Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peter A. Roussos, Nikoleta-Kleio Denaxa, Athanassios Tsafouros, Efstathios Ntanos
Summary: Cane girdling has an impact on leaf physiological functions and fruit quality of kiwifruit. Girdling reduces carbon assimilation rate but increases fruit dry matter, weight, and dimensions. Additionally, girdled fruits have higher total soluble solids content and TSS-to-TA ratio. Girdling enhances total phenols, total flavanols, and antioxidant capacity of the fruits.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Hui Liu, Susan Rutherford, Justin Siu Hung Wan, Jinhui Liu, Jin Zhang, Muhammad Rahil Afzal, Daolin Du, Maurizio Rossetto
Summary: Due to rapid economic development in China, the demand for wood has increased steadily. Large quantities of Eucalyptus species have been introduced for their fast growth, adaptability, and utility. In order to understand phenological changes in introduced Eucalyptus, a field investigation was conducted in southern China to examine leaf traits of three introduced species over latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. Multiple stands of each species were sampled, with measurements including leaf physical characteristics, nitrogen and phosphorus content, and phenolic compounds. The study found that functional traits decreased at lower latitudes, especially in E. grandis, likely to reduce heat and water loss. In E. grandis, leaf phosphorus was lower at higher latitudes and altitude, while phenolics increased with elevation. In E. robusta, both leaf nitrogen and phosphorus decreased with altitude. The study emphasized the importance of considering intraspecific trait differences when studying the spread of invasive species in new ranges.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra Ciorita, Cezara Zagrean-Tuza, Augustin C. Mot, Rahela Carpa, Marcel Parvu
Summary: The phytochemical analysis of Vinca minor, V. herbacea, V. major, and V. major var. variegata leaf extracts revealed species-specific antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic effects correlated with the identified phytoconstituents. V. herbacea showed the highest antioxidant activity and antibacterial potential, while V. minor exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria Belen Perez, Sofia Carvajal, Vanesa Beretta, Florencia Bannoud, Maria Florencia Fangio, Federico Berli, Ariel Fontana, Maria Victoria Salomon, Roxana Gonzalez, Lucia Valerga, Jorgelina C. Altamirano, Mehtap Yildiz, Massimo Iorizzo, Philipp W. Simon, Pablo F. Cavagnaro
Summary: The present study characterized a diverse collection of purple and non-purple carrot accessions for their concentration of anthocyanins, phenolics, carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity. Significant variation was found among the accessions, with acylated anthocyanins being the most dominant pigment. Purple carrots exhibited higher levels of anthocyanins, phenolics, and antioxidant capacity compared to non-purple carrots. Antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with anthocyanin content and total phenolic content, but not with carotenoids. Certain accessions were identified as potential sources for food dyes or increased nutraceutical value.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Teresa Fernandez Ponce, Cristina Cejudo Bastante, Lourdes Casas Cardoso, Casimiro Mantell, Enrique J. Martinez de la Ossa, Clara Pereyra
Summary: The study aimed to develop a bioactive transdermal patch functionalized with Annona leaf extracts using supercritical impregnation technique. It was found that the optimal impregnation conditions of ALE at 55 degrees C and 300 bar led to transdermal patches with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. The use of higher proportions of co-solvent in the system resulted in the best outcomes.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Juan Wei, Tingting Su, Hailan Su, Yumei Jiang, Jixin Li, Yang Bi
Summary: Both sea buckthorn leaf of Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis (Rha) and H. tibetana (Tib) exhibited high levels of total phenolic and flavonoid content, with Rha showing significantly higher levels. The presence of 66 phenolic compounds, including ellagic acid, rutin, and other compounds, was detected in sea buckthorn leaf for the first time. The aqueous ethanol extracts of sea buckthorn leaf showed strong antioxidant properties and anti-proliferation activity against HepG2 cells, with Rha showing stronger effects due to its higher content of total phenolic and flavonoid profiles.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mina Momayyezi, Devin A. Rippner, Fiona V. Duong, Pranav V. Raja, Patrick J. Brown, Daniel A. Kluepfel, J. Mason Earles, Elisabeth J. Forrestel, Matthew E. Gilbert, Andrew J. McElrone
Summary: This study investigated the differences in photosynthetic capacity and response to water stress among 11 Juglans regia accessions. The results showed that accessions native to lower latitudes had higher assimilation rates and better adaptation to water stress, suggesting their potential use for enhancing productivity.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Efstathios Ntanos, Athanassios Tsafouros, Nikoleta-Kleio Denaxa, Anna Kosta, Pavlos Bouchagier, Peter Anargyrou Roussos
Summary: Kiwifruit undergoes heat stress during the summer months in the Mediterranean area. Three commercial products were tested to alleviate these impacts, and they had different effects on leaf physiology and biochemistry. Glycine betaine proved to be the most effective in alleviating the negative effects on photosynthesis.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jakub Frankowski, Anna Przybylska-Balcerek, Kinga Stuper-Szablewska
Summary: The study revealed that sorghum grains are rich in antioxidant compounds and nutrients, making them a potential functional food source.
