Evaluation of Meat Quality of Local Pigeon Varieties in China.

To evaluate the germplasm characteristics and nutritional value of Chinese native pigeon varieties, this study analyzed the nutrient composition of the meat of four Chinese native pigeon varieties and then compared them with those of the White King pigeon, which is the most commonly used in China. A total of 150 pigeons aged 28 d (squabs) of 5 breeds including Taihu pigeon, Shiqi pigeon, Ta-rim pigeon, Boot pigeon, and White King pigeon were selected for slaughter. The basic meat quality parameters and contents of conventional nutritional compositions, inosine acid, amino acids, and fatty acids were measured. The results showed that there were significant differences in flesh color (L*, b*), pH, and water loss rate of different breeds of suckling pigeons (p < 0.05). Compared with White King pigeons, four local breeds had dark breast meat and a low water loss rate. The protein contents of Taihu, Tarim, and Shiqi suckling pigeons were significantly higher than those of White King pigeons (p < 0.05). Taihu pigeons had the highest protein content, reaching 22.72%. The inosinic acid content of Tarim pigeons was the highest (1.31 mg/g) and was significantly higher than that of Shiqi pigeons, Boot pigeons, and White King pigeons (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the content of amino acids, the ratio of essential amino acids, and the ratio of umami amino acids in the meat of different breeds of pigeons (p > 0.05). The percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in the breast muscle of local breeding pigeons was significantly lower than that of White King pigeons (p < 0.05), and the percentages of lauric acid, palmitic acid, eicosanoic acid, and behenic acid in SFAs reached significant levels (p < 0.05). The content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the meat of Taihu pigeons was significantly higher than that in other breeds. In conclusion, compared with the White King pigeon, the meat of local breed pigeons (Taihu pigeon, Shiqi pigeon, Tarim pigeon, and Boot pigeon) had dark flesh, good water retention, high protein and inosine contents, a high proportion of essential amino acids, and a low saturated fatty acid ratio. In addition, Taihu pigeons had the highest protein content (22.72%), monounsaturated fatty acids (44.58%), and EPA (0.47%) compared to other breeds.

Farmers' knowledge on cultivation, utilization and conservation practices of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in three selected districts in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Farmers' knowledge has a role in maintaining barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genetic resource, which plays an important role in food security, and provides socio-cultural value to the Ethiopian farmers. However, farmers' knowledge has been ignored in the decision-making process in Misha, Gumer, and Hetosa districts, Ethiopia. METHODS: In this study, a semi-structured interview guide was used to carry out comprehensive house-to-house interviews with 357 purposively selected farmers to document their knowledge of barley cultivation, utilization and conservation practices. RESULTS: The majority of farmers (57.1%) grow barley on 0.5-0.75 hectares. Farmers identified and described 68 barley varieties with various local names, which were given to barley based on different characteristics such as plant height, spikelet length, row type, seed size and color, yield, place of origin, and use-values. Farmers are familiar with the nature, characteristics, end-uses, and preparation of different well-appreciated local meals and drinks. Farmers noticed that the number of barley local varieties has been decreasing in recent years. Introduction of improved varieties was perceived by all farmers as the main cause for the decrease in the number of barley local varieties in their localities. Another factor for the reduction in local barley varieties, according to 24.2% of farmers, was soil fertility degradation. Most of the farmers (65.7%) use their own barley seeds, which they select and save for the next growing season for specific attributes. They have their own indigenous knowledge that they have acquired through experience by growing, selecting, and conserving barley for the last 20-30 years or more. CONCLUSION: The majority of farmers gave attention to commercial cultivars due to their better market value. Thus, the introduction of improved cultivars has imposed on local varieties. The indigenous knowledge that the famers acquired through experience could be considered an advantage for the conservation of barley genetic resources by using farmers' participatory approach to widen cultivation and to improve barley local varieties for future use.

Antifungal Activity and Biochemical Profiling of Exudates from Germinating Maize Nostrano di Storo Local Variety.

