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This work aimed to propose the reuse of processing waste from the Sicilian almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch.) cultivar Tuono for the formulation of a new functional baked product (muffin) that is gluten- and lactose-free. Muffins were prepared using orange juice, rice flour, extra virgin olive oil, and enriched almond skin (3% and 6% w/w). The chemical-physical parameters, total phenols, and flavonoids (TPC and TFC), as well as the biological properties of the ingredients and muffins, were evaluated. Sensory analyses were also conducted. DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene bleaching, and FRAP tests were applied to measure the antioxidant potential. Muffin extracts were also tested against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Muffins enriched with 6% almond skin (M6) showed the highest TPC and TFC with values of 26.96 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 24.12 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, respectively. M6 exerted a promising antioxidant activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, with an IC50 of 15.44 μg/mL at 30 min incubation. Moreover, muffin M6 showed a promising α-glucosidase inhibitory effect (IC50 of 51.82 μg/mL). Based on the obtained results and supported by sensory analysis, muffins enriched with almond skin should be proposed as a promising example of upcycling for the development of a new functional bakery product.

The global sustainability policy emphasizes reusing of agri-food waste and by-products to enhance food bioactive properties. Thus, brioches were processed incorporating almond skin powder (ASP): control (CTR), without ASP addition; 5-ASP, with 5% (w/w) ASP; and 10-ASP, with 10% (w/w) ASP. Seven different brioches shapes were obtained for each recipe. Flavonoids were mainly detected in Tuono almond skin by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMSMS), in particular, flavan-3-ol monomers. The ethanolic extract of Tuono almond skins contained polar lipids (oxylipins and phospholipids). Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) identified six major fatty acids, mainly oleic acid (48.01%). Photothermal degradation impact on bioactive compounds was evaluated using a first-order kinetic model. Antioxidant activity was studied using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene bleaching test. α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory effect were also tested. The acidification of the doughs was consistent across all trials. Lactic acid bacteria and yeast levels increased. Importantly, the final products were free from undesirable microorganisms. The addition of ASP led to reduced weight loss and specific volume for all seven brioche types. Furthermore, the firmness, crumb structure, and sensory profile of the final products were noticeably influenced. Tasters clearly favoured the Treccina brioches. The production of sweet leavened baked goods was carried out in triplicate in two independent experiments. The statistical model applied to the data considered the effects of brioche shape and the addition of ASP. Kinetic data revealed that the half-life extension for both total phenol and flavonoid content was observed in the 10-ASP sample (18.00382). 10-ASP sample exhibited promising ABTS radical scavenging activity, with inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) values of 18.64 mg/mL after 9 days of photothermal degradation. Moreover, when testing 10-ASP Treccina against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, the IC50 values were 198.16 and 190.23 μg/mL, respectively, even after 9 days.

The present work reports the application of powdered almond skin (PAS) for industrial bread production. Three trials were conducted involving seven bread shapes, including control production (CTR), and two experimental productions with PAS addition [5–10 % (w/w), 5-PAS and 10-PAS, respectively]. Sourdough inoculum determined the acidification of all doughs and the levels of lactic acid bacteria increased. Spore-forming aerobic bacteria, members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, and total coliforms were not detected until the end of the fermentation process. PAS addition determined a lower weight loss, an increase of firmness, a diminution of specific volume, and a different sensory profile of the breads. Mafalda was the most appreciated bread shape and was subjected to photothermal aging. 10-PAS sample, after nine-day stress, still showed a significant total phenolic compound TPC content (111.0 mg GAE/g extract). The radical scavenging potential increased with PAS with a final IC50 of 103.3 μg/mL in 10-PAS breads. Experimental breads exhibited a notable enhancement in protection against lipid peroxidation. Mold-free shelf life assessment showed a 10-day shelf life for CTR breads, while a 12-day shelf life in presence of PAS. Collectively, the data suggest that PAS holds significant promise as a functional additive for industrial production of bread.

