Search Results (26)

Mesotrione is a triketone herbicide widely used for weed control in maize (Zea mays L.). In a bioassay conducted under controlled conditions, the simulated residual effects of mesotrione on leafy vegetables, including chard, lettuce, spinach, and endive were evaluated. The herbicide was applied at nine concentrations (0–240 µg a.i./kg soil), with the highest corresponding to the recommended field application rate. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to describe the relationship between morphological (shoot fresh weight) and physiological (pigment content) parameters as a function of herbicide dose. Shoot fresh weight was a more sensitive parameter than pigment content with mean EC₅₀ ± SE values of 23.9 ± 3.5 (chard), 34.3 ± 7.7 (lettuce), 13.2 ± 2.4 (spinach), and 990.3 ± 3921.5 (endive) µg a.i./kg soil, indicating that spinach is the most sensitive and endive the most tolerant species. A mesotrione residue level equivalent to EC₂₀ for shoot fresh weight corresponds to approximately 2, 4, 6, and 29% of the recommended application rate of mesotrione at which spinach, chard, lettuce, and endive (respectively) can be safely sown. Therefore, spinach, chard, and lettuce are not suitable substitutes for maize when the latter fails and should not be sown after silage maize. In such cases, only endive appears to be a viable alternative without the risk of crop injury. Full article

Forced endive roots (FERs) contain beneficial antioxidant compounds such as chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) and dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQAs). This study compared the extraction yields of 5-CQA and diCQAs using a biomass pressing method with various pretreatments, including pulsed electric field (PEF) and microwave (MW), against the solid–liquid extraction method (water, 90 °C, 30 min). The results indicated that the MW pretreatment achieved the highest yields, extracting 28 ± 2% of 5-CQA and 13 ± 1% of diCQAs, surpassing the solid–liquid method. Furthermore, the oxidative degradation of CQAs was studied, and it appeared that this reaction was enhanced by PEF pretreatment. An antibrowning solution (ABS) was successfully tested to reduce this oxidation and protect CQAs. An extraction process utilizing MW and PEF pretreatments combined with an ABS solution achieved yields of 65 ± 1% for diCQAs and 80 ± 5% for 5-CQA, significantly outperforming the solid–liquid extraction method. Full article

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L., 2n = 18), belonging to the Asteraceae family, exhibits significant edible, medicinal, and pasture values. Moderate research has been performed on identifying Chicory species’ chromosomes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and C-banding. Detailed karyotype comparisons with chromosome nomenclature have not yet been performed for Chicory and similar species. In this study, the tandem repeats (TRs) were predicted and mapped to chromosomal regions based on released C. intybus L. ASM2352571 genome assembly v1, and then compared to the genome of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Nine new oligo probes were then developed and employed for karyotypic investigation of endive, Lettuce, and Chicory mitotic metaphase using non-denaturing FISH (ND-FISH). By combining the conserved oligo probes for 5S rDNA and 18S rDNA with the unique ND-FISH signals of new TR-oligo probes, we can develop a high-resolution standard karyotype for the cultivars of Lettuce and Chicory. The occurrence of chromosome structure variations from the natural population of Chicory and Lettuce was also revealed by ND-FISH with multiple oligo probes. The current observation of the karyotype differences and divergences of Lactuca and Cichorium and the genomic research offers crucial information about the Asteraceae family’s genetic diversity, chromosomal dynamics, and evolutionary routes. Full article