Plant pathogens are responsible for important damages to valuable crops causing important economic losses. Agrobiodiversity protection is crucial for the valorization of local varieties that could possess higher resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. At the beginning of germination, seeds are susceptible to pathogens attacks, thus they can release endogenous antimicrobial compounds of different natures in the spermosphere, to contrast proliferation of microorganisms. The work aimed at characterizing the maize of local variety Nostrano di Storo seed exudates secreted during the first phases of germination, to identify compounds active in the defense towards pathogens. Storo seed exudates were proven to inhibit F. verticilloides germination. In order to investigate the cause of the described effect, compositional profiling of the exudates was performed through NMR, lipidomic, and proteomic analyses. This study suggests an important role of microbial endophytic communities in the protection of the seed during the early phases of the germination process and their interplay with fatty acids released by the seeds, rather than a specific antifungal compound. The valorization of agronomically acceptable maize lines with pre-harvest enhanced resistances to pathogens contamination could lead, in the near future, to commercially available varieties potentially requiring more limited chemical protective treatments.

Genome Size Variation Assessment in Vitis vinifera L. Landraces in Ibiza and Formentera (Balearic Islands).

Plant genome size has many applications in different biological fields including ecology and plant breeding. The 2C value for Vitis vinifera L. has not been widely studied; furthermore, to date, no data from local landraces in the Pityusic Islands (the two smaller inhabited Balearic Islands, Ibiza, and Formentera) have been reported. This research aims to contribute to this knowledge and investigate whether there are variations between different grape landraces cultivated in Ibiza and Formentera and also among the same landraces on each island. To this end, 36 accessions of 15 cultivars and 6 landraces, identified with SSR markers, were assessed using flow cytometry. The results revealed that 2C values ranged from 1.09 pg to 1.28 pg. There were statistically significant differences in 'AG1' and 'AG2' landraces and 'Santa Magdalena', 'Garnatxa', 'Danugue', and 'Valencí tinto/Grumier' cultivars. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of the genome size content between islands. Statistically significant differences were found in accessions within 'AG2' landrace group and 'Beba' cultivar. The results presented here constitute the first-ever reported information on genome size in the genus Vitis vinifera in Pityusic, Balearic, and, in general, Spanish accessions, and they are one of the largest prospections in this field for this species anywhere. Further research should be conducted to explain the differences in nuclear DNA content found between landraces and cultivars studied here with others cultivated in different islands or countries to understand whether genome size varies in modern cultivars compared with local landraces. Additionally, it would be interesting to investigate whether there is a relationship between genome size and adaptations to diverse climatology conditions, crop management, and ripening characteristics.

Bioaccessibility of Macrominerals and Trace Elements from Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Farmers' Varieties.

Traditional farmers' varieties of tomato grown under extensive farming techniques are considered delicious and healthy foods and are preferred by local consumers. Tomatoes are an important component of a healthy diet, as they provide essential micronutrients, including minerals, which are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and wellbeing. Given the considerable dietary intake of tomatoes and the scarcity of information about the bioaccessibility of inorganic constituents in this fruit, this study was carried out to evaluate the content and bioaccessibility of minerals (macro- and microelements) in tomato farmers' varieties widely cultivated in northeastern Portugal homegardens. Among the macroelements, K stood out as the most abundant mineral in the studied varieties, followed by Mg, Ca, and Na. Regarding the microelements, while the yellow tomato had higher concentrations of Fe and Cu, the round tomato had more Zn and Mn. The in vitro bioaccessibility assessment showed that, among the macroelements, Mg was more bioaccessible than Ca and K when all the tomato varieties were considered together. Among the microelements, Cu seemed to be the most bioaccessible. Although the contribution of a 100 g serving of the studied tomato farmers' varieties to the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) of minerals is relatively low, this food could contribute to reaching these mineral requirements, as it is included in the diet of most of the population, especially in Mediterranean regions.

