Dissection of antioxidant activity of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grains as evaluated by the new LOX/RNO method

Antioxidant activity (AA) of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) grains was studied using the innovative LOX/RNO method, able to simultaneously detect different antioxidant mechanisms, and the TEAC assay, one of the most widely used assays. Insoluble-bound and free-soluble phenols, hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds were extracted from eight different whole flour samples; extracts were analyzed for AA and their content in several antioxidants. The LOX/RNO method measured very high AA values, with the highest ones [850–1500 μmol Trolox eq./g whole flour (dry weight)] for insoluble-bound phenolic extracts, highly correlated to total phenolic (r = 0.761, P < 0.001) and ferulic acid (r = 0.816, P < 0.001) contents. Hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts showed lower AA [70-140 and 40–60 μmol Trolox eq./g (dry weight), respectively], highly correlated to flavonoid (r = 0.583, P < 0.01) and protein (r = 0.602, P < 0.01), as well as β-tocotrienol (r = 0.684, P < 0.05) contents, respectively. Interestingly, the LOX/RNO method suggests that insoluble-bound phenolic compounds may exert very strong synergistic interactions within the extract. Contrarily, the TEAC assay did not correlate to any antioxidant content, resulted unable to highlight differences among samples, measured much lower AA values and did not suggest synergism. The use of the LOX/RNO method is useful to unearth new properties of phytochemicals from durum wheat grains, potentially giving health benefits.     

Molecular and biologic characterization of a phytoplasma associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica campestris</Emphasis> phyllody disease in Punjab province,Pakistan

A phytoplasma-associated disease was identified in Brassica campestris (sarson) plants during a survey conducted in Punjab province of Pakistan in 2014–2016. The symptomatic plants showed characteristic symptoms of phyllody and witches’ broom. Phytoplasma presence was detected by polymerase chain reaction on 16S ribosomal and tuf DNAs, followed by RFLP analysis and sequence comparison of the 16S rRNA and tuf genes. The phytoplasma detected was classified in a new ribosomal subgroup designed 16SrIX-H. The phytoplasma presence in phloem tissues of symptomatic sarson samples was also confirmed through light microscopy and transmission studies to healthy plants through dodder and the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus. This is the first report of identification of 16SrIX-H subgroup phytoplasma associated with sarson and its natural vector in Pakistan.     

Is earthworms' dispersal facilitated by the ecosystem engineering activities of conspecifics?

In this work, we documented the influence of earthworm's galleries on their speed of movements during dispersal events in the soil. We quantified, by using X-rays, the dispersal behaviour of earthworms in the soil. The observations were conducted in mesocosms in controlled conditions for 12?h. Our experiments revealed that during a dispersal sequence of a batch of individuals of the species Aporrectodea terrestris (Savigny 1826): (a) individuals used preferentially existing conspecifics' galleries, (b) individual velocity increased after each dispersal event and (c) the lag time before each dispersal event did not seem to be influenced by previous dispersers. Therefore, dispersal seems to be facilitated by conspecifics' activity, which strongly supports the hypothesis of a feedback between ecosystem engineers' activity and their dispersal speed.     

Characterization of the lentil landrace Santo Stefano di Sessanio from Abruzzo,Italy

In the world lentil is grown on more than 3 million hectares and is one of the most important, low-cost, food source of protein. In Italy lentil has been cultivated since ancient times, but in the last decades its cultivation has been confined to marginal areas, small islands and hilly, mountainous areas of central and southern Italy. Local varieties are still common and are often greatly appreciated for their taste and cooking qualities. Several accessions from the Santo Stefano di Sessanio area, Abruzzo Region, were collected and phenotypically and genotypically characterized in order to look for the existing variability within and between populations. Image analysis of seeds was also used. Populations grown in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and in the neighbouring area basically share most of their characteristics. However, some of the accessions anonymously gathered from the local market were shown to be different from those collected from farmers. The paper reports and discusses how this local product needs be characterized and promoted in order to avoid fraud that could negatively affect the local economy and put valuable, adapted, genetic resources at risk of erosion.     

