Impacts of agricultural management practices on water cycle, soil erosion and crop yields in a Mediterranean agroecosystem.

Sustainable land management in Mediterranean agroecosystems is crucial for preserving soil health, optimizing water use efficiency, and ensuring crop productivity under increasing climate extremes and prolonged drought periods. This study evaluates the effectiveness of agricultural management practices (AMPs) in mitigating soil erosion and improving water dynamics in the Cervaro river basin, a key grain-producing region in southern Italy. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) was applied to assess the impacts of four AMPs - including no-till farming, filter strips, crop rotation, and grassed waterways - on soil conservation and hydrological processes.

Unveiling the root-rhizosphere environment of perennial wheat: a metabolomic perspective.

Background: Perennial grain roots grow continuously, enhancing soil carbon sequestration and forming a "holobiont" with the microbiome, essential for nutrient acquisition and stress resilience. Consequently, perennial grains serve as ideal models for investigating long-term dynamics between root systems and the rhizosphere environment. Despite their potential, the rhizosphere environment of perennial grains remains underexplored.

Technological Development in Wholegrain Food Processing.

This review aims to give evidence of the current developments and potential applications of emerging technological methods to improve the technological performance and the sensorial acceptability of wholegrain products. The review explores the technologies based on physical, i.e.

Phenols Extraction from Sorghum Byproducts: Upcycling Strategies and Food Applications.

In this research, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) coupled with response surface methodology was used to identify the optimal process parameters (temperature, time, and solvent composition (ethanol-water ratio)) for bioactive compounds extraction from stalks and debranning products. Extraction efficiency was assessed in terms of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and antioxidant activity (AA), and phenolic profiles were identified using HPLC-DAD for the four samples of byproducts (two samples from stalks, C1 and C2, and two samples for debranning products, C3 and C4, from two different farms). The optimized extract containing the highest amount of TPC at different levels was used to enrich bread to evaluate the ability of extending their shelf life using a hyperspectral imaging device (935-1720 nm).

Preventive Effect of Upland Pigmented Potatoes Against LPS-Induced Inflammation in THP-1 Macrophages.

Aim of this study was to compare the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of three commercial potato varieties cultivated upland, Kennebec, Desirée, and Bleuet, whose extracts,   based on chemical analyses, were considered chlorogenic acid (CGA)-, carotenoid-, and anthocyanin-rich, respectively. To this aim, THP-1-derived macrophages were pretreated with extracts and then challenged with LPS. While at supraphysiological doses (50 µM), all three extracts significantly counteracted LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, at more physiologically relevant doses (1-5 µM), only Desirée and Bleuet showed anti-inflammatory activity.

Orchard Microclimate Control as a Way to Prevent Kiwifruit Decline Syndrome Onset.

A syndrome called "Kiwifruit Decline Syndrome" (KiDS) affects kiwifruit in several Mediterranean areas, causing growth arrest and wilt that rapidly progress to desiccation, scarce root growth, absence of fibrous roots, brown soft-rotting areas, and cortical detachment from the central cylinder. The origin is considered multifactorial, and a correlation with hydraulic conductance impairment caused by a high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature was detected. In this work, over-tree micro-sprinkler irrigation and shading nets were tested to protect leaves from overheating and locally decrease VPD.

Milk sustainability in specialized farms as affected by farm size and culling rates: A new perspective for allocation.

Several studies investigated the sustainability of dairy cattle systems. Global warming potential (GWP) is a "touchstone impact category" of LCA, whereas fossil depletion (FD) remains a scarcely studied environmental indicator. This study aims to help fill the gap of knowledge on FD in dairy cattle systems.

An AI-Based Digital Scanner for Detection in Beekeeping.

Beekeeping is a crucial agricultural practice that significantly enhances environmental health and food production through effective pollination by honey bees. However, honey bees face numerous threats, including exotic parasites, large-scale transportation, and common agricultural practices that may increase the risk of parasite and pathogen transmission. A major threat is the mite, which feeds on honey bee fat bodies and transmits viruses, leading to significant colony losses.

Microplastics in Agricultural Crops and Their Possible Impact on Farmers' Health: A Review.

The indiscriminate use of plastic products and their inappropriate management and disposal contribute to the increasing presence and accumulation of this material in all environmental zones. The chemical properties of plastics and their resistance to natural degradation lead over time to the production of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics, which are dispersed in soil, water, and air and can be absorbed by plants, including those grown for food. In agriculture, MPs can come from many sources (mulch film, tractor tires, compost, fertilizers, and pesticides).

Mechanisation applied to entomological production cannot ignore insect reactivity: a case study on in the context of the 'Serinnovation' project.

In December 2017 the Venetian Region (local Authority), financed the creation of the Operational Group (OG) 'Serinnovation', within the framework of the Rural Development Plan supported by the European Community. The OG aims at coordinating and spreading innovation in sericulture through mechanisation of processes and centralisation of some rearing steps, the use of waste as by-products and traceability to promote local productions. The project acts on perceived quality by increasing the added value, through production cost efficiency, and on the recovery of the waste material for further applications (circular economy).

PGI Chianina meat traceability by means of multivariate HRMAS-NMR data analysis.

Food quality is a crucial issue for producers and consumers, either dealing with commodities according to basic standards or with top quality products. Among the parameters contributing to quality, the place of origin is considered to be one of the most relevant, especially for protected denomination of origin and protected geographical indication foods, PDO and PGI, respectively. These labels have been designed by the EU to protect and valorise high quality foodstuff produced in limited areas and to ensure higher incomes to farmers.