Genotypic and Environmental Effects on Morpho-Physiological and Agronomic Performances of a Tomato Diversity Panel in Relation to Nitrogen and Water Stress Under Organic Farming.

The agricultural scenario of the upcoming decades will face major challenges for the increased and sustainable agricultural production and the optimization of the efficiency of water and fertilizer inputs. Considering the current and foreseen water scarcity in several marginal and arid areas and the need for a more sustainable farming production, the selection and development of cultivars suitable to grow under low-input conditions is an urgent need. In this study, we assayed 42 tomato genotypes for thirty-two morpho-physiological and agronomic traits related to plant, fruit, and root characteristics under standard (control) and no-nitrogen fertilization or water deficit (30% of the amount given to non-stressed trials) treatments in two sites (environments), which corresponded to organic farms located in Italy and Spain. A broad range of variation was found for all traits, with significant differences between the applied treatments and the cultivation sites. Dissection of genotypic (G), environmental (E), and treatment (T) factors revealed that the three main factors were highly significant for many traits, although G was the main source of variation in most cases. G × E interactions were also important, while G × T and E × T were less relevant. Only fruit weight and blossom end rot were highly significant for the triple interaction (G × E × T). Reduction of water supply significantly increased the soluble solid content in both locations, whereas both nitrogen and water stress led to a general decrease in fruit weight and total yield. Despite so, several accessions exhibited better performances than the control when cultivated under stress. Among the accessions evaluated, hybrids were promising in terms of yield performance, while overall landraces and heirlooms exhibited a better quality. This suggests the possibility of exploiting both the variation within ancient varieties and the heterosis for yield of hybrids to select and breed new varieties with better adaptation to organic farming conditions, both under optimal and suboptimal conditions. The results shed light on the strategies to develop novel varieties for organic farming, giving hints into the management of inputs to adopt for a more sustainable tomato cultivation.

Variations in Grain Traits among Local Rice Varieties Collected More Than Half-Century Ago in Indochinese Countries.

More than half-century ago, local rice varieties were collected from Indochinese countries (Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam). Of these, 162 local varieties were examined for 7 grain-size traits: seed length/width/thickness, brown rice length/width/thickness, and 100-seed weight. Since these traits varied considerably, a survey of functional mutations was performed in the genes related to these traits. In total, 19 markers (12 InDel and 7 dCAPS markers) were used to investigate the mutations at 14 grain-size loci of GW2, GS2, qLGY3, GS3, GL3.1, TGW3, GS5, GW5, GS6, TGW6, GW6a, GLW7, GL7, and GW8. Significant allele effects were observed with six markers detecting base substitution mutations at GW2 and GS3 and insertion/deletion mutations at GS5, GW5, and GW6a, suggesting that these mutations might have affected the grain trait and caused variation among local varieties in the Indochinese countries. In addition to grain size, the hull color, grain color, and glutinosity were also examined using a survey of loss-of-function mutations at major responsible loci. Most phenotypes were reflected based on functional mutations at these loci. Since the local varieties have wide genetic variation, they are important genetic resources for future rice breeding.

Diversity and Relationships among Neglected Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Landraces Using Morphological Traits and SSR Markers: Implications for Agro-Biodiversity Conservation.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is an economically important tree species globally cultivated in temperate areas. Italy has an ample number of traditional varieties, but numerous landraces are abandoned and at risk of extinction because of increasing urbanization, agricultural intensification, and varietal renewal. In this work, we investigated the morphological and genetic diversity present in an ex-situ collection of 28 neglected varieties belonging to the so-called "Vesuvian apricot". Our aim was to understand the level of diversity and the possible link between the promotion of specific fruit types (e.g., by public policies) and the intraspecific variation in apricot. The combination of five continuous and seven categorical traits allowed us to phenotypically distinguish the varieties; while fruit quality-related attributes displayed high variation, both apricot size and skin colour were more uniform. The twelve fluorescent-based Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) markers identified cultivar-specific molecular profiles and revealed a high molecular diversity, which poorly correlated with that described by the morphological analysis. Our results highlighted the complementary information provided by the two sets of descriptors and that DNA markers are necessary to separate morphologically related apricot landraces. The observed morphological and genetic differences suggest a loss of diversity influenced by maintenance breeding of specific pomological traits (e.g., skin colour and size). Finally, our study provided evidence to recommend complementary strategies to avoid the loss of diversity in apricot. Actions should pivot on both the promotion of easily identified premium products and more inclusive biodiversity-centred on-farm strategies.

