Effect of antagonistic Fusarium spp. and of different commercial biofungicide formulations on Fusarium wilt of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The ability of antagonistic Fusarium spp. to control Fusarium wilt of basil caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. basilici was tested under glasshouse conditions from 1994 to 1996. Fusarium oxysporum antagonistic strain 251/2, a protoplast fusion-derived hybrid coded FI-11 and F. moniliforme strains TF4 and TF4 RB were able to decrease (P = 0.05) the incidence of Fusarium wilt significantly. Biocontrol was consistent, especially when the antagonists were applied by mixing a talc preparation of propagules in the substrate (10⁵ CFU/ml of substrate) 1–2 weeks before sowing or at sowing. Seed coating with the biocontrol strains (10⁸ CFU/g of seed) did not generally provide sufficient disease containment, whereas the combination of substrate treatment and seed coating did not improve wilt control in comparison with substrate treatment alone. Two commercial formulations, based on antagonistic F. oxysporum strains and one containing the antagonistic strain K61 of Streptomyces griseoviridis, were generally not sufficiently effective at the tested dosages.     

Application of comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography to elucidate the native carotenoid composition in red orange essential oil

In the present work, the ability of a LC x LC-DAD/APCI-MS method developed at this laboratory to identify the native composition of carotenoid in an extremely complex matrix such as red orange essential oil was demonstrated. To carry out this task, two independent and orthogonal separation mechanisms were coupled through a 10-port switching valve that simultaneously collected the eluent from a microbore cyano column used as the first dimension in normal phase mode and injected it to a conventional reversed phase monolithic C(18) column in the second dimension separation. By using this novel analytical technique together with the use of DAD and APCI-MS detectors it was possible to identify in the sample, without the need of any pretreatment, 40 different carotenoids. Among them, 16 carotenoid monoesters were identified, mainly beta-cryptoxanthin palmitate (C(16:0)), myristate (C(14:0)), and laureate (C(12:0)) as well as several lutein, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and luteoxanthin monoesters. Moreover, 21 carotenoid diesters composed by several antheraxanthin, luteoxanthin, violaxanthin, and auroxanthin diesters were found in the native carotenoid composition of the orange oil. The main carotenoid diesters were the laureate palmitate (C(12:0), C(16:0)), myristate palmitate (C(14:0), C(16:0)), and dipalmitate (C(16:0), C(16:0)) diesters, although other diesters were also identified. Besides, two different free carotenes, zeta-carotene and phytofluene, and a xanthophyll, lutein, were also determined. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that carotenoid diesters are described and identified in orange essential oil. Likewise, it has been demonstrated that the LC x LC approach proposed in this study is capable of coping with the direct analysis and identification of a complex natural source of carotenoids such as the orange.     

Protective effect of vanilloids against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in vero cells culture

This study investigated the effect of synthetic capsiate, a simplified analogue of capsiate, and vanillyl alcohol on the oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) in a line of fibroblasts derived from monkey kidney (Vero cells). In response to the TBH-mediated oxidative stress, a reduction of the levels of total unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol was observed, and a rise in the concentrations of conjugated dienes fatty acids hydroperoxides and 7-ketocholesterol. Pretreatment with both synthetic capsiate and vanillyl alcohol preserved Vero cells from oxidative damage and showed a remarkable protective effect on the reduction of the levels of total unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol, inhibiting the increase of MDA, conjugated dienes fatty acids hydroperoxides, and 7-ketocholesterol. Both compounds were effective against peroxidation of cell membrane lipids induced by TBH, with synthetic capsiate essentially acting as a pro-drug of vanillyl alcohol, its hydrophilic hydrolytic derivative.     

Effects of starvation and water quality on the purging process of farmed Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of starvation and water quality during the purging process on the biometric parameters, fatty acids, and flavor volatiles of Murray cod farmed in a recirculation system. Market size Murray cod, at the end of the grow-out stage, were divided into eight treatments. The treatments were either fed/starved (F or S) and kept in clean water (CW: CWF2, CWS2, CWF4, and CWS4) or fed/starved and kept in recycled water (RW: RWF2, RWS2, RWF4, and RWS4) for either 2 or 4 weeks. Fish were sampled at 0, 2, and 4 week intervals. Food deprivation was responsible for a significant (P < 0.05) weight loss compared to that of fed treatments. The same was observed for the condition factor (K), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and dress-out percentage (DP). No significant changes were, however, observed in the visceral fat index (VFI). Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were highest in RWF4 and lowest in CWS4 (P < 0.05), while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were lowest in CWF4 (P < 0.05). Starvation did not affect the flavor volatile compounds, which were mainly affected by changes in water quality. Specifically, total aldehyde (% w/w) content was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by water quality, but the time of purging was not responsible for any noteworthy differences. This study was able to separate the effects of starvation and water quality, in the purging process, on the final eating quality of farmed market size Murray cod. It is concluded that because of the inevitable weight loss during starvation, Murray cod should be fed during the purging stage but kept in clean water and deprived of food only for the time necessary to empty the gastro-intestinal tract.     

