Assessing the potential impact of 11 CORE Organic Plus research projects using a quantitative and qualitative approach

Active engagement and participation of stakeholders in research and successful dissemination are seen as key pathways to achieve impact and close the gap between science and end users. Impact assessments help projects to meet their objectives and relevant impacts better. This deliverable assesses the impact of the CORE Organic Plus projects (2015-2018). It provides additional information and recommendations to the CORE Organic funding bodies to consider in future calls, selection, monitoring and evaluation procedures

Date Seeds Flour Used as Value-Added Ingredient for Wheat Sourdough Bread: An Example of Sustainable Bio-Recycling

Our study proposed date seeds flour (DSF) as an innovative ingredient for sourdough bread production through sustainable bio-recycling. We isolated autochthonous lactic acid bacteria and yeasts from DSF and DSF-derived doughs to build up a reservoir of strains from which to select starters ensuring rapid adaptation and high ecological fitness. The screening based on pro-technological criteria led to the formulation of a mixed starter consisting of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, which allowed obtaining a mature type I sourdough after consecutive refreshments, in which an aliquot of the durum wheat flour (DWF) was replaced by DSF. The resulting DSF sourdough and bread underwent an integrated characterization. Sourdough biotechnology was confirmed as a suitable procedure to improve some functional and sensory properties of DWF/DSF mixture formulation. The radical scavenging activity increased due to the consistent release of free phenolics. Perceived bitterness and astringency were considerably diminished, likely because of tannin degradation

The effects of compost and compost extract on soil properties and lettuce growth.

The work was conducted at the experimental field of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Italy in 2004. The aim was to study the effects of compost and compost extract on soil properties and lettuce growth. The chemical, biological and phytotoxic tests of compost extract proved its high selected soil properties (pH, EC, Organic matter, available nutrients, cations and anions contents) markedly with depth and time, the most prominent changes showed by compost extract application. The applications of compost and compost extract significantly increased lettuce growth, yield, yield components and storage, all were highly significantly influenced by compost. The relation between chlorophyll-meter readings and nitrogen concentration showed highly significant linear regression and provided evidence that the chlorophyll-meter could be used to determine side dressing N requirements. The benefits of the compost and compost extract without chemical fertilizer demonstrated the validity and possibility of sustainable agronomic performance of lettuce using available recycled organic materials

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Activity of Plant Extracts from Ferula communis and Dittrichia viscosa against Postharvest Fungi

F. communis and D. viscosa are perennial Mediterranean weeds that have been used for different therapeutic purposes in traditional pharmacopeia. Plant extracts were obtained from air dried D. viscosa young shoots (DvA) and F. communis aerial part (FcA) and roots (FcR) with n-hexane. The chemical compositions of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, LC-MS (ESI) and LC-Q-TOF techniques. Two sesquiterpene lactones (inuviscolide, tomentosin) and three sesquiterpene acids (costic acid, hydroxycostic acid, ilicic acid) were identified from the D. viscosa extract, while in F. communis extracts three daucane sesquiterpenes (acetoxyferutinin, oxojaeskeanadioyl anisate, fertidin) and one coumarin (ferulenol) derivates were found. Biological activities of plant extracts were studied in in vitro experiments on the colonies and conidia of Botryotinia fuckeliana, Penicillium digitatum, P. expansum, Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and Aspergillus spp. Extracts showed varying degree of antifungal activities on colony growth and conidia germination. The extract from FcA showed the least effect, while DvA extract had the strongest fungitoxic effects. FcR extract presented a fungitoxic effect on the colony growth, but it was not able to inhibit the conidia germination. These distinctions can be attributed to the differences in chemical composition of plant extracts

Fermented portulaca oleracea L. Juice: A novel functional beverage with potential ameliorating effects on the intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury

P. oleracea L. contains high level of nutrients and biologically active compounds. Recently, lactic fermentation has been proposed as a biotechnological option to enrich the profile of biogenic compounds of Portulaca oleracea L. puree. This study investigated the capability of fermentation by selected lactic acid bacteria to enhance the restoring features of Portulaca oleracea juice towards intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. Lactic acid fermentation markedly increased the total antioxidant capacity of P. oleracea juice, preserved the inherent levels of vitamins C, A, and E, and increased the bioavailability of the level of vitamin B 2 and that of phenolics. The effects of fermented P. oleracea juice on a Caco-2 cell line were investigated using an in vitro model closest to the in vivo conditions. Fermented P. oleracea juice strongly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species. It also counteracted the disruption of the Caco-2 cell monolayers treated with the inflammatory stimulus. We used a diversified spectrum of lactic acid bacteria species, and some effects appeared to be strains-or species-specific. Fermentation with Lactobacillus kunkeei B7 ensured the best combination for the content of bioactive compounds and the ability to counteract the intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury

Exploitation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains to improve shelf life, rheological, sensory and functional features of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) fruit puree

Strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides were identified from raw prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.). Five autochthonous strains were selected based on the kinetics of growth and acidification on prickly pear fruit juice, and the capacity to synthesize exo-polysaccharides. All selected Leuc. mesenteroides strains showed an in vitro mucilage-degrading capability. A protocol for processing and storage of fermented prickly pear fruit puree (FP) was set up. Unstarted FP and chemically acidified FP were used as the controls. Starters grew and remained viable at elevated cell numbers during 21 days of storage at 4 °C. Contaminating Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts were found only in the controls. Viscosity and serum separation distinguished started FP compared to the controls. Colour parameters, browning index, sensory attributes, antimicrobial activity, vitamin C and betalains levels were positively affected by lactic acid fermentation. Increase of free radical scavenging activity in ethyl acetate soluble extract suggested an effect of selected strains on phenolic profiles. Started FP markedly inhibited the inflammatory status of Caco-2/TC7 cells, and also contributed to maintaining the integrity of tight junctions. Started FP scavenged the reactive oxygen species generated by H2O2 on Caco-2 cells. All selected strain variously affected the immunomodulatory activity towards anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines

Insecticidal and nematicidal activity of mediterranean plant extracts

Trabajo presentado en la 8th Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Southeast European Countries (8th CMAPSEEC) celebrada en Albania del 19 al 22 de mayo de 2014.Insecticides from plant origin may be used as an alternative to synthetic ones aiming a partial or total replacement of synthetic insecticides which have negative impact in environment and human health. The aim of this work was to studyDittrichiaviscosa and Ferula communis plant extracts for their insecticidal activity against Spodopteralittoralisand nematicidal activity against Meloidogynejavanica.Air dried plant parts collected in Apuglia region (rootF.communis and young shootD.viscosa) were extracted by soxhlet with hexane and successively with ethanol. The antifeedant activity of the plant extracts were investigated on sixth-instar larvae of S. littoralis. F. communis root ethanolic (FcREtOH) and both D. viscosa extracts (DvAHex and DvAEtOH) exhibited a significant reduction ofS. littoralis larvae feeding.The nematicidal activity of the plant extracts, evaluated as percentage of immobile nematodes, indicate that D. viscosayoung shoot extract has the highest nematicidal activity on second stage juveniles of M. javanica. Other tested extract presented no or low nematicidal activity.Peer Reviewe

Chemical characterization of the aphid antifeedant extracts from Dittrichia viscosa and Ferula communis

7 páginas, 1 figura y 4 tablas estadísticasThe plant defensive activities of the hexane and ethanolic extracts from Dittrichia viscosa and Ferula communis against generalist herbivorous insects (Spodoptera littoralis and Myzus persicae), are described here. Additionally we tested for their effects on nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica) and plants (Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne). These plant extracts showed variable biological effects, their aphid antifeedant action being the most important. The bioassay-guided search for aphid antifeedant compounds resulted in the isolation of tomentosin (1), inuviscolide (2) and ferulenol (3). Tomentosin (1) rich extracts of D. viscosa were more active than ferulenol (3) rich extracts from F. communisMICINN (CTQ2009-14629-C01)Peer reviewe