Plant-based beverages (PBBs) represent a growing global alternative to cow's milk. However, their development is strongly influenced by consumers' expectations of new foods introduced into the diet: environmental sustainability, balanced nutritional content, health aspects, and organoleptic properties. This study analyzes consumers' preferences and choice orientations towards plant-based beverages through the assessment of their eating style and concern towards environmental and health issues. To that end, an online questionnaire was conducted with a sample of 233 respondents living in the South-East area of Italy. Initially, principal component analyses were performed to identify distinct dimensions of individuals' orientation towards food quality, environment and health involvement. Then, the emerging dimensions were used as dependent variables for ANOVA comparisons between consumers and non-consumers of plant-based beverages, considering also individuals' preferences towards different PBBs. The main results showed a strong consumer concern for environmental sustainability issues, which was found as the main purchasing driver for plant-based beverage consumers. On the other hand, many respondents stated that they do not consume PBBs due to their negative organoleptic aspects and the unfamiliarity with these products. Furthermore, the individual's dietary style influences the consumption of plant-based beverages and, in particular, the search for nutritional and balanced compounds plays a key role in consumption choices. Finally, despite that the almonds cultivation for the traditional 'almond milk' production is typical in various Italian regions, consumers expressed averagely a weak connection with this product. In conclusion, considering our results, the market development of PPBs at a national level might be supported by marketing strategies dedicated to different individuals' profiles. At the same time, however, direct actions on the production process are needed to improve the organoleptic profile of these products and meet the dissatisfaction expressed by consumers.

The aim of this research was to identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that could be used as starter strains in sourdough made with almond peel powder to create novel fermented functional bakery products. Physicochemical characteristics and LAB were analyzed from ten home-made sourdoughs used at the family level in western Sicily (Italy). The pH (3.57–4.80) and TTA (8.20–14.20 mL 0.1 N NaOH/10 g) were inversely correlated. LAB dominated all sourdoughs, and the highest cell densities (6.74–9.28 log cfu/g) were detected on the medium Sour Dough Bacteria, except for one sample. Among LAB groups, the lowest counts (4.92–6.19 log cfu/g) were obtained on M17 used for LAB cocci. Yeasts were lower than LAB from two to four orders of magnitude with values between 3.93 and 6.11 log cfu/g. Twenty strains belonging to the species Enterococcus gilvus, Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, Lentilactobacillus diolivorans, Leuconostoc citreum, Leuconostoc holzapfelii, Levilactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Weissella cibaria were identified. Eleven out of the 20 strains identified showed the ability to grow in presence of 16 polyphenols characterizing the peel of almonds. Eight of these LAB strains dropped pH below 4.5 after 6–8 h of fermentation, and two strains showed a strong inhibitory effect against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC19114 with inhibition diameters around the wells >19 mm. Thus, all acidifying strains were selected to produce sourdough bakery goods enriched with almond skin powder.

Hieracium lucidum subsp. lucidum is a critically endangered endemic taxa of the Sicilian flora. It is a relict of the Tertiary period surviving on the cliffs of Monte Gallo (NW-Sicily). This research focused on finding the best protocols for seed germination and vegetative and in vitro propagation to contribute to ex situ conservation. Seed germination tests were carried out using constant temperatures of 15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C in continuous darkness and an alternating temperature of 30/15 °C (16 h/8 h, light/dark). The seeds had no dormancy, and a high germination capacity (70–95%) was obtained at all tested thermoperiods. The possibility of vegetative propagation of the taxon was evaluated through the rooting capacity of stem cuttings treated or not treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). All cuttings were treated with IBA rooted within 2 months, while only 50% of the untreated cuttings were rooted within a longer time. An efficient protocol for rapid in vitro propagation from leaf portions was developed. The response of explants was tested on hormone-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium and MS enriched with different types of cytokinins: 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and meta-Topolin (mT) in combination with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at the same concentration. The combination of mT (2 mg L−1) and 2,4-D (1 mg L−1) in the medium was the most effective and showed the highest percentage of callus induction and the mean number of regenerated shoots. The maximum rate of root regeneration and the maximum number and length of roots were obtained on hormone-free MS and MS enriched with IBA at concentrations of 1 mg L−1. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that H. lucidum subsp. lucidum can be successfully propagated using one of the tested techniques, subject to the availability of the material for reproduction.

