The common bean landraces from Basilicata (Southern Italy): an example of integrated approach applied to genetic resources management

Ex situ conservation of genetic resources has contributed to the improvement of several food crops through utilisation of preserved germplasm, but it is not the only approach to safeguard genetic resources. Presently, in situ methods are being examined as effective complementary strategies to preserve diversity along with the dynamic environment. Examples of de facto on farm conservation, a form of in situ, have been described. However, their future is unpredictable without the relief of formal scientific projects or appropriate regulations. Recent European Community regulations have introduced the possibility to attribute marks of origin and quality to local typical products. These marks can be an important support to on farm maintenance of élite landraces of principal crops. In the frame of a collaboration between the Italian gene bank and a farm (of the agricultural research service of Basilicata region), an integrated approach, involving ex situ and on farm conservation, was adopted to safeguard common bean landraces from Basilicata. The main result of this project was the attribution of IGP (indication of geographic provenance), an European Community mark, to some tested landraces.     

The common bean populations from Basilicata (Southern Italy). An evaluation of their variation

The variation within a collection constituted by 36 populations of common bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) recently collected in Basilicata region (Southern Italy) was studied. These populations are cultivated in marginal areas of the region mainly for farms' self-consumption. An appreciable variation of seed shape, colour and type of pattern was observed; 34 populations are of climbing growth habit. The frequency of the phaseolin types within the collection was investigated. C, T and S phaseolin types were observed, the type C being predominant (18 of 36 landraces); intra-population variation was detected only for two landraces. Local populations were compared with 28 commercial cultivars widely grown in the Basilicata region and accounting for 80–90% of common bean production. Significant divergences in growth habit and frequency of phaseolin types were observed: 22 cultivars had bush growth habit and 20 showed T phaseolin type. These results stress the urgency of actions devoted to the safeguard of this local germplasm. In fact, the diffusion of alloctonous and not typical germplasm is the first step towards the erosion of useful or valuable genes present in those established local populations.     

Copper(II) binding by free and kaolinite-sorbed humic substances

Humic preparations isolated from different sources—soils (a soddy-podzolic soil and a typical chernozem), high-moor peat, and brown coal—have been used. To analyze the binding of copper ions by humic substances (HSs), the preparations were obtained in two forms: solutions and humic-clay complexes (HSs irreversibly sorbed on kaolinite). With this approach, the binding of copper(II) ions by HSs has been studied in different systems: (1) Cu(II)-HSs irreversibly sorbed on kaolinite, (2) Cu(II)-dissolved HSs, and (3) Cu(II)-dissolved HSs-HSs irreversibly sorbed on kaolinite. In the systems containing both dissolved HSs and humic-clay complexes, HSs of similar structure isolated from the same source were used. The quantitative estimation of the copper binding was based on the constant of sorption (K) for HSs in humic-kaolinite complexes and the stability constant (β) of complexes for free (dissolved) substances. Both parameters were expressed in similar units: L/kg. The values of logK = 3.31—3.33 are independent of the quantity and quality of the HSs in the sorption complexes but reliably exceed the K value for pure kaolinite (2.92). The value of β is not affected by the presence of insoluble HSs together with their soluble forms, but it depends on the source of HSs. The value of logβ varies in the range from 5.62 to 6.93, which significantly exceeds K and indicates a significantly higher affinity of dissolved HSs for copper ions than that of irreversibly sorbed HSs. The revealed regularities have shown that the content of HSs in the soil solution can significantly affect the mobility of a heavy metal bound to the soil organic matter.     

Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological data of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Armoracia rusticana</Emphasis> P. Gaertner,B. Meyer et Scherb. in Hungary and Romania: a case study

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a popular vegetable, spice and medicinal plant. We aimed to collect data about its cultivation, ethnomedicinal and culinary applications in a horseradish-producing region in Hungary and 32 villages in Romania. Horseradish roots are used in ethnomedicine for sore throat, asthma, cough and flu in both areas, alone or in combination with e.g. honey. In Transylvania, additional applications included digestive problems, pleuritis, and rheuma in various forms. The leaf and the grated root is for toothache and fever. Some applications were novel, others matched earlier records from these areas and those of other European countries. In ethnoveterinary practice, the root is used against roaring of horses in all regions. It is traditionally consumed in a soup in Hungary, as pickles, and the leaf in Transylvania. The root samples of the region of interest showed typical chemical pattern of horseradish roots, as shown by GC–MS: allyl isothiocyanate and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate were present in high amounts. The presented ethnomedicinal data are supported by a growing body of scientific evidence—pharmacological data available on the isothiocyanates. Data on antimicrobial activity support use in gastritis (Helicobacter pylori) and dental caries, while data on efficacy in inflammatory conditions justify the applications in diseases asthma and respiratory system infections. Our study presented scientific evidence-supported ethnomedicinal data on horseradish rich in bioactive isothiocyanates.     

Pimpinella anisoides Briganti

Pimpinella anisoides Briganti is newly reported as a minor crop plant from Basilicata, South Italy. It is used in some parts of this region particularly for flavouring traditional pastries.     

Characterization of wines by nuclear magnetic resonance: a work study on wines from the Basilicata region in Italy

We explored the possibility of differentiating Italian wines produced in different regions by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Ten commercial red Aglianico wines were selected from different areas of the Basilicata region in the south of Italy. Some important components of these wines were identified by the assignments of their (1)H and (13)C resonances using one- and two-dimensional homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR experiments. These data were compared with those obtained from 10 Aglianico wines produced in Campania, another southern Italian region. Differences were found among the wines according to their geographical origin and vintage. A fine discrimination of Aglianico wines from Basilicata and Campania was obtained, suggesting that the selected NMR parameters may be a valuable tool for wine authenticity control.     

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), a neglected medical and condiment species with a relevant glucosinolate profile: a review

Armoracia rusticana (horseradish), a member of the Brassicaceae family, has been known since ancient times as a folk medicinal herb and as a plant of nutritional value and culinary interest. Currently horseradish is cultivated for its thick, fleshy and white roots which have a delicious intense pungency and for its tender leaves which are frequently used for salad mixed to other vegetables. The traditions to use horseradish plant for medicinal purpose are still applied in many countries. Horseradish is a rich source of a number of bioactive compounds such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and their breakdown products. Sinigrin is the dominant glucosinolate in both leaves and roots. Recent studies have shown that crude plant extracts have a complex profile of naturally occurring GLSs, with particular regard to sprouts. The increasing interest in these secondary metabolites, associated to the long and diffuse tradition of using horseradish in food preservation and as condiment in many parts of the world, is generating new applications of this plant in several agro-industrial and pharmaceutical sectors and is encouraging the use of its roots and leaves in functional food and medicine for human health. A bibliography review is discussed on ethnobotanical aspects and uses of this plant, as well as knowledge about its flavour compounds and GLS content and composition. This study summarizes also the updated information concerning the influence of the genotype and environment on GLS profile in horseradish.     

Organochlorinated compounds (PCBs and insecticides) in irrigated agrolandscapes of Russia and Uzbekistan

The spatial and temporal distribution of persistent chlororganic compounds in the form of insecticide residues—DDT, DDE, DDD, HCH and industrial pollutants—polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) has been monitored in various components of irrigated agrolandscapes (soil, water, bottom sediments) in the Moscow region, the Kuban lowplain of the Krasnodar region (Russia) and in the Samarkand oasis (Uzbekistan) for the period 1989–1990. The widespread occurence of PCB compounds requires action for their hygienic control and monitoring. The main chlororganic pollutant found were DDT residues and their content in soils and bottom sediments in all regions under study exceeded in many cases the existing baselines (100 µg/kg). Special attention has been given to the ratios between various metabolites and isomers of chlororganic insecticides as well as between various homologs of PCBs among which tetrachlorobiphenyls were predominant in soils, bottom sediments and surface waters.     

