The adoption of closed soilless systems is useful in minimizing the environmental impactof the greenhouse crops. Instead, a significant problem in closed soilless systemsis represented by the accumulation of ions in the recycled nutrient solution (NS), inparticular the unabsorbed or poorly absorbed ones. To overcome such problem, we:(1) studied the effect of several values of the electrical conductivity (EC) of NS in aNFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system on a cherry type tomato crop, and (2) definea NS (called recovery solution), based on the concept of "uptake concentration" andtranspiration-biomass ratio, that fits the real needs of the plant with respect to waterand nutrients. Three levels of EC set point (SP), above which the NS was completelyreplaced (SP5, SP7.5, and SP10 for the EC limit of 5, 7.5, and 10 dS m?1, respectively),were established. The SP10 treatment yield was not different from other treatments,and it allowed a better quality of the berries (for dry matter and total soluble solids) andhigher environmental sustainability due to a lower discharge of total nutrients into theenvironment (37 and 59% with respect to SP7.5 and SP5, respectively). The recoverysolution used in the second trial allowed a more punctual NS management, by adaptingto the real needs of the crop. Moreover, it allowed a lesser amount of water and nutrientsto be discharged into the environment and a better use of brackish water, due to amore accurate management of the EC of the NS. The targeted management, based ontranspiration-biomass ratio, indicates that, in some stages of the plant cycle, the NSused can be diluted, in order to save water and nutrients. With such management aclosed cycle can be realized without affecting the yield, but improving the quality of thetomato berries.

Superabsorbent hydrogels are a particular class of gels, obtained by chemical stabilization of hydrophilic polymers in a tridimensional network. Hydrogels have been widely proposed over the last 40 years for agricultural use with the aim to ameliorate water availability for plants, by increasing water holding properties of growing media (soils or soilless substrates). Most of the traditional hydrogels on the market are acrylate-based products, thus not biodegradable. Due to the increasing attention for environmental protection issues, biodegradable hydrogels arise lively interest for potential commercial application in agriculture. In this study, we evaluated a novel class of cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels, totally biodegradable and biocompatible, for agricultural use. The objectives of the tests carried out were: 1) to verify the ability of the hydrogel to modify the water retention properties of the growing media (soils and soilless substrates); 2) to study the effects on the growth of plants grown on media amended with the hydrogel. Water retention curve of a sandy soil amended with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% (w/w) of hydrogel was determined using a Richard's pressure plate apparatus. The hydrogel modified the soil water retention properties. The soil moisture at field capacity increased with the highest hydrogel percentage up to 400% compared to the not amended soil, and at wilting point (-15 bar) was similar to that at field capacity of the not amended soil. When added to perlite, a low water holding capacity soilless substrate, 1 or 2% (w/w) of hydrogel increased the container capacity of 28 and 48%, respectively, with no decrease of air capacity. Tests revealed absence of phytotoxicity of the hydrogel, and cultivation trials on cucumber (on soil) and sweet basil (in soilless conditions) showed a general overall enhancement of plant growth and quality when hydrogel was added to growing media. The tested hydrogel showed to be suitable for potential use in agriculture. Its employment should be further evaluated under a cost-effective perspective. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Introduction. A healthy and balanced diet prevents the occurrence of many age-related diseases. On the basis of this claim, new types of food, defined novel foods, such as potato selenium, carrot, onion, tomato iodine, have been developed.Objectives. Considering the biological activities induced by silicon (antioxidant activity, increased mineralization of bone, development of connective tissue), the aim of this study was to obtain different silicon biofortificated vegetables (Tatsoi, Mizuna, Portulaca, Bietola and Cicoria) used as mix for the IV gamma product (ready to use), in order to have an useful food for post-menopausal women. In addition, the assessment of bioaccessibility of crops, by in vitro gastro-digestion process, and antioxidant activity on human intestinal cell line, were carried out.Methodology. For the biofortified plants production, a soilless system able to monitoring the effective absorption of the silicon was used. The plants were digested using the protocol described by Ferruzzi et al., (2001) in order assess the bioaccessibility. The antioxidant activity of digesta samples was evaluated on Caco-2 cell line using DCFH-DA probe.Results and conclusions. No modifications on the production and/or quality of the plant were found. A species-related accumulation of silicon was recorded with an mean value of 130 mg/kg fresh weight respect to average value blank of 22 mg/Kg. In addition, the silicon was bioaccessible in a range from 36 to 75% in relation to vegetable species studied. The biofortification significantly (p<0.001) improved the antioxidant activity induced by crops.

La Carota di Polignano (CdP - Daucus carota L.) è una varietà locale coltivata nella provincia di Bari, inserita nel 2015 nell'elenco nazionale dei Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali. Si caratterizza per la moltitudine dei colori della radice (dal giallo al viola) per l'elevato contenuto di antiossidanti e l'equilibrata composizione zuccherina. Lo iodio è un micronutriente essenziale per l'uomo, essendo il componente fondamentale degli ormoni tiroidei, che regolano la crescita e lo sviluppo dell'organismo. La principale fonte di assunzione di iodio è rappresentata dalla dieta, ma la sua concentrazione negli ortaggi è, generalmente, limitata rispetto ai fabbisogni umani. La principale forma di integrazione dello iodio nell'organismo umano è il sale da cucina iodato e/o iodurato, ma vari studi hanno dimostrato la relazione tra l'eccessiva assunzione di sale e l'insorgenza di malattie cardiovascolari. Una prova sperimentale è stata condotta a Polignano a Mare (BA), utilizzando un disegno sperimentale completamente randomizzato con tre ripetizioni. Sono stati utilizzati tre livelli di iodio distribuito in concimazione fogliare: 0 (nessuna aggiunta); CF-B (concentrazione di iodio pari a 0,005%); CF-A (concentrazione di iodio pari a 0,05%), effettuando quattro trattamenti a distanza di quindici giorni. Il trattamento CF-A ha prodotto un arricchimento pari al doppio ed al triplo rispetto a CF-B ed al controllo, rispettivamente, senza differenze significative su parametri biometrici quali il peso fresco e secco delle radici e la percentuale di sostanza secca. Le concentrazioni di iodio raggiunte nelle carote con la biofortificazione consentirebbero di soddisfare la dose giornaliera raccomandata consumando 100 e 200 g di prodotto fresco per il trattamento CF-A e CF-B, rispettivamente.