The European Roller Coracias garrulus has suffered greatly from breeding habitat loss due to the renovation of old farmhouses and rural buildings and changing agricultural practices that took place extensively across Europe in the last decades. As a consequence, this species experienced a significant decline, and local extinctions of breeding populations were recorded in several European countries. We investigated nest sites and nesting area selection by the Italian Roller population during the breeding period (May–August) between 2016 and 2018. We collected 711 points from field surveys and used four types of point pattern analysis to detect space-time patterns of nest site and nesting area selection. We found that: (a) the spatial distribution of selected (i.e., occupied) nest sites was significantly nonrandom (p < 0.01) for all years and months; (b) only 2.6% of the selected nest sites was located within parks or reserves; (c) there were significant (p < 0.01) latitudinal, longitudinal, and altitudinal shifts of selected nest sites between May and August; (d) the geographical barycentres of selected nest sites shifted northward by about 80 km per month from May (southernmost barycentre) to August (northernmost barycentre); (e) four main nesting areas (7886 km2 in total) occurred in central and southern Italy, whose utilization by the European Rollers differed between months but not between years; (f) the detected nesting areas corresponded mainly to non-irrigated arable lands (41.22% of their extent) and natural grasslands (12.80%). Our results are useful to support conservation strategies for the breeding sites of this farmland species, which is not a regular visitor to protected areas in Italy.

The genus Sorbus has maintained an extremely relevant role over time from a landscape and environmental perspective in many countries in the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Based on the requirements coming from the environmental policies provided in the European strategy Next Generation EU, Sorbus has been considered a valuable species to be introduced in urban and peri-urban areas. The purpose of this study was to propagate four Sorbus accessions selected in the Sicilian territory, Southern Italy, using the liquid substrate in temporary immersion bioreactors Plantform™. The results obtained showed that the presence of 1 mg L−1 mT in the substrate in combination with IBA 0.05 mg L−1 produced a significant number of shoots (4.7) and a greater length (2.2 cm). Among the accessions, there were statistically significant differences; the accession SN2 and SN1 produced more shoots (respectively, 4.0 and 3.6), and a greater length of the shoots was observed in the selections SN4 and SN3 (respectively, 2.4 cm and 2.3 cm). The relative growth rate (RGR) was significantly influenced by the presence of the culture substrate of the combination of cytokines and auxin; SN4 selection showed the best RGR results of 8.3 mg−1 d−1. The use of the bioreactor Plantform™ in Sorbus domestica L. has favored a better development of plants obtained in vitro, demonstrating that this system is a valid alternative for the micropropagation of Sorbus.

This paper focuses on the design of a robust Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) based on the Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology for Augmented Reality (AR) applications in TV studios that require artists and/or a presenter to be accurately localized. According to a UWB-based measurement campaign, carried out in a TV studio environment, ranging measurements are heavily affected by the human body interference. Indeed, lots of outliers are present as the UWB receiver may synchronize to reflected paths, which result to be much stronger than the direct one. As a consequence, range errors are very large. In this context, to improve the localization performance, we increased the redundancy of the RTLS by employing more than one tag to localize the artists on the TV scene. In particular, we have applied the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm to work with two and three tags. Moreover, an outlier detection and correction procedure have been defined and adopted for the ranging phase. The resulting localization performance, based on real range measurements, shows that the EKF with two tags outperforms by 83.5% the one with single tag.

This research analysed the size and depth of assortment and the marketing strategies of communications around plant-based beverages (PBBs) on the Italian market. Sales of PBBs have increased over the last year due to their use as a substitute for cow’s milk and also thanks to their popularity in online distribution. This study compares the characteristics of the PBB assortment sold across 65 large-scale retail stores and on 74 websites. The comparison was made considering 15 product categories defined by main ingredient, packaging type, specialty, and claims found on labels. An ordered logit regression analysis was performed to understand how key product features positively or negatively influence the selling price. The results showed that online sales focus on describing plant-based beverages with characteristics that are closer to new consumer preferences (with labels such as “free from” products, “naturalness” of the product, and “health” characteristics). In both distribution channels, there were few products with packaging information related to nutritional characteristics, health benefits, and environmental sustainability, in contrast to the needs expressed by baby food purchasers. Additionally, the price analysis showed unexpected results: in fact, some products for which, according to the literature, consumers would be willing to pay a premium price, instead showed a lower retail price than the average price. These results could represent a concrete tool to improve the efficiency of promotional campaigns and communication strategies for baby food, optimising communication according to consumer needs.