Molecular Hallmarks, Agronomic Performances and Seed Nutraceutical Properties to Exploit Neglected Genetic Resources of Common Beans Grown by Organic Farming in Two Contrasting Environments.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential source of food proteins and an important component of sustainable agriculture systems around the world. Thus, conserving and exploiting the genetic materials of this crop species play an important role in achieving global food safety and security through the preservation of functional and serependic opportunities afforded by plant species diversity. Our research aimed to collect and perform agronomic, morpho-phenological, molecular-genetic, and nutraceutical characterizations of common bean accessions, including lowland and mountain Venetian niche landraces (ancient farmer populations) and Italian elite lineages (old breeder selections). Molecular characterization with SSR and SNP markers grouped these accessions into two well-separated clusters that were linked to the original Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools, which was consistent with the outputs of ancestral analysis. Genetic diversity in the two main clusters was not distributed equally the Andean gene pool was found to be much more uniform than the Mesoamerican pool. Additional subdivision resulted in subclusters, supporting the existence of six varietal groups. Accessions were selected according to preliminary investigations and historical records and cultivated in two contrasting Venetian environments: sea-level and mountain territories. We found that the environment significantly affected some nutraceutical properties of the seeds, mainly protein and starch contents. The antioxidant capacity was found significantly greater at sea level for climbing accessions and in the mountains for dwarf accessions. The seed yield at sea level was halved than mountain due to a seeds reduction in weight, volume, size and density. At sea level, bean landraces tended to have extended flowering periods and shorter fresh pod periods. The seed yield was positively correlated with the length of the period during which plants had fresh pods and negatively correlated with the length of the flowering period. Thus, the agronomic performance of these genetic resources showed their strong connection and adaptation to mountainous environments. On the whole, the genetic-molecular information put together for these univocal bean entries was combined with overall results from plant and seed analyses to select and transform the best accessions into commercial varieties (i.e., pure lines) suitable for wider cultivation.

Variation for Composition and Quality in a Collection of the Resilient Mediterranean 'de penjar' Long Shelf-Life Tomato Under High and Low N Fertilization Levels.

The 'de penjar' tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a group of local varieties from the Spanish Mediterranean region carrying the alc mutation, which provides long shelf-life. Their evolution under low-input management practices has led to the selection of resilient genotypes to adverse conditions. Here we present the first evaluation on nutritional fruit composition of a collection of 44 varieties of 'de penjar' tomato under two N fertilization levels, provided by doses of manure equivalent to 162 kg N ha-1 in the high N treatment and 49 kg N ha-1 in the low N treatment. Twenty-seven fruit composition and quality traits, as well as plant yield and SPAD value, were evaluated. A large variation was observed, with lycopene being the composition trait with the highest relative range of variation (over 4-fold) under both N treatments, and significant differences among varieties were detected for all traits. While yield and most quality traits were not affected by the reduction in N fertilization, fruits from the low N treatment had, on average, higher values for hue (5.9%) and lower for fructose (-11.5%), glucose (-15.8%), and total sweetness index (-12.9%). In addition, lycopene and ß-carotene presented a strongly significant genotype × N input interaction. Local varieties had higher values than commercial varieties for traits related to the ratio of sweetness to acidity and for vitamin C, which reinforces the appreciation for their organoleptic and nutritional quality. Highest-yielding varieties under both conditions displayed wide variation in the composition and quality profiles, which may allow the selection of specific ideotypes with high quality under low N conditions. These results revealed the potential of 'de penjar' varieties as a genetic resource in breeding for low N inputs and improving the organoleptic and nutritional tomato fruit quality.

