Article
Forestry
Francisco B. Navarro, Antonia B. Cano, Cristina Galvez, Andriana Kazani, M. Dolores Carbonero, M. Noelia Jimenez
Summary: The effectiveness of direct acorn seeding is influenced by environmental conditions and acorn predation. The study found that early seeding in December, controlling weed competition, and selecting large acorns from high germination potential mother trees can improve the survival and growth of seedlings. However, seeding success is lower in drier sites and drier years.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luis M. Torres-Vila, F. Javier Mendiola-Diaz, Tara Canelo
Summary: Oak open woodlands have significant socioeconomic and ecological values, providing high-value ecosystem services and supporting traditional agro-silvo-pastoral uses. Two species of longhorn beetles, Cerambyx cerdo and Cerambyx welensii, may become pests in SW Spain, contributing to oak decline. Our four-year study using 1650 feeding traps examined longhorn abundance and habitat suitability, showing that responses were species-specific and that ecological variables played a significant role. This research contributes to the understanding of longhorn occupancy-abundance patterns and can inform management strategies to mitigate their impact.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesus Fernandez-Habas, Alma Maria Garcia Moreno, M. Teresa Hidalgo-Fernandez, Jose Ramon Leal-Murillo, Begona Abellanas Oar, Pedro J. Gomez-Giraldez, Maria P. Gonzalez-Dugo, Pilar Fernandez-Rebollo
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Sentinel-2 configuration to predict forage quality in high diverse Mediterranean permanent grasslands of open woodlands. The Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) models performed moderately well in predicting CP content, with better results than predictions for NDF. The study suggests that field spectroscopy combined with Sentinel-2 imagery is feasible for producing forage quality maps and developing larger datasets.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Michal Andreas, Romana Prausova, Tereza Brestovanska, Lucie Hostinska, Marketa Kalabova, Petr Bogusch, Josef P. Halda, Patrik Rada, Ladislav Sterba, Martin Cizek, Jakub Horak
Summary: It is evident that biodiverse urban forests have positive impacts on biodiversity and citizen health. The study in Prague, Czech Republic, found that continuous forests dominated by native oaks with open canopies, diverse tree species and shrubs, and scattered trees in the surrounding landscape were optimal for biodiversity. Active forest management is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in urban forests.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Manuela Rodriguez-Romero, Belen Godoy-Cancho, Isabel M. Calha, Jose Antonio Passarinho, Ana Cristina Moreira
Summary: The study evaluated the inhibitory effects of herbaceous plants on a pathogen population, analyzed the inhibitory capacity of aqueous root extracts on pathogen growth, and assessed the defense response of Quercus seedlings to the pathogen in the presence of different plant species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Guillermo Gea-Izquierdo, Ismael Aranda, Isabel Canellas, Isabel Dorado-Linan, Jose Miguel Olano, Dario Martin-Benito
Summary: The study found that both pine and oak trees were sensitive to water stress, but they exhibited different water-use strategies and physiological responses. The pines showed increasing gas exchange constraints at all age stages, serving as early warning signals for forest decline.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Augusta Costa, Ana Cristina Moreira
Summary: Stem diameter growth in living trees refers to the increase in dimension over time, but reversible decrease could also occur. Recent studies have found that the continuous decrease in stem diameter may indicate a decline pathway in trees. This study analyzed the stem diameter growth dynamics of holm oak trees in two different woodlands in southern Portugal and found that the continuous decrease in stem diameter could be a sign of tree decline.
Article
Zoology
Julius G. Bright Ross, Chris Newman, Christina D. Buesching, David W. Macdonald
Summary: This study proposes a modified version of the minimum number alive (MNA) metric, called efficiency-modified MNA (eMNA), which improves the accuracy and precision of MNA by incorporating growth correlates and estimates of undetected persistence. Experimental results using simulated badger population data show that eMNA performs well in terms of accuracy and precision at intermediate to high capture efficiencies and is robust to changes in capture efficiency.
Article
Entomology
Luis Miguel Torres-Vila, Rafael Lopez-Calvo, Alvaro Sanchez-Gonzalez, Emilio Echevarria-Leon, Francisco Javier Mendiola-Diaz
Summary: This study first recorded the parasitism of the encyrtid wasp Oobius rudnevi on the eggs of the longhorn beetle Cerambyx, showing that O. rudnevi had a higher parasitism rate on Cerambyx than previously known hosts, and did not exhibit a clear host preference during choice tests.
ANNALES DE LA SOCIETE ENTOMOLOGIQUE DE FRANCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Bechir Baccouri, Dalel Mechi, Imene Rajhi, Daniel Martin Vertedor
Summary: Olive leaves, a by-product of the olive oil industry, have the potential to be a low-cost source of high-value phenolic compounds. This study analyzed the composition of oleaster leaves and revealed the presence of various phenolic compounds with antioxidant activities. The results suggest that oleaster leaves could be a valuable source of antioxidants for industrial applications.
FOOD ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dalel Mechi, Bechir Baccouri, Daniel Martin-Vertedor, Leila Abaza
Summary: Recent advances in biotechnology have led to the development of olive leaf extract (OLE) as a rich source of bioactive compounds. The phenolic composition of different OLEs from three Tunisian olive varieties was studied, as well as the biodigestibility effect of 'Sayali' OLE on table olives. The results showed that the 'Sayali' variety contained bioactive molecules such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleropeine, Procianidine B1 (PB1), and p-cumaric acid, which were also found in fresh olives after OLE addition.
