Green Cu particles for functional and biodegradable food packaging solutions.

This study demonstrates a simple approach to synthesize green Cu particles stabilized by poly(n-vinyl)pyrrolidone (PVP): the latter acts as stabilizer and dispersant, and its presence in solution eliminates the need for an inert atmosphere. Synthetic parameters were tuned to obtain particles with diameters >200 nm, to be human-safe and prevent nano-cytotoxicity. PVP and reductant concentrations, with reaction times, were varied to investigate their effect on colloidal stability, kinetics, and particles size.

Electrolyzed Salt Solutions Used against Major Postharvest Diseases of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables.

Alternative means of control are becoming increasingly relevant to the improvement of safety and the reduction of postharvest losses and waste of fruit and vegetables, especially in view of the application of the EU Greed Deal. A previous study from our research group that focused on the electrolysis process of water and was conducted using NaCl and NaHCO as electrolytes proved to efficiently reduce pathogen inoculum in packinghouse washing water. In the present study, we examined the effect of the electrolyzed salt solutions (eNaCl and eNaHCO) produced in the same experimental conditions previously reported to be used as postharvest treatments during handling and commercialization, and/or at the consumer's site.

Development of singleplex and multiplex real-time (Taqman®) RT-PCR assays for the detection of viruses associated with fig mosaic disease.

Singleplex and multiplex real-time (TaqMan®) RT-PCR assays were developed to detect seven fig-infecting viruses, i.e., fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1), fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2), fig mild mottle-associated virus (FMMaV), fig mosaic virus (FMV), fig latent virus 1 (FLV-1), fig cryptic virus 1 (FCV-1) and fig fleck-associated virus (FFkaV).

Development of an FTP-LAMP assay based on TaqMan real-time PCR and LAMP for the specific detection of Xylella fastidiosa De Donno and mulberry strains in both plants and insect vectors.

We developed two real-time detection assays, TaqMan real-time PCR and LAMP, using primers and probe designed based on a sequence annotated to code for a Haemagglutinin-related protein (Hg) of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), a gene uniquely present in the Italian olive (De Donno of olive) and American mulberry strains, for specific detection of the target Xf strains. These assays were validated with DNA samples extracted from Xf-infected plant samples and from two species of insect vectors (Philaenus spumarius, Ps; and Neophilaenus campestris, Nc). Both techniques were proven to be highly sensitive (100 fg of Xf-genomic DNA) and specific to the Italian De Donno and American mulberry strains of Xf.

DHPLC technology for high-throughput detection of mutations in a durum wheat TILLING population.

Background: Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) is a cereal crop widely grown in the Mediterranean regions; the amber grain is mainly used for the production of pasta, couscous and typical breads. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection technologies and high-throughput mutation induction represent a new challenge in wheat breeding to identify allelic variation in large populations.