Peeling Affects the Nutritional Properties of Carrot Genotypes.

Peeling may result in changes in carrot's nutritional properties; therefore, the present study focused on its effect on the retention of principal nutrients (minerals, sugars, organic acids) and antioxidants (carotenoids and phenols) in the peeled roots of two landraces ('Carota a punta lunga'-CPL and 'Carota a punta tonda'-CPT) and a hybrid cultivar ('Presto') grown in the area of the "Salterns of Margherita di Savoia" area (Puglia region). The peel had a higher concentration of cations (+92%), organic acids (+103%), carotenoids (+42%), and phenolic acids (seven times) than root flesh. For each chemical class, the most abundant components were K, malic acid, ß-carotene, and chlorogenic acid, respectively. The two landraces stand out for the accumulation of the phenolic acids and ß-carotene, whereas the peel of 'Presto' was distinguished by the concentration of Ca and ascorbic and pyruvic acids. The root flesh had a greater accumulation of simple sugars, nitrate (mainly in CPL), oxalic acid, and in particular in the flesh of 'Presto', of Na and Cl. For local varieties, peel removal seems to impact the nutritional and antioxidative properties of carrots more consistently compared to the advanced cultivar, since it represents on average 21% and 59% of the total carotenoids and phenols, respectively, of the intact roots.

Herbal Textual Research on Local Varieties of Codonopsis Radix / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Codonopsis Radix， one of the bulk commodities， has been commonly used for tonification in clinical practice. Apart from the medicinal purpose， it can also be utilized as food. Among the multiple local varieties， the ones called "Luduiduoji" in Tibetan medicine cannot be neglected， which have frequently been adopted for diminishing inflammation and swelling， invigorating spleen and stomach， and tonifying Qi， etc. Considering its complex origins and frequent substitution by or confusion with other medicinal materials， this paper reviewed the Si Bu Yi Dian， Jingzhu Bencao， ministerial and local standards， modern literature on Tibetan medicine， and the results of field investigation in major Tibetan medicine hospitals and medicinal material markets of Sichuan， Qinghai and Tibet to figure out the name， original plants， medicinal parts， effects， and local varieties of Codonopsis Radix in Tibetan medicine. The results showed that the names of local varieties were diverse， many of which were transliterated into Tibetan， with "Luduiduoji" being most well-known. It was derived from 14 species in genus Codonopsis and one in Adenophora of family Campanulaceae， with Codonopsis foetens subsp. nervosa， C. thalictrifolia var. mollis， C. canescens， C. alpina， and C. pilosula being the main species. According to literature records， the roots， aerial parts， and whole plants could all be employed as medicine， but there were certain differences in their clinical applications. At present， in order to protect the medicinal resources， Tibetan medical workers mostly collect the aerial parts， which are applicable to patients with yellow water， rheumatism， Gamba disease， and leprosy. This literature review of local varieties for Codonopsis Radix and textual research on their original plants are of great significance for elevating the standard， accelerating the pharmacodynamic research， expanding the sources and promoting the rational use of Codonopsis Radix.

Genetic Distinctiveness Highlights the Conservation Value of a Sicilian Manna Ash Germplasm Collection Assigned to Fraxinus angustifolia (Oleaceae).

