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.

Postharvest Diseases of Pomegranate: Alternative Control Means and a Spiderweb Effect.

The pomegranate is a fruit known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It has recently aroused great interest in the industry and among consumers, leading to a significant increase in demand. Consequently, its cultivation has been boosted all over the world.

Biostimulant Formulations and Extracts to Improve Yield, Quality, and Storability of Hydroponic Lettuce.

The urgent need to increase the sustainability of crop production has pushed the agricultural sector towards the use of biostimulants based on natural products. The current work aimed to determine whether the preharvest application of two commercial formulations, based on a Fabaceae enzymatic hydrolysate or a blend of nitrogen sources including fulvic acids, and two lab-made aqueous extracts from leaves (MLEs), could improve yield, quality, and storability of lettuce grown in a hydroponic system, as compared to an untreated control. Lettuce plants treated with the MLEs showed significantly improved quality parameters (leaf number, area, and color), total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, and resistance against the fungal pathogen , comparable to that obtained with commercial formulates, particularly those based on the protein hydrolysate.

Diversity of Species Isolated from Symptomatic Plants Belonging to a Wide Range of Agri-Food and Ornamental Crops in Lebanon.

Lebanon is a small Mediterranean country with different pedoclimatic conditions that allow the growth of both temperate and tropical plants. Currently, few studies are available on the occurrence and diversity of species on Lebanese crops. A wide population of strains was isolated from different symptomatic plants in the last 10 years.

Postharvest Rot of Pomegranate Fruit in Southern Italy: Characterization of the Main Pathogens.

Pomegranate ( L.) is an emerging crop in Italy and particularly in southern regions, such as Apulia, Basilicata, and Sicily, due to favorable climatic conditions. The crop is affected by several pathogenic fungi, primarily in the field, but also during postharvest phases.

Antifungal Activity and DNA Topoisomerase Inhibition of Hydrolysable Tannins from L.

L. (pomegranate) fruit is known to be an important source of bioactive phenolic compounds belonging to hydrolysable tannins. Pomegranate extracts have shown antifungal activity, but the compounds responsible for this activity and their mechanism/s of action have not been completely elucidated up to now.

Characterization of Species Associated with Heart Rot of Pomegranate Fruit.

This study was aimed at identifying species associated with heart rot disease of pomegranate fruit in southern Italy and characterizing their mycotoxigenic profile. A total of 42 isolates were characterized. They were obtained from pomegranate fruits with symptoms of heart rot sampled in Apulia and Sicily and grouped into six distinct morphotypes based on macro- and microscopic features.

Targeting GMC Oxidoreductase with High Affinity Small Molecules for Reducing Patulin Production.

Flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD) dependent glucose methanol choline oxidoreductase (GMC oxidoreductase) is the terminal key enzyme of the patulin biosynthetic pathway. GMC oxidoreductase catalyzes the oxidative ring closure of ()-ascladiol to patulin. Currently, no protein involved in the patulin biosynthesis in has been experimentally characterized or solved by X-ray diffraction.

Targeting mitochondrial metabolite transporters in Penicillium expansum for reducing patulin production.

There is an increasing need of alternative treatments to control fungal infection and consequent mycotoxin accumulation in harvested fruits and vegetables. Indeed, only few biological targets of antifungal agents have been characterized and can be used for limiting fungal spread from decayed fruits/vegetables to surrounding healthy ones during storage. On this concern, a promising target of new antifungal treatments may be represented by mitochondrial proteins due to some species-specific functions played by mitochondria in fungal morphogenesis, drug resistance and virulence.

Development of a DNA-based biosensor for the fast and sensitive detection of ochratoxin A in urine.

In this paper, a novel DNA-based biosensor is proposed, which is based on paramagnetic microbeads carrying an ochratoxin A (OTA) capture aptamer. A sandwich-like detection complex is linked to the capture aptamer and is able to trigger, in presence of OTA, an isothermal rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction. This latter generated autocatalytic units with a peroxidase activity (DNAzyme) that, in presence of a proper substrate, gave a blue-coloured product visible by the naked eye.

The Effect of Polyphenols on Pomegranate Fruit Susceptibility to Provides Insights into Disease Tolerance Mechanisms.

, also known as , is the etiological agent of pomegranate fruit dry rot. This fungal pathogen is also well-known as responsible for both plant collar rot and leaf spot. Because of its aggressiveness and the worldwide diffusion of pomegranate crops, the selection of cultivars less susceptible to this pathogen might represent an interesting preventive control measure.

Characterization of Penicillium s.s. and Aspergillus sect. nigri causing postharvest rots of pomegranate fruit in Southern Italy.

Most of diseases of pomegranate fruit are caused by fungal pathogens, which provoke postharvest yield and economical losses. Aspergillus and Penicillium sensu lato (s.l.

Alternariol as virulence and colonization factor of Alternaria alternata during plant infection.

The filamentous fungus Alternaria alternata is a potent producer of many toxic secondary metabolites, which contaminate food and feed. The most prominent one is the polyketide-derived alternariol (AOH) and its derivative alternariol monomethyl ether (AME). Here, we identified the gene cluster for the biosynthesis of AOH and AME by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene inactivation of several biosynthesis genes in A.

Contamination of fresh and dried tomato by Alternaria toxins in southern Italy.

In the present investigation, fresh and dried tomato samples from markets and packinghouses located in Apulia region (southern Italy) were analysed for Alternaria toxins. All samples proved to be contaminated by tenuazonic acid (TeA); in particular, dried tomatoes were contaminated in the range 425-81,592 µg/kg, while fresh tomatoes were in the range 11-4560 µg/kg. The second most abundant toxin was alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), followed by tentoxin (TEN) and alternariol (AOH).

Comparative transcriptome analysis of two citrus germplasms with contrasting susceptibility to Phytophthora nicotianae provides new insights into tolerance mechanisms.

Host perception of Phytophthora nicotianae switching to necrotrophy is fundamental for disease tolerance of citrus. It involves an HR-like response, strengthening of the cell wall structure and hormonal signaling. Stem rot caused by P.

Characterization of Citrus-Associated Alternaria Species in Mediterranean Areas.

Alternaria brown spot is one of the most important diseases of tangerines and their hybrids worldwide. Recently, outbreaks in Mediterranean areas related to susceptible cultivars, refocused attention on the disease. Twenty representatives were selected from a collection of 180 isolates of Alternaria spp.

A Rapid Assay to Detect Toxigenic Penicillium spp. Contamination in Wine and Musts.

Wine and fermenting musts are grape products widely consumed worldwide. Since the presence of mycotoxin-producing fungi may greatly compromise their quality characteristics and safety, there is an increasing need for relatively rapid "user friendly" quantitative assays to detect fungal contamination both in grapes delivered to wineries and in final products. Although other fungi are most frequently involved in grape deterioration, secondary infections by Penicillium spp.

Menadione-Induced Oxidative Stress Re-Shapes the Oxylipin Profile of Aspergillus flavus and Its Lifestyle.

Aspergillus flavus is an efficient producer of mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxin B₁, probably the most hepatocarcinogenic naturally-occurring compound. Although the inducing agents of toxin synthesis are not unanimously identified, there is evidence that oxidative stress is one of the main actors in play. In our study, we use menadione, a quinone extensively implemented in studies on ROS response in animal cells, for causing stress to A.

Detection of ochratoxin A using molecular beacons and real-time PCR thermal cycler.

We developed a simple and cheap assay for quantitatively detecting ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine. A DNA aptamer available in literature was used as recognition probe in its molecular beacon form, i.e.