Il silicio (Si) è un micronutriente non essenziale per la salute umana. Recenti studi scientifici hanno dimostrato il suo coinvolgimento in processi biochimici e metabolici, tra cui la mineralizzazione del tessuto osseo. Con un processo di biofortificazione, metodo utilizzato per incrementare il contenuto di nutrienti nella porzione edule dei prodotti vegetali, in una nostra precedente ricerca abbiamo dimostrato la possibilità di aumentare il contenuto di Si nella porzione edule di sei ortaggi da foglia. Tuttavia il normale consumo di ortaggi biofortificati non consente di soddisfare i fabbisogni giornalieri di Si. Obiettivo della ricerca è stato quindi quello di incrementare ulteriormente il contenuto di Si aumentando la durata del trattamento e/o incrementando ulteriormente la concentrazione dell'elemento nella soluzione nutritiva. La prova è stata condotta in serra, presso l'Azienda sperimentale "La Noria" del CNR-ISPA, in agro di Mola di Bari, utilizzando il floating system e un disegno sperimentale a blocchi randomizzati con tre ripetizioni. Al fine di incrementare il contenuto di Si dello spinacio (Spinacia oleracea L., cv. Squirrel RZ, Rijk Zwaan) sono state utilizzate tre dosi di Si nella soluzione nutritiva (SN): 2 (controllo), 100 e 200 mg/L di Si. Trentuno, 46 e 61 giorni dopo l'inizio dei trattamenti (stadio di seconda foglia vera) sono state effettate le raccolte valutando produzione, sostanza secca e concentrazione di Si del prodotto edule. Il tenore di Si nello spinacio non è aumentato nel tempo. La dose di Si nella SN e l'epoca di raccolta hanno determinato un incremento della sostanza secca del prodotto, mentre il contenuto di Si, passando dal controllo a 100 mg/L di Si nella SN, in media è aumentato (1,30 vs. 4,38 mg/100 g di peso fresco, rispettivamente), senza ulteriore incremento con 200 mg/L di Si nella SN. Pertanto l'approccio utilizzato non sembra essere la strategia idonea per incrementare ulteriormente il contenuto di Si nello spinacio allevato in floating system.

Le specie eduli spontanee (SEP) rappresentano un particolare segmento dell'agrobiodiversità che comprende alcune specie progenitrici di quelle coltivate con le quali c'è un continuum sotto il profilo genetico. Ad esse sono fortemente collegate connotazioni culturali del territorio quali i modi di utilizzo gastronomico, gli aspetti linguistici e dialettali, le innumerevoli storie che hanno accompagnato il percorso parallelo dell'uomo e delle piante.Le SEP hanno interesse non solo perché fonte di risorse alimentari ma sopratutto come riserva di risorse genetiche cui attingere ai fini del miglioramento genetico e per dare origine, attraverso la domesticazione, a nuove colture.Negli ultimi anni, con la diffusione dei prodotti di IV gamma, alle specie tradizionalmente incluse nel raggruppamento degli ortaggi da foglia (tra le tante lattughe, radicchio, indivia, scarola) si sono affiancate specie di nuovo interesse, mentre altre, tra cui diverse SEP, sono potenziali candidate per diversificare ed ampliare la gamma dei prodotti. Tra gli esempi più riusciti di domesticazione vi è la ruchetta selvatica (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) che, dai primi tentativi di coltivazione iniziati più di 20 anni fa, attualmente viene coltivata in ambiente protetto su oltre 1.000 ha, risultando una delle specie più diffuse tra gli ortaggi da foglia da destinare alla IV gamma.In questo lavoro è stata valutata l'attitudine alla coltivazione di tre SEP da proporre per la IV gamma: boccione maggiore (Urospermum dalechampii [L.] F.W. Schmidt), boccione minore (Urospermum picroides [L.] F.W. Schmidt) e gesprino comune (Sonchus oleraceus L.). Sono state condotte due prove sperimentali utilizzando sistemi di coltivazione senza suolo: nella prima prova la coltivazione è stata realizzata in vaso con sub-irrigazione; nella seconda è stato utilizzato il sistema dei pannelli galleggianti (floating system).La coltivazione delle tre specie ha messo in evidenza interessanti differenze rispetto alle piante delle stesse specie che si trovano allo stato spontaneo. In tutti i casi è stato riscontrato un potenziale produttivo apprezzabile con caratteri di pregio per il comparto della IV gamma: in media, nei due mesi del ciclo produttivo sono state ottenute produzioni di circa 26 t/ha. I contenuti di K+, Ca2+ e Mg2+ sono risultati elevati, con particolare riferimento al potassio nel boccione minore e nel grespino comune. In conclusione, le tre SEP hanno manifestato un grande potenziale e possono rappresentare un ulteriore risorsa per diversificare ed ampliare i prodotti da foglia per la IV gamma.

Calcium is an essential nutrient for human health, because it is a structural component and takes part in a variety of biological processes. The aim of this study was to increase Ca content of baby leaf vegetables (BLV: basil, mizuna, tatsoi and endive), as fresh-cut products. For the production of biofortified BLV, a floating system with two level of Ca (100 and 200 mg L-1) in the nutrient solution was used. In addition, the assessment of bioaccessibility of Ca, by in vitro digestion process, was performed. In all vegetables, the Ca biofortification (200 mg L-1) caused a significant Ca enrichment (9.5% on average) without affecting vegetables growth, oxalate contents and marketable quality. Calcium bioaccessibility ranged from 25% (basil) to 40% (endive) but the biofortified vegetables showed more bioaccessible Ca. These results underline the possibility to obtain Ca biofortified BLV by using agronomic approaches.

Bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, present in berries, are thought to be responsible for the health benefits of these fruit. Therefore, it isworthwhile to define the optimal environmental conditions to maximise their polyphenol content.OBJECTIVE: With the aim to define the optimal conditions for berry cultivation in an innovative environment, red raspberry,wild strawberry and blackberry plants were grown in a traditional greenhouse in comparison with two photovoltaicgreenhouses with different shading area.METHODS: Hydroalcoholic extracts of ripe berries were evaluated by HPLC analysis, for their anthocyanins, organic acids and sugar contents. Moreover, phenolic content (by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay) and antioxidant activity (by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity-TEAC assay) were assayed on the same berry extracts.RESULTS: Total anthocyanins, phenols content and antioxidant capacity tended to increase in berries grown under shading.The sugars content was, mostly, not negatively influenced by the shading. Conversely, the organic acids content, in some instances, increased along with the shading percentage.CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that it is possible to combine the greenhouse production of high-quality berries (with a particular focus on polyphenols, bioactive compounds valuable for human health) with the production of renewable energy, in the context of sustainable agriculture

In this study, carrot jams were developed using either precooked vegetable (common method) or short cooking times (mild method). Jams were prepared using four carrot types: a commercial one and three local landraces (orange, purple and yellow). The parameters assessed were total phenols, antioxidant activity, beta-carotene, potassium content, color and sensory evaluation. Mild method caused lower color differences than common method, when comparing the jams to raw carrots. Antioxidant activity, total phenols and potassium content loss were also lower in mild method. Both methods improved beta-carotene retention in jams. Following sensory analysis, products obtained by mild method showed the best scores for taste and overall acceptability, with the highest scores being registered for purple jam. In particular, high correlations between antioxidant activity, total phenols and purple products (both raw products and jams) were emphasized by principal component analysis. In conclusion, the mild method described in this paper helps to preserve the overall quality of perishable vegetables, such as local carrots. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In the Puglia region, a multicolor landrace called the yellow-purple Polignano carrot has been cultivated since 1940 by local smallholder farmers and has been added to the Slow Food list of traditional products. Composition analyses of these carrots were carried out including carbohydrate assay, inorganic cations, nitrate content, and dry weight of each colour. Besides, antioxidant activity, ?-carotene, total phenols and carotenoid content on the full carrots and on the cortex and inner core separated tissues were determined. The same analyses were performed on a commercial carrot cultivar. On average, total glucose, fructose, and saccharose content was 22% lower in the yellow-purple Polignano carrot than in the commercial one. In addition, the highest contributor to the relative sweetness in the yellow-purple Polignano carrot was fructose (43.5%), which affects its well-known taste, as well as its glycemic index. As for the nutritional parameters, purple carrots showed the highest content in antioxidant activity, total phenols, carotenoids and ?-carotene, mainly detected in the cortex.