Article
Forestry
Zhengzhen Li, Yaxian Wu, Lan Zhang, Md. Kamrul Hasan, Liping Zhang, Peng Yan, Jianyu Fu, Wenyan Han, Xin Li
Summary: This study examined 20 widely planted Chinese tea cultivars and found that variations in flavanol concentrations greatly influenced the antioxidant capacity of tea. Total catechins, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were stronger predictors of antioxidant capacity compared to total phenolic concentrations.
Article
Forestry
Jinjin Li, Yumei Huang, Lianghua Chen, Shun Gao, Jian Zhang, Danju Zhang
Summary: Allelopathy in Eucalyptus plantations affects understory diversity, mainly through phenolic allelochemicals. However, the changes in phenolic allelochemicals and their relationship with understory diversity with plantation age are unclear. This study assessed understory plant diversity and identified phenolic compounds in leaf litter, roots, and rhizosphere soil samples from a Eucalyptus grandis plantation over ten years. Phenolic compounds were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. Understory plant species richness and diversity were lowest in 4-year-old plantations and increased significantly with age. Several phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified in the samples. Most potential phenolic allelochemicals were more abundant in younger plantations, especially at 4 years old. The concentrations of phenolic compounds in the rhizosphere did not change significantly with age and were lower than in litter and root samples. Phenolic compounds explained more of the variation in understory plants than soil factors. Hydroxyphenyllactic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, salicylic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were the main phenolic compounds associated with changes in plant diversity with plantation age.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Shiya Ren, Enping Zheng, Tingxue Zhao, Shunqiang Hu, Hailong Yang
Summary: Different drying methods have varying effects on the drying efficiency and quality of Coprinus comatus. Freeze drying is better at preserving antioxidants, while infrared drying shows potential in producing Coprinus comatus with high umami concentration.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhengbing Yan, Zhengfei Guo, Shawn P. Serbin, Guangqin Song, Yingyi Zhao, Yang Chen, Shengbiao Wu, Jing Wang, Xin Wang, Jing Li, Bin Wang, Yuntao Wu, Yanjun Su, Han Wang, Alistair Rogers, Lingli Liu, Jin Wu
Summary: The relationships between leaf maximum carboxylation capacity (Vc,Vmax) and other morphological and biochemical traits were found to be weak and specific to forest types, challenging the traditional use of these relationships in terrestrial biosphere models. Reflectance spectroscopy, however, effectively collapsed differences in these relationships across forest types into a single robust model for Vc,Vmax and accurately estimated multiple traits, providing critical insights for ecosystem modeling and functional trait ecology.
Article
Plant Sciences
Angel Felix Vargas-Madriz, Ivan Luzardo-Ocampo, Jorge Luis Chavez-Servin, Ulisses Moreno-Celis, Octavio Roldan-Padron, Haidel Vargas-Madriz, Hayde Azeneth Vergara-Castaneda, Aaron Kuri-Garcia
Summary: This study compares the phenolic compound composition and antioxidant capacity of P. ruderale plants from different collection sites in Queretaro, Mexico. The results show significant differences in the polyphenolic composition of the plants from different collection places, suggesting the need for standardization and selection of plants with favorable agroclimatic conditions.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Eva Maria Maria Ramirez, Manuel Brenes, Concepcion Romero, Eduardo Medina
Summary: Olive leaf is a valuable source of bioactive compounds for human health, but there is a lack of dry olive leaves marketed for infusion production. This study aimed to model the drying process and determine the effect of grinding on bioactive compound diffusion. Drying temperature and storage time were found to affect the phenolic concentration of olive leaves, while grinding degree influenced the diffusion of bioactive compounds. Optimization of the drying and grinding stages is crucial for producing dried olive leaves rich in beneficial compounds for healthy infusions.
Article
Forestry
Evangelia Korakaki, Mariangela N. Fotelli
Summary: The research found significant radial variability in sap flux density of Aleppo pine in an eastern Mediterranean ecosystem, with different responses under varying climatic conditions. Particularly, a steeper gradient of Js in deep sapwood was observed under drier conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mark A. Adams, Tina L. Bell, Mana Gharun
Summary: The study found that topographic wetness is the major determinant of the extent of fire in Mountain Ash forests in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. Wetter areas, favored by protected tenures such as National Parks, experienced less fire damage compared to areas with multiple uses like State Forests. Topographic controls on water availability and droughts will continue to influence fire extent and likelihood in these forests.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Amanda M. Salvi, Duncan D. Smith, Mark A. Adams, Katherine A. McCulloh, Thomas J. Givnish
Summary: Photosynthetic sensitivity to drought is a key constraint on plant evolution and ecosystem function. A study on saplings of 10 Eucalyptus species found that species native to mesic habitats have higher drought sensitivity, but those with lower turgor loss points exhibit lower sensitivity. This study provides evidence that photosynthetic sensitivity in Eucalyptus evolved adaptively with macroclimatic moisture availability.