Diversity among common bean populations from the Abruzzo region (Central Italy): A preliminary inquiry

The Abruzzo region (Central Italy) shows peculiar characteristics: the extension of mountain territory is the highest in mainland Italy and the whole region is less developed as compared to other Central Italy areas. Moreover, the farming systems developed with specific peculiarities parallel to shepherdy. Recently, in the area of the Gole di Popoli, ideally constituting the door of the inner and less developed part of the region, four populations of common bean were collected. Seed morphological traits, phaseolin and lectin profiles were analysed. Three populations appeared heterogeneous in phaseolin and lectin fractions. C, T, and S phaseolin types, C type being predominant, and six lectin patterns were observed. A comparison with common bean populations from the Basilicata region (Southern Italy) showed interesting differences between the two regions. The present contribution, besides the limitation due to the small number of samples, suggests that the Abruzzo, and other Italian regions with similar agro-environmental conditions, might retain highly interesting local populations.     

Ecological evaluation of oil-contaminated soils (Sakhalin) using enchytraeidae

The ecological status of oil-contaminated soils of Sakhalin and their background analogues has been evaluated with the use of soil invertebrates. The survival rates of Enchytraeus albidus in soils with different textures and the contents of organic carbon and nutrients have been compared. The indicative role of soil mesofauna (Enchytraeus albidus) for the ecological evaluation of oil-contaminated soils with due account for their properties has been shown. The permissible residual concentration of oil hydrocarbons in some soils of Sakhalin—acid brown forest soils (Umbrisols), high-moor peat soils (Histosols), acid meadow alluvial soils (Fluvisols), cultivated meadow soddy soils (Anthrosols), and mucky-podzolic surface-gleyed soils (Gleysols)— has been determined from data on the response of Enchytraeus albidus to different levels of the soil contamination with oil hydrocarbons.     

The whooping crane (Grus americana) population of North America

A model of the whooping crane population of North America shows that its rate of increase has been the result of a stabilized death rate, in spite of an overall decrease in the birth rate and no significant increase in the breeding population. Projections—based on current trends—predict a total population of about 76 individuals in 10 years and 114 in 20 years, with a doubling time of approximately 18 years, but these projections will have to be revised downward if the birth rate continues to decline, or if the carrying capacity of the wintering grounds becomes limiting.     

Landraces in Inland areas of the Basilicata region, Italy: monitoring and perspectives for on farm conservation

A collecting expedition has been carried out in the inland areas of the Basilicata Region, South Italy. Each of the 14 selected municipalities was subdivided in three strata based on the geographical distribution of population and orography: 1. city boundaries, 2. group of country houses, 3. isolated farm houses. Five sites were selected within each stratum/town for a total of 185 sites. In 101 sites crop species germplasm was collected and the farmer-maintainers were interviewed. Altogether 350 accessions were collected, the most common species were Capsicum annuum, Lycopersicon esculentum and Phaseolus vulgaris. A significant number of landraces are still preserved on farm, mostly in isolated farm houses (average age of farmers: 60?years) adopting traditional farming systems but a number of young farmers were also present. Perspectives for on farm conservation and management are discussed and public economic support for “farmer-maintainers” proposed.     

Screening of Microorganisms for Biodegradation of Simazine Pollution (Obsolete Pesticide Azotop 50 WP)