The high quality of the various biotypes present in the natural or cultivated state is one of the main features for caper production. Up to now, however, no selection activity has been carried out in order to identify the most suitable accessions for providing better quality products. In this paper, we report the first results of a selection of caper genotypes characterised by significant qualitative traits. A micropropagation protocol was evaluated in order to improve and allow the multiplication of the most promising Capparis spinosa L. subsp. spinosa genotypes, selected in Salina (Aeolian Islands), Sicily (Italy), in collaboration with the most important local growers.

The conservation of endangered, rare, and endemic plant species is based on in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. When in situ conservation alone is not sufficient to guarantee the survival of the species, ex situ techniques are adopted in support. This study aimed to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for Adenostyles by evaluating the effect of different plant growth regulators on leaf explants. Adenostyles alpina subsp. macrocephala (Asterace) is a perennial herbaceous plant endemic to Calabria (Southern Italy). The genus Adenostyles includes three species confined to the mountains of the Mediterranean and southern Europe. For callus induction, media supplemented with different concentrations of Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mg L−1), Naphthaleneacetic Acid (NAA) (1 mg L−1), and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) (1 mg L−1) were tested. Shoot regeneration and proliferation were obtained in media supplemented with BAP (1, 2, and 3 mg L−1) and NAA (1 mg L−1). Root induction was obtained in media supplemented with IBA (0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg L−1) and NAA (0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg L−1). Statistically significant differences in callus induction and shoot regeneration were observed between the various media tested. The medium containing Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 3 mg L−1 of BAP and 1 mg L−1 of NAA showed the highest percentage of callus induction and increased shoot regeneration. The regenerated shoots showed more effective root induction in the hormone-free MS medium and in the presence of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg L−1. These results can be used as a basis for the preparation of a micropropagation protocol for different taxa of Adenostyles, as well as other species of Asteraceae specialized to the Mediterranean mountain habitat.

A new accession of myrobalan (Prunus cerasifera L.) from Sicily (Italy) was studied for the first time for its chemical and nutraceutical properties. A description of the main morphological and pomological traits was created as a tool for characterization for consumers. For this purpose, three different extracts of fresh myrobalan fruits were subjected to different analyses, including the evaluation of total phenol (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and anthocyanin (TAC) contents. The extracts exhibited a TPC in the range 34.52–97.63 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g fresh weight (FW), a TFC of 0.23–0.96 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g FW, and a TAC of 20.24–55.33 cyanidine-3-O-glucoside/100 g FW. LC-HRMS analysis evidenced that the compounds mainly belong to the flavonols, flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, and organic acids classes. A multitarget approach was used to assess the antioxidant properties by using FRAP, ABTS, DPPH, and β-carotene bleaching tests. Moreover, the myrobalan fruit extracts were tested as inhibitors of the key enzymes related to obesity and metabolic syndrome (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase). All extracts exhibited an ABTS radical scavenging activity that was higher than the positive control BHT (IC50 value in the range 1.19–2.97 μg/mL). Moreover, all extracts showed iron-reducing activity, with a potency similar to that of BHT (53.01–64.90 vs 3.26 μM Fe(II)/g). The PF extract exhibited a promising lipase inhibitory effect (IC50 value of 29.61 μg/mL).

Polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) are a large group of compounds belonging to the more general class of flavonoids that possess a flavan carbon framework decorated with a variable number of methoxy groups. Hydroxylated polymethoxyflavonoids (HPMFs), instead, are characterized by the presence of both hydroxyl and methoxy groups in their structural unities. Some of these compounds are the aglycone part in a glycoside structure in which the glycosidic linkage can involve the −OH at various positions. These compounds are particular to Citrus genus plants, especially in fruits, and they are present mainly in the peel. A considerable number of PMFs and HPMFs have shown promising biological activities and they are considered to be important nutraceuticals, responsible for some of the known beneficial effects on health associated with a regular consumption of Citrus fruits. Among their several actions on human health, it is notable that the relevant contribution in controlling the intracellular redox imbalance is associated with the inflammation processes. In this work, we aim to describe the status concerning the chemical identification and the anti-inflammatory activity of both PMFs and HPMFs. In particular, all of the chemical entities unambiguously identified by isolation and complete NMR analysis, and for which a biochemical evaluation on the pure compound was performed, are included in this paper.

