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The growing interest in vegetable proteins, namely those derived from lupins, has raised concerns over potential safety risks associated with these food products. Lupin serves as the main host for the mycotoxin-producing fungus called Diaporthe toxica. This species, which is associated with animal diseases, has been scarcely characterized. Recently, phomopsin-A (PHO-A), the main mycotoxin produced by D. toxica, was found to be harmful to humans. Therefore, this study aimed at characterizing D. toxica growth and spore formation both in vitro and on lupin samples. In addition, the production of PHO-A and alkaloids was investigated on lupin beans by using three different inoculation methods. Particularly, growth and spore production were evaluated on different media, while PHO-A and alkaloid production were determined by means of µSPE extraction followed by UHPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS, respectively. The results have demonstrated differences in growth on different media, with potato and oat-flakes-based media being the best options. Conversely, D. toxica was not able to produce spores on agar media, but only on lupin beans. Moreover, a thorough analysis of PHO-A production revealed an increase over time, reaching values up to 1082.17 ppm after 21 days on artificially rehydrated samples. On the other side, the analysis of alkaloids revealed impressive results, as this species produced great quantities of the quinolizidine alkaloids (QA) that are normally present in lupin seeds such as lupanine, sparteine, multiflorine, and hydroxylupanine. On balance, considering these results, different metabolic pathways were demonstrated in D. toxica, which are not adequately described in the existing literature. These data are of paramount importance to deepen the knowledge about a fungal species that is important to ensure the safety of lupin and lupin-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an agricultural perspective, carrots are a significant tap root vegetable crop in the Apiaceae family because of their nutritional value, health advantages, and economic importance. The edible part of a carrot, known as the storage root, contains various beneficial compounds, such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, dietary fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients. It has a crucial role in human nutrition as a significant vegetable and raw material in the nutraceutical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. The cultivation of carrot fields is susceptible to a wide range of biotic and abiotic hazards, which can significantly damage the plants' health and decrease yield and quality. Scientific research mostly focuses on important biotic stressors, including pests, such as nematodes and carrot flies, as well as diseases, such as cavity spots, crown or cottony rot, black rot, and leaf blight, caused by bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes. The emerging challenges in the field include gaining a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between hosts and pathogens in the carrot–pathogen system, identifying the elements that contribute to disease development, expanding knowledge of systemic treatments, exploring host resistance mechanisms, developing integrated control programs, and enhancing resistance through breeding approaches. In fact, the primary carrot-growing regions in tropical and subtropical climates are experiencing abiotic pressures, such as drought, salinity, and heat stress, which limit carrot production. This review provides an extensive, up-to-date overview of the literature on biotic and abiotic factors for enhanced and sustainable carrot production, considering the use of different technologies for the shelf-life extension of carrots. Therefore, it addresses the current issues in the carrot production chain, opening new perspectives for the exploration of carrots both as a food commodity and as a source of natural compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimicrobial activity of Origanum vulgare var. hirtum (O) and Coridothymus capitatus (C) essential oils (EOs) and hydrolates (HYs) of the same botanical species was evaluated on sixteen L. monocytogenes strains from food and clinical origins. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination, viable cell enumeration over time up to 60 min, and evaluation of the cellular damage through Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) analysis. EOs exhibited antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.3125 to 10 µL/mL. In contrast, HYs demonstrated antimicrobial effectiveness at higher concentrations (125–500 µL/mL). The effect of HYs was rapid after the contact with the cells, and the cell count reduction over 60 min of HY treatment was about 1.2–1.7 Log CFU/mL. L. monocytogenes cells were stressed by HY treatment, and red cell aggregates were revealed through CLSM observation. Moreover, the combinations of EOs and HYs had an additive antilisterial effect in most cases and allowed the concentration of use to be reduced, while maintaining or improving the antimicrobial effectiveness. The combined use of EOs and HYs can offer novel opportunities for applications, thereby enhancing the antimicrobial effectiveness and diminishing the concentration of use. This provides the added benefit of reducing toxicity and mitigating any undesirable sensory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that is ubiquitous and largely distributed in food manufacturing environments. It is responsible for listeriosis, a disease that can lead to significant morbidity and fatality in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, and newborns. Few reports have been published about proteome adaptation when L. monocytogenes is cultivated in stress conditions. In this study, we applied one-dimensional electrophoresis and 2D-PAGE combined with tandem mass spectrometry to evaluate proteome profiling in the following conditions: mild acid, low temperature, and high NaCl concentration. The total proteome was analyzed, also considering the case of normal growth-supporting conditions. A total of 1,160 proteins were identified and those related to pathogenesis and stress response pathways were analyzed. The proteins involved in the expression of virulent pathways when L. monocytogenes ST7 strain was grown under different stress conditions were described. Certain proteins, particularly those involved in the pathogenesis pathway, such as Listeriolysin regulatory protein and Internalin A, were only found when the strain was grown under specific stress conditions. Studying how L. monocytogenes adapts to stress can help to control its growth in food, reducing the risk for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]