Consumers' response to genetically modified food: an Italian case study.

The agricultural sector could benefit from biotechnologies in addressing challenges such as pests, droughts, and food supply issues. Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed to offer not only economic advantages to farmers but also to contribute positively to the environment, human health, and consumer well-being. However, consumers' hesitancy in buying GM food may stem from societal reactions to how biotechnologies in agriculture have been regulated so far.

Exploring the rhizosphere of perennial wheat: potential for plant growth promotion and biocontrol applications.

Perennial grains, which remain productive for multiple years, rather than growing for only one season before harvest, have deep, dense root systems that can support a richness of beneficial microorganisms, which are mostly underexplored. In this work we isolated forty-three bacterial strains associated with the rhizosphere of the OK72 perennial wheat line, developed from a cross between winter common wheat and Thinopyrum ponticum. Identified using 16S rDNA sequencing, these bacteria were assessed for plant growth-promoting traits such as indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores and ACC-deaminase acid production, biofilm formation, and the ability to solubilize phosphate and proteins.

A New Culture Medium Rich in Phenols Used for Screening Bitter Degrading Strains of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Employ in Table Olive Production.

The olive oil industry recently introduced a novel multi-phase decanter with the "Leopard DMF" series, which gives a by-product called pâté, made up of pulp and olive wastewater with a high content of phenolic substances and without pits. This study aims to create a new culture medium, the Olive Juice Broth (OJB), from DMF pâté, and apply it to select bacteria strains able to survive and degrade the bitter substances normally present in the olive fruit. Thirty-five different bacterial strains of from the CREA-IT.

Monitoring vegetable dehydration process by aquaphotomics from lab scale to farm.

Solar dehydration processes, implemented with NIR sensors, were studied. The research plan was divided into phases to achieve specific objectives. Phase 1: laboratory tests on micro plants; phase 2: scale transposition tests on small-sized plants - pilot scale; phase 3: tests on commercial systems already in use by Italian SMEs.

Corrigendum: Characterization of Triticum turgidum sspp. durum, turanicum and polonicum grown in Central Italy in relation to technological and nutritional aspects.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.

Sewage sludge amendment of rice as a potential alternative to mineral fertilizer: Analyses of physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms of plant response.

Sewage sludge (SS) disposal poses environmental concerns, yet its organic matter, macro- and micronutrients, make it potentially beneficial for enhancing soil quality and crop yield. This study focuses on three types of SS: "R10" (SS1), which is commonly used in agricultural practices, and two environmentally friendlier options (SS2 and SS3), as alternatives to mineral fertilizer (urea) for rice cultivation. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the ecophysiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of rice at three different growth stages.

Enhances Hook. f Growth and Flowering in Different Growing Media.

spp. are widely reported to regulate plant growth by improving nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and abiotic stress tolerance. However, their possible application for bedding plants is little explored, especially when comparing different growing media.

Phytotoxic Ozone Dose-Response Relationships for Durum Wheat (, Desf.).

Ozone (O) pollution poses a significant threat to global crop productivity, particularly for wheat, one of the most important staple foods. While bread wheat () is unequivocally considered highly sensitive to O, durum wheat () was often found to be more tolerant. This study investigated the O dose-response relationships for durum wheat in the Mediterranean region, focusing mainly on grain yield losses, and utilizing the phytotoxic ozone dose (POD) metric to describe the intensity of the stressor.

Study on the suitability of life cycle assessment for the estimation of donkey milk environmental impact.

In the last decades, western Countries increased their interest in innovative products like donkey milk and other activities carried out with donkeys (onotherapy, onotourism). Donkey milk is considered a high-added-value food and is very similar to human breast milk. It is also used as an ingredient in cosmetics.

A Study of the Toxic Effect of Plant Extracts against (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae).

The meadow spittlebug (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is distributed in several habitats worldwide and has been recently recognized as the main vector of subsp. . This bacterium has been associated with olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) in the Salento Peninsula (Italy) and is responsible for extensive desiccation and die-off of olive trees.

Characterization of sspp. , , and grown in Central Italy in relation to technological and nutritional aspects.

Introduction: Wheat is a staple food, with the two most common species being and ssp. Moreover, the latter, , includes other tetraploid subspecies, among which the sspp. (Khorasan wheat) and (Polish wheat), whose importance has increased in the last decades, representing alternative crops for marginal areas, in addition to being a source of genetic diversity.

Increased Cattle Feeding Precision from Automatic Feeding Systems: Considerations on Technology Spread and Farm Level Perceived Advantages in Italy.

Automation reduces the impact of farming on climate change and helps farmers adapt to its financial impact. Automatic feeding systems (AFSs) increase the ruminant's feeding precision and ease operators' workload. Such systems exist on a spectrum, requiring varied levels of operator support and installation complexity.

Sustainability Perception of Italian Consumers: Is it Possible to Replace Meat, and What Is the Best Alternative?

Growing worldwide food demand with its environmental impacts requires a reshaping of food consumption. This study aims to evaluate the degree of Italian consumers' awareness of sustainability and whether protein alternatives to meat could be accepted. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a group of 815 respondents, representative of the Italian adult population for geography, gender, and age, using multivariate analysis together with cluster analysis.