Almond cultivation in Sicily is experiencing a phase of great interest which is mainly concentrated in the development of specialized orchards, with irrigation and by adopting cultivars with high qualitative and quantitative performances. These are mostly Mediterranean genotypes with high fat content and hard or semi-hard shell, extremely different from the varieties of Californian diffusion. The development of the sector comprises the primary production of almonds but also a series of secondary products which often represent a burden for the company. From these considerations several researches have been developed with the aim of giving a value to these by-products through circular economy paths. One of the by-products widely produced, besides the shell, is the skin which covers the seed and is produced during the peeling phase. It is well-known that tegument is an important component of almond because it contains important bioactive substances (phenols and aromas) which are usually dispersed during peeling. This paper examined three different Italian cultivars widely spread in Sicily, two of Apulian origin, (Genco and Tuono), and one locally cultivated variety (Vinci a tutti). These three cultivars occupy an increasingly large area and are very popular with consumers and industry. The production of secondary products, therefore, evidences significant quantities and the possibility to give them an added value becomes a need for the sector. Therefore, the content of phenols and proanthocyanins in the skin at harvest and during storage was analyzed, adopting two different separation methods, with and without water. During the analysis it was possible to observe the different behavior of the three cultivars due to genetic and industrial factors. Skin separated without using hot water showed a higher total phenolic presence with average increases of about 20%, and with even higher increases, between 28 and 32%, for proanthocyanins. Vinci a tutti evidenced the highest total phenolic content after 8 months of storing while roasting has revealed to be a more effective skin separation approach.

The public catering sector has important responsibilities in seeking a change toward more sustainable choices for many aspects related to the environmental impacts of their services. The environmental impact of production processes can be studied through life cycle assessment (LCA), which allows a greater awareness of choices and has rarely been applied to catering. In this work, we studied the impacts of two dishes (braised meat and cauliflower meatballs) in a school canteen, their impacts were studied using the daily energy requirement (expressed in kcal) as a functional unit. Global warming potential (GWP) and nonrenewable energy (NRE) were calculated starting from the supply of raw materials up to distribution. Electricity and the act of cooking the meatballs accounted for more than 60% of the measured impact in terms of GWP, whereas, less markedly, they dominated in terms of nonrenewable energy used. In the case of braised meat, the total impact was, however, attributable to the life cycle of the meat (between 60% and 76%) and the consumption of electricity (between 19% and 27%), whereas for all other factors, the contribution was never particularly high. Additionally, a discussion on the correct functional unit to be used proposed the environmental impact of different recipes as an additional criterion for nutritionists during the composition of the menu. An integrated system appears important for changing policies and behaviors and the application of LCA can be a tool capable of contributing to the construction of a holistic instrument of sustainability.

The genus Crepis L., included within the Asteraceae family, has a very wide distribution, expanding throughout the northern hemisphere, including Europe, northern Africa, and temperate Asia. This genus has a fundamental value from biodynamic and ecological perspectives, with the different species often being chosen for soil conservation, for environmental sustainability, and for their attraction towards pollinating species. Furthermore, various species of Crepis have been used in the popular medicine of several countries as medicinal herbs and food since ancient times. In most cases, the species is consumed either in the form of a decoction, or as a salad, and is used for its cardiovascular properties, as a digestive, for problems related to sight, for the treatment of diabetes, and for joint diseases. This literature review, the first one of the Crepis genus, includes publications with the word ‘Crepis’, and considers the single metabolites identified, characterised, and tested to evaluate their biological potential. The various isolated compounds, including in most cases sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, were obtained by extracting the roots and aerial parts of the different species. The secondary metabolites, extracted using traditional (solvent extraction, column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, preparative HPLC, vacuum liquid chromatography), and modern systems such as ultrasounds, microwaves, etc., and characterised by mono- and bi- dimensional NMR experiments and by HPLC-MS, have a varied application spectrum at a biological level, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, antiviral, antiulcer, phytotoxic, and nutritional properties having been reported. Unfortunately, in vitro tests have not always been accompanied by in vivo tests, and this is the major critical aspect that emerges from the study of the scientific aspects related to this genus. Therefore, extensive investigations are necessary to evaluate the real capacity of the different species used in food, and above all to discover what the different plants that have never been analysed could offer at a scientific level.