The cosmopolitan genus Fraxinus comprises about 40 species occupying several habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. With some species hybridizing and sharing genetic variants, questions remain on the species assignment of germplasm within the genus Fraxinus despite numerous species-specific assessments. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to provide a definitive insight into the genetics of an endangered Fraxinus "manna ash" collection, located in a rich plant biodiversity hotspot of the Madonie Mountains (Sicily). Although the collection size was small, genetic diversity, assessed by chloroplast (cpSSR) and nuclear (nSSR) microsatellites (SSR-Simple Sequence Repeats), allowed identifying three different chloroplast haplotypes, with one (H5) dominant, and several polymorphic loci, able to discriminate most of the local accessions studied. Molecular data were linked to cytofluorimetric and phenotypic evaluations and, contrary to popular belief that manna ash is Fraxinus ornus L., the germplasm currently used for manna production belongs to Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl. Interestingly, joint analysis of our genetic panel with a large European dataset of Fraxinus spp. suggested the presence of a possible glacial refuge in Sicily, confirming its importance as biodiversity source. Our results will be helpful for the design of long-term conservation programs for genetic resources, such as in situ and ex situ conservation, seed collection and tree reintroduction.

Evaluation of Garlic Landraces from Foggia Province (Puglia Region; Italy).

Interest in local landraces has unfortunately decreased over, the last decades, in which they have been continuously subjected to a high genetic erosion in favour of new modern varieties. Within the Puglia region (S-E Italy), Foggia province was found to be the richest in vegetable landraces. In the present study, six garlic landraces collected from this area have been assessed for their chemical composition (minerals, organic acids, free sugars, volatile, and phenolic compounds) along with their main morpho-biometrical traits. A commercial genotype was also considered as a reference standard. The landraces show a large variability, but in general high morphological standards, high levels of cations and phenols, and low levels of volatile-(S)-compounds in comparison with the commercial genotype and the literature values. 'Aglio di Peschici' and 'Aglio Rosso di Monteleone di Puglia' are very rich in minerals and phenols (mainly ferulic acid and iso-rhamnetin). This increase in knowledge on the chemical properties of these garlic landraces could represent a tool for encouraging the consumption of a food product. At the same time, the consumption of these landraces would stimulate their cultivation and could highly contribute to protection against the risk of erosion of agro-biodiversity by their in situ/on-farm conservation.

From by-Product to Unconventional Vegetable: Preliminary Evaluation of Fresh Fava Hulls Highlights Richness in L-Dopa and Low Content of Anti-Nutritional Factor.

Faba bean hulls are a by-product, generated from the processing of beans and usually disposed of as waste, utilized in some recipes of Italian traditional cuisine. In this research, a quality evaluation of faba hulls in six genotypes (four local varieties-'Cegliese', 'Iambola', 'San Francesco' and 'FV5'-and two commercial ones-'Aguadulce supersimonia' and 'Extra-early purple') of faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. major Harz) for fresh consumption grown with two plant densities (4.16 and 2.08 plants m-2) was carried out. For all the measured parameters, the statistical analysis reveals that the interaction between plant density and genotype was not significant. On the other hand, independently of the genotype, the higher the plant's density the higher was the pods' yield per unit area, while the average percentage of hulls was of 75% with little differences between genotypes. All genotypes showed a low content of vicine (12.4 mg 100 g-1 FW), a well know favism-inducing factor, and a very high phenols content (between 443 and 646 mg 100 g-1 FW) and levo-dihydroxy phenylalanine (L-dopa-on average 170 mg 100 g-1 FW), used for the treatment of patients affected by Parkinson's disease. In conclusion, this study highlights the good potential of faba hulls as unconventional vegetable, suggesting its use as a new functional food in the daily diet and also for patients with Parkinson's disease.

Morphological and Chemical Profile of Three Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Landraces of A Semi-Arid Mediterranean Environment.

Puglia (Southern Italy), particularly rich in tomato agro-biodiversity, can be considered a typical region of the semi-arid Mediterranean environments. In this study, three local varieties of tomato (Manduria, Giallo di Crispiano and Regina) were characterized by using morphological descriptors according to international standards. Chemical (isoprenoids, ascorbic acid, total phenols, sugars and mineral content) and agronomic assessment were carried out to highlight the specific traits of these local varieties well adapted to a semi-arid environment. Data of morphological traits according to the "International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants" (UPOV) guideline evidenced a clear distinctness among all three landraces, especially as regards fruits. Results also highlighted that a great part of variation in chemical traits was almost exclusively due to genotypes, while in a few cases observed differences resulted from the interaction between genotype and harvest time. The results of the present study may represent the first step toward the recognition of "conservation variety" status for Regina, Giallo di Crispiano and Manduria tomato landraces. At the same time, both quality traits and agronomic performance of these tomato genotypes suggest the possibility of their cultivation in other semi-arid environments also considering their quality traits, in view of a sustainable production.

