The “Soil Genetic Erosion”: a new threat for soils?

During the 1990’s the concept of pedodiversity started to be diffused in the scientific literature and the decrement of the soil diversity in space and time - particularly due to human activity - has been seen as a sort of underhand problem affecting soil ecosystems, considering that different soil types face gradual or drastic reduction or complete loss of their unique “genetic features”. Pedodiversity has received considerable recent interest, especially as peculiar aspect of biodiversity and has been assessed by several authors by applying diversity indices used in ecology. This paper takes into consideration the influence of human activities on the loss of pedodiversity in a Mediterranean area due to large scale farming. In particular it examines the quantitative and qualitative soil changes in a period of 53 years evaluating the loss of soil diversity at soil subgroups level of the USDA Soil Taxonomy system

Soil and pedomesofauna relationships under different forests on a western slope of Etna Volcano

Although the pedofauna influences the processes of pedogenesis and has an important role in the main functional properties of the soil, it has rarely been used as a key-element in defining soil quality. As has been stressed, this is due to the fact that the utility of pedofauna as a soil quality indicator is a function of the definition of soil quality which, in turn, depends on different functions, both biotic and abiotic, performed by the soil. If we consider the biological functions of vegetal, animal and microbiotic activity, the usefulness of the pedofauna, as a diagnostic element of soil quality, reaches its maximum since it is one of the indicators of the biodiversity. Previous work on soil fauna, dealt with the whole fauna both of litter and mineral horizons, and until now the analyses on invertebrate communities in different horizons of a soil profile are fairly rare. The aim of this study was a) consider the diversity and activity of some selected Orders of the mesofauna in some forest Andisols, in relation to the sampling period, the soil horizons and tree species; b) define the relationships between the whole mesofauna and some selected parameters of soil quality, particularly the cation exchange capacity and the organic matter content

1H-NMR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics to Classify Wines According to Different Grape Varieties and Different Terroirs

In this study, 1H-NMR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics was applied to study the wine metabolome and to classify wines according to different grape varieties and different terroirs. By obtaining the metabolomic fingerprinting and profiling of the wines, it was possible to assess the metabolic biomarkers leading the classification (i.e., phenolic compounds, aroma compounds, amino acids, and organic acids). Moreover, information about the influence of the soil in shaping wine metabolome was obtained. For instance, the relationship between the soil texture and the content of amino acids and organic acids in wines was highlighted. The analysis conducted in this study allowed extraction of relevant spectral information not only from the most populated and concentrated spectral areas (e.g., aliphatic and carbinolic areas), but also from crowded spectral areas held by lowly concentrated compounds (i.e., polyphenols). This may be due to a successful combination between the parameters used for data reduction, preprocessing and elaboration. The metabolomic fingerprinting also allowed exploration of the H-bonds network inside the wines, which affects both gustatory and olfactory perceptions, by modulating the way how solutes interact with the human sensory receptors. These findings may have important implications in the context of food traceability and quality control, providing information about the chemical composition and biomolecular markers from a holistic point of view

Soils and plants in an anthropogenic dump of the Kokdzhon phosphorite mine (Kazakhstan)

Soil development is a crucial aspect in the process of mine spoil restoration and is also critical for the establishment of the vegetation. In this short paper, we present the features of mine proto-soils (i.e. soils at the early stage of development) and the natural vegetation species colonizing mine sites in a dry arid environment of Kazakhstan characterized by surface disturbance due to mine activity to access phosphorite deposit.These disturbed soils showed morphological features very different from each other (particularly horizons depth and sequence), even if the main chemical features were quite homogeneous. This is reasonably linked to the features of the Human Transported Material derived from mine operation that was scattered around the mine area. The most abundant natural plants found in the study area belong to the Poacee, Asteraceae and Fabacee families (with 4 species each). Biomass contribution for all species is very low; the root biomass was greater than above ground biomass, contributing to a modest soil development

Factors influencing choice of chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

Management of metastatic colorectal cancer requires a multimodal approach and must be performed by an experienced, multidisciplinary expert team. The optimal choice of the individual treatment modality, according to disease localization and extent, tumor biology, and patient clinical characteristics, will be one that can maintain quality of life and long-term survival, and even cure selected patients. This review is an overview of the different therapeutic approaches available in metastatic colorectal cancer, for the purpose of defining personalized therapeutic algorithms according to tumor biology and patient clinical features

Mapping quantitative trait loci affecting biochemical and morphological fruit properties in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Eggplant berries are a source of health-promoting metabolites including antioxidant and nutraceutical compounds, mainly anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid; however, they also contain some anti-nutritional compounds such as steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGA) and saponins, which are responsible for the bitter taste of the flesh and with potential toxic effects on humans. Up to now, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for the metabolic content are far from being characterized in eggplant, thus hampering the application of breeding programs aimed at improving its fruit quality. Here we report on the identification of some QTL for the fruit metabolic content in an F2 intraspecific mapping population of 156 individuals, obtained by crossing the eggplant breeding lines ‘305E40’ x ‘67/3’. The same population was previously employed for the development of a RAD-tag based linkage map and the identification of QTL associated to morphological and physiological traits. The mapping population was biochemically characterized for both fruit basic qualitative data, like dry matter, °Brix, sugars and organic acids, as well as for health-related compounds such chlorogenic acid, (the main flesh monomeric phenol), the two peel anthocyanins (i.e. delphinidin-3-rutinoside (D3R) and delphinidin-3-(p-coumaroylrutinoside)-5-glucoside (nasunin)) and the two main steroidal glycoalkaloids, solasonine and solamargine. For most of the traits, one major QTL (PVE ≥ 10%) was spotted and putative orthologies with other Solanaceae crops are discussed. The present results supply valuable information to eggplant breeders on the inheritance of key fruit quality traits, thus providing potential tools to assist future breeding programs

The contribution of the European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC) to scientific knowledge, education and sustainability

Soil is an integral component of the global environmental system which supports the quality and diversity of terrestrial life on Earth. Therefore, it is vital to consider the processes and impacts of soil degradation on society, especially on the provision of environmental goods and services, including food security and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Scientific societies devoted to soil science play significant roles in reducing soil degradation and promoting soil conservation by advancing scientific knowledge, education and environmental sustainability. The ESSC was founded on 4 November 1988, with the aims to: 1. Support research on soil degradation, soil protection and soil and water conservation. 2. Provide a network for the exchange of knowledge about soil degradation processes and soil conservation research and practises. 3. Produce publications on major issues relating to soil degradation and soil and water conservation. 4. Advise regulators and policy-makers on soil issues, especially soil degradation, protection and conservation. The societal challenges that can be addressed through better soil protection, advancing knowledge and scientific approaches to soil protection and sustainable management, mean the ESSC embraces the on-going development, application, review and constructive criticism of highly innovative scientific soil conservation methods. In this context, the ESSC analyses and publicizes the roles and functions of soil in natural and human-modified systems and the functional optimization of soils to ensure sustainable environmental protection. “The thin layer of soil that forms a patchy covering over the continents controls our own existence and that of every other animal of the land” (Rachel Carson (1962) in ‘Silent Spring’).European Society for Soil Conservatio