Influence of Plant-Based Biostimulant (BORTAN) on Qualitative and Aromatic Traits of Rocket Salad ( L.).

In this study, the influence of a new plant-based biostimulant (Bortan) on physiological and aromatic traits of rocket ( L. var. Pamela) was monitored by evaluating physico-chemical parameters (fresh and dry weight, leaf color and chlorophyll content) and biochemical traits (total phenolic compound (TP), total flavonoids (TF), ascorbic acid (AA) and antioxidant activity (AOX).

H-NMR Metabolite Fingerprinting Analysis Reveals a Disease Biomarker and a Field Treatment Response in subsp. -Infected Olive Trees.

subsp. is a xylem-limited bacterial phytopathogen currently found associated on many hectares with the "olive quick decline syndrome" in the Apulia region (Southern Italy), and the cultivars Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò result in being particularly sensitive to the disease. In order to find compounds showing the capability of reducing the population cell density of the pathogen within the leaves, we tested, in some olive orchards naturally-infected by the bacterium, a zinc-copper-citric acid biocomplex, namely Dentamet®, by spraying it to the crown, once per month, during spring and summer.

Methyl jasmonate and ozone affect the antioxidant system and the quality of wine grape during postharvest partial dehydration.

Postharvest partial dehydration is a technique used in the production of important dry and sweet wines in Italy. An accurate management of the dehydration environmental parameters allows for the modulation of berry metabolism and the maintenance/improvement of the enochemical quality of grapes. As it is known that water loss induces oxidative processes in berries, our hypothesis was that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and ozone (O), as postharvest treatments before partial dehydration, might be beneficial for grape berry quality.

Effect of chitosan treatment on strawberry allergen-related gene expression during ripening stages.

The effectiveness of a chitosan coating treatment on the allergen-related genes expression of three strawberry cultivars ( ×  Duch., namely cvs. "Sabrina", "Candonga" and "Jonica") harvested at three ripening stages was evaluated.

Evaluation of different training systems on Annurca apple fruits revealed by agronomical, qualitative and NMR-based metabolomic approaches.

Nine different training systems for "Annurca Rossa del Sud" apple fruits, including oblique palmette, free palmette, V-shaped, Tatura trellis, Bibaum®, modified Bibaum®, triple leader, slender spindle and Solaxe, were evaluated based on agronomic, qualitative and metabolomic traits. Fruits were analysed at harvest and after the reddening process. The slender spindle training system showed the highest cumulative efficiency yield compared to the others.

Reference gene selection for normalization of RT-qPCR gene expression data from Actinidia deliciosa leaves infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae.

Normalization of data, by choosing the appropriate reference genes (RGs), is fundamental for obtaining reliable results in reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In this study, we assessed Actinidia deliciosa leaves inoculated with two doses of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae during a period of 13 days for the expression profile of nine candidate RGs.

Effect of Chitosan Coating on the Postharvest Quality and Antioxidant Enzyme System Response of Strawberry Fruit during Cold Storage.

The effectiveness of chitosan fruit coating to delay the qualitative and nutraceutical traits of three strawberry cultivars, namely "Candonga", "Jonica" and "Sabrina", as well as the effects of chitosan on antioxidant enzymes were evaluated. The fruits were coated with 1% and 2% chitosan solution and stored at 2 °C for nine days. Samples were taken every three days.