Article
Ecology
Jeannine H. Richards, Jonathan J. Henn, Quinn M. Sorenson, Mark A. Adams, Duncan D. Smith, Katherine A. McCulloh, Thomas J. Givnish
Summary: The study found eucalypt leaf traits responded strongly to decreasing relative moisture supply, while mistletoes responded less strongly. Some traits in mistletoes shifted parallel with those of hosts, but SLA, leaf thickness, and N per area showed no significant change across the gradient.
Article
Forestry
Gavriil Spyroglou, Mariangela Fotelli, Nikos Nanos, Kalliopi Radoglou
Summary: The study evaluated the accumulation of AGB and deadwood in vegetation areas planted with black locust in Northwest Greece, using an allometric model and inventory measurements. Results showed that the average AGB in the area was low, and deadwood was scarce, indicating some progress in the restoration of mining areas with black locust.
Editorial Material
Forestry
Mariangela N. Fotelli
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elissavet Dotsika, Maria Tassi, Petros Karalis, Anastasia Chrysostomou, Dimitra Ermioni Michael, Anastasia Elektra Poutouki, Katerina Theodorakopoulou, Georgios Diamantopoulos
Summary: In this article, isotopic analysis of samples from Northern Greece was conducted to reconstruct the diet and climate of the Early Iron Age. The results showed that the diet in Agras was primarily based on C3 plants, with some contributions from C4 plants and freshwater fish. The isotopic values were in good agreement with those from other sites in Northern Greece, Croatia, and Hungary.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiao Ying Gong, Wei Ting Ma, Yong Zhi Yu, Keyan Fang, Yusheng Yang, Guillaume Tcherkez, Mark A. Adams
Summary: Increases in terrestrial water-use efficiency (WUE) have been reported, but longer-term gains in WUE are uncertain due to difficulties in accounting for structural and physiological acclimation. This study used C-13 signatures of plant organic matter to estimate WUE and found that the gains in WUE during the 20th century were smaller than previously estimated. Plant structure and physiology were found to significantly influence WUE. Therefore, previous estimates of increased forest WUE may have been overestimated, and projections of future climate forcing via CO2 fertilization may need to be adjusted accordingly.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
V Holland, N. Reininger, F. Bantis, W. Brueggemann, K. Radoglou, M. N. Fotelli
Summary: Research has shown that Greek and Italian provenances of Mediterranean oaks have similar diurnal photosynthetic performance under different growth regimes. These oaks exhibit high photosynthetic efficiency under the current climate in Central Europe, making them suitable for assisted migration schemes.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Konstantina Papastavropoulou, Ioannis N. Pasias, Elissavet Dotsika, Emel Oz, Fatih Oz, Charalampos Proestos
Summary: The study evaluated the key quality characteristics of olive oil, focusing on biophenolic content and its impact on health and the contribution of various parameters to health claims. The findings showed that the biophenol contents in olive oil and its health claims were influenced by various parameters.
Article
Forestry
Stamatios R. Tziaferidis, Gavriil Spyroglou, Mariangela N. Fotelli, Kalliopi Radoglou
Summary: Allometric equations relating trees' vascular system and other stem metrics with foliage area and mass are necessary to estimate their growth and carbon balance. This study focused on restoration plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia in Greece and aimed to establish species-specific models to predict foliage leaf area and biomass. The study found that total stem cross-sectional area at mid-bole and stump height was the best predictor of foliage dry mass and area.
IFOREST-BIOGEOSCIENCES AND FORESTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amira Reda, Mustafa Eissa, Ibrahim El Shamy, Elissavet Dotsika, Mostafa Saied, Sayed Mosaad
Summary: This study investigates the scarce groundwater resources and geochemical processes affecting groundwater quality in the Qena Basin in the arid Eastern Desert of Egypt. It reveals that the groundwater in this basin mainly comes from recharge from the River Nile and paleo-water.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Nikos Markos, Kalliopi Radoglou, Mariangela N. Fotelli
Summary: Black locust is widely planted for restoration plantations, but drought dieback and growth declines are being observed. This study investigated the water and carbon fluxes of a black locust post-mining restoration plantation in Greece with eddy covariance. It found that GPP increased with Rg, SWC, and EVI, but declined with VPD. ET constantly increased with solar radiation and SWC, but was not responsive to enhanced VPD. The results suggest that increasing VPD due to climate change may negatively impact these ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ding Ming Zheng, Xuming Wang, Qi Liu, Yan Ran Sun, Wei Ting Ma, Lei Li, Zhijie Yang, Guillaume Tcherkez, Mark A. Adams, Yusheng Yang, Xiao Ying Gong
Summary: The ability to predict temperature responses of leaf respiration in light and darkness is crucial for global carbon dynamics models. Our study found that mature leaves have higher temperature sensitivity than immature leaves, and changes in Q(10) associated with leaf development should be considered in future respiration models.
Article
Anthropology
Elissavet Dotsika, Maria Tassi, Petros Karalis, Sofia Gougoura, Elena F. Kranioti, Dimitra E. Michael, Maria Kazou, Anastasia E. Poutouki, Georgios Diamantopoulos
Summary: Through isotopic analysis of ancient and modern Greek human bone collagen, it is found that the Greek diet has gradually become richer in high trophic level proteins, such as marine sources, with a larger variety of food sources over time.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2022)
