Phenolics and polyphenolics in foods, beverages and spices: Antioxidant activity and health effects – A review

Conducting polymers in chemical sensors and arrays

Early and accurate detection and diagnosis of plant diseases are key factors in plant production and the reduction of both qualitative and quantitative losses in crop yield. Optical techniques, such as RGB imaging, multi- and hyperspectral sensors, thermography, or chlorophyll fluorescence, have proven their potential in automated, objective, and reproducible detection systems for the identification and quantification of plant diseases at early time points in epidemics. Recently, 3D scanning has also been added as an optical analysis that supplies additional information on crop plant vitality. Different platforms from proximal to remote sensing are available for multiscale monitoring of single crop organs or entire fields. Accurate and reliable detection of diseases is facilitated by highly sophisticated and innovative methods of data analysis that lead to new insights derived from sensor data for complex plant-pathogen systems. Nondestructive, sensor-based methods support and expand upon visual and/or molecular approaches to plant disease assessment. The most relevant areas of application of sensor-based analyses are precision agriculture and plant phenotyping.

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-03-15-0340-FE

Plant Disease Detection by Imaging Sensors - Parallels and Specific Demands for Precision Agriculture and Plant Phenotyping.

Differentiation and secondary metabolism are correlated processes in fungi that respond to light. In
Aspergillus nidulans
, light inhibits sexual reproduction as well as secondary metabolism. We identified
the heterotrimeric
velvet
complex VelB/VeA/LaeA connecting light-responding developmental
regulation and control of secondary metabolism. VeA, which is primarily expressed in the dark,
physically interacts with VelB, which is expressed during sexual development. VeA bridges VelB to the
nuclear master regulator of secondary metabolism, LaeA. Deletion of either
velB
or
veA
results in
defects in both sexual fruiting-body formation and the production of secondary metabolites.

VelB/VeA/LaeA Complex CoordinatesLight Signal with Fungal Developmentand Secondary Metabolism

In recent years, hyperspectral imaging has gained a wide recognition as a non-destructive and fast quality and safety analysis and assessment method for a wide range of food products. As the second part of this review, applications in quality and safety determination for food products are presented to illustrate the capability of this technique in the food industry for classification and grading, defect and disease detection, distribution visualization of chemical attributes, and evaluations of overall quality of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and other food products. The state of the art of hyperspectral imaging for each of the categories was summarized in the aspects of the investigated quality and safety attributes, the used systems (wavelength range, acquisition mode), the data analysis methods (feature extraction, multivariate calibration, variables selection), and the performance (correlation, error, visualization). With its success in different applications of food quality and safety analysis and assessment, it is evident that hyperspectral imaging can automate a variety of routine inspection tasks. Industrial relevance It is anticipated that real-time food monitoring systems with this technique can be expected to meet the requirements of the modern industrial control and sorting systems in the near future.

/pdf/advanced-applications-of-hyperspectral-imaging-technology-4cbbcga06i.pdf

Advanced applications of hyperspectral imaging technology for food quality and safety analysis and assessment: A review — Part II: Applications

Early detection of toxigenic fungi on maize by hyperspectral imaging analysis

In this study, the evaluation of soil characteristics was coupled with a pyrosequencing analysis of the V2-V3 16S rRNA gene region in order to investigate the bacterial community structure and diversity in the A horizon of a natural saline soil located in Sicily (Italy). The main aim of the research was to assess the organisation and diversity of microbial taxa using a spatial scale that revealed physical and chemical heterogeneity of the habitat under investigation. The results provided information on the type of distribution of different bacterial groups as a function of spatial gradients of soil salinity and pH. The analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA showed differences in bacterial composition and diversity due to a variable salt concentration in the soil. The bacterial community showed a statistically significant spatial variability. Some bacterial phyla appeared spread in the whole area, whatever the salinity gradient. It emerged therefore that a patchy saline soil can not contain just a single microbial community selected to withstand extreme osmotic phenomena, but many communities that can be variously correlated to one or more environmental parameters. Sequences have been deposited to the SRA database and can be accessed on ID Project PRJNA241061.

/pdf/salinity-and-bacterial-diversity-to-what-extent-does-the-1m0sm7f5nv.pdf

Salinity and bacterial diversity: to what extent does the concentration of salt affect the bacterial community in a saline soil?

Summary

Hyphomycetous fungi – so called ‘mould’– are the most important agents of biodeterioration in museums, museums' storage rooms, in libraries, collections and restoration studios. Fungi are able to live at low water activities, they are perfectly adapted to indoor environments and thrive in microclimatic niches caused by condensation, lack of ventilation or water retention by hygroscopic materials. Fungi spoil valuable pieces of art aesthetically, mechanically, chemically and by degradation of organic components. Historical material made of paper and oil paintings with high amounts of organic binders are especially susceptible to fungal deterioration. In order to prevent fungal contamination or to treat already contaminated objects an integrated approach including climate control, material-specific cleaning and application of carefully selected biocides is necessary.

https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02584.x

The revenge of time: fungal deterioration of cultural heritage with particular reference to books, paper and parchment.

Application of molecular techniques for identification of fungal communities colonising paper material

Different kinds of soil microorganisms belonging to several taxa of the bacteria, fungi, and possibly, protozoa kingdoms, colonizing the rhizosphere or the plant tissues and promoting plant growth (PGPM), can be utilized for the production of microbial-based fertilizers (biofertilizers). However, their application in agricultural practice is still hindered by several factors. The main reasons derive from the unpredictability of results, problems to identify and track inoculated strains in the field, the poor understanding of the interrelationships between microorganisms and plants, and the technology of production. After describing in brief which microorganisms have been utilized up until now to improve plant productivity through enhanced nutrition, we mention for possible exploitation of new groups of microorganisms (e.g. non-mycorrhizal fungi). Furthermore, we review the factors affecting the efficacy of biofertilizers on crop productivity, from the point of view of the farmers, who appraise their application on the base of their efficacy. In particular, we consider the factors related to the production process (including quality and marketing standards), the persistence and traceability of inoculants, the relations between plant, soil conditions and microorganisms, as well as the effect of farmers’ practices (fertilization, soil management practices, application method). In conclusion, it emerges that biofertilizers could allow obtaining a crop productivity similar to that obtained with mineral fertilizers, but with a significant reduction of their use. Therefore, biofertilizers can play a key role to develop an integrated nutrient management system, sustaining agricultural productivity with low environmental impact.

Flavia Pinzari

Papers

Early detection of toxigenic fungi on maize by hyperspectral imaging analysis

Salinity and bacterial diversity: to what extent does the concentration of salt affect the bacterial community in a saline soil?

The revenge of time: fungal deterioration of cultural heritage with particular reference to books, paper and parchment.

Application of molecular techniques for identification of fungal communities colonising paper material

Efficacy of Biofertilizers: Challenges to Improve Crop Production