Rhizospheric organic compounds in the soil–microorganism–plant system: their role in iron availability

Poor iron (Fe) availability in soil represents one of the most important limiting factors of agricultural production and is closely linked to physical, chemical and biological processes within the rhizosphere as a result of soil–microorganism–plant interactions. Iron shortage induces several mechanisms in soil organisms, resulting in an enhanced release of inorganic (such as protons) and organic (organic acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, phytosiderophores, siderophores, phenolics and enzymes) compounds to increase the solubility of poorly available Fe pools. However, rhizospheric organic compounds (ROCs) have short half‐lives because of the large microbial activity at the soil–root interface, which might limit their effects on Fe mobility and acquisition. In addition, ROCs also have a selective effect on the microbial community present in the rhizosphere. This review aims therefore to unravel these complex dynamics with the objective of providing an overview of the rhizosphere processes involved in Fe acquisition by soil organisms (plants and microorganisms). In particular, the review provides information on (i) Fe availability in soils, including mineral weathering and Fe mobilization from soil minerals, ligand and element competition and plant‐microbe competition; (ii) microbe–plant interactions, focusing on beneficial microbial communities and their association with plants, which in turn influences plant mineral nutrition; (iii) plant–soil interactions involving the metabolic changes triggered by Fe deficiency and the processes involved in exudate release from roots; and (iv) the influence of agrochemicals commonly used in agricultural production systems on rhizosphere processes related to Fe availability and acquisition by crops.     

Diverse phytoplasmas associated with maize bushy stunt disease in Peru

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Corn plants showing symptoms of midribs chlorosis, and leaf reddening, short internodes, ear proliferation, and plant growth reduction were collected in Peru...     

Direct measurement of the total antioxidant capacity of cereal products

A simple and rapid procedure was developed for the direct measurement of the antioxidant capacity of cereals. It entails grinding of cereals, mixing with 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) reagent, centrifugation and measure of the absorbance. The ABTS reagent was dissolved in a mixture of ethanol:water (50:50, v/v), instead of 100% ethanol, in order to overcome low solubility of water-soluble antioxidant compounds of some cereals. A reaction time of 30 min allowed plateau values to be reached during the antioxidant capacity measurement of cereal samples. The accuracy of the direct procedure was confirmed by measuring, in solid state, the antioxidant activity of pure phenolic compounds.The direct procedure gave results of total antioxidant capacities significantly higher than those determined by the traditional procedure (multiple extraction followed by alkaline hydrolysis) for most whole meal cereals, suggesting that such a procedure was not always sufficient to properly assess the antioxidant capacity of bound phenolic compounds in cereals. The proposed extraction-independent procedure for measuring antioxidant capacity of cereals will facilitate the inter-laboratory data comparison, the construction of reliable antioxidant capacity database and the screening of large sampling of cereals for their nutraceutical characteristics.     

Epidemiology of bovine tick-borne diseases in southern Italy

This investigation was carried out in an area covering part of three southern Italian regions: Campania, Basilicata and Apulia. Eighty-one farms were involved using the formula suggested by Thrusfield; they were equally distributed over the area which was subdivided into 81 geo-referenced sub-areas. In May and June 1999 from a total of 506 cattle, older than 18 months, blood-samples were taken and ticks were collected and identified. Serum samples were tested for antibodies of Bahesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale with an ELISA technique. Eight farms (9.8%) out of the 81 examined were positive for B. bigemina only, 3 (3.7%) for A. marginale only, and 70 (86.4%) for both. None of the animals of any farm was found to be positive for B. bovis. Out of the 506 sera tested, 117 (23.1 %) were positive for B. bigemina only, 58 (11.5%) forA. marginale only and 250 (49.4%) for both species; 81 (16.0%) were negative for all of them. Ticks were collected on animals on 62 (76.5%) out of the 81 farms. Adult ticks (1 410) were collected and identified; the highest number belonged to the Rhipicephalus bursa species (65.5%), followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus (8.6) and Haemaphysalis punctata (8.4). The results showed that B. bigemina, A. marginale and their potential vectors are common in the area examined and indicated that there is a risk for animals imported from tick-borne disease-free areas.