Crenate broomrape is a parasitic plant, which can cause serious damage to the production of legume crops in much of the Mediterranean basin. However, some authors have reported its use as a food or in folk medicine, but the only information available on crenate broomrape potential as a valuable resource for human nutrition and not just as a pest is scarce and fragmented. This note contains some biological, historical, ethnobotanical and gastronomical knowledge, as well as describing the nutritional traits of O. crenata, with the aim of evaluating whether this species has potential as a fresh or processed food product. Current knowledge suggests that crenate broomrape could be a refined food with interesting nutritional traits (i.e. high fibre content, good antioxidant capacity and presence of polyphenols such as verbascoside). Nevertheless, some aspects of O. crenata need to be better understood, such as its detailed nutritional composition or post-harvest strategies for preserving its quality and boosting consumer demand. Therefore, further research should be carried out in order to characterize this vegetable resource with a view to commercial exploitation.

There is a variety of different food processing methods, which can be used to prepare ready-to-eat foods. However, the need to preserve the freshness and nutritional qualities leads to the application of mild technologies which may be insufficient to inactivate microbial pathogens. In this work, fresh chicory stems were packed under a vacuum in films, which were transparent to microwaves. These were then exposed to microwaves for different periods of time. The application of sous vide microwave cooking (SV-MW, 900W, 2450 MHz), controlled naturally occurring mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds for up to 30 d when vacuum-packed vegetables were stored at 4 degrees C. In addition, the process lethality of the SV-MW 90 s cooking was experimentally validated. This treatment led to 6.07 +/- 0.7 and 4.92 +/- 0.65 log cfu/g reduction of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated over the chicory stems (100 g), respectively. With an initial load of 9 log cfu/g for both pathogens, less than 10 cfu/g of surviving cells were found after 90 s cooking. This shows that short-time microwave cooking can be used to effectively pasteurize vacuum-packed chicory stems, achieving > 5 log cfu/g reduction of E. coli and L. monocytogenes.

Anaerobic digestion is a technique of growing interest as a promising option for waste disposal and green energy production. The anaerobic effluents (digestate) are a mixture of water (about 95 %) and partially degraded organic matter. Afterwards separation of the two components (liquid and solid), the inorganic ions with a fertilizer value are concentrated mainly in the liquid one. The main limitation to their agricultural use could be the sodium chloride content derived from the initial matrices and the potential phytotoxicity originated from partially decomposed organic matter. In this study the main agrochemical characteristics and the phytotoxicity of eight digestates (derived from co-digestion of posidonia residues with different pretreatments - grinding, washing and autoclave treatments - and a mixture of urban sludges and organic wastes) were evaluated in order to assess their potential use as a source of water and nutrient elements in vegetable seedling production.Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. Ezra) seedlings for transplant were produced on peat based substrate. Digestates liquid fraction (LD), obtained after centrifugation, was used to integrate the nutrient solution at rate of 1:10 v/v; a standard nutrient solution for lettuce seedling cultivation was used as a control (NS). Main chemical properties (pH, EC, inorganic ions content) of LD, shoot and root fresh and dry weight, leaf area, root morphology, root/shoot ratio were determined. Different content of Cl- and Na+ were found in LD in relation to the posidonia residues pre-treatment; moreover LD contained in general high concentration of NH4+, K2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+. Plants cultivated using LD showed a root/shoot ratio (important to ensure good engraftment after transplanting) not significally different from plants grown with NS. The use of LD produced a fresh water saving of 10% and the reduction of mineral fertilizers use. The liquid fraction of digestates could be a good source of macro nutrients and water, and first results indicate that could be re-utilized in relation to its salts content as nutrient solution for lettuce seedling production and likely in soilless cultivation systems.

Soilless cultivation systems (SCS) are increasingly used toproduce high quality baby-leaf arugula, appreciated by consumers for itspungent taste, due to the content of glucosinolate (GLS). Given all ofthe health benefits attributed to GLSs, there is great interest inunderstanding whether and how soilless growing systems may affect the GLSprofile of arugula. For this purpose, a study was conducted to comparethe GLS profile of Diplotaxis erucoides, D. tenuifolia, and Eruca sativagrown side-by-side under protected environment in a conventional soilsystem(CSS) and in a SCS. Genotype and growing-system resulted in asignificant effect on GLS content, while the resulting qualitative GLSprofile was species-specific. Despite the growing-system, six differentGLSs were identified from plants of D. tenuifolia and E. sativa, whileonly sinigrin was detected in plants of D. erucoides. Total GLS contentwas on average 9.85, 8.23, and 7.96 mg g-1 of dry weight in D. erucoides,D. tenuifolia, and E. sativa, grown in CSS, respectively. The same threespecies grown in SCS synthesised 36%, 51%, and 41% more GLSs than plantsgrown in CSS, respectively. Soilless cultivation may be adopted toincrease the GLS content and enhance the nutritional quality of Brassicasleafy vegetables.

Two greenhouse experiments were carried out to analyze the shoot sodium(Na+) partitioning, yield, and fruit quality of 'Cuore di Bue', a salt-sensitive heirloomtomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), ungrafted or grafted onto interspecific tomato hybridrootstocks (S. lycopersicum 3 S. habrochaites) 'Maxifort' and 'Arnold' in 2009, 'Arnold'and 'Armstrong' in 2010, grown at different salinity stress (SS) levels (0, 20, and 40mM ofNaCl in 2009; 0 and 20 mM of NaCl in 2010). In both experiments, an interaction wasobserved between grafting combinations and SS levels in terms of fruit yield, and fruitjuice Na+ content. Under no SS conditions, plant grafted onto 'Maxifort' and 'Armstrong'provided the highest yield in 2009 and 2010 experiments, respectively. In thepresence of 20 mM of NaCl, plants grafted onto 'Arnold' provided a marketable yield23.5% (on average) higher than plants grafted onto 'Maxifort' or ungrafted in 2009 and33% (on average) higher than plants grafted onto 'Armstrong' or ungrafted in 2010. Thefurther increase of SS to 40 mM of NaCl considerably reduced the productivity of allgrafting combinations. At 20 mM of NaCl, plants grafted onto 'Arnold' showed alsoa higher capacity to modulate shoot Na+ partitioning with respect to ungrafted plants byincreasing Na+ accumulation in older leaves (52%) and reducing Na+ content in youngerand most active leaves (24%), thus enabling the maintenance of higher K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+,and Mg2+/Na+ ratios compared with ungrafted plants. Fruit total soluble solids content,titratable acidity, and dry matter were unaffected by grafting at any SS level, whereasunder SS, the fruit juice Na+ content of grafted plants was consistently lower (from 19%up to 68%) than that of ungrafted plants. Under moderate SS conditions (20mM of NaCl),the use of rootstock genotypes such as 'Arnold' having a particular ability to reduce Na+accumulation in younger and most active leaves may increase tomato yield and enhancetomato nutritional value by reducing the fruit juice Na+ content.