The capability of environmental microorganisms to biodegrade simazine—an active substance of 2-chloro-s-triazine herbicides (pesticide waste since 2007)—was assessed. An enormous metabolic potential of microorganisms impels to explore the possibilities of using them as an alternative way for thermal and chemical methods of utilization. First, the biotope rich in microorganisms resistant to simazine was examined. Only the higher dose of simazine (100 mg/l) had an actual influence on quantity of bacteria and environmental fungi incubated on substrate with simazine. Most simazine-resistant bacteria populated activated sludge and biohumus (vermicompost); the biggest strain of resistant fungi was found in floral soil and risosphere soil of maize. Compost and biohumus were the sources of microorganisms which biodegraded simazine, though either of them was the dominant considering the quantity of simazine-resistant microorganisms. In both cases of periodic culture (microorganisms from biohumus and compost), nearly 100% of simazine (50 mg/l) was degraded (within 8 days). After the repeated enrichment culture with simazine, the rate of its degradation highly accelerated, and just after 24 h, the significant decrease of simazine (20% in compost and 80% in biohumus) was noted. Although a dozen attempts of isolating various strains responsible for biodegradation of simazine from compost and biohumus were performed, only the strain identified as Arthrobacter urefaciens (NC) was obtained, and it biodegraded simazine with almost 100% efficiency (within 4 days).     

Feeding of the panphytophagous oribatid mite Scheloribates laevigatus (Acari: Oribatida) on cyanobacterial and algal diets in laboratory experiments

The feeding of Scheloribates laevigatus on green algae and cyanobacteria was observed under laboratory conditions using food preference tests, microanatomy of the digestive tract and epifluorescence microscopy. The level of consumption of the algal species studied — Klebsormidium flaccidum, Protosiphon botryoides, Chlorella ellipsoidea and Desmococcus vulgaris — differed. The cyanobacterium Trichormus variabilis was rejected by the mite. The most preferred alga D. vulgaris (syn. Protococcus viridis) was digested only partly, in a manner similar to C. ellipsoidea. Probably, only the contents of cells mechanically damaged by chelicerae were digested, as living cells were observed in faecal pellets on both diets. On the other hand, no living cells of K. flaccidum and P. botryoides were detected after gut passage. Intact cell walls of ruptured cells of P. botryoides, C. ellipsoidea and D. vulgaris were found in the faecal pellets in the rectum. K. flaccidum cell walls were observed in the food boli in the mesenteron, but they were more fragmented in comparison with P. botryoides cell walls. This indicates that the observed algal cell walls were not digested, while the contents were. The starch inside the algal cells seems to be the main energy source for the mites. Extrapolation to natural conditions is discussed. Although S. laevigatus is regarded as a fungivorous grazer, its feeding on algae indicates an alternative feeding guild for this species — algivorous browser.     

Kinetics and characteristics of humic acids produced from simple phenols

In the presence of H₂O₂ as donor, horseradish peroxidase was used to catalyze the polymerization of seven monomeric phenols. Yields of humic acid (HA) polymers from meta phenols—resorcinol and phloroglucinol—were insignificant. Of the five ortho and para phenols—phenol, catechol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol and 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene—all except hydroquinone inhibited the enzyme at high concentration. The kinetics of polymerization of the ortho and para compounds were complex and dependent on the concentration of both electron acceptor and donor.The percentage yield of HA before dialysis was far greater from pyrogallol than from catechol or hydroquinone. After dialysis, the yield of the catechol HA was higher than those of the hydroquinone and pyrogallol HAs. A higher molecular weight for the catechol HA over those of the hydroquinone and pyrogallol HAs was also indicated by the lowest E₄/E₆ ratio and highest free radical content.All of the synthetic HAs were relatively rich in free radicals, suggesting that their synthesis occurred via free radicals, i.r. and ¹³C NMR spectra showed that the HAs were molecularly complex polymers or mixtures of complex aromatic structures rich in phenolic OH groups and to a lesser extent in CO₂H groups. The only HA which showed fine structure in the i.r. spectrum was the pyrogallol HA; the presence of aryl ethers was indicated. ¹³C NMR spectra showed that all synthetic HAs were highly aromatic, that aromatic rings of the initial phenols had been built into the HAs, but that molecular environments around phenolic OH groups had changed during the formation of the HAs.     

