First finds of Prunus domestica L. in Italy from the Phoenician and Punic periods (6th-2nd centuries BC)

Abstract During the archaeological excavations in the Phoenician and Punic settlement of Santa Giusta (Oristano, Sardinia, Italy), dating back to the 6th–2nd centuries bc, several Prunus fruitstones (endocarps) inside amphorae were recovered. The exceptional state of preservation of the waterlogged remains allowed morphometric measurements to be done by image analysis and statistical comparisons made with modern cultivated and wild Prunus samples collected in Sardinia. Digital images of modern and archaeological Prunus fruitstones were acquired with a flatbed scanner and analysed by applying image analysis techniques to measure 26 morphometric features. By applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis, a morphometric comparison was made between the archaeological fruitstones of Prunus and the modern ones collected in Sardinia. These analyses allowed identification of 53 archaeological fruitstones as P. spinosa and 11 as P. domestica. Moreover, the archaeological samples of P. spinosa showed morphometric similarities in 92.5% of the cases with the modern P. spinosa samples currently growing near the Phoenician and Punic site. Likewise, the archaeological fruitstones identified as P. domestica showed similarities with the modern variety of P. domestica called Sanguigna di Bosa which is currently cultivated near the village of Bosa. Currently, these findings represent the first evidence of P. domestica in Italy during the Phoenician and Punic periods. Keywords Archaeobotany · Image analysis · Morphometric features · Prunus · Sardini

A comparison of the molecular mechanisms underpinning high-intensity, pulsed polychromatic light and low-intensity UV-C hormesis in tomato fruit

Postharvest treatment of tomato fruit with high-intensity, pulsed polychromatic light (HIPPL) has previously been shown to induce delayed ripening and disease resistance comparable to that of low-intensity UV-C (LIUV). Little, however, is known of the mechanisms underpinning postharvest HIPPL hormesis in tomato fruit. Expression of genes involved in plant hormone biosynthesis, defence, secondary metabolism and ripening were monitored 24 h post treatment (24 HPT), 10 d post treatment (10 DPT) and 12 h post inoculation with Botrytis cinerea (12 HPI). All genes monitored were constitutively expressed and changes in expression profiles following treatment were highly similar for both HIPPL and LIUV treatments. Expression of pathogenesis-related proteins P4, β-1,3,-Glucanase and Chitinase 9 and a jasmonate biosynthesis enzyme (OPR3), were significantly upregulated at 10 DPT and 12 HPI. Both treatments significantly downregulated the expression of polygalacturonase and flavonol synthase at 10 DPT and 12 HPI. Ethylene biosynthesis enzyme ACO1 and β-carotene hydroxylase were significantly upregulated at 24 HPT, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) was significantly upregulated at 12 HPI. Both HIPPL and LIUV treatments stimulate defence responses that are mediated by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene. This may lead to broad range resistance against both necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens as well as abiotic stresses and herbivorous pests. Following inoculation with B. cinerea only PAL showed indication of a gene priming response for HIPPL- and LIUV-treated fruit

Efecto de diferentes pretratamientos en la deshidratación de aceitunas verdes de mesa (Ascolana tenera var.)

Mature green olives (Olea europea L.) were dried in a forced air oven at 50ºC, after being subjected alternatively to four different pre-treatments. Results indicate the possibility to obtain bitter-free and high quality olives by combining a ten minutes dip in a 10 % hot brine (50ºC) followed by a 32 hours dehydration. The latter product reached 20 % of residual humidity and did not rotted for one year.Se han deshidratado aceitunas verdes de mesa en horno a temperatura de 50ºC tras ser sometidas, alternativamente, a cuatro pretratamientos diferentes para ayudar a su desecación. Los resultados mostraron que es posible obtener aceitunas exentas de amargor y de alta calidad combinando su inmersión en salmuera caliente (50ºC), a una concentración del 10 % en NaCl durante 10 minutos, seguida de una deshidratación durante 32 horas. Las aceitunas deshidratadas alcanzaron una humedad residual del 20 % y no manifestaron signos de putrefacción en un año

Seasonal susceptibility of Tarocco oranges to chilling injury as affected by hot water and thiabendazole postharvest dip treatments

Susceptibility of Tarocco (blood) oranges (Citrus sinensis Linn. Obsek) to chilling injury (CI) was investigated with fruit harvested from December through April. The fruit was subjected to a 3 min dip in water with and without thiabendazole (TBZ) at 200 ppm (50 degrees C) or 1200 ppm (19 degrees C, room temperature) and then stored at 3 degrees C and 90-95% relative humidity (RH) for 6 weeks followed by 1 additional week at 20 degrees C and approximately 80% RH to simulate a marketing period(SMP). CI development was significantly affected by the age of the fruit, decreasing later in the season. Water dips at 50 degrees C reduced CI. However, dip efficacy was significantly influenced by picking date and storage duration. Treatments with 1200 ppm TBZ at 19 degrees C also ameliorated CI but had no better effect than water at 50 degrees C. Treatments with 200 ppm TBZ at 50 degrees C significantly suppressed CI development on fruits harvested throughout the season. TBZ accumulation on fruits following 200 ppm dips at 50 degrees C was not significantly dependent on fruit age, while 1200 ppm TBZ at room temperature resulted in significantly higher TBZ uptake in fruits harvested late (April) rather than early (December), with intermediate concentrations of fungicide in fruits harvested from January through March. Residue concentrations in fruits after treatment with 200 ppm TBZ at 50 degrees C were not significantly different from those found following 1200 ppm TBZ dipping at 19 degrees C throughout the season. We concluded that postharvest treatments with 1200 ppm TBZ at room temperature or 200 ppm TBZ at 50 degrees C produced similar TBZ uptake in Tarocco oranges, but TBZ treatments at 50 degrees C water gave the most effective reduction of CI symptoms