollution. Although most epiphytic lichen bioindication surveys focus on between-site differences at the landscape level, associated with the large scale effects of atmospheric pollution, current protocols are based on multilevel sampling, thus adding further sources of variation and affecting the error budget. We test the hypothesis that assemblages of lichen communities vary at each spatial scale examined, in order to determine what scales should be included in future monitoring studies. We compared four sites in Italy, along gradients of atmospheric pollution and climate, to test the partitioning of the variance components of lichen diversity across spatial scales (from trunks to landscapes). Despite environmental heterogeneity, we observed comparable spatial variance. However, residuals often overcame between-plot variability, leading to biased estimation of atmospheric pollution effects
Crop season effects on yield and quality of hydroponically grown Brassica rapa var. sylvestris
No full textA Brassica rapa var. Sylvestris native of Southern Italy, and locally known as
‘Friarielli’, was studied to assess quality changes associated to a delayed cropping
throughout the year. Plants were cultivated on a floating system in an unheated
greenhouse in Naples (Italy), in two growing cycles: spring growing cycle, SGC
(March 2005 - May 2005) and winter growing cycle, WGC (December 2005 – March
2006). The days from sowing to harvest were 41 (SGC) and 85 (WGC). At harvest,
yield and quality were evaluated and related to the environmental conditions
occurred during the different crop cycles. Higher daily temperature and solar
radiation during the SGC enhanced both leaf area and plant growth rate. Lower
total yield was obtained in the WGC compared to the SGC (9.5 vs. 11.2 kg m-2). The
leaf nitrate content was reduced in the SGC compared to the winter cycle (1800 vs.
2400 mg kg FW-1) possibly as a consequence of higher nitrate reductase activity
associated to higher light intensity. Nevertheless, the nitrate content was generally
lower than the threshold values established by EU regulation for other leafy
vegetables. Both lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activities were higher in the
SGC compared to the WGC. Although in the winter cycle the yield was similar to
that obtained during the spring cycle, the latter ensured a shorter seed-to-harvest
time and an improved quality of the fresh produce
Proline and light as quality enhancers of rocket (Eruca sativa Miller) grown under saline conditions
No full textStress conditions experienced during growth may affect plant responses during post-harvest storage and eventually determine the overall quality of commercial products. In this context, we hypothesized that foliar applications of proline during the growth cycle and light exposure during post-harvest storage could be two important modulators of yield and quality parameters of rocket plants exposed to NaCl stress. Dry matter percentage increased upon NaCl treatment. However, fresh weight loss during storage did not change over time as a consequence of salt stress. High salinity (100 mM NaCl) moderately reduced both leaf nitrate (14%) and nitrite (3%) contents. Lipophilic (LAC) and hydrophilic (HAC) antioxidant activities also decreased by 10% at the highest salinization (average of two growth cycles). In contrast, during storage, LAC decreased whereas HAC increased. Proline applications reduced the leaf nitrate content during storage by 16%, increased carotenoids and chlorophyll contents in salinized plants and also increased the ascorbate leaf concentration in both salinized and non-salinzed plants. Light storage enhanced fresh weight loss in contrast to dark storage. However the exposure to light reduced leaf nitrate levels by 7% (average of two growth cycles) and contributed to maintain high leaf ascorbate concentrations over time. The combined control of plant physiological responses to environmental stressors and post-harvest storage parameters may affect the nutritional profile of fresh rocket and consequently should be considered to define standard production protocols to improve the nutritional qualities of commercial produce
Increasing Water Use Efficiency in Vegetable Crop Production: From Plant to Irrigation Systems Efficiency
No full textIrrigation is a vital component of the world agriculture. It is practiced worldwide on _270 million hectares and it consents to produce 40% of our total food. Agricultural water consumption accounts for 70% of total freshwater use. The competition for this precious resource is increasing tremendously. Therefore, it is becoming critically important to optimize agricultural water use efficiency (WUE) defined as the ratio of crop yield over the applied water. This requires a shift from maximizing productivity per unit of land area to maximizing productivity per unit of water consumed. To maximize WUE it is necessary to conserve water and to promote maximal crop growth. The former requires minimizing losses through runoff, seepage, evaporation, and transpiration by weeds. The latter objective may be accomplished by planting high-yielding crops/cultivars well adapted to local soil and climatic conditions. Optimizing growing conditions by proper timing of planting and harvesting, tillage, fertilization, and pest control also contribute to improve crop growth. Most of these techniques refer to proven technology, whose implementation and/or fine-tuning in current farming systems may tremendously improve water management efficiency. In this paper, after discussing the importance of irrigation in agriculture, we will introduce basic concepts that define crop WUE and will finally review the means to improve irrigation efficiency in field vegetable crop production
Stomatal Density and Metabolic Determinants Mediate Salt Stress Adaptation and Water Use Efficiency in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)
No full textDaily Fructose Traces Intake and Liver Injury in Children with Hereditary Fructose Intolerance
No full textHereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a rare genetic disorder of fructose metabolism due to aldolase B enzyme deficiency. Treatment consists of fructose, sorbitol, and sucrose (FSS)-free diet. We explore possible correlations between daily fructose traces intake and liver injury biomarkers on a long-term period, in a cohort of young patients affected by HFI
A Spiritual and Intellectual Vagabond: The Chequered Career of Yves de Vallone (1666–1705)
No full textInternational audienceYves de Vallone’s manuscript treatise La Religion du chrétien conduit par la raison éternelle has become something of a landmark in the history of free thought, since it bears witness to the erratic intellectual career of its author. Initially a canon of the Congregation of Sainte-Geneviève, Vallone denounces a Socinian plot led by the directors of the institution. He is persecuted and eventually escapes to Switzerland, then to Germany and finally to Holland, where he arrives in Zwolle at the height of the Leenhof controversy. He embarks on a “metaphysical” defence of Calvinist doctrine but is sharply criticized by Jacques Bernard and sanctioned by the council of the Walloon Church. His reaction is to read Spinoza, Richard Simon and Bayle and launch into the composition of his treatise, which is a radical attack on Christian doctrine and history
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