Article
Horticulture
Enrico Maria Lodolini, Antonio Fernandez, Ana Morales-Sillero, Amparo Mendiano, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of CaCl2 on the Spanish-style olive processing. The results showed that CaCl2 treatment could improve fruit firmness and phenolic content, and had a significant impact on Ca concentration in the pulp and seed, but not in the pit.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Manuel Alvarez-Orti, Jose Emilio Pardo, Gema Cascos, Ramiro Sanchez, Jesus Lozano, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: Almonds can be roasted before oil extraction to improve sensory properties, but excessive thermal treatments may cause the appearance of undesirable volatile compounds. This study analyzed oils from almonds subjected to different roasting treatments and used an electronic nose to classify and quantify the burned defect. Results showed that roasting treatments caused changes in the sensory properties and the content of volatile compounds in roasted almond oils. The electronic nose was able to effectively classify the oils and quantify the burned defect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dalel Mechi, Francisco Perez-Nevado, Ismael Montero-Fernandez, Bechir Baccouri, Leila Abaza, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: The aim of this study was to analyze the use of olive leaf extracts (OLE) from two Tunisian olive tree cultivars to reduce acrylamide in Californian-style black olives. The phenol profile, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity of the two OLE extracts were evaluated, showing higher levels of hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside in one cultivar. The addition of OLE to Californian-style table olives improved their phenol content and antioxidant characteristics without affecting their sensory qualities.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Elisabet Martin-Tornero, Juan Diego Barea-Ramos, Jesus Lozano, Isabel Duran-Meras, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: The aim of this study was to explore the evolution of the quality of virgin olive oil stored in different containers over a defined period of time using a non-destructive technique, the electronic-nose (E-nose), to predict its organoleptic characteristics. The results showed that oil stored in dark glass bottles and green polyethylene bottles started showing defects after 12 and 15 weeks, respectively, while oil stored in tin containers maintained its quality throughout the 21-month storage period. A total of 31 volatile compounds were identified and the volatile profiles in different containers during storage were studied. The E-nose data, combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression, were able to build a predictive model to quantify sensory defect values, indicating its potential as a suitable tool to support sensory evaluation.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ramiro Sanchez, Francisco Perez-Nevado, Sara Martillanes, Ismael Montero-Fernandez, Jesus Lozano, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: This study used an electronic nose to analyze the sensory quality and volatile profile of table olives inoculated with different mold strains. The results showed that mold inoculation caused abnormal fermentation with mold and humidity defects. The electronic nose was able to classify and distinguish the inoculated olives based on their alterations caused by different mold strains.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Gema Cascos, Juan Diego Barea-Ramos, Ismael Montero-Fernandez, Antonio Ruiz-Canales, Jesus Lozano, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: Californian-style black olives can undergo chemical changes during sterilization, affecting their sensory and phenol characteristics. Flavoured hydrocolloids were used to stuff the olives and different thermal sterilization treatments were applied to assess sensory categories. The results showed that the electronic nose could discriminate between olives with different aromas, and the PLS-DA analysis accurately classified the samples. The E-nose could be used in the industry to determine olives with the highest quality based on their aroma and phenol profile.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luis M. Torres-Vila, F. Javier Mendiola-Diaz, Tara Canelo
Summary: Oak open woodlands have significant socioeconomic and ecological values, providing high-value ecosystem services and supporting traditional agro-silvo-pastoral uses. Two species of longhorn beetles, Cerambyx cerdo and Cerambyx welensii, may become pests in SW Spain, contributing to oak decline. Our four-year study using 1650 feeding traps examined longhorn abundance and habitat suitability, showing that responses were species-specific and that ecological variables played a significant role. This research contributes to the understanding of longhorn occupancy-abundance patterns and can inform management strategies to mitigate their impact.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Juan Diego Barea-Ramos, Jose Pedro Santos, Jesus Lozano, Maria Jose Rodriguez, Ismael Montero-Fernandez, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: Valencian paella is a famous dish from Valencia, Spain, made with rice and various ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the aromas produced during the formation of socarrat in paella rice using an E-nose, and validate it through sensory analysis and gas chromatography. The results showed changes in fruity, sweet, and roasted aromas, as well as an increase in acrylamide content during the cooking process. The E-nose was sensitive to these changes and showed strong clustering patterns.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Antonio Fernandez, Sara Martillanes, Enrico Maria Lodolini, Manuel Martinez, Rocio Arias-Calderon, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: This study investigated the impact of factors such as elaboration processes, irrigation conditions, and crop year on acrylamide content and antioxidant compounds in table olives. It was found that regulated deficit irrigation resulted in lower acrylamide levels in certain olive varieties. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was highest in olives harvested in the 2019 crop year. The selection of irrigation and elaboration methods is crucial for ensuring desirable acrylamide levels.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Felix Melendez, Ramiro Sanchez, Juan Alvaro Fernandez, Yaiza Belacortu, Francisco Bermudez, Patricia Arroyo, Daniel Martin-Vertedor, Jesus Lozano
Summary: This study designed an electronic system (TOMATO-NOSE) to control tomato ripening before harvesting and detect fungal infection. The system consists of sensors, a camera, and a smartphone application. The analysis of the olfactory pattern and images showed that TOMATO-NOSE is an effective tool.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jhunior Abrahan Marcia, Ricardo S. Aleman, Shirin Kazemzadeh, Victor Manrique Fernandez, Daniel Martin Vertedor, Aryana Kayanush, Ismael Montero Fernandez
Summary: Functional foods, such as yogurt with carao, have gained attention for their potential health benefits. This study aimed to examine the impact of incorporating carao into yogurt on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, as well as the physio-chemical and sensory properties of camel milk yogurt.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Antonio Fernandez, Ismael Montero-Fernandez, Olga Monago-Marana, Elisabet Martin-Tornero, Daniel Martin-Vertedor
Summary: This study developed a quantitative model for the fat content and acrylamide content in table olives using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. The results showed that fat degradation has a significant impact on acrylamide synthesis in table olives.