Awn development in barley : data integration for effective virtual crop modelling

Crop Systems Biology is a promising approach to fulfil challenges in improving complex traits. It combines modern functional genomics and traditional sciences approaches, such as crop physiology and biochemistry, to understand phenotype at the crop level (e.g. grain yield). Data integration thus plays a fundamental role in systems-based approaches and numerous studies are underway to deal with this issue. Our study shows an example of such a working strategy for the analysis of awn development in barley. The role of awn photosynthetic activity, particularly during stress periods, on grain yield has been largely proven: as a consequence awn characteristics have received quite a lot of attention from the breeders. Here, a mutant phenotype with a modified awn shape and increased awn area has been utilize as a black box in comparison with its wild type counterpart. System responses to both genotype and environment changes are being evaluated as a basis for application of virtual crop modelling

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Avoid Processing Tomato Leaf Damage during Chilling Stress

Chilling stress limits processing tomato growth and yield, leading to high losses. An approach to increase the sustainability of crop production could involve the use of beneficial microorganisms. The objectives of this research were to investigate: (i) the ecacy of Funneliformis mosseae and Paraburkholderia graminis C4D1M in avoiding processing tomato damage during severe chilling stress; (ii) the synergic eect of the two microorganisms inoculated as a consortium; (iii) if the putative microorganism eects depended on the processing tomato genotype. To achieve these objectives, two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, a modern genotype was assessed, while three genotypes were evaluated in the second experiment. At sowing, F. mosseae was mixed with peat. Nine days after sowing, P. graminis was inoculated close to the plant\u2019s root collar. After 40 days of seed sowing, chilling treatment was performed at 1 C for 24 h. F. mosseae mainly reduced the cell membrane injuries in term of electrolytic leakage and eciency of photosystem II, after the chilling stress in both experiments. Conversely, in the second experiment, the consortium improved the seedling regrowth, increasing the eciency of photosystem II. In addition, modern genotypes inoculated with microorganisms showed a better seedling regrowth.Chilling stress limits processing tomato growth and yield, leading to high losses. An approach to increase the sustainability of crop production could involve the use of beneficial microorganisms. The objectives of this research were to investigate: (i) the efficacy of Funneliformis mosseae and Paraburkholderia graminis C4D1M in avoiding processing tomato damage during severe chilling stress; (ii) the synergic effect of the two microorganisms inoculated as a consortium; (iii) if the putative microorganism effects depended on the processing tomato genotype. To achieve these objectives, two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, a modern genotype was assessed, while three genotypes were evaluated in the second experiment. At sowing, F. mosseae was mixed with peat. Nine days after sowing, P. graminis was inoculated close to the plant's root collar. After 40 days of seed sowing, chilling treatment was performed at 1 \ub0C for 24 h. F. mosseae mainly reduced the cell membrane injuries in term of electrolytic leakage and efficiency of photosystem II, after the chilling stress in both experiments. Conversely, in the second experiment, the consortium improved the seedling regrowth, increasing the efficiency of photosystem II. In addition, modern genotypes inoculated with microorganisms showed a better seedling regrowth

Double gamers—can modified natural regulators of higher plants act as antagonists against phytopathogens? The case of jasmonic acid derivatives

As key players in biotic stress response of plants, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives cover a specific and prominent role in pathogens-mediated signaling and hence are promising candidates for a sustainable management of phytopathogenic fungi. Recently, JA directed antimicrobial effects on plant pathogens has been suggested, supporting the theory of oxylipins as double gamers in plant-pathogen interaction. Based on these premises, six derivatives (dihydrojasmone and cis-jasmone, two thiosemicarbazonic derivatives and their corresponding complexes with copper) have been evaluated against 13 fungal species affecting various economically important herbaceous and woody crops, such as cereals, grapes and horticultural crops: Phaeoacremonium minimum, Neofusicoccum parvum, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Fomitiporia mediterranea, Fusarium poae, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, F. sporotrichioides, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia spp. and Verticillium dahliae. The biological activity of these compounds was assessed in terms of growth inhibition and, for the two mycotoxigenic species A. flavus and F. sporotrichioides, also in terms of toxin containment. As expected, the inhibitory effect of molecules greatly varied amongst both genera and species; cis-jasmone thiosemicarbazone in particular has shown the wider range of effectiveness. However, our results show that thiosemicarbazones derivatives are more effective than the parent ketones in limiting fungal growth and mycotoxins production, supporting possible applications for the control of pathogenic fungi

In vitro antifungal activity of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil and its major components against plant pathogens

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (TTO) and its principal components on four cereal-pathogenic fungi. Methods and Results: The antimycotic properties of TTO and of terpinen-4- ol, c-terpinen and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) were evaluated in vitro on Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum and Pyrenophora graminea. Moreover, barley leaves infected with Blumeria graminis were treated with whole TTO. All the tested fungi were susceptible to TTO and its components. Conclusions: TTO exerted a wide spectrum of antimycotic activity. Single TTO purified components were more active than the whole oil in reducing in vitro growth of fungal mycelium and, among the tested compounds, terpinen- 4-ol was the most effective. Significance and Impact of the Study: TTO and its components can be considered potential alternative natural fungicides

DNA-based analysis for authenticity assessment of monovarietal pasta

Because of the presence on the market of high-value monovarietal pasta, the aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of DNA profiling to test its authenticity. AFLP profiles obtained from eight monovarietal pasta samples and from the corresponding varieties were compared. The possibility of identifying the variety of an unknown monovarietal pasta by referring to a durum wheat molecular markers database is proposed. © Springer-Verlag 2004