Food plants biofortification for micronutrients is a tool for the nutritional value improvement of food. Soilless cultivation systems, with the optimal control of plant nutrition, represent a potential effective technique to increase the beneficial element content in plant tissues. Silicon (Si), which proper intake is recently recommended for its beneficial effects on bone health, presents good absorption in intestinal tract from green bean, a high-value vegetable crop. In this study we aimed to obtain Si biofortified green bean pods by using a Si-enriched nutrient solution in soilless system conditions, and to assess the influence of boiling and steaming cooking methods on Si content, color parameters and Si bioaccessibility (by using an in vitro digestion process) of pods. The Si concentration of pods was almost tripled as a result of the biofortification process, while the overall crop performance was not negatively influenced. The Si content of biofortified pods was higher than unbiofortified also after cooking, despite the cooking method used. Silicon bioaccessibility in cooked pods was more than tripled as a result of biofortification, while the process did not affect the visual quality of the product. Our results demonstrated that soilless cultivation can be successfully used for green bean Si biofortification.

Food industries are increasingly oriented towardnew foods to improve nutritional status and/or to combat nutritionaldeficiency diseases. In this context, siliconbiofortification could be an innovative tool for obtainingnew foods with possible positive effects on bone mineralization.In this paper, an alternative and quick in vitro approachwas applied in order to evaluate the potential healthpromotingeffects of five silicon-biofortified leafy vegetables(tatsoi, mizuna, purslane, Swiss chard and chicory) on bonemineralization compared with a commercial silicon supplement.The silicon bioaccessibility and bioavailability of thefive leafy vegetables (biofortified or not) and of the supplementwere assessed by applying a protocol consisting ofin vitro gastrointestinal digestion coupled with a Caco-2 cellmodel. Silicon bioaccessibility ranged from 0.89 to 8.18 mg/Land bioavailability ranged from 111 to 206 ?g/L of Si for bothvegetables and supplement. Furthermore, the bioavailablefractions were tested on a human osteoblast cell model following the expression of type 1 collagen and alkaline phosphatase.The results obtained highlighted that the bioavailablefraction of biofortified purslane and Swiss chard improved theexpression of both osteoblast markers compared with the supplementand other vegetables. These results underline the potentiallybeneficial effect of biofortified leafy vegetables andalso indicate the usefulness of in vitro approaches for selectingthe best vegetable with positive bone effects for further in vivoresearch.

La Biofortificazione è un processo che consente di migliorare la qualità nutrizionale di un alimento di origine vegetale al fine di produrre alimenti per specifiche esigenze nutrizionali. Tale obiettivo può essere raggiunto con un approccio di tipo agronomico, con sistemi di coltivazione senza suolo, incrementando alcuni fattori nutrizionali, oppure riducendo determinati fattori anti-nutrizionali. Nelle nostre ricerche l'efficacia del processo di biofortificazione è stata valutata mediante saggi di bioaccessibilità e biodisponibilità con l'utilizzo di modelli in vitro.

Interest in fresh, functional foods is on the rise, compelled by the growing interest of consumers for diets that support health and longevity. Microgreens garner immense potential for adapting leafy vegetable production to a micro-scale and for improving nutritional value in human diet.Scope and approachMajor preharvest factors of microgreens production, such as species selection, fertilization, biofortification, lighting and growth stage at harvest are addressed with respect to crop physiology and quality, as well as postharvest handling and applications, temperature, atmospheric composition, lighting and packaging technology which influence shelf-life and microbial safety. Key prospects for future research aiming to enhance quality and shelf-life of microgreens are highlighted.Key findings and conclusionsEffective non-chemical treatments for seed surface sterilization and antimicrobial action, pre-sowing treatments to standardize and shorten the production cycle and crop-specific information on the interaction of sowing rate with yield and quality deserve further attention. Indigenous landraces, underutilized crops and wild edible plants constitute a vast repository for selection of genetic material for microgreens. Modular fertilization may fortify microgreens bioactive content and augment their sensorial attributes. Pre- and postharvest select-waveband, intensity and photoperiod combinations can elicit compound-specific improvements in functional quality and in shelf-life. Research is needed to identify effective sanitizers and drying methods non-abusive on quality and shelf-life for commercialization of ready-to-eat packaged microgreens. Genotypic variability in postharvest chilling sensitivity and the interactions of temperature, light conditions and packaging gas permeability should be further examined to establish environments suppressive on respiration but preventive of off-odour development.

The relationships between colour parameters obtained by a Computer Vision System (CVS) and both antioxidant activity (AA) and total phenol contents (TP) on coloured carrots were expressed as multivariate models obtained by multiple linear regression. The AA and TP predicted by the proposed models showed a good correlation with the real AA (R2 = 0.97, P ? 0.001) and TP (R2 = 0.94, P ? 0.001) measurements on the data set including internal and external parts of carrots. The predictions on the data set including only the internal (unevenly pigmented) parts of the carrots exhibited lower determination coefficients (R2 = 0.93 for AA and R2 = 0.86 for TP, P ? 0.001). The effectiveness of the models was checked also on the colour information provided by a colorimeter whose measures proved to be more sensitive to the uneven pigmentation of the carrots. Finally, the proposed models were able to successfully estimate the AA and the TP contents of pigmented carrots when applied to colours measured by the CVS.

Chicory (C. intybus L.) of the Catalogna group produces tender stems (located in the middle of the leaf rosette) which are exquisite and nutritious food1 and traditionally eaten as raw ("puntarelle") or cooked products in Lazio and Puglia, respectively. The CISIA project, sustained by governmental and SMEs, falls in a context of valorisation of "made in Italy" produce and aims at assessing the identity and traceability of typical varieties and at enhancing their nutritive and economic value by holistic approaches2. Thirty seven hydro-soluble metabolites (amino acids, organic acids, sugars, polyols, phenols) from stems of two Apulian genotypes ('Galatina' and 'Molfettese') were monitored by NMR3 at harvesting (ca 85 days after sowing in a winter cycle). Overall, the 'Molfettese' stems showed a higher content of alanine, asparagine, glutamine, ?-aminobutirric acid, fumaric acid, fructose and glucose than those of 'Galatina'. On the contrary, the latter contained higher amounts of aspartic acid and inulin, which is an important prebiotic sugar stored by several Asteraceae plants. Interestingly, both varieties produced abundant amounts of scyllo-inositol, which has beneficial effects for memory deficits. Finally, statistical analyses applied to the NMR profiles significantly discriminated the two genotypes.