Plums are a large group of closely related stone fruit species and hybrids of worldwide economic importance and diffusion. This review deals with the main aspects concerning plum agrobiodiversity and its relationship with current and potential contributions offered by breeding in enhancing plum varieties. The most recent breeding achievements are revised according to updated information proceeding from relevant scientific reports and official inventories of plum genetic resources. A special emphasis has been given to the potential sources of genetic traits of interest for breeding programs as well as to the need for efficient and coordinated efforts aimed at efficaciously preserving the rich and underexploited extant plum agrobiodiversity. The specific objective of this review was to: (i) analyze and possibly evaluate the degree of biodiversity existing in the cultivated plum germplasm, (ii) examine the set of traits of prominent agronomic and pomological interest currently targeted by the breeders, and (iii) determine how and to what extent this germplasm was appropriately exploited in breeding programs or could represent concrete prospects for the future.

The study of the interaction between fruit trees and cover crops has been addressed in numerous works over the last 50 years or more, evidencing the need to evolve from a productive orchard to an orchard that plays different ecosystem roles in terms of environmental sustainability rather than just productivity. This review, through an analysis of the scientific literature since the 1950s, highlights the development of sustainable soil management models in fruit tree orchards, mostly considering the relationship with fruit quality traits and with the ecosystem services that result from the adoption of cover crops, aiming at identifying and formulating technical recommendations in perennial orchards. Cover crop management surely improves soil features and positively influences fruit quality in perennial woody species, but also helps to develop a better habitat for beneficial insects, thus influencing pollination. A large number of scientific approaches highlight the beneficial use of a mixture of seeds in order to enhance biodiversity, aiming at improving ecosystem services for a transition towards more sustainable systems based on agroecological management.

As a perennial xerophytic shrub, characterized by plesiomorphic features, the caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is naturally spread throughout the Mediterranean basin and occupies an important ecological role, as well as an economic one, in traditional and specialized systems for commercial production. This species, in spite of its wide diffusion, is currently considered at risk of genetic erosion, mainly due to overgrazing and overharvesting for domestic uses and for trade. This situation is made more serious because of the lack of efficient propagation techniques, determining the caper as a “difficult-to-propagate species”. In this review, we report the main available sexual and vegetative propagation techniques with the aim of assessing whether, and to what extent, this criticality is still true for caper as a horticultural crop. In terms of seed propagation, germination rates have generally been considered quite low or unsatisfactory, and are also affected by hybridization phenomena that are likely to occur among both the wild and cultivated forms. The seeds show a physiological dormancy that can be lowered by adopting hormonal treatments, but in situ germination remains a critical phase. Vegetative propagation appears quite effective, mostly as related to in vitro techniques that allow caper cultivation that is no longer affected by propagation for an economic dissemination of the species in more intensive orchards. The research needs for Caper spinosa L. as a horticultural crop, especially in the field of genetic improvement and breeding, are also underlined.

