Article
Forestry
Ana M. Cardenas, Dafne Toledo, Patricia Gallardo, Jose Guerrero-Casado
Summary: This study assessed damage caused by Coraebus undatus and Reticulitermes grassei in managed cork oak forests in the southern Iberian Peninsula. The results showed that C. undatus has low population levels and a non-uniform distribution pattern, while R. grassei shows low infestation levels and a preference to affect the trunk's base. The two species also exhibit different locations of damage within the tree trunks, with a low co-occurrence in the same trunks.
Article
Forestry
Rita Simoes, Manuela Branco, Carla Nogueira, Carolina Carvalho, Conceicao Santos-Silva, Suzana Ferreira-Dias, Isabel Miranda, Helena Pereira
Summary: This study compared the chemical composition of the inner cork layers under low and moderate Coronaebus undatus attack, finding similar total extractives with a high proportion of polar compounds. The chemical composition of the lipophilic extractives in infested and uninfested trees was the same, with triterpenes as the most abundant family. The hydrophilic extractives differed in the levels of phenolic compounds.
Article
Forestry
Rita Simoes, Isabel Miranda, Helena Pereira
Summary: The cuticular wax content and chemical composition of Quercus suber L. leaves show seasonal variation, with an increase in wax content as the leaves mature. Triterpenoids are the dominant compound, particularly lupeol. The increase in cyclic-to-acyclic component ratio after summer indicates extensive deposition of intracuticular waxes, contributing to the mechanical and thermal stability and water barrier properties of the mature leaf cuticle.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rita Simoes, Isabel Miranda, Helena Pereira
Summary: The content and composition of cutin in cork oak leaves showed no significant differences among six provenances with different seed geographical origins, indicating a highly adaptive phenotypic plasticity. Cutin in cork oak leaves is primarily composed of long-chain aliphatic omega-hydroxy fatty acids, fatty acids, and alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acids. Despite overall chemical similarity, cutin and suberin in cork oak differ in the proportion of major chemical families.
Article
Entomology
Enoc Gomez-Escobar, David Alavez-Rosas, David Castellanos, Luis Quintero-Fong, Pablo Liedo, Edi A. Malo
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the release rates and chemical composition of three lures for Ceratitis capitata, and analyze their efficacy at different elevations and seasons. The results showed that the release rates of the lures varied at different elevations and seasons, and the chemical composition also changed with time and season.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Diana Rocha, Tarsila G. Castro, Jennifer Noro, Vania I. B. Castro, Marta A. Teixeira, Rui L. Reis, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: The use of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) in the extraction of bioactive components from cork leads to higher yields and extracts with excellent biological properties. The composition of the eutectic mixtures affects the composition of the extracts.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuri Aratani, Takuya Uemura, Takuma Hagihara, Kenji Matsui, Masatsugu Toyota
Summary: Plants can perceive and respond to volatile organic compounds released by neighboring plants to protect themselves from environmental threats. An increase in cytosolic calcium ion concentration plays a crucial role in this perception and response process in Arabidopsis leaves.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Moena Tanaka, Takao Koeduka, Kenji Matsui
Summary: Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) are six-carbon volatile aldehydes, alcohols, and esters formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids, involved in plant defense. GLVs are quickly activated in plant tissues by mechanical damage. Monilophytes and lycophytes show substantial GLV-burst ability, while bryophytes have limited capability.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Ana Rita Leal, Helena Sapeta, Tom Beeckman, Pedro M. Barros, M. Margarida Oliveira
Summary: This study reveals the potential of cork oak taproots as a model system for studying phellem development and suberization, and identifies the molecular regulation of secondary development and suberization in cork oak roots. The provided morphological characterization creates new opportunities for faster assessment of phellogen activity and addressing fundamental questions.
Article
Forestry
Filipe Campelo, Alvaro Rubio-Cuadrado, Fernando Montes, Michele Colangelo, Cristina Valeriano, J. Julio Camarero
Summary: This study investigates the effects of different leaf and xylem traits on wood formation and tree-ring development in coexisting tree species in a Mediterranean forest. The simulations show that climate warming will result in reduced growth in both deciduous and evergreen oaks, with evergreen oaks being better able to recover after drought.