A methodology for estimating the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) distribution inside a photovoltaic greenhouse using a combination of a commercial lighting simulation software and available meteorological data was investigated in this study. Numerical results were compared with those measured inside an experimental greenhouse partially covered with photovoltaic panels. The PPFD distribution inside the greenhouse was calculated on the basis of outside measurements of PPFD at the site of the experimental greenhouse and data acquired at a nearby meteorological station. Daily average percent differences were in all cases lower than 19.0%. Assuming that such differences are acceptable for agronomic purposes, on a monthly basis the numerical model demonstrated a good capability to predict the shading effect inside the photovoltaic greenhouse. Hourly analysis showed higher fluctuation of measured versus calculated data, meaning that the model was able to predict the qualitative behavior of the distribution and its average value but underestimated the fluctuation of values.

Peat-based mixes and synthetic mats are the main substrates used for microgreens production. However, both are expensive and non-renewable. Recycled fibrous materials may be low-cost and renewable alternative substrates. Recycled textile-fiber (TF, polyester, cotton and polyurethane traces) and jute-kenaf-fiber (JKF, 85% jute-, 15% kenaf-fibers) mats were characterized and compared to peat and Sure-to-Grow(®) (STG, 100% polyethylene-terephthalate) for the production of rapini (Brassica rapa L.; Broccoletto group) microgreens.Results: All substrates had suitable physicochemical properties for the production of microgreens. Microgreens fresh-yield was on average 1,502 g m(-2) in peat, TF and JKF, and was 13.1% lower with STG. Peat-grown microgreens shoots had higher concentration of K(+) and SO4 (2) (-) , and two-fold higher NO3 (-) concentration [1,959 vs 940 mg kg(-1) of fresh weight (FW)] than those grown on STG, TF, and JKF. At harvest, substrates did not influence microgreens aerobic-bacterial populations (log 6.48 CFU g(-1) FW). Peat- and JKF-grown microgreens had higher yeast-mould counts than TF- and STG-microgreens (log 2.64 vs 1.80 CFU g(-1) FW). Peat-grown microgreens had the highest population of Enterobacteriaceae (log 5.46 ± 0.82 CFU g(-1) ), and E. coli (log 1.46 ± 0.15 CFU g(-1) ). E. coli was not detected in microgreens grown on other media.Conclusion: TF and JKF may be valid alternatives to peat and STG, as both assured competitive yield, low nitrate content, and similar or higher microbiological quality.

Soilless growing systems, mainly developed for vegetables and ornamental crops, have been recently proposed as alternative to the soil culture also for table grapes in order to reach optimal productive performance. In this paper sensory, physical and chemical parameters were analyzed in table grape obtained from soil and soilless growing system, at harvest and during the storage in air or modified atmosphere. RESULTS: At harvest soilless berries resulted 30% firmer than fruits obtained in soil culture. Moreover, table grape obtained from soilless growing system showed an antioxidant activity and total phenol content 60% higher than bunches coming from soil. Storage under modified atmosphere resulted in better quality of table grapes with respect to those stored in air. Furthermore, soilless growing system resulted more suitable than soil system in preserving visual quality and controlling rachis browning and weight loss. CONCLUSION: Since soilless system allows berries cleaner and of higher quality than samples coming from soil, we can suggest the implementation of soilless grown system for the production of health promoting and convenience fruits.

The "Carota di Polignano" (Polignano Carrot - PC, Daucus carota L.) is a multi-coloured landrace, cultivated in the Southern Italy, whose colours range from yellow to purple. It has interesting visual, sensorial and nutritional traits, thanks to its antioxidant pigments and the sugars composition. Iodine is an essential micronutrient for humans, since it is a key component of thyroid hormones, which regulate the growth and development of the human body. The main source for iodine assumption is represented by diet, but its concentration in the vegetables is usually limited with respect to human needs. A way to integrate iodine in human diet is represented by the iodinated kitchen salt, but several studies have highlighted a positive relationship between salt consumption and the onset of cardiovascular diseases. To this purpose, two experimental trials (in open field and in greenhouse with a soil-less system) were carried out to enrich PC with iodine. Three levels of iodine (control treatment, C - 0 mg·L-1; low, L - 50 mg·L-1; and high, H - 500 mg·L-1), distributed with foliar spray fertilizations (in both open field and greenhouse) or with nutrient solution (in greenhouse, at the only one level: of 50 mg·L-1) in the form of KIO3 were compared. In open field, the H treatment showed a biofortification that was double and triple respect to L and C treatments, respectively, without influencing colour and biometric parameters, such as the fresh and dry weight of roots and DM percentage. In greenhouse, the biofortification done with foliar spray fertilization followed the same trend of open field, while the biofortification by means of nutrient solution was more effective but reached very high levels that had toxic effects on the plants and could be too high for human nutrition. However, the concentrations of iodine into biofortified carrots in open field can allow to satisfy the recommended daily allowance (RDA) by consuming 100 and 200 g of fresh product for the treatment H and L, respectively. Regarding the greenhouse biofortification, the RDA would be satisfied by consuming 200 g of fresh carrots (with the high level of foliar fertilization).

Regina tomato, a locally cultivated Italian landrace, is listed as an item in the 'List ofTraditional Agri-Food Products' of the Italian Department for Agriculture and itemised as 'SlowFood presidium' by the Slow Food Foundation. It is classified as a long-storage tomato since it can bepreserved for several months after harvest thanks to its thick and coriaceous skin. Three ecotypeswere investigated for main physical and chemical traits both at harvest and after three months ofstorage. Experimental results indicate that this tomato landrace has a qualitative profile characterizedby high concentrations of tocopherols, lycopene and ascorbic acid (maximum 28.6 and 53.7 mg/kgfresh weight, FW, and 0.28 mg/g FW, respectively) even after a long storage time, together withlower average Total Soluble Solids. The initial and post-storage contents of the bioactive compoundschanged at a different rate in each ecotype (i.e., in Monopoli Regina tomato the highest content of-Tocopherol, thereafter reduced to the same level of the other two ecotypes). These results indicateunique and unmistakable features of this long-storage tomato, closely linked to the geographicorigin area that include both natural (available technical inputs) and human (specific culturalpractices) factors.

Fresh-cut and whole iceberg lettuce were stored in refrigerated condition and the main sensory (overall appearance: OA, browning index: BI), physical (colour variation: ?E*), chemical (respiration activity: RA, ammonia content: A) and biochemical (total chlorophyll: TC, antioxidant activity: AA, total phenols: TP, o-quinones: o-q, polyphenol oxidase: PPO, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase: PAL and peroxidase: POD) traits were followed during the trial. Significant relationships among these parameters were assessed by principal component analysis (PCA) in order to find the main traits related to OA, in fresh-cut lettuce. Results from PCA showed that OA was inversely correlated with BI (r=-1.00), DE* (r= -0.98), A (r= -0.94), AA (r= -0.86), TP (r= -0.82), o-q (r= -0.89), and PAL (r= -0.80). Moreover, OA was positively related with RA (r= 1.00) and PPO activity (r= 0.96). Ammonia resulted significantly correlated with the main sensory, physical, chemical and biochemical parameters. Thus, this parameter, with DE* could be used as indicator of the product quality and acceptability in control quality procedures. In conclusion, rating scale used to estimate OA, resulted a valid method to evaluate the iceberg lettuce quality, since it showed significant relationships with the main analytical parameters.

