Article
Plant Sciences
Elisa Appolloni, Francesco Orsini, Giuseppina Pennisi, Xavier Gabarrell Durany, Ivan Paucek, Giorgio Gianquinto
Summary: The study found that supplemental LED lighting has significant positive effects on enhancing tomato yield, soluble solid content, ascorbic acid content, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic capacity, and leaf area, but not on leaf stomatal conductance.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bo-Sen Wu, Mahnaz Mansoori, Keli Trumpler, Philip Wiredu Addo, Sarah MacPherson, Mark Lefsrud
Summary: Full-spectrum light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with specific amber and blue light wavelengths and bandwidths were studied for their effects on tomato growth and production efficiency. Narrow amber light combined with narrow blue light led to the highest fresh mass yield, followed by white LED and a high-pressure sodium lamp. Chlorophyll content increased with the addition of blue light. The findings suggest that precise selection of amber and blue wavelengths can greatly impact tomato growth and development, making narrow-wavelength combination a more energy-efficient option.
Article
Agronomy
Elisa Appolloni, Ivan Paucek, Giuseppina Pennisi, Luigi Manfrini, Xavier Gabarrell, Giorgio Gianquinto, Francesco Orsini
Summary: In a high-wire tomato greenhouse, solar radiation is mostly intercepted by the top of the crop canopy, and the role of lower leaves diminishes with age, turning them into sink organs rather than sources. Basal leaf defoliation is a widely used practice in high-wire greenhouse cultivation management. However, supplemental LED lighting for high-density tomato production may affect the role of basal leaves, promoting their source role for fruit development and growth.
Article
Agronomy
Sonam Rawat, Lalit Bhatt, Pramod Kumar Singh, Poonam Gautam, Suresh Kumar Maurya, Leo Sabatino, Pradeep Kumar
Summary: Protected cultivation is resource-efficient, but also resource-intensive. This study assessed the effect of different NPK fertilization rates and scheduling approaches on tomato cultivation in Indian sub-tropics. The recommended dose of fertilizer (100% RDF) with specific scheduling was found to be optimum for tomato yield, water use efficiency, and economics under protected conditions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Juan-Antonio Valencia-Hernandez, Nallely Solano-Alvarez, Ana-Angelica Feregrino-Perez, Enrique Rico-Garcia, Miguel-Angel Rico-Rodriguez, Irineo Torres-Pacheco, Carlos-Eduardo Zavala-Gomez, Ramon-Gerardo Guevara-Gonzalez
Summary: This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of a synthetic capsaicinoid oleoresin against several pathogens and confirmed its antibacterial and antifungal effects through in vitro and in vivo tests. The results showed significant growth inhibition of the pathogens, as well as reduced damage in tomato plants and fruits treated with the synthetic compound.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Cristina Sudiro, Federico Guglielmi, Marie Hