Genetic diversity and intra-specific phylogeny of Triticum turgidum L. subsp. dicoccon (Schrank) Thell. revealed by RFLPs and SSRs

Today, emmer wheat, T. turgidum subsp. dicoccon, widely grown in the past is a candidate crop for sustainable agriculture in Italy. As part of a research project aimed at the enhanced use of the hulled wheat germplasm, molecular characterization was carried out to understand the genetic structure of the crop and to identify accessions of interest. A collection of 194 accessions was analyzed with 15 microsatellite loci (SSRs), while only a sample of 38 accessions was tested with 19 RFLP probes. The marker loci were selected on the basis of their independent genomic distribution. Genetic distances and allelic frequencies were calculated for each marker class. The genetic relationships were visualized with dendrograms. RFLP loci were, on average, less polymorphic than SSRs. An average Dice's genetic distance of 0.22 for RFLPs vs 0.38 for SSRs was detected, while an expected average heterozygosity per locus of 0.23 for RFLPs vs 0.26 for SSRs was also estimated. With a least number of 10 loci per marker class it was possible to identify each genotype. The most diverse accessions had different geographic origins. Germplasms from Italy and Ethiopia appear to belong to a more primitive genepool, given that a group of accessions from these countries were genetically differentiated from a Russian-Iranian group.     

Chemical and productive properties of two Sardinian milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) populations as sources of nutrients and antioxidants

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (milk thistle), grown as a medicinal plant in several countries, is considered as a weed in pastures and cereal crops but also as an interesting plant for biomass production. As an additional contribution to the full exploitation of a such promising species, two Sardinian populations of S. marianum were investigated for chemical composition, bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties at vegetative and reproductive stages. Dry matter yield was affected by the phenogical stage and differed between populations, ranging from 148 to 246 g plant^?1. Chemical composition did not differ between populations. Antioxidant capacity detected by means of ABTS [(2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt)] and by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) methods ranged from 3.45 to 5.42 and 3.83 to 6.32 mmol/100 g dry weight of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, respectively. Differences in antioxidant capacity and bioactive compound contents in the different plant organs were found and also a significant linear correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenolics and flavonoids, at flowering compared to vegetative stage. Research highlights antioxidant capacity in different organs of milk thistle and encourages the exploitation of biomass also as functional food, source of natural antioxidants and as a complementary fodder.     

Long-term effects of heavy metals from composted municipal waste on some enzyme activities in a cultivated soil

A 3-year field experiment on a calcareous Fluventic Xerochrept planted with corn (Zea mays L.) was carried out to evaluate the effects of amending the soil with high and low rates of composted municipal waste on soil enzyme activities (alkaline phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, arylsulphatase, dehydrogenase, and l-asparaginase). These enzyme activities all increased when compost was added at rates of up to 90 t ha^-1, and the phosphatases continued to show a linear increase with compost rates of up to 270 t ha^-1. The addition of mineral fertilizer increased enzyme activities in unamended soil, and masked the stimulating effect of compost on the amended soils. Heavy metals did not affect soil enzyme activities up to a compost addition of at least three times the amount specified by Italian law.     

Regolith behaviour and physical weathering of clayey mudrock as dependent on seasonal weather conditions in a badland area at Vallcebre, Eastern Pyrenees

Studies on badland areas in the Vallcebre basin (Pyrenees) suggest that erosion rates are controlled by the weathering rate of mudrocks. To obtain the temporal pattern of physical weathering and its control on the erosive processes, monitoring of regolith temperatures at different aspect, depth and lithology, and periodical determination of regolith moisture and bulk density were carried out. Changes in surface regolith have also been monitored by means of photographic techniques, using an especially designed tripod. Finally, the hydrological and erosive response of the regolith trough the seasons were studied using rainfall simulations. The results obtained support and confirm previous knowledge on the role of frost action in mudrock weathering and the role of subsequent regolith development and wetness status on infiltration and runoff generation. These seasonal changes of behaviour are so important that they raise serious questions about the validity of observations or experiments carried out in only one season.This work confirms that erosion processes are controlled by regolith formation during winter and regolith depletion by storm rainfall erosion during summer, spring and early autumn. It also raises important points about annual trends of infiltration and erodibility, that should be used as guidelines for modelling runoff and sediment production.     