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is aperennial halophyte species typical of coastal ecosystems,used fresh in traditional cuisine and folkmedicine due to its sensory properties and a goodcontent of healthy compounds. Although consideredas a promising biosaline crop, this halophyte isunderutilized for commercial cultivation possiblydue to a shortage of its consumer demand. Forpromoting a full exploitation of this species, a newfood product was obtained by drying sea fennel usingdifferent treatments (air-drying, microwave-drying,microwave-assisted air-drying and freeze-drying).Water activity, essential oil content, chlorophylls,surface colour, colouring power and sensory evaluationwere analyzed. All drying treatments allow toobtain a good water activity but significantly reducedthe content of essential oils and chlorophylls. Freezedryingand microwaving preserved the surface colourparameters more than other drying treatments, whilefreeze-drying gave the product the best colouringpower. Based on sensory analysis, microwave-drying,microwave-assisted air-drying and freeze-dryingshowed the highest scores among the drying methods.Taken together the results indicate that microwavingand freeze-drying are optimal for preserving qualitativetraits, including organoleptic properties, in driedsea fennel for food use. Furthermore, dried sea fennelcan be usefully exploited in human food not only forits aromatic traits but also for its food colouring powerlike other plant derived natural colorants. It could beconcluded that this underutilized crop could play abetter role for making up a sustainable food productionsystem.

The mineral silicon (Si) is an essential element for humans and a general component of the diet found mainly in plant-based foods. The aim of this study was to obtain Si biofortificated leafy vegetables (tatsoi, mizuna, purslane, basil, Swiss chard, and chicory) to use for the fresh-cut products (ready to use). For the production of biofortified plants, a floating system with 0, 50 and 100 mg L-1 of Si in nutrient solution, was used. In addition, the assessment of bioaccessibility of biofortified plants, by in vitro gastro-digestion process, was performed.RESULTSThe added silicon in nutrient solution did not influence yield and colour of vegetables but a species-related accumulation of Si (expressed as SiO2) was found: from 18 to 69 mg kg-1 fresh weight (FW) in tatsoi, from 19 to 106 mg kg-1 FW in mizuna, from 15 to 93 mg kg-1 FW in purslane, from 41 to 294 mg kg-1 FW in basil, from 17 to 76 mg kg-1 FW in Swiss chard, and from 23 to 76 mg kg-1 FW in chicory. The Si became bioaccessible in all species considered in a range from 23% (basil) to 64% (chicory).CONCLUSIONThe application of Si to the nutrient solution in the range of 50-100 mg L-1 allows biofortification of leafy vegetables. In addition, the biofortified vegetables showed, on average, more bioaccessible Si, with respect to unbiofortified vegetables. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

Fruits and vegetables contain a number of components (polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, folate, minerals such as magnesium, calcium, silicon and other compounds) that could affect the bone health. Considering the biological activities induced by silicon (antioxidant activity, increased mineralization of bone, development of connective tissue), this study aims to compare the biological activity induced by the silicon biofortificated and unbiofortificated vegetables (tatsoi, mizuna, purslane, Swiss chard and chicory) respect to the commercial silicon supplement. In addition, the assessment of silicon bioaccessibility, bioavailability and biological activity in human intestinal cell line (Caco-2) and human osteoblasts (hOBs) were performed. After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of plant edible leaves and the silicon supplementation, the silicon bioaccessibility ranged from 7.01 to 13.22 mg/L. On Caco-2 cell line, the antioxidant activity of the bioaccessible fraction was assessed as reduction of induced ROS levels and ranged from 25 to 44% respect to stimulated control. The silicon biofortification significantly (p<0.001) improved the antioxidant activity induced by the vegetables. The bioavailability of digested samples, evaluated on Caco-2 differentiated cell line, ranged from 237 to 440 µg/L with percentages ranged from 27% to 61% in relation to the considered vegetable species. The expression of collagen type 1 and alkaline phosphatase induced by the bioavailable fraction after 12 and 36 h of treatment was evaluated in hOBs by real-time PCR. The bioavailable fraction of tatsoi, purslane and Swiss chard (biofortificated leafy vegetables), improved (after 36 hours of incubation) the expression of collagen type 1 and alkaline phosphatase with respect to the silicon supplement and unbiofortifated vegetables in hOBs.

Negli ultimi anni i Social Media (o più in generalegli strumenti Web 2.0) hanno assunto un'importanzacrescente in vari aspetti della vita quotidiana e, graziealla loro pervasività, sono utilizzati in vari ambiti, fracui quello scientifico. Per alcuni progetti sulla biodiversitàdelle colture orticole, abbiamo implementatol'uso di vari strumenti Web 2.0, con lo scopo di fornirela più ampia visibilità alle conoscenze acquisite.In questo contributo, dopo un'introduzione di caratteregenerale, illustriamo le potenzialità per la divulgazionescientifica di alcuni strumenti Web 2.0 e comeutilizzarli.

Solar photovoltaic greenhouses have become more popular, especially in the countries of southern Europe, due to specific government remuneration policies. However, many agronomic questions need to be addressed. This research was carried out in three types of commercial greenhouses covered with different materials (polycarbonate modules [PCM], traditional [TPM] and innovative semi-transparent [IPM] photovoltaic modules) with the aim to verify the compatibility of solar energy production with the production of high-quality wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.). IPM may satisfy the entire electricity demand of a commercial greenhouse. Yield for rocket grown in TPM was lower than for IPM and PCM. Antioxidant properties and dry weight decreased as a consequence of decreasing cumulative photosynthetic photon flux density. Nitrate content in TPM was higher (about 10,000 mg o kg-1 FW) than the maximum limits allowed by EC Regulation No. 1258/2011, whereas it was lower in IPM and PCM (1,805 and 668 mg o kg-1 FW, respectively).The results suggest that it is possible to combine solar energy production with high-quality wild rocket production, using innovative semi-transparent PV modules.

Soilless culture, widely used for vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants, can be an effective technique to grow table grape and to overcome several issues of the current vineyard production system (i.e. to facilitate variety change, no use of rootstock, extra-seasonal production and improved fruit quality). In this research two greenhouse experiments were carried out in Southern Italy, in a typical area for table grape cultivation, to determine the water consumption, vegetative growth, yield, and quality traits of table grapes grown in a soilless system. The first experiment was a simple comparison of two cultivars Cardinal and Victoria, whereas in the second experiment two cultivars ('Black Magic' and 'Victoria') were grown by using four nutrient solutions characterized by different macronutrient concentrations (100% Hoagland solution type vs 30%-reduced Hoagland: less N and P, or less N, P, Ca and Mg, or less N, P, K, Ca and Mg). In the first experiment, on average, at harvest the yield was 21.7 t ha-1, with a cluster weight of 419 g and 14.9 °Brix. In the second experiment, yield and cluster weight were, on average, 29.4 t ha-1 and 686 g, respectively, and were not affected either by nutrient solution composition or by the cultivar. In both experiments the mean cluster weight and all the organoleptic characteristics were above the European Commission rule n. 2137/2002 limits. These results show that the soilless culture provides table grapes with quality traits completely suitable for international market quality standards, and it is possible to reduce the nutrient concentration of the nutrient solution without negative effects on yield and quality of soilless table grapes.