Transformation and form of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) applied to Moscow soils

The transformation rate and direction of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its forms entering the surface layers of Moscow soils have been analyzed. The DDT transformation rate into metabolites—dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichlor diphenyl dichloroethane (DDD)—is small. In 75% of soils, less than half the initial pesticide is transformed. In 67.5% of soils, formation of DDD predominates in the DDE formation. In soils of the entire area of Moscow, 16% of DDT was transformed into DDE and 23% into DDD. The о,n′-DDT to n,n′-DDT ratio is <0.3 for 95% of soils, and the mean ratio is 0.1, which is typical for application of DDT as a technical product.     

Genetic structure, population dynamics, and conservation of Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger)

Microsatellite DNA polymorphisms were screened in seven populations of the largest Neotropical predator, the Black caiman Melanosuchus niger (n = 169), originating from Brazil, French Guiana and Ecuador. Eight loci were used, for a total of 62 alleles. The Ecuadorian population had the lowest number of alleles, heterozygosity and gene diversity; populations of the Guianas region exhibited intermediate diversities; highest values were recorded in the two populations of the Amazon and Rio Negro. During the last century Melanosuchus populations have been reduced to 1-10% of their initial levels because of hunting pressure, but no strong loss of genetic diversity was observed. Both the inter-locus g-test and the Pk distribution suggested no recent important recovery and/or expansion of current populations. On a global scale, the inter-population variation of alleles indicated strong differentiation (F_ST = 0.137).Populations were significantly isolated from each other, with rather limited gene flow; however, these gene flow levels are sufficiently high for recolonization processes to effectively act at regional scales. In French Guiana, genetic structuring is observed between populations of two geographically close but ecologically distinct habitats, an estuary and a swamp. Similar divergence is observed in Brazil between geographically proximate “black water” and “white water” populations. As a consequence, the conservation strategy of the Black caiman should include adequate ecosystem management, with strong attention to preservation of habitat integrity. Distribution of genetic diversity suggests that current populations originated from the central Amazonian region. Dispersal of the species may thus have been deeply influenced by major climatic changes during the Holocene/Pleistocene period, when the Amazonian hydrographic networks were altered. Major ecological changes such as glaciations, marine transgressions and a hypothesized presence of an Amazonian Lake could have resulted in extension of Black caiman habitats followed by isolation.     

Use of Lichen and Moss in Assessment of Forest Contamination with Heavy Metals in Praded and Glacensis Euroregions (Poland and Czech Republic)

The concentrations of selected metals—Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb—were determined in the samples of Hypogymnia physodes lichen and Pleurozium schreberi moss collected in Polish and Czech Euroregions Praded and Glacensis. More specifically, the samples were collected in Bory Stobrawskie, Bory Niemodlińskie, and Kotlina K?odzka (Poland) and in Jeseniki (Czech Republic). The concentration of metals in the samples was measured using the atomic absorption spectrometry (flame AAS technique and electrothermal atomization AAS technique). The results were used to calculate the comparison factor (CF) that quantifies the difference in concentration of a given bioavailable analyte × accumulated in lichens and mosses: CF?=?2 (c _x,lichen ? c _x,moss) (c _x,lichen + c _x,moss)^?1. The values of CF greater than 0.62 indicate the most probable location of heavy metals deposited in the considered area. In this work, the method was used to show a significant contribution of urban emissions to the deposition of heavy metals in the area of Bory Stobrawskie and in the vicinity of K?odzko City.     

Chaine trophique experimentale en milieu limnique: Contamination directe d'un consommateur de troisieme ordre (Salmo gairdneri) par le methylmercure

Within the context of ecotoxicological research on an experimental trophic chain, in freshwater environment, we have studied the spread of Hg in the tissues of the final consumer — Salmo gairdneri —, after direct contamination by the CH₃HgCl (1 ppb in water). The experiment carried out at 10, 18 and 26°C for a 10-day and a 30-day exposure, has made it possible to analyse the various transfers between the outer environment and the main organs of the fish. A comparative study of tissue concentrations of the metal, according to abiotic conditions, shows proof of the transit and accumulative functions of the studied organs in a ‘chronic’ contamination by Hg through direct absorption.