Role of VEGF in pig preantral follicles

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Book reviews

Agriculture and Human Values -     

Residents and urban green spaces: The case of Bari

The total area of public green spaces in the city of Bari, Italy is more limited than in most other Italian cities (2.9 m²/inhabitant). This fact makes it an interesting subject for research into the general perception that the residents of the city have of green spaces and their behaviour patterns when using them.

A questionnaire (27 questions) was presented by telephone to a representative sample (n=351) of the population of Bari. The aims of the study were: (a) to gain insight in the perception of green spaces with particular reference to those green areas within the city itself; (b) to examine behaviour during visits to parks and gardens and means of transport used to reach them; (c) to investigate what kind of relationship should be set up between the local authority and the population regarding information and participation.

The results show that respondents perceive the green areas as a life quality enhancer in accordance with some previous studies carried out in Italy and in other countries. Citizens are moreover conscious of the limitations in quality and quantity of green areas in their own city, although this result needs to be more closely analysed in the future. Patterns in the use of public green areas proved to be strictly connected with age, sex, marital status, area of residence. Another conditioning factor was the system of mobility. The results moreover underline how citizens see the public and private green areas as single beneficial system.

The research also demonstrates the potentials of applying telephone surveys in studies concerning urban forests.     

Tissue culture methods for the screening and analysis of putative virus-resistant transgenic potato plants

ABSTRACT Following regeneration, putative virus-resistant transgenic plants are usually transferred from tissue culture to a greenhouse or growth chamber to screen for resistance to infection and disease development using mechanical, graft, or insect vector inoculation methods. To reduce initial screening costs and time, we developed mechanical and graft inoculation methods suitable for tissue culture use. The in vitro methods were validated by comparing them with similar greenhouse screens using putative potato virus Y strain o (PVY degrees ) replicase-mediated resistant regenerants of the potato cultivar Atlantic. Five transgenic lines were tested, with similar results obtained from in vitro and greenhouse experiments. Two of the transgenic lines, A1 and A3, showed the greatest resistance to PVY degrees infection, as indicated by low enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay values and infection rates. In vitro mechanical inoculation methods were also used to infect wild-type tomato and tobacco plants with cucumber mosaic virus and potato virus Y. Potato plants were also infected with the phloem-restricted potato leafroll virus, a low-titer virus, using in vitro graft inoculation methods. These results suggest the potential usefulness of these simple, effective, and economical techniques for screening large numbers of putative virus-resistant plants.     

Rearing experiences of the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii in the Gulf of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea,Italy)

In order to utilize the biomass of the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii Gmelin as a dietary supplement for fish nourishment, we conducted some experiences of rearing this worm in the Mediterranean Sea. A preliminary study on the growth of this species on suspended plastic nets was conducted in two sites of the Apulian coast with different trophic features. Data for the first 12 months show that S. spallanzanii reared in eutrophic conditions grows producing a biomass higher than the natural population. The acquired experience was afterward tested in a pilot plant located in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto, a eutrophic area where polychaetes were co-cultured with Mytilus galloprovincialis within a long-line farm. The slight mortality recorded during the first 2 months and quite negligible after 4 months, the high increase in volume and biomass of the reared polychaetes, especially at high density (70 individuals for each net), demonstrated the advantage of rearing S. spallanzanii in the pilot plant with low cost of production and high profit. If the acquired technology is applied to a medium farm containing up to 400 sectors, the biomass produced indeed might reach about 1.36 tons/year. In conclusion, on the basis of our results, we demonstrated the possibility to obtain high-value worm biomass coupled to mussel biomass in a completely non-fed culturing system without increasing, but presumably reducing the environmental impact due to mussel farming.