Characterization of flavonoids and pectins from bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) peel, a major byproduct of essential oil extraction

Bergamot peel is an underutilized byproduct of the essential oil and juice-processing industry. As with other Citrus peels, it still contains exploitable components, such as pectins and flavonoids. Commercial glycoside hydrolases, specifically a combination of pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes, solubilized a high percentage of the material (81.94%). The flavonoid profile of the peel consisted of characteristic Citrus species flavanone rutinosides and neohesperosides derived from naringenin, eriodictyol, and hesperetin. In addition, a number of minor flavanone and flavone glycosides, not found in orange and lemon peels, were identified. The majority of flavonoids were extracted in the two 70% v/v EtOH extractions. Processing this material clearly has economic potential leading to low environmental impact.     

Production of phytotoxic metabolites by five species of Botryosphaeriaceae causing decline on grapevines, with special interest in the species Neofusicoccum luteum and N. parvum

In recent years an increasing number of species of Botryosphaeriaceae have been associated with grapevine decline worldwide. Five species isolated from declining grapevines in Spain (Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia seriata, Dothiorella viticola, Neofusicoccum luteum and N. parvum) were checked for toxin production in liquid cultures. Cultural conditions for all fungi were adjusted to obtain optimal production of phytotoxic culture filtrates, by growing the fungi in steady liquid cultures of Czapek–Dox broth for different time intervals. Phytotoxicity of D. seriata and N. parvum reached a maximum after 14 days while the remaining species showed the highest phytotoxicity levels after 21 days in culture. All fungi produced hydrophilic high-molecular weight compounds with phytotoxic properties. In addition, N. luteum and N. parvum produced lipophilic low-molecular weight phytotoxins, not detected consistently among the remaining species. This led to a more exhaustive study on the phytotoxicity of N. luteum and N. parvum. Culture filtrates and corresponding extracts of both species were consistently highly phytotoxic in different assays. The gas-chromatography analysis of the acetylated O-methyl glycosides of the phytotoxic exopolysaccharides produced by N. parvum showed these substances to be composed mainly of glucose, mannose and galactose. Results suggest that phytotoxic metabolites could be involved in the virulence of both species in planta.     

Activity of foliar extracts of cultivated eggplants against sclerotinia lettuce drop disease and their phytochemical profiles

Antifungal activity of plant-derived compounds can be exploited in disease management systems to improve sustainability and replace synthetic molecules. In this study, four crude hydroethanolic extracts of leaves, collected from Italian Solanum spp. landraces, were selected to evaluate their ability to suppress Sclerotinia minor Jagger, a great threat to lettuce production worldwide. In vitro fungal development was inhibited by Solanum melongena L. and S. aethiopicum L. extracts showing a dose-dependent correlation. At the highest concentration tested in the current experiments (45 mg mL^?1) antifungal activity caused up to 90% growth reduction. The exposure of the fungus to S. aethiopicum extracts incited pronounced changes in the hyphal morphology as observed under light microscopy. Consistently, under laboratory conditions, in planta application of the active extracts on lettuce significantly reduced Sclerotinia drop disease in comparison to non-treated controls. Phytochemical composition was determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analyses. Four secondary metabolites differentially present in the extracts, identified as n-caffeoylputrescine, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin and solasodoside A, are hypothesized to play a crucial role in mechanisms underlying biological effects of extracts. PCA analysis showed positive correlations of these compounds with the overall control ability of the extracts. The results indicated that foliar material from cultivated eggplant could be suitable to produce biological-based remedies for controlling plant diseases.     

Do traditional sheep breeders perform conscious selection? An example from a participatory breeding program of Morada Nova sheep

The implementation of sustainable breeding programs requires genetic breeding strategies that are appropriate for the reality production systems. It is also essential that the choice of animal selection criteria be based on breeders’ knowledge and objectives. This work is an ethno-zootechnical study of the Morada Nova sheep breed and its crossbreeds. The goals of this study were to register and analyze indigenous breeders’ knowledge and practices regarding animal selection criteria and to generate technical information to support a participatory breeding program of the breed. This study was conducted in the Morada Nova municipality in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were evaluated using two groups of individuals, purebred Morada Nova sheep breeders (RMN, n = 13) and breeders of Morada Nova crossbreeds (MMN, n = 48). Interview questions were used to identify local selection criteria adopted by each group in the choice of animals for breeding. Data from the interviews were submitted to frequency distribution analysis and the Shapiro-Wilk test to verify their distribution. Later, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the two groups of farmers based on that information, in addition to multivariate statistical analysis and evaluation of Smith salience index. Breeders in the RMN group used selection criteria related to breed standards, such as pelage color. In contrast, breeders of the MMN group used criteria related to productivity, such as body conformation and milk production. Breeders should be engaged in the development of breeding programs, and it is important to consider their preferences and objectives when evaluating breeding animals.     

Should the domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) be considered in the epidemiology of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 infection?

Only limited information is available on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) in domestic buffalos. In this study, a virulent BoHV-1 field strain isolated from cattle was inoculated into buffaloes to evaluate their susceptibility to the virus and to investigate the establishment of viral latency through clinical, virological and serological investigations. Latency was also studied by attempting viral reactivation using pharmacological induction. Six of seven male, 5 months old buffaloes were intranasally inoculated with BoHV-1; the other animal was kept as negative control. The animals were clinically monitored during the post-infection (P.I.) and the post-pharmacological induction (P.P.) periods. During these periods, nasal and rectal swabs, and blood samples, with and without anticoagulant, were collected at 2–3 day intervals. On culling the animals, 206 days P.I., their trigeminal ganglia and tonsils were collected. No clinical signs referable to BoHV-1 were observed throughout the experimental period. However, seropositivity was detected in all infected animals within day 20 P.I., using BoHV-1 glycoprotein E and glycoprotein B competitive ELISAs (IDEXX) and virus neutralisation test. In real-time PCR (RT-PCR), five of these animals were positive, at least once, for nasal or rectal swabs, during the P.I. period. The sixth infected animal was found positive only in the trigeminal ganglia after culling. Ganglia were also positive for two other animals. Virus isolation in permissive cell-lines was successful for a part of the RT-PCR positive samples. The detected viruses were confirmed by genetic analysis as identical to the inoculated strain. No evidence of infection was observed in the negative control. This study represents the first experimental transmission of BoHV-1 in buffaloes, confirming their susceptibility to infection and their possible role as host/reservoirs of BoHV-1.     