Against the backdrop of climate change, soil loss, and water scarcity, sustainable food production is a pivotal challenge for humanity. As the global population grows and urbanization intensifies, innovative agricultural methods are crucial to meet rising food demand, while mitigating environmental degradation. Hydroponic and aquaponic systems, has emerged as one of these solutions by minimizing land use, reducing water consumption, and enabling year-round crop production in urban areas. This study aimed at assessing the yield, ecophysiological performance, and nutritional content of Lactuca sativa L. and Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum grown in hydroponic and aquaponic floating raft systems, with Oreochromis niloticus L. integrated into the aquaponic system. Both species exhibited higher fresh biomass and canopy/root ratios in hydroponics compared to aquaponics. Additionally, hydroponics increased the leaf number in curly endive by 18%. Ecophysiological parameters, such as the leaf net photosynthesis rate, actual yield of PSII, and linear electron transport rate, were also higher in hydroponics for both species. However, the nutritional profiles varied between the two cultivation systems and between the two species. Given that standard fish feed often lacks sufficient potassium levels for optimal plant growth, potassium supplementation could be a viable strategy to enhance plant development in aquaponic systems. In conclusion, although aquaponic systems may demonstrate lower productivity compared to hydroponics, they offer a more sustainable and potentially healthier product with fewer harmful compounds due to the reduced use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and the absence of chemical residue accumulation. However, careful system management and monitoring are crucial to minimize potential contaminants. Full article

Current food production methods and consumption behaviours are unsustainable and contribute to environmental harm. One example is food waste—around 38% of food produced is wasted each year. Here, we show that two common food waste products, wheat bran and brewer’s spent grain, can successfully be upcycled via miso fermentation. During the fermentation process, kokumi γ-glutamyl peptides, known to increase mouthfulness, are produced; these include γ-ECG (oxidized), γ-EVG, γ-EV, γ-EE, γ-EF, and γ-EL. The profiles of kokumi peptides and volatile aroma compounds are correlated with koji substrate, pH, and enzymatic activity, offering straightforward parameters that can be manipulated to increase the abundance of kokumi peptides during the fermentation process. Correlation analysis demonstrates that some volatile aroma compounds, such as fatty acid ethyl esters, are correlated with kokumi peptide abundance and may be responsible for fatty, greasy, and buttery aromas. Consumer sensory analysis conveys that the bitter taste of vegetables, such as that in endives, can be dampened when miso extract containing kokumi peptides is added. This suggests that kokumi peptides, along with aroma volatile compounds, can enhance the overall flavour of plant-based products. This study opens new opportunities for cereal processing by-product upcycling via fermentation, ultimately having the potential to promote a plant-based diet. Full article

The chloroplast (cp) genome diversity has been used in phylogeny studies, breeding, and variety protection, and its expression has been shown to play a role in stress response. Smooth- and curly-leafed endives (Cichorium endivia var. latifolium and var. crispum) are of nutritional and economic importance and are the target of ever-changing breeding programmes. A reference cp genome sequence was assembled and annotated (cultivar ‘Confiance’), which was 152,809 base pairs long, organized into the angiosperm-typical quadripartite structure, harboring two inverted repeats separated by the large- and short- single copy regions. The annotation included 136 genes, 90 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer, and 8 ribosomal RNAs and the sequence generated a distinct phyletic group within Asteraceae with the well-separated C. endivia and intybus species. SSR variants within the reference genome were mostly of tri-nucleotide type, and the cytosine to uracil (C/U) RNA editing recurred. The cp genome was nearly fully transcribed, hence sequence polymorphism was investigated by RNA-Seq of seven cultivars, and the SNP number was higher in smooth- than curly-leafed ones. All cultivars maintained C/U changes in identical positions, suggesting that RNA editing patterns were conserved; most cultivars shared SNPs of moderate impact on protein changes in the ndhD, ndhA, and psbF genes, suggesting that their variability may have a potential role in adaptive response. The cp transcriptome expression was investigated in leaves of plants affected by pre-harvest rainfall and rainfall excess plus waterlogging events characterized by production loss, compared to those of a cycle not affected by extreme rainfall. Overall, the analyses evidenced stress- and cultivar-specific responses, and further revealed that genes of the Cytochrome b6/f, and PSI-PSII systems were commonly affected and likely to be among major targets of extreme rain-related stress. Full article

