Phytodepuration of Pyroligneous Liquor: A Case Study

Wastewaters generated by the pyrolytic process require treatments to reduce the risks of contamination in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Utilizing constructed wetlands is one of the possible approaches according to a Circular Economy System. Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can improve plant growth and enhance the bioremediation of wastewater. Two experiments were set up: in the first, a pilot mesocosm was designed to evaluate the effects of a consortium of AM fungi and a PGPB strain on Phragmites australis. After 60 days, the highest plant growth was obtained after inoculation with the combination of microorganisms. In the second experiment, a constructed wetland was built to remediate wastewaters from gasification plant. The plants were efficient in scavenging biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total fat and oils, hydrocarbons, phenols, aldehydes, surfactants, fluorides, sulfites, sulfates, nitrate, and phosphorus. These data suggest that inoculation of P. australis with AMF and PGPB strains significantly improve the depuration process of wastewaters from gasification plants via constructed wetlands

Quality traits of saffron produced in Italy: geographical area effect and good practices

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most expensive spice in the world and is used in food, cosmetic and dyeing industries. Considering that the production of saffron is increasingly widespread in medium-small Italian farms as well as the scarceness of information and studies regarding the quality of the saffron produced in Italy, the principal aim of this study was to investigate the quality of Italian saffron. Qualitative analysis was conducted in accordance with ISO 3632 1,2:2010-2011 considering 484 samples collected over four years (2015-2018). In particular, moisture content, aroma strength (safranal), colouring strength (crocin) and flavour strength (picrocrocin) were assessed for each sample, and whether spice quality varied according to the geographical area where the spice was produced was also investigated. Qualitative analysis showed that the majority (84-93%) of the samples analysed are of the first quality category, regardless of the year of production. Moisture content and colouring strength are the factors that influence the quality of the spice most. Principal component analysis showed that quality is not influenced by the geographical area where the spice was produced. Finally, some best agricultural practices to obtain a high quality saffron spice are reported

Combined bacterial and mycorrhizal inocula improve tomato quality at reduced fertilization

Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can positively affect plant nutrition and growth. Recent studies have also shown that rhizospheric microorganisms can result in improved fruit features. Aim of this work was to evaluate, in an industrial farming, the effects of three selected biostimulants (consisting of a mix of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi), employed in conditions of reduced fertilization on yield, fruit quality and nutritional value. Tomato plants were inoculated with AM fungi and Pseudomonas sp. 19Fv1T or P. fluorescens C7, transplanted and grown in open field under conditions of reduced fertilization. The impact of the microorganisms on the fruit yield and nutritional value was assessed by measuring the production, fruit size and concentration of soluble sugars, organic acids, carotenoids and ascorbate. The size and biomass of tomato fruits were affected by the inocula. Sugar concentration was increased by the selected microorganisms. All the mixtures induced an enhancement of malic acid, while double colonization with AMF and PGPB increased \u3b2-carotene concentration in fruits if compared to controls. The results of the present study show that inoculation with soil microorganisms can help to drastically reduce the use of chemical fertilization, maintaining and, in some cases, even improving the tomato fruit yield and quality. This can lead to economical, environmental and human health benefits in relation to the increased sustainability

Rilievo 3D e monitoraggio dinamico della Torre degli Smeducci e del campanile del Duomo vecchio a San Severino Marche

Le attività della task force del Politecnico nell’Italia Centrale, nelle fasi post sisma del 2016, sono state indirizzate non solo alle aree epicentrali, ma si sono estese anche ad aree del cratere sismico che hanno subito danneggiamenti meno importanti. In queste aree le attività sono state rivolte alla analisi di beni monumentali ad alta vulnerabilità che hanno subito danneggiamenti limitati. In questo contesto si inquadrano le indagini condotte su due torri storiche di San Severino Marche, la Torre del Duomo Vecchio e la Torre degli Smeducci. Tali attività fanno parte di un piano di cooperazione strategica tra il Comune di San Severino Marche, il Politecnico di Torino e di Nagoya City University (Giappone)

Impact of Beneficial Microorganisms on Strawberry Growth, Fruit Production, Nutritional Quality, and Volatilome

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize the roots of most terrestrial plant species, improving plant growth, nutrient uptake and biotic/abiotic stress resistance and tolerance. Similarly, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) enhance plant fitness and production. In this study, three different AMF (Funneliformis mosseae, Septoglomus viscosum, and Rhizophagus irregularis) were used in combination with three different strains of Pseudomonas sp. (19Fv1t, 5Vm1K and Pf4) to inoculate plantlets of Fragaria × ananassa var. Eliana F1. The effects of the different fungus/bacterium combinations were assessed on plant growth parameters, fruit production and quality, including health-promoting compounds. Inoculated and uninoculated plants were maintained in a greenhouse for 4 months and irrigated with a nutrient solution at two different phosphate levels. The number of flowers and fruits were recorded weekly. At harvest, fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots, mycorrhizal colonization and concentration of leaf photosynthetic pigments were measured in each plant. The following fruit parameters were recorded: pH, titratable acids, concentration of organic acids, soluble sugars, ascorbic acids, and anthocyanidins; volatile and elemental composition were also evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and PCA/PCA-DA. Mycorrhizal colonization was higher in plants inoculated with R. irregularis, followed by F. mosseae and S. viscosum. In general, AMF mostly affected the parameters associated with the vegetative portion of the plant, while PGPB were especially relevant for fruit yield and quality. The plant physiological status was differentially affected by inoculations, resulting in enhanced root and shoot biomass. Inoculation with Pf4 bacterial strain increased flower and fruit production per plant and malic acid content in fruits, while decreased the pH value, regardless of the used fungus. Inoculations affected fruit nutritional quality, increasing sugar and anthocyanin concentrations, and modulated pH, malic acid, volatile compounds and elements. In the present study, we show for the first time that strawberry fruit concentration of some elements and/or volatiles can be affected by the presence of specific beneficial soil microorganisms. In addition, our results indicated that it is possible to select the best plant-microorganism combination for field applications, and improving fruit production and quality, also in terms of health promoting properties

Effects of Heavy Metals and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza on the Leaf Proteome of a Selected Poplar Clone: A Time Course Analysis

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish a mutualistic symbiosis with the roots of most plant species. While receiving photosynthates, they improve the mineral nutrition of the plant and can also increase its tolerance towards some pollutants, like heavy metals. Although the fungal symbionts exclusively colonize the plant roots, some plant responses can be systemic. Therefore, in this work a clone of Populus alba L., previously selected for its tolerance to copper and zinc, was used to investigate the effects of the symbiosis with the AM fungus Glomus intraradices on the leaf protein expression. Poplar leaf samples were collected from plants maintained in a glasshouse on polluted (copper and zinc contaminated) or unpolluted soil, after four, six and sixteen months of growth. For each harvest, about 450 proteins were reproducibly separated on 2DE maps. At the first harvest the most relevant effect on protein modulation was exerted by the AM fungi, at the second one by the metals, and at the last one by both treatments. This work demonstrates how importantly the time of sampling affects the proteome responses in perennial plants. In addition, it underlines the ability of a proteomic approach, targeted on protein identification, to depict changes in a specific pattern of protein expression, while being still far from elucidating the biological function of each protein