Genetic consequences of intensive management in game birds

Introduction of wildlife for game restocking is one major pathway of genetic homogenization. The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa, Phasianidae), a small game bird native to south-western Europe, is in high demand by hunters and natural populations are constantly supplemented by commercial stocks of captive-bred individuals. Also, in recent years human-mediated hybridization with congeneric chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar: Greece, Cyprus, from Middle East to East Asia) has been frequently documented in the wild and in captivity. This study attempts to evaluate the genetic consequences of intensive captive breeding and restocking in the A. rufa species. We investigated A. rufa genetic diversity by making comparisons in both a spatial (across the entire species’ range) and a temporal framework. We accomplished this latter by comparing modern vs. ancient partridges resident in museums and collected 1856-1934, well before supplemental stocking became common. Using mtDNA we found significant changes in the haplotype profile of modern vs. ancient A. rufa, and widespread introgression with chukar genes across the entire species range only in modern representatives, with the relevant exception of Corsican populations. However, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), as opposed to microsatellite DNA markers, showed also modern Corsican populations to harbour many A. rufa × A. chukar hybrids. We conclude that captive breeding programs should make strict use of time-saving and comparatively low cost DNA barcodes to minimize genetic pollution, such as those provided by diagnostic RAPD markers. We also recommend that the active ban on import of exotics and/or hybrids be extended to non-local populations. Altogether this would represent a substantial step forward to preserve A. rufa as well as other game species subjected to similar intensive management.     

Fungitoxic metabolites from Erigeron apiculatus

Four enyne derivatives (1-4) and quercitrin were isolated during a bioassay-guided chromatographic separation of a methanolic extract of Erigeron apiculatus. Matricarialactone (1) and lachnophyllumlactone (2) showed a high fungitoxic activity against Pyricularia oryzae. Matricaria acid methyl ester (3) and lachnophyllum acid methyl ester (4) were, instead, less active.     

Flavonoid glycosides in bergamot juice (Citrus bergamia Risso)

A comprehensive profile of flavonoids in bergamot juice was obtained by a single DAD-ESI-LC-MS-MS course. Eight flavonoids were found for the first time, five of these are C-glucosides (lucenin-2, stellarin-2, isovitexin, scoparin, and orientin 4'-methyl ether), and three are O-glycosides (rhoifolin 4'-O-glucoside, chrysoeriol 7-O-neohesperidoside-4'-O-glucoside, and chrysoeriol 7-O-neohesperidoside). A method is proposed to differentiate chrysoeriol and diosmetin derivatives, which are often indistinguishable by LC-MS-MS. In-depth knowledge of the flavonoid content is the starting point for bergamot juice exploitation in food industry applications.     

Spatial distribution of roots and cracks in soils cultivated with sunflower

The aim of this research was to investigate the spatial distribution of roots and cracks in two clay soils cropped with sunflower under different inter-row spacing in order to identify the optimal management. A latin square experimental design was applied to compare bare soil and soil cropped with sunflower, with three plant densities, obtained by keeping constant the number of plants on the row (3 plants m^?1) and varying the row spacing (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 m). The presence of the crop and the different distance between rows influenced soil moisture content as well as the root spatial distribution and thus the structural features of cracks. Increasingly lower values of moisture were found in both soils as the distance between rows decreased; an opposite trend was observed for both root density and crack size. The volume of cracks in the soil grown with sunflower at 0.4 m row spacing was 201.4 m³ ha^?1, thus 8 times higher than the value on the bare soil and 2.5 times higher compared to the one grown at 0.8 m between rows. Optimal results in terms of root density, soil moisture and crack size were obtained with an inter-row spacing of 0.6 m.     

Sea fennel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crithmum maritimum</Emphasis> L.): from underutilized crop to new dried product for food use

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a perennial halophyte species typical of coastal ecosystems, used fresh in traditional cuisine and folk medicine due to its sensory properties and a good content of healthy compounds. Although considered as a promising biosaline crop, this halophyte is underutilized for commercial cultivation possibly due to a shortage of its consumer demand. For promoting a full exploitation of this species, a new food product was obtained by drying sea fennel using different treatments (air-drying, microwave-drying, microwave-assisted air-drying and freeze-drying). Water activity, essential oil content, chlorophylls, surface colour, colouring power and sensory evaluation were analyzed. All drying treatments allow to obtain a good water activity but significantly reduced the content of essential oils and chlorophylls. Freeze-drying and microwaving preserved the surface colour parameters more than other drying treatments, while freeze-drying gave the product the best colouring power. Based on sensory analysis, microwave-drying, microwave-assisted air-drying and freeze-drying showed the highest scores among the drying methods. Taken together the results indicate that microwaving and freeze-drying are optimal for preserving qualitative traits, including organoleptic properties, in dried sea fennel for food use. Furthermore, dried sea fennel can be usefully exploited in human food not only for its aromatic traits but also for its food colouring power like other plant derived natural colorants. It could be concluded that this underutilized crop could play a better role for making up a sustainable food production system.