Chicory, a horticultural crop cultivated worldwide, presents many botanical varieties and local biotypes. Among these, cultivars of the Italian radicchio group of the pure species Cichorium intybus L. and its interspecific hybrids with Cichorium endivia L.—as the “Red of Chioggia” biotype—includes several phenotypes. This study uses a pipeline to address the marker-assisted breeding of F1 hybrids: it presents the genotyping-by-sequencing results of four elite inbred lines using a RADseq approach and an original molecular assay based on CAPS markers for screening mutants with nuclear male sterility in the radicchio of Chioggia. A total of 2953 SNP-carrying RADtags were identified and used to compute the actual estimates of homozygosity and overall genetic similarity and uniformity of the populations, as well as to determine their genetic distinctiveness and differentiation. Molecular data were further used to investigate the genomic distribution of the RADtags among the two Cichorium species, allowing their mapping in 1131 and 1071 coding sequences in chicory and endive, respectively. Paralleling this, an assay to screen the genotype at the male sterility locus Cims-1 was developed to discriminate wild-type and mutant alleles of the causative gene myb80-like. Moreover, a RADtag mapped close to this genomic region proved the potential application of this method for future marker-assisted selection tools. Finally, after combining the genotype information of the core collection, the best 10 individuals from each inbred line were selected to compute the observed genetic similarity as a measure of uniformity as well as the expected homozygosity and heterozygosity estimates scorable by the putative progenies derived from selfing (pollen parent) and full-sibling (seed parent) or pair-wise crossing (F1 hybrids). This predictive approach was conducted as a pilot study to understand the potential application of RADseq in the fine tuning of molecular marker-assisted breeding strategies aimed at the development of inbred lines and F1 hybrids in leaf chicory. Full article

In recent decades, people have blindly pursued increased yield; the excessive use of fertilizer not only causes the widespread waste of resources but also puts great pressure on environmental protection. In this study, to find out the optimum nitrogen application to endive crops under hydroponic conditions, this experiment was conducted to investigate the changes in nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities under different nitrogen supply levels, and to fit the equations between nitrogen supply levels and aboveground dry matter accumulation, the aboveground nitrogen accumulation, and the yield of endive crops. The results showed that the activities of the key enzymes of nitrogen metabolism were higher at nitrogen supply concentrations of 8 and 11 mmol·L⁻¹. The dry matter and nitrogen accumulation of endive at different nitrogen supply levels were analyzed with the logistic model; the theoretical yield was found to be the highest at 9.935~11.448 mmol·L⁻¹ of nitrogen application in the two different fertility trials by function fitting. Full article

Forced chicory roots (FCR) are the main but also the least valued by-products of Belgian endive culture. However, they contain molecules of interest for industry such as caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs). This study aims to investigate accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) as a green technique to recover chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA), the main CQAs. A D-optimal design was used to determine the influence of temperature and ethanol percentage on their extraction. Optimal extraction conditions were determined using response surface methodology (RSM) and allow the recovery of 4.95 ± 0.48 mg/g_DM of 5-CQA at 107 °C, 46% of ethanol and 5.41 ± 0.79 mg/g_DM of 3,5-diCQA at 95 °C, 57% of ethanol. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was also optimized by RSM. The highest antioxidant activity was achieved at 115 °C with 40% ethanol (more than 22mgTrolox/g_DM). Finally, correlation between the antioxidant activity and the amount of CQAs was determined. FCR can be a great source of bioactive compounds with potential use as biobased antioxidant. Full article