Review
Plant Sciences
Kenji Matsui, Jurgen Engelberth
Summary: Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) are volatile compounds ubiquitous in vascular plants that are rapidly synthesized in response to stress and play an important role as mediators between plants and interacting organisms. GLVs can directly deter or attract organisms that interact with plants, while also enhancing the defense mechanisms of other plants through a process called priming. Although the individual effects of GLVs may be small, the cumulative effects of their multiple functions can substantially benefit plants.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Maria Socorro Serrano, Francisco Jose Perez, Lorena Gomez-Aparicio
Summary: The study investigated the interactive effects of climate change and pathogen infection on Mediterranean mixed oak forests. Results showed that the impact of the pathogen was more significant than climate factors, with some tree species exhibiting resistance to multiple stressors. Overall, the adaptability of the pathogen to changing climatic conditions in the region was highlighted.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Caballol, Dora Straus, Hector Macia, Xavier Ramis, Miguel A. Redondo, Jonas Oliva
Summary: The study found that Halophytophthora fluviatilis is mainly distributed in forest streams under warm and dry climates, and does not pose a significant threat to the most common Mediterranean broadleaved trees.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jurgen Engelberth, Marie Engelberth
Summary: This study investigates the effects of plant developmental stages on the production of aldehyde GLV and finds that the capacity to produce these compounds strongly depends on the growth stage of the plant. Significant differences in quantity and quality of these compounds are found not only in leaves from different developmental stages but also within different areas of the same leaf.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elaine G. Mission, Maria Jose Cocero
Summary: This study presents a novel and scalable approach for accessing suberin from cork by proposing ultrafast supercritical hydrolysis. The study highlights the importance of obtaining high-quality and highly functionalized biopolymers as a source of new building blocks. The research contributes to the development of a sustainable process for extracting valuable molecules from cork.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mikel A. Gonzalez, Krishna K. Bandi, Melissa J. Bell, Reginaldo P. Brazil, Erin Dilger, Angel Guerrero, Orin Courtenay, James G. C. Hamilton
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2017)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angel Guerrero
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2018)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Angel Guerrero, Victoria Elena Ramos, Sergio Lopez, Jose Maria Alvarez, Aroa Dominguez, Maria Milagro Coca-Abia, Maria Pilar Bosch, Carmen Quero
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Sole, M. Monge, M. Andre, C. Quero
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Entomology
Aroa Dominguez, Sergio Lopez, Ana Bernabe, Angel Guerrero, Carmen Quero
Article
Biology
Andrej Meglic, Marko Ilic, Carmen Quero, Kentaro Arikawa, Gregor Belusic
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio Lopez, Aroa Dominguez, Angel Guerrero, Carmen Quero
Summary: Plant essential oils, especially thyme oil and its major constituent thymol, were evaluated for their potential as disruptants of pheromone-mediated communication and mating behavior in major pest moths. Results showed that both thyme oil and thymol altered antennal response in males and interrupted pheromone-mediated attraction, indicating their potential as pest control tools. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms and effects of thyme oil and thymol on mating disruption in these species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Awater-Salendo, Dagmar Voigt, Monika Hilker, Benjamin Furstenau
Summary: Parasitic wasps rely on host-associated chemical cues for successful host search. The study showed that the loss of kairomonal activity in host trails is not due to changes in chemical trail composition induced by microbial activity. The long-chain CHCs of a host trail gradually solidify through a self-assembling process, reducing the accessibility of CHCs to parasitoids' receptors and leading to a loss of trail-following behavior.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Entomology
Syed Arif Hussain Rizvi, Justin George, Gadi V. P. Reddy, Xinnian Zeng, Angel Guerrero
Summary: Insect pheromones, particularly sex pheromones, have been highly successful in controlling low density pest populations and reducing pest populations with minimal impact on their natural enemies. Mass trapping and mating disruption strategies using sex pheromones have significantly decreased the use of conventional insecticides, providing sustainable and eco-friendly pest management in agricultural crops. Recent interdisciplinary research has greatly advanced our understanding of pheromone perception mechanisms and their practical applications in agricultural pest management.
Article
Entomology
M. A. Gonzalez, D. Bravo-Barriga, P. M. Alarcon-Elbal, J. M. Alvarez-Calero, C. Quero, M. Ferraguti, S. Lopez
Summary: Through field experiments, we found that Phortica variegata flies have preferences for temperature, predation methods, and attractants, with yellow traps being less effective than black and transparent traps. All males analyzed showed negative results for the presence of Thelazia callipaeda larvae.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Sergio Lopez, Jose Maria Alvarez-Calero, Josep Maria Riba-Flinch, Maria Milagro Coca-Abia, Antoni Torrell, Carmen Quero
Summary: The research identified a compound released by the flathead oak borer that is attractive to both sexes, but its effectiveness was lower in field trials, possibly due to methodological design factors. Additionally, all trapped female insects were determined to be mated, regardless of the presence of the compound.
Article
Entomology
Sergio Lopez, Sara Rodrigo-Gomez, Enrique Fernandez-Carrillo, Claudia Corbella-Martorell, Carmen Quero
Summary: The leaf beetle Labidostomis lusitanica poses a threat to pistachio crops in Spain. Male beetles release a compound called 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which attracts both male and female beetles. This compound may act as an aggregative cue, although more research is needed to confirm its role in natural conditions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Awater-Salendo, Hartwig Schulz, Monika Hilker, Benjamin Fuerstenau
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2020)