Effect of different rates of composted organic amendment on urban soil properties,growth and nutrient status of three Mediterranean native hedge species

Increasing green space, especially in densely built-up areas is considered to be a valuable climate change adaptation response in order to reduce the threat of high temperatures to human health and comfort and to controlled global greenhouse gas emissions. Practical responses to climate change, under urban conditions, in order to avoid or reduce trees and shrubs vulnerability, can be considered drought resistant planting approaches, as the addition of organic amendeds to soil. The improvement of physical–chemical soil quality is a key step for carrying out xeriscaping programs of urban green spaces in Mediterranean semiarid areas. Organic amendments, particularly compost, have been receiving a renewed attention not only in horticulture but also in the context of restoring disturbed urban soils to address environmental issues as well as to improve trees and shrubs growth. The influence of increasing rates (0, 15, 30, and 45%) of composted sewage sludge (SSC) placed in the plantation hole on both urban soil properties and growth for three native Mediterranean woody hedge species was monitored over a 2-year period after planting. The experiment was supported by a xerogardening project in an urban context under semi-arid conditions. The results indicate that the urban soil physical characteristics were positively influenced by the addition of SSC: the 45% rate showed an increase in both moisture and infiltration values, thereby increasing the volume of plant-available water in the soil. The chemical properties of the amended soils were also directly affected by the SSC rate, but the effect of the compost on organic matter, nitrogen and potassium contents decreased over time. Our results prove that the hedge growth response to the compost treatments is also highly dependent on the rate of compost used. At the end of the trial, in Rhamnus and Myrthus plants 30% compost level guarantees the best performance; in fact, the further addition of 15% of compost led to a significant decrease in hedge and diameter values, in particular in Myrtle. This could be explained by the high pH at 45% compost, which would seem not to suit the physiology of the two species. On the other hand, in Phillyrea plants, the rate of 45% compost gives high performance equal to that of 30%; it would therefore seem that the high pH at 45% compost does not influence the nutritive elements’ absorption and, as a consequence, the growth. The use of composted sludge as an amendment for sclerophyllous could be feasible and, what is more, helpful to mitigate the environmental impact of organic waste disposal. Moreover more natural vegetation can be introduced into urban parks and green spaces in semi-arid environments to encourage sustainable landscaping and xerogardening.     

Ellagic Acid and Polyhydroxylated Urolithins Are Potent Catalytic Inhibitors of Human Topoisomerase II: An in Vitro Study

Ellagic acid (EA), a natural polyphenol abundant in fruits and common in our diet, is under intense investigation for its chemopreventive activity resulting from multiple effects. EA inhibits topoisomerase II, but the effects on the human enzyme of urolithins, its monolactone metabolites, are not known. Therefore, the action of several synthetic urolithins toward topoisomerases II was evaluated, showing that polyhydroxylated urolithins, EA, and EA-related compounds are potent inhibitors of the α and β isoforms of human topoisomerase II at submicromolar concentrations. Competition tests demonstrate a dose-dependent relationship between ATP and the inhibition of the enzyme. Docking experiments show that the active compounds bind the ATP pocket of the human enzyme, thus supporting the hypothesis that EA and polyhydroxylated urolithins act as ATP-competitive inhibitors of human topoisomerase II.     

Heavy metals in soils and sedimentary deposits of the Padanian Plain (Ferrara, Northern Italy): characterisation and biomonitoring

Purpose

This contribution investigates agricultural soils and sedimentary deposits in the province of Ferrara (Padanian alluvial plain, Northern Italy) in order to: examine their genesis; to define the geochemical background of the area; and to evaluate the existence of anthropogenic contamination. Moreover, environmental risk related to the presence of potentially toxic heavy metals that can be transferred into agricultural products (and consequently bio-accumulated in the food chain) was also assessed.

Materials and methods

The analyses (reported in an extensive supplementary dataset) include XRD, XRF and ICP-MS assessment of bulk sediments, tests of metal extraction with aqua regia, as well as analyses of local agricultural products, i.e. biomonitoring which is important in the evaluation of element mobility.

Results and discussion

Based on the results, GIS-based geochemical maps were produced and local background levels were defined. This approach demonstrated that high concentrations of Cr and Ni is a natural (geogenic) feature of the local alluvial terrains, which in turn is related to the origin and provenance of the sediments, as confirmed by the lack of top enrichment in all of the investigated sites. Tests of metal extraction and analyses of agricultural products provide guidelines for agricultural activities, suggesting that extensive use of sewage sludge, industrial slurry and manure (that are often rich in metals) should be minimised.

Conclusions

The dataset reported in this paper shows that the agricultural terrains of the studied alluvial plain are not characterised by anthropogenic heavy metal pollution. In spite of the elevated natural background of Cr and Ni, most of the local agricultural products do not show significant evidence of bio-magnification. Exceptions are represented by forage grass (alfalfa) and corn (maize) that tend to uptake As and Ni, respectively. This demonstrates that in agricultural areas, a geochemical risk assessment must include both soil and plant investigations.