Comparative proteomic analysis of durum wheat shoots from modern and ancient cultivars.

Durum wheat is widespread cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, where it is used to produce high-quality semolina for pasta. Although over the years local and ancient wheat cultivars have been replaced by new ones, better suited to intensive cultivation, the increasing demand of consumers for nutritional and sensory qualities, as well as their attention to sustainable agronomic practices, renewed the interest toward traditional varieties. In order to fully exploit their agronomical and nutritional potential, a systematic analysis of molecular traits would be desirable. Nowadays, this examination is greatly facilitated by the current availability of high-throughput genomic and proteomic methods, which are integrated with classical measurements on plant physiology. To this purpose, we performed a comparative study on germination performances, hormone level variations, and differential protein representations of three-days germinated shoots of two traditional wheat cultivars from Southern Italy, namely Senatore Cappelli and Saragolla, and the commercial elite variety Svevo. Two-dimensional electrophoresis- and nanoLC-ESI-LIT-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis revealed 45 differentially represented spots, which were associated with 32 non-redundant protein species grouping into storage, stress/defense and metabolism/energy production functional categories. Major differences in the traditional varieties concerned over-representation of glutenins, gamma-gliadin and some enzymes of glycolysis and TCA cycle, as well as a down-representation of proteins involved in the response to stress conditions. These features were here discussed in relation to the hormone profile and the known agronomic features of traditional varieties, as compared to the commercial one.

Recovery of a Common Bean Landrace (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for Commercial Purposes.

The "Caparrona" bean is a landrace that was grown largely in Monzón, and for that reason, it is also known by the name of "Caparrona de Monzón." Historical references mention that in the thirties of the last century, Caparrona beans reached a production higher than 200,000 kg. Nevertheless, the increasing modernization of agriculture at the end of the 20th century enhanced its replacement by newer varieties. As a result, only a few local growers continued producing Caparrona beans mainly for family use. However, in recent years, the high demand for local products, grown with environmentally friendly farming techniques, has reawakened interest in this local bean. In order to recover the Caparrona bean crop, a study was conducted with the aim of assessing this landrace, along with all the processes, from collecting seeds to securing the in situ and ex situ conservation. Six bean samples were initially collected from local farmers and the traditional knowledge was also recorded. After the first seed-borne virus test, two samples were rejected because of the positive results for Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV). The four remaining samples were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two locations. All through the growth phase of the plants, samples were taken for a virus test. Two samples tested positive for BCMV and were discarded. Between the two healthy seed samples, regarding morphology, chemical composition, and agronomic data, no significant statistical differences were found. Therefore, both samples were selected for commercial production. The seeds obtained from the assays were transferred to a recently created producers' association, which registered a private label to commercialize the Caparrona beans as a gourmet product. Seeds are also available from the Spanish BGHZ-CITA public genebank.

Genetic Characterization of the Apple Germplasm Collection in Central Italy: The Value of Local Varieties.