This work proposes for the first time a model for reusing almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini from Sicily, Southern Italy) skin to formulate a new functional blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) jam. For this purpose, blackberries were analysed fresh and as jam, traditionally prepared with a minimum fruit amount of 80%. Different percentages of almond skin (20, 15, and 10% w/w) were added to jam. The phytochemical profile of enriched jam was investigated by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS analyses. Anthocyanins, hydrolysable tannins, and triterpenoids were identified in a blackberry extract, while proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, and oxylipins were identified in an almond extract. The n-hexane extract of P. dulcis skin, investigated by GC–MS, evidenced linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids as the main abundant compounds. Samples were investigated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene, and FRAP tests. The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects were studied by α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory assays. In order to evaluate the effect of thermal process on enriched jam bioactivity, pasteurisation was applied. An increase in activities for all samples was observed, in particular for jam enriched with 20% w/w of almond skin. Based on obtained data, and supported by sensory analysis, we propose enriched jam as a promising source of compounds useful for preventing diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Rural development policies today include significant directions towards ecological transition and sustainability. Biodiversity plays a fundamental role, especially in fragile environments. The North African oases, for example, are socio-ecological structures with delicate balances in terms of natural resources, where the activation of participatory conservation approaches appears today to be very useful, aiming at long-lasting results. This type of approach was applied in the oasis of El Hamma, in Tunisia. The socio-ecological analysis was carried out through semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders of the oasis. The results were used to activate focus groups and to identify, in a participatory way, a conservation strategy for the species and the varieties at risk of erosion or disappearing. From this research, a wide spread of non-traditional date palm and vegetables emerged in a very diverse social context. These products were recognized as highly significant in terms of traditional knowledge by all stakeholders. Therefore, a Maison des semences and a public conservation center for perennial species were created, representing the first step of a participatory conservation model. Seeds of 11 traditional annual species, 10 date palm varieties and, in perspective, many other fruit species and vegetable varieties have been introduced into conservation.

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) is a powerful spectroscopic technique that offers an elemental- and orbital-selective probe of the electronic excitations over a huge energy range. We present a many-body approach to determine RIXS spectra in solids, yielding an intuitive expression for the RIXS cross section in terms of pathways between intermediate many-body states containing a core hole, and final many-body states containing a valence hole. Explicit excited many-body states are obtained from the diagonalization of the Bethe-Salpeter equation in an all-electron framework. For the paradigmatic example of the fluorine K edge of LiF, we show how the excitation pathways determine the spectral shape of the emission, and demonstrate the nontrivial role of electron-hole correlation in the RIXS spectra.

Globally, almond production is experiencing a growing trend thanks to a strong interest in the health, gastronomic, and industrial properties that are linked to the fruits and their derivatives. After a constant and marked decline in the second half of the last century, the Mediterranean Basin is thoroughly reassessing this crop, which provides significant results with a modern orchard management. The opportunity determined by the transition from traditional to modern systems have increased the interest in evaluating the different environmental impacts of the two cultivation models that still coexist today. In this work, through the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and an economic assessment approach with an in-depth analysis related to the cultivation cycle and the use of resources, the role played by each factor involved in production was determined. Overall, the Greenhouses Gases (GHG) emissions in modern farms are higher (Global Warming Potential (GWP) 0.224 kg CO2 eq.) than those in traditional farms (GWP 0.182 kg CO2 eq.). Regarding the economic assessment, it appears relevant that the modern almond model in the full production phase guarantees significantly higher margins (+84%).The perception of the importance attributed to evaluating economic and environmental aspects by different stakeholders shows relevant differences in the approach coming from growers, dealers, and governmental institutions allows the investigators to positively underline the current innovation in almond orchard systems considering the balance between fruit production and the conservation of environmental resources.

The in vitro rooting of three caper (Capparis spinosa L.) selected biotypes, grown in a commercial orchard on the Sicilian island of Salina (38°33′49” N), was performed using—as base material for rooting experiments—shoot explants proceeding from two different in vitro culture systems: solid medium and liquid culture in a PlantForm bioreactor (TIS). The regenerated shoots of each accession were submitted to different auxin treatments (NAA, IBA, IAA - 1 or 2 mg L−1; NAA+IBA 0.75 and 0.25 mg L−1, respectively), supplemented with sucrose or fructose (mg L−1). The highest rooting rate in terms of root percentage (67%) was reached with the explants of the selected accession ‘Sal 39’ proceeding from liquid culture in PlantForm and induced in the MS medium with sucrose, as a carbon source, supplemented with NAA 0.75 mg L−1 + IBA 0.25 mg L−1, after six days in a climatic growth chamber at 25 ± 1 °C in the dark and then placed under a cool white fluorescent lamp, with a PPFD of 35 μmol m−1 s−1 and a photoperiod of 16 h. On the other hand, poor rooting rate was generally achieved under all the tested experimental conditions with the other biotypes, ‘Sal 37’ and ‘Sal 35’, demonstrating the strong role exerted by the previously adopted proliferation method and by the genotype for successful caper in vitro rooting.

