Ex-situ evaluation of morphological, agronomic and qualitative traits of a naturalized population of parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill) Nyman])

A naturalized population of parsley of the province of Trento, Italy, was evaluated ex-situ for its morphological and agronomic traits in a field trial in which it was compared with three commercial cultivars of the species. The naturalized population belongs to the smooth leaf type for the absence of curling, and differed from the other smooth leaf type accessions for the lower plant height, the smaller length of petiole and the prostrate attitude of the plant, all undesirable characteristics which make the harvest of plants more difficult. The yields of aerial parts and leaves were higher in the commercial cultivars, while the naturalized population had the highest yield and content of essential oil. Due to the high content and yield of essential oil, the naturalized population could be the object of an eventual breeding program aiming to improve the morphologic and agronomic undesirable characteristics

Evaluation of the Farming Potential of Echinacea Angustifolia DC. Accessions Grown in Italy by Root-Marker Compound Content and Morphological Trait Analyses

The Echinacea genus includes a number of species that are commercially employed for the preparation of herbal products. Echinacea angustifolia DC. is one of these and is widely used, mainly for its immunomodulating properties, as it contains a wide range of compounds that belong to different chemical classes. In particular, echinacoside, cynarin and lipophylic alkylamides are the main specialized metabolites of the roots and can be considered to be marker compounds. In this work, 65 E. angustifolia accessions have been compared in a field trial in Italy, with the aim of investigating the variability/stability of the weight and chemical composition of their roots in order to identify the accessions that are most promising for future genetic-improvement programs. The morphological characteristics of the aerial parts have also been investigated. Seventeen samples were discarded due to germination or plantlet-development issues. Seven of the remaining accessions were identified as being different Echinacea species after a combined phytochemical and morphological evaluation. The morphological traits of the epigeal part, the root weight and the chemical composition data of the 41 confirmed E. angustifolia accessions were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis and a moderately homogenous sample distribution, with low selected-marker variability, was observed. Good echinacoside content was detected in almost all roots (>0.5%). However, two groups of accessions stood out because of their interesting features: One group possessed small roots, but had a high concentration of marker compounds, while another had highly developed roots and a good amount of marker compounds. These accessions can therefore be exploited for future selection work

Assessment of the chemical and genetic variability among accessions of Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr., an alpine plant with anthelmintic properties

Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr, is a perennial alpine plant and a member of the Asteraceae family, typically found at altitudes above 1000 meters in the Italian Alps. Although previously utilized primarily as a local delicacy, recent studies have revealed strong antiparasitic activity through in vitro experiments. In Europe, numerous chemical drugs employed to combat nematodes — helminths that infest the digestive tract of livestock — are banned due to their environmental harm or show only reduced efficiency because of the development of resistance. Consequently, there is a growing demand for new alternative anthelmintic treatments in agricultural practices. Specialized metabolites found in the extracts of C. alpina could offer a sustainable and biological alternative to chemical drugs, specifically for nematode control. For this purpose, a unique germplasm collection originating from eight distinct natural populations in the Italian Alps was analyzed for its chemical diversity using state-of-the-art targeted LC-MS/MS spectrometry, including quantification based on multiple reaction monitoring. The predominant metabolites identified from the species were the caffeic acid derivatives chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, and 3. 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, the sesquiterpene lactone derivative 8-O-acetyl-15-ß-D-glucopyranosyl lactucin and the flavone glycosides, apigenin-7-O-glucoside and luteolin-7-Oglucoside, alongside their precursors apigenin and luteolin, respectively. Additionally, the genetic diversity of eighty individual plants within the germplasm collection was evaluated using ten DNA molecular markers (Simple Sequence Repeats), successfully transferred from two closely related species (Cichorium intybus and Tanacetum parthenium). This investigation unveiled a significant range of genetic diversity within the examined populations, resulting in the establishment of three distinct genetic groups. The findings were further correlated with the original ecological environment and local climate conditions spanning a biennial period, indicating substantial variations among the different accessions and the intricate interplay between genetic background and environmental factors. These results could serve as a basis for future domestication of the species through plant breeding programs ensuring product quality, but also facilitating the cultivation of C. alpina in more diverse geographic region

Harvest in different years of growth influences chemical composition of Echinacea angustifolia roots

Echinacea angustifolia DC., native from North America, is one of the three Echinacea species that are widely used as herbal remedy, mainly for their immunostimulant properties. Echinacoside, cynarin and alkylamides are the main constituents of the species. Five plants of two accessions (JA2 and JA9) of narrow-leaved coneflower were harvested from the second to the fifth year of cultivation and secondary metabolites content were determined in the whole root as well as in different samples such as the crown, cortex, internal tissue and thin roots. The highest content of marker compounds was found in the thin roots (0.20% for cynarin and 1.11% for echinacoside and from 0.29 to 0.44% for dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic isobutylamide) and in the root cortex (0.16% for cynarin and 1.01% for echinacoside and from 0.31 to 0.48% for dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic isobutylamide). Our results demonstrated that root cortex tissue accumulates the marker compounds, explaining why the thin roots present the higher amount of secondary metabolite. Regarding the entire roots, differences between the accessions (JA9 versus JA2, except for cynarin) and among the years were observed. The lowest and the highest echinacoside content was measured in the JA9 accession, in the second (0.39%) and in the fifth (1.47%) year of growing, respectively. The lowest and the highest dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic isobutylamide content was found in the third year, 0.43% in JA9 and 0.16% in JA2, respectively. The lowest and the highest cynarin content was obtained in the fourth year (0.11% in JA9) and in the fifth (0.22% in JA2), respectively. These results may be useful for Echinacea growers and processors to improve their agronomical and post-harvesting choices

Non-Volatile Terpenoids and Lipophilic Flavonoids from <i>Achillea erba-rotta</i> Subsp. <i>moschata</i> (Wulfen) I. Richardson

Musk yarrow (Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (Wulfen) I. Richardson) is endemic to the Central Alps, and is used to flavour alcoholic beverages. Despite its popularity as aromatizing agent and its alleged beneficial effects on digestion, the phytochemical profile of the plant is still largely unknown and undiscovered. As a consequence, its authentication in aromatized products is impossible beyond sensory analysis allowing forgery. To address these issues, we phytochemically characterized a sample of musk yarrow from the Italian Eastern Alps, identifying, in addition to widespread phytochemicals (taraxasterol, apigenin), the guaianolides 3, 8, 9; the seco-caryophyllane 6; and the polymethoxylated lipophilic flavonoids 1, 4, and 5. The flavonoid xanthomicrol 1, a major constituent of the plant, was cytotoxic to HeLa cells, but only modestly affected primary 3T3 fibroblasts. On account of their stability, detectability by UV absorption, and concentration, the oxygenated flavonoids qualify as markers to validate the supply chain of the plant growers to consumers

Piante medicinali e aromatiche : resoconto del convegno 2022 al Centro di Sperimentazione Laimburg

Am 14.10.2022 fand am Versuchszentrum Laimburg die 3. Kräuterfachtagung statt. Die Tagung wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit der Landwirtschaftskammer Tirol und der Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) organisiert. Ziel der Tagung war es, den wissenschaftlichen Austausch zu fördern und neue Erkenntnisse zum Kräuteranbau an die Praxis weiterzugeben. Sieben Referenten haben über verschiedenste aktuelle Themen im Bereich Kräuteranbau berichtet.AlternativeReviewe