Nutrition is a major contributing factor to immunocompetence. Bio-fortification is a feasible strategy from an environmental and economical point of view. It is considered the perfect strategy to combat human mineral malnourishment. Bio-fortified foods can be efficiently assimilated by humans. However, relevant information on the effect of an implemented diet with bio-fortified leafy vegetables on hematological and chemical parameters is scarce. Vegetables are particularly rich sources of micronutrients and phytochemicals, such as polyphenols and vitamins. Lettuce is considered to be a frequently consumed salad vegetable that is rich in phytonutrients. The concentration of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in lettuce may depend on variation and species, but they may also vary within the same species. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effects of bio-fortified lettuce with iodine on hematological parameters and in general, on whole-body homeostasis and specifically on iodine, glucose, lipid, hepatic, iron metabolism. A cohort of ten people was supplemented with curly endive leaf bio-fortified for 12 days. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (T0) and after 12 days (T2) of supplementation with curly endive leaf and were analyzed for hematochemical parameters. The results showed that curly endive bio-fortification improved whole-body homeostasis in healthy people. The measurement, after the consumption for 12 days with iodine bio-fortified curly endive crops, revealed an increase in iodine concentration in the urine samples and an increase in vitamin D, calcium and potassium concentrations in the blood samples. The intake of bio-fortified lettuce did not alter the blood-chemical parameters and the increased vitamin D levels suggested that bio-fortification with iodine could have an immunomodulatory function. Full article

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L., 2n = 2x = 18) is naturalized and grows wild in many parts of Europe, South and Central Asia and N. Africa; moreover, this plant is an important leafy vegetable cultivated worldwide. In Italy, this horticultural crop is known as radicchio, and different biotypes of this crop are cultivated, especially in the north-eastern part of the Italian Peninsula. Known to be introduced in and cultivated since the 17th century in the Venice area, the original biotype, still cultivated and named “Late Red of Treviso”, differentiated over the centuries, and it was also hybridized with endive (C. endivia), giving origin to many other biotypes. Several studies, based on morphological characterizations and historical reports, describe the relationships between the most popular cultivated local varieties of this species, but this work, focused on the use of molecular marker information obtained through DNA fingerprinting, presents validations and new insights into the genetic relatedness and diversity of these biotypes. By means of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers, this study provides insights into the genetic relationship that intercourses among the five most important local biotypes historically cultivated in the Veneto region, which is also the geographic centre of differentiation of this cultivated leafy vegetable. Through the construction of a maximum-likelihood dendrogram and the reconstruction of the genetic structure of a core collection, consisting of 652 samples belonging to five biotypes of radicchio divided into 22 old farmer populations, original data on their genetic origin, distinctiveness, relatedness and differentiation are reported and discussed. Full article

When minimally processed vegetables reach their expiration date, expose an increased microbial load. This includes mainly spoilage microorganisms but also foodborne pathogens, thus affecting the quality and safety of highly consumed ready-to-eat salads. A total of 144 ready-to-eat salads from the Cypriot market were analyzed in an attempt to determine the effects of the expiration date on the microbial load and plant metabolic variables of the salads. Possible correlations between them were also investigated for the first time. Furthermore, the impacts of the season (winter, summer), salad producing companies and type of salad and/or their interactions with the tested parameters were investigated. Results revealed that the microbial load (mainly spoilage microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas spp., yeasts and molds) increased towards the end of the shelf life. The microbial load was differentiated among the five salad producers and/or the salad types, highlighting the importance of a common and safe sanitation-processing chain in the preparation of ready-to-eat salads. Summer was the season in which Escherichia coli counts were found to be higher for plain lettuce, while Staphylococcus spp. was increased numbers for the lettuce+endive/radicchio, lettuce+rocket and lettuce+chives type of salads. Additionally, an increased Staphylococcus spp. was observed for plain rocket salads in winter. All samples examined were found negative for Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, carbon dioxide production and damage indexes (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) increased on expiration date on both winter and summer seasons, indicating plant tissue stress at the end of shelf life. These findings indicate that the expiration date and relevant shelf life of processed vegetables are important parameters to be considered when postharvest management is applied to these products, ensuring safety and quality. Full article