The dynamic structure factor of materials is proportional to their linear electronic response and it displays their excitation spectra. Usually the response is measured on the same length scale as the perturbation. Here, we illustrate that much can be gained by studying also the mixed dynamic structure factor, which connects different spatial components of perturbation and response. We extend state-of-the-art ab initio calculations to access the mixed dynamic structure factor, including excitonic effects. Using bulk silicon and lithium fluoride as prototype examples, we show that these effects play a crucial role above and below the quasiparticle gap, and are needed in order to explain coherent inelastic x-ray scattering experiments. Our approach also yields important information concerning the microscopic structure of time-dependent density functional theory.

This study assesses consumer preferences during fruit and vegetable (FV) sales, considering the sociodemographic variables of individuals together with their choice of point of purchase. A choice experiment was conducted in two metropolitan areas in Northwest Italy. A total of 1170 consumers were interviewed at different FV purchase points (mass retail chains and open-air markets) using a paper questionnaire. The relative importance assigned by consumers to 12 fruit and vegetable product attributes, including both intrinsic and extrinsic quality cues, was assessed by using the best−worst scaling (BWS) methodology. The BWS results showed that “origin”, “seasonality”, and “freshness” were the most preferred attributes that Italian consumers took into account for purchases, while no importance was given to “organic certification”, “variety”, or “brand”. Additionally, a latent class analysis was employed to divide the total sample into five different clusters of consumers, characterized by the same preferences related to FV attributes. Each group of individuals is described on the basis of sociodemographic variables and by the declared fruit and vegetable point of purchase. This research demonstrates that age, average annual income, and families with children are all discriminating factors that influence consumer preference and behavior, in addition to affecting which point of purchase the consumer prefers to acquire FV products from.

Three caper (Capparis spinosa L.) biotypes grown on the Sicilian island of Salina (38°33′49″ N) were micropropagated to evaluate two different in vitro culture systems: one using the traditional solid medium, and the other based on liquid culture in a PlantForm bioreactor. PlantForm is a temporary immersion system (TIS), a new propagation method in which the shoots undergo temporary immersion in a liquid medium in order to avoid the accumulation of gas through forced ventilation. This study proposes a protocol to improve the efficiency of in vitro propagation of caper plants, while also reducing production costs, because of the elimination of the gelling agent, and manual labor, requiring limited subcultures and posing minimal contamination risks. Our results show that the caper shoots propagated in bioreactors demonstrated good adaptability and better growth rates than those grown in the conventional system. Statistically significant differences were observed between plants grown in the PlantForm liquid culture and those grown in solid medium regarding the number and length of shoots, which were further promoted by the addition of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The relative growth and real proliferation rate of the caper explants were higher when using meta-Topolin than when using 6-benzylaminopurine as a PGR. Overall, the TIS improved in vitro caper culture by promoting the proliferation, length, and vigor of the shoots.

New and alternative models for agri-food production and consumption have brought up questions regarding the effects they have on local development processes in terms of the economic exploitation of rural areas as well as environmental, cultural, and social factors. The agri-food system proposed by the Slow Food (SF) Presidia Project, which focuses on farm-to-market systems for local, high-quality, sustainable products, can respond to the new and emerging needs of both rural and urban populaces via several approaches in addition to food production itself. However, evaluating these parameters is challenging. The aim of this study was to develop an indicator-based tool to monitor the sustainability in agri-food systems that considers quality as well as economic, ecological, social, and cultural aspects. We: (i) translated the major SF principles of "good," "clean," and "fair" into five major criteria to evaluate sustainability; (ii) designed multiple indicators to monitor progress toward sustainability for each of those criteria; and (iii) applied the monitoring tools to three case studies as a first attempt at end-use validation. Indicators and criteria were weighted either equally or based on their importance to surveyed stakeholders, i.e., consumers, producers, and scientists/experts. The proposed approach performed well as a tool for a broad sustainability evaluation by effectively combining the indicators with the same feedback. With this approach, we demonstrated that the SF Presidia project increases all dimensions of sustainability and in particular socioeconomic and cultural capital by preserving the environmental and quality aspects of the food products.