In the present work the variation over space and time of the amountof the photosynthetic photons flux density, inside a greenhouse entirelycovered with photovoltaic panels was investigated experimentallyand numerically. The greenhouse had 10.00 m spam width, 50.00 mlength, 3.00 m height of the gutter, 6.60 m height of the edge. Datawere acquired in the period 18th April-8th June 2014 by one sensor outsideand one inside the experimental greenhouse built in SouthernItaly. Numeric simulations were performed by means of commercialsoftware Autodesk® Ecotect®. For the investigated greenhouse model,the exposed percentage - the ratio of the calculated insolation at a particularpoint within an enclosure to the simultaneous unobstructedoutdoor insolation under the same sky conditions - was calculated overa three dimensional grid formed by 50¥10¥15 cells each with1.00¥1.00¥0.20 m size. The long-term analysis demonstrated a goodcapability of the numerical model to predict the shading effect insidea photovoltaic greenhouse combining the daily calculated exposed percentagewith measurements of solar radiation. The model was ablealso to predict the qualitative behaviour of the variation of photonsflux during the day even if the measured values showed a higher fluctuationof values.

The aim of this work was to study the characteristics of the extracts from two halophytes, sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) and marsh samphire (Salicornia europaea L.) that naturally grow on the Mediterranean coast, by using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Best conditions for UAE were found at temperature 50°C, 20 min extraction time, 1:30 ratio solid:solvent and 40% (v/v) ethanol concentration. For SFE best conditions were at 50°C and 300 bar pressures with 40% (v/v) ethanol concentration. Total extract yield, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity of the extracts were measured. For both species the best results were obtained with UAE technique. Between the two halophytes, the C. maritimum extract was the richest one in antioxidant compounds (total phenol = 23.44 mg GAEs gdw-1); under the best conditions the S. europea extract allowed recording only 9.31 mg GAEs gdw-1 of total phenol.

This study investigates the effects of tomato puree fortification (ftp) with several anthocyanin-rich food colorants on bioactive compound content (phenolics, isoprenoids), antioxidant capacity, in vitro biological activities and consumer acceptance. Tomato puree (tp) was added with different anthocyanin extracts from Daucus carota L. var. atrorubens (Anthocarrot), Vitis vinifera L. fruit skins (Enocolor), Sambucus nigra L. (Elderberry) or Prunus mahaleb L. (Mahaleb) fruits. The consumer acceptance (colour, flavor, taste, visual appearance) was at high level, except for Mahaleb-added extracts. Compared to the control (tp), the addition of colouring extracts increased significantly the total phenolic content, before pasteurization, in addition to the expected anthocyanin content. However, after pasteurization, only Anthocarrot-ftp preserved increased phenolic (+53%) content, as well as higher antioxidant capacity (50%). Consistently, against tp, Anthocarrot-ftp exhibited an increased anti-inflammatory capacity as showed by the reduced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in human cultured endothelial cells, under inflammatory conditions.

This study aimed to determine the effects of irrigation management based on matric potential control on growth, plant-water relations, yield, fruit quality traits and water-use efficiency of subirrigated (through bench system) soilless tomato. Tensiometers were used for automatic irrigation control. Two cultivars, 'Kabiria' (cocktail type) and 'Diana' (intermediate type), and substrate water potential set-points (-30 and -60 hPa, for 'Diana', and -30, -60 and -90 hPa for 'Kabiria'), were compared. Compared with -30 hPa, water stress (corresponding to a -60 hPa irrigation set-point) reduced water consumption (14%), leaf area (18%), specific leaf area (19%), total yield (10%) and mean fruit weight (13%), irrespective of the cultivars. At -60 hPa, leaf-water status of plants, irrespective of the cultivars, showed an osmotic adjustment corresponding to a 9% average osmotic potential decrease. Total yield, mean fruit weight, plant water and osmotic potential decreased linearly when -30, -60 and -90 hPa irrigation set-points were used in 'Kabiria'. Unmarketable yield in 'Diana' increased when water stress was imposed (187 vs 349 g?plant-1, respectively, at -30 and -60 hPa), while the opposite effect was observed in 'Kabiria', where marketable yield loss decreased linearly [by 1.05 g?plant-1 per unit of substrate water potential (in the tested range from -30 to -90 hPa)]. Whereas in the second cluster, fruit total soluble solids and dry matter increased irrespective of the cultivars, in the seventh cluster in 'Diana' only a slight increase was observed from -30 vs. -60 hPa (3.3% and 1.3%, respectively, for TSS and dry matter), while in 'Kabiria' the increase was more pronounced (8.7% and 12.0%, respectively, for TSS and dry matter), and further reduction in matric potential from -60 to -90 hPa confirmed the linear increase for both parameters. Both glucose and fructose increased linearly in 'Kabiria' fruits on decreasing the matric potential, while in 'Diana' there was no increase. Control of substrate water status offer the possibility to steer crop response by enhancing different crop-performance components, namely yield and fruit quality, in subirrigated tomato. Small-size fruit varieties benefit more from controlled water stress in terms of reduced unmarketable yield loss and fruit quality improvements.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is the main marine seagrass endemic of the Mediterranean Sea. From September on, leaves and rhizomes detach off the marine plant and accumulate on beaches in huge amounts, forming banks on the foreshore and backshore of beaches. Offshore residues represent an environmental, economical, social and hygienic problem, because of the great disturbance to the touristic activities, citizens life in urban areas and high costs that the public administrations have to support for managing them (beach cleaning, transport and disposal of such a biomass). Nowadays, current Italian legislation (n. 75/2010) allows the use of posidonia residues as raw material for the production of compost although at a maximum rate of 20% by fresh weight of the composting mixture. High presence of sand mixed to residues after removing from beaches and high salinity levels represent at the moment the main obstacles to the large use of this biomass as raw material for composting. Studies have been conducted, in the framework of the Life09 "Posidonia Residues Integrated Management for Eco-sustainability" (P.R.I.M.E.) project, with the aim to increase the application of posidonia residues for compost production, demonstrating the possibility to effectively separate the sand from the organic material and reduce the salinity levels. Several tests have been carried out with the objective to assess the posidonia-based compost quality. Posidonia-based compost proved to be a good peat substitute for lettuce transplant production and a good growing media component for greenhouse tomato and lettuce in soilless conditions. According to our studies, beached posidonia wastes could represent a low cost and renewable raw material for composting. Posidonia-based compost presents interesting properties and can be used as horticultural growing media component.

Italy is leader in the production of chicory (Cichorium spp.) foods. Typical vegetables such as endive and escarole (C. endivia var. latifolium and var. chrispum) and "puntarelle" (C. intybus subsp. foliosum) are mainly consumed as fresh or minimally processed food. The project CISIA (Integrated Knowledge for the Agro-food Sustainability and Innovation for the made in Italy produce) is sustained by governmental and SMEs and aims at assessing the identity and traceability of local varieties (Lazio and Puglia shires) and at enhancing their nutritive and economic value by "olistic" approaches targeted to specific metabolites and gene pathways. The profiles of quality metabolite, related gene transcription and allelic variability will be used to fingerprint and valorise escarole, endive and "puntarelle" cultivars. In this context, the brassinosteroid (BR) pathway was widely investigated, considering that anti-cancer/anti-cholesterol properties of BR can impact on food quality and cultivar selection/marketing. The BR content of edible products (leaves) was quantified by Mass spectrometry in a set of patented and local cultivars and used to rank for BR accumulation. The BR biosynthetic and catabolic genes of C. intybus and C. endivia were identified by de novo transcriptome assembly of sequences obtained by Next Generation Sequencing. The comparison of BR gene expression pattern among the different cultivars will be combined with BR metabolic profile changes. Finally, variations of structural gene (SNP) and metabolite contents will be tested as markers for discrimination and traceability.

The case study focuses on the role that production and consumption of "traditional vegetables" play in the vegetables food-system in Puglia (Southern Italy).Puglia, leading region for intensive horticulture, boasts an enormous heritage of local vegetable varieties, whose cultivation is still widespread and well established in response to demands of local, international and high gastronomy markets, based on their higher quality and the socio-cultural implications associated. However, a significant part of this agro-biodiversity has been lost in the last fifty years, and the threat of continuing to lose it in the future is serious.The traditional vegetables complement the production and the supply of conventional ones, in a much-diversified scenario of production and consumption styles, representing an example of agro-biodiversity protection and cultivation practices calibrated on the characteristics of Mediterranean environments. The policy makers are investing resources on the protection and enhancement of agro-biodiversity, involving research institutions and promoting actions addressed to seed-saver farmers and consumers.The commercial value of these products is supporting the establishment of forms of association between producers, favoring the creation of brands and facilitating the consumption of local products.

In order to help conserve genetic resources in agriculture, the Puglia Regional Administration (Southern Italy) planned two specific actions under its 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme. This led to several activities being carried out for some local varieties, including the so-called "yellow-purple Polignano carrot", a multi-coloured landrace grown by a handful of old farmers who act as seed savers. The roots of this landrace, which is grown without fertilizer near the sea, have interesting visual, sensorial and nutritional traits as well as great potential for culinary applications and promising uses as raw material for new food products. However, this interesting landrace is grown on only a few hectares and is regarded as a vegetable at risk of genetic erosion. This note contains information on the yellow-purple Polignano carrot, with the aim of safeguarding some of the indigenous knowledge on the landrace and stimulating research activities that may lead to breeding programmes or commercial production improvement. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

The tender stems (turions) of chicory (Cichorium intybus L. Catalogna group) are widelyconsumed as fresh or processed food in central and southern Italy. They are also known as'puntarelle' and considered as elite groceries, cultivated as local varieties in Apulia and Lazio. Theproject CISIA has developed markers based on metabolic, transcriptional and allelic variationsaimed to identity, traceability and valorisation of the Galatina and Molfettese Apulian landracespropagated by local enterprises. A de novo reference transcriptome was assembled using RNA ofseveral organs (borne on young and adult plants of Galatina) and Illumina HiSeq2000 technology.Ca. 170M reads were generated (100bp paired-end) and assembled into 96,514 contigs of 1,168bpaverage length (N50 = 1,435bp). Among them, 68,260 (70.7%) showed significant similarity (Evalue<1e-5) to proteins in public databases (NCBI, TAIR, SwissProt, TrEMBL); 61,343 (63.6%)were classified based on gene ontology criteria and 13,536 (14.0%) were mapped onto 130 KEGGpathways. RNA-seq experiments (50bp single-end reads) were performed to collect genetranscriptional variation and polymorphism data using stems of Galatina and Molfettese grown inthe two regions. Ca. 1,700 genes were found to maintain the differential expression patterns,suggesting that they may be putative markers as being feebly dependent on the environment.Polymorphic SSR (ca. 100) and high-quality SNPs (ca. 71,000) were effective to discriminate thetwo varieties, representing potential tools for fingerprinting and map enrichment in assistedbreeding.

Heirloom tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) such as 'Cuore di Bue' are highly appreciated by consumers for theiroutstanding quality and flavour. Nowadays, they are often grafted onto vigorous rootstocks in order to overcomeseveral soil-borne diseases. The present study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in Southern Italy. Plants of 'Cuore diBue', an heirloom 'oxheart' tomato, were grown in a greenhouse either as non-grafted plants, or grafted onto two interspecific(S. lycopersicum
S. habrochaites) rootstocks ('Beaufort F1' and 'Maxifort F1') in order to evaluate theireffects on vegetative growth, marketable yield, fruit quality, and the sensory properties of 'Cuore di Bue' tomato fruit.Growth analysis revealed that 'Maxifort F1' enhanced plant growth, particularly in terms of leaf area and leaf freshweight. Grafted plants had higher leaf area ratios (by 13%) and higher leaf dry weight fractions (by 18%) comparedto non-grafted 'Cuore di Bue' plants. Marketable yields increased by 20 - 25% in grafted plants in both years.However, total soluble solids (TSS) contents, titratable acidity (TA), and TSS/TA ratios were not significantly affectedby grafting.Vitamin C contents decreased by 14 - 20% in both years in the fruit of plants grafted onto either rootstock.The sensory profiles of fruit were not modified by grafting, although taste panelists expressed a higher preference forpurchasing fruit from plants grafted onto 'Maxifort F1'. These results confirm that, when using the appropriaterootstock/scion combination, grafting can improve plant growth and the marketable yield of heirloom tomato fruitwithout reducing the sensory quality of the fruit or its biochemical parameters. However, grafting can reduce vitaminC contents and, thus, nutritional quality.

The dissemination of knowledge about (agro)biodiversity is a strategic factor in communicating the urgent need to defend and protect biological diversity. Although this can be carried out with various media, in recent years social media (or "Web 2.0") have begun to assume a prominent role. Of the Web 2.0 services, Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation, San Francisco, CA) is one of the most powerful and interesting tools, for several reasons, being collaborative by nature, free of charge, multilingual, and accessible online; in addition, anyone can update the materials therein. Within the framework of the regional project "Rural Development Programme 2007-2013," our research group, responsible of the collection of historical information and morphological characterization of several vegetable crops considered to be at risk of genetic erosion, proposed the use ofWikipedia as a dissemination tool.The objective of this study was to showhowto add/modify articles in Wikipedia for online divulgation and to demonstrate its validity by analyzing some data (pageviews, editing history, and the impact of Wikipedia as a referral toward the project's institutional website) related to the Wikipedia articles that were added/ modified. The article about the landrace variety Carota di Polignano carrot (Daucus carota), created from scratch, received more than 15,000 pageviews in less than 2 years. Referrals from Wikipedia increased the visits to the institutional website by 30%, whereas the bounce rate decreased by 15%. Wikipedia may be a good tool to improve the dissemination of knowledge about (agro)biodiversity either online or offline, and the addition in Wikipedia's pages of scientific journal references and of links to projects' website may strengthen the diffusion of scientific knowledge.