In the last 50 years, intensive farming systems have been boosted by modern agricultural techniques and newly bred cultivars. The massive use of few and related cultivars has dramatically reduced the apple genetic diversity of local varieties, confined to marginal areas. In Central Italy a limited spread of intensive fruit orchards has made it possible to preserve much of the local genetic diversity, but at the same time the coexistence of both modern and ancient varieties has generated some confusion. The characterization and clarification of possible synonyms, homonyms, and/or labeling errors in old local genetic resources is an issue in the conservation and management of living collections. 175 accessions provided by 10 apple collections, mainly local varieties, some of unknown origin, and well-known modern and ancient varieties, were studied by using 19 SSRs, analyzed by STRUCTURE, Ward's clustering and parentage analysis. We were able to identify 25 duplicates, 9 synonyms, and 9 homonyms. As many as 37 unknown accession were assigned to well known local or commercial varieties. Polyploids made up 20%. Some markers were found to be significantly correlated with morphological traits and the loci associated with the fruit over color were related to QTLs for resistance to biotic stresses, aroma compounds, stiffness, and acidity. In conclusion the gene pool of Central Italy seems to be rather consistent and highly differentiated compared with other European studies (F ST = 0.147). The importance of safeguarding this diversity and the impact on the management of the germplasm living collection is discussed.

Assessment of watermelon accessions for salt tolerance using stress tolerance indices / Avaliação de acessos de melancia para tolerância ao sal utilizando índices de tolerância ao estresse

ABSTRACT Salt stress is the most significant constraint for agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, genetically improved stress-tolerant varieties are needed for the future. The identification of salt-tolerant genotypes is the starting point for such breeding studies. This study was conducted to determine and assess the tolerance of different watermelon genotypes under saline conditions. Twenty-two watermelon genotypes and accessions were grown in pots with 3 kg of soil in four saline stress conditions (0 mmol kg-1 as the control, 25, 50 and 100 mmol kg-1 NaCl). The detrimental effects of salt stress on the plants were evident with increasing doses of NaCl. Stress indices calculated over the plant dry weights under the 100 mmol kg-1 salinity level were used to assess the salt tolerance of the genotypes. Stress intensity was calculated as 0.76. Such a value indicated that the highest dose of salt exerted severe stress on the plants. The G04, G14 and G21 genotypes were considered to be salt tolerant, since these genotypes showed the highest values of K/Na and Ca/Na ratios in the plant tissue. The losses in dry mass at severe salt stress reached 75.48%. In principal component analyses, the genotypes had positive correlations with stress tolerance indices of MP (mean productivity), GMP (geometric mean productivity) and STI (stress tolerance index). The GMP and STI indices indicated that G04 (a member of Citrullus colocynthis), G14 and G21 could be prominent sources to develop salt tolerance.

RESUMO O estresse salino é a restrição mais importante para a produção agrícola em regiões áridas e semi-áridas. Portanto, há necessidade de plantas geneticamente tolerantes ao estresse salino no futuro. Identificação de genótipos tolerantes ao sal é o ponto de partida de estudos de melhoramento. O presente estudo foi conduzido para determinar e avaliar a tolerância de diferentes genótipos de melancia sob condições salinas. Um total de 22 genótipos e acessos de melancia foram cultivados em vasos de 3 kg de solo com quatro condições de estresse salino diferentes (0 mmol kg-1 como controle, 25, 50 e 100 mmol kg-1 de NaCl). Dependendo do aumento da dose de NaCl, os efeitos prejudiciais do estresse salino nas plantas também aumentaram. Os índices de estresse calculados sobre os pesos secos das plantas com um nível de salinidade de 100 mmol kg-1 foram utilizados para avaliar a tolerância ao sal dos genótipos. A intensidade de tensão foi calculada como 0.76. Indicando que a maior dose de sal exerce um estresse salino grave nas plantas. Os genótipos G04, G14 e G21 foram considerados tolerantes, uma vez que apresentaram os maiores valores nas relações K/Na e Ca/Na. As perdas em pesos secos com estresse salino grave atingiram 75.48%. Na análise de componentes principais, os genótipos tiveram correlações positivas com os índices de tolerância ao estresse de PM (produtividade média), GMP (produtividade média geométrica) e STI (índice de tolerância ao estresse).Os índices GMP e STI indicaram G04 (um membro de C. colocynthis), G14 e G21 como materiais proeminentes para a tolerância ao sal.