Human iodine (I) shortage disorders are documented as an imperative world-wide health issue for a great number of people. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends I consumption through ingestion of seafood and biofortified food such as vegetables. The current work was carried out to appraise the effects of different I concentrations (0, 50, 250, and 500 mg L⁻¹), supplied via foliar spray on curly endive grown in the fall or spring–summer season. Head fresh weight, stem diameter, head height, and soluble solid content (SSC) were negatively correlated to I dosage. The highest head dry matter content was recorded in plants supplied with 250 mg I L⁻¹, both in the fall and spring–summer season, and in those cultivated in the fall season and supplied with 50 mg I L⁻¹. The highest ascorbic acid concentration was recorded in plants cultivated in the spring–summer season and biofortified with the highest I dosage. The highest fructose and glucose concentrations in leaf tissues were obtained in plants cultivated in the spring–summer season and treated with 250 mg I L⁻¹. Plants sprayed with 250 mg I L⁻¹ and cultivated in the fall season had the highest I leaf concentration. Overall, our results evidently suggested that an I application of 250 mg L⁻¹ in both growing seasons effectively enhanced plant quality and functional parameters in curly endive plants. Full article

A two-year study was conducted in both spring-summer and fall seasons to evaluate calcium cyanamide (CaCN₂) as an alternative nitrogen (N) source for curly endive (Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum) grown in a Mediterranean environment. Four types of N applications were administered: (i) pre-transplanting base application of 100 kg N ha⁻¹ corresponding to 100% of the supplied N (100_CC), (ii) pre-transplanting base application of 50 kg N ha⁻¹ corresponding to 50% of the supplied N (50_CC) complemented with 50 kg N ha⁻¹ as ammonium nitrate (50_AN) supplied through fertigation, (iii) standard application of 100 kg N ha⁻¹ as ammonium nitrate (100_AN) supplied entirely through fertigation, and (iv) a N-deprived control (0 kg N ha⁻¹) used as base reference to calculate the N use efficiency indices (NUE). Fall season increased head fresh weight, head height, stem diameter and plant visual quality, compared with the spring-summer season. The CaCN₂ and standard fertigation N applications were equally effective in increasing head fresh weight and other physical parameters such as, head height, stem diameter, visual quality, number of leaves and head dry matter when compared to the unfertilized control. However, in spring-summer season, CaCN₂, especially when applied straight at 100 kg N ha⁻¹, effectively increased ascorbic acid and total phenolic content, whereas, in fall season, an increase in TSS and ascorbic acid was recorded. In both, spring-summer and fall seasons, CaCN₂ significantly decreased N content and nitrogen accumulation (N_acc). Furthermore, CaCN₂ pre-transplant application improved NUE indices both in terms of N fertilizer recovery efficiency and in terms of physiological efficiency of applied N. Our results finally demonstrated that NUE indices increased in the fall season as compared to the spring-summer season. Full article

Tipburn is an important disorder caused by a calcium deficiency that affects the marketability of endives. Genotype, air relative humidity, and temperature are directly involved in tipburn occurrence. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of cropping systems and relative humidity on the marketable yield, nitrate accumulation, and incidence of tipburn in endives. Two cultivars were evaluated in pots (‘Cuartana’ and ‘Natacha’), two cropping systems (greenhouse and open-field), and in two different air humidity levels (high level: plants under a plastic tunnel with an extra supply of humidity with micro-sprinklers, and low level: plants without an extra supply of humidity and outside of a plastic tunnel) during two years (2013 and 2014) in different growing seasons. Nitrate content was determined by reflectometry, and tipburn was evaluated using a qualitative scale. Results showed that tipburn was favored under greenhouse with low humidity levels, with 40–60% plants affected. ‘Natacha’ was more susceptible to tipburn (>20% plants affected) than ‘Cuartana’ (<20% plants affected). Leaf nitrate accumulation was favored by the highest temperatures (greenhouse). It is concluded that in our conditions, tipburn incidence in endives depends on the interaction of genotype and the environmental conditions. Nitrate content was more influenced by the temperature than by the cultivars used. Full article