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Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is considered as one of the most suitable energy crops for Southern Europe. The aim of this work was to outline the effects of organic fertilisers on the productivity and the global warming potential (GWP) on cardoon production. Six fertilisers (N 100 kg ha−1, N 50 kg ha−1, Compost 30 t ha−1, Compost 15 t ha−1 + N 25 kg ha−1, 3 t ha−1 of defatted oilseed meals of sunflower, 3 t ha−1 of defatted oilseed meals of Brassica carinata), and unfertilised control, were evaluated on two cultivars ('Gobbo di Nizza' and 'Altilis 41') in a split-plot experiment. Defatted oilseed meal of sunflower recorded higher total dry weight (+10%), seed yield (+17%), nitrogen use efficiency (+14%) and better GWP (−66%) compared to the other organic fertilisers and performing as well as N 100 kg ha−1. Altilis 41 cultivar showed the highest aboveground total dry weight (10 t ha−1 y−1), seed yield (1.7 t ha−1 y−1), stalk dry weight (7 t ha−1 y−1) and head dry weight (3 t ha−1 y−1). Our results highlighted that by combining suitable cultivar and fertilisation strategies, it could be possible to increase the production sustainability of C. cardunculus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are a good source of nutrients and phenolic compounds with versatile health benefits. Polyphenol-rich extracts of six ecotypes of P. vulgaris were analysed to determine their phenolic profiles and assayed in vitro for inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes relevant to carbohydrates and lipids metabolism. The extracts inhibited enzyme activities in a dose-dependent manner. IC 50 values ranged from 69 ± 1.9 to 126 ± 3.2 μg/mL and from 107.01 ± 4.5 to 184.20 ± 5.7 μg/mL, before and after cooking, for α-amylase, from 39.3 ± 4.4 to 74.13 ± 6.9 μg/mL and from 51 ± 7.7 to 122.1 ± 5.2 μg/mL for α-glucosidase and from 63.11 ± 7.5 to 103.2 ± 5.9 μg/mL and from 92.0 ± 6.3 to 128.5 ± 7.4 μg/mL for lipase. Results suggest encouraging their consumption, being natural sources of enzyme inhibitors important for type-2 diabetes and obesity prevention/control. Well-monitored in vivo studies would help to establish their beneficial effects, making them worthwhile of further consideration as functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, 26 accessions of rocket salad belonging to four species (Eruca sativaMill.,Diplotaxis tenuifolia(L.) DC.,Diplotaxis muralis(L.) DC. andErucastrum spp.) were tested for resistance to damping-off, wilting and leaf spot disease causal agents. High susceptibility toRhizoctonia solaniwas detected in all accessions while variability in rocket seedling susceptibility forSclerotiniaassays was observed. Susceptibility to wilting caused by the fungusFusarium oxysporumf. sp.raphaniwas tested.E. sativavarieties exhibited a lower severity degree associated to yellowing-related symptoms compared toD. tenuifolia. Resistance assay using the bacteriumXanthomonas campestrispv.campestriswas also performed. FiveE. sativavarieties showed a disease incidence lower than 60% while all theD. tenuifoliaaccessions, showed a susceptibility of 100%. The present study represents a step towards the identification of genetic resources useful in breeding for the selections of novel resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A spent coffee ground compost (SCGC) was evaluated as an alternative component of growing media to partially replace commercial peat (CP) and fertilizers in the production of potted plants. Seven mixtures (CP 100% + solid mineral fertilizers, CP 100% + liquid mineral fertilizers, CP 90% + SCGC 10%, CP 80% + SCGC 20%, CP 70% + SCGC 30%, CP 60% + SCGC 40%, and CP 100% without fertilizers) were compared for the production of basil and tomato potted plants. SCGC used in a proportion up to 40% enhanced the general plant stand by affecting the dry weight and the measured foliar parameters. Tomato and basil recorded good growth rates on SCGC-amended media, showing quality indices similar to those obtained under fertilization, evidencing compost plant nutrition provision. SCGC appears to be suitable for application as a partial peat substitute in the production of potted plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of plant essential oils,Solanum chilenseandAster sedifoliusraw saponins, plant-derived colourants andBrassica carinataglucosinolate-containing tissues, for the control of seedborne fungiAlternaria dauci,Alternaria radicina,Colletotrichum lindemuthianumandAscochyta rabiei, was evaluated.In vitroassays indicated that oregano essential oil, bark chestnut-derived colourant andB. carinatameals, showed a large spectrum of activity against all pathogens.S. chilenseraw saponins were effective againstA. dauciandA. radicina, while those fromA. sedifoliusalso inhibited significantlyC. lindemuthianum. Screening showed the antifungal potential of natural compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A stepwise screening strategy made it possible to identify five newBacillusspp. strains for biocontrol ofRhizoctonia solani,Sclerotinia minorandFusarium solani.In vitroandin vivobiocontrol activity and M13-PCR DNA-fingerprinting led to the selection of these valuable biological control agents (BCAs) from a wide collection of over 250 candidates. At the end of this selection, the highest potential antagonists were identified at species level by 16S-rRNA gene sequence analysis, and results assigned them toBacillus subtilisgroup asBacillus amyloliquefaciens-andBacillus methylotrophicus-related strains. In the current study, spore-forming bacteria provided substantial biocontrol of telluric diseases on cress and other different host plants. The strains named 15S and 09C were effective in disease control onBrassica oleracea/R. solanipathosystem, whereas Sclerotinia drop of lettuce was reduced by treatments with the strains 17S and 08C. Finally, the strains 17S and 12S were equally effective to control potato Fusarium rot. The evident zone of inhibition seen in dual culture plates suggested antibiosis-like antagonisms as the main mechanisms used by these bacterial isolates in interaction with the pathogens. Additionally, the API-ZYM method revealed constitutive activity of certain extracellular enzymes that could be involved in plant fortification.Bacillusstrains isolated from compost and compost-amended soils are promising BCAs that have potential for practical application as biofungicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of integrated pest management is a valid alternative to conventional chemical treatments. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Brassica carinata seed meals amendment, combined with solarization, on soil activity and lettuce cultivation. B. carinata seed meals pellets are biofumigant plant tissues originated as byproducts of the biodiesel industry. Microbiological data combined with lettuce production results suggest that, after biofumigation, soil microbial communities change toward a new equilibrium that creates better root plant conditions to improve high lettuce yields. Moreover, Brassica seed meals, combined with solarization, preserved soil microflora against detrimental effects of heating, as revealed by enzymatic and functional analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-fixing efficiency is influenced by genetic combination of rhizobia strain/legume genotype. In this research, 48 rhizobia isolates from lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) were characterized for DNA polymorphism and assayed for their ability to improve, in open field, grain yield of lentil. By DNA polymorphism analysis, only four haplotypes were observed for Rhizobium isolates from lentil seeds, whereas a higher genetic variability was observed for Rhizobium isolates obtained from root-tubercles. The performance of the 11 rhizobia haplotypes was analysed in the field after inoculation on two Italian lentil ecotypes. Two isolates of rhizobia induced a significant improvement of grain yield (plus from 37% to 40% with respect to non-inoculated plants) on the Colfiorito ecotype, whereas no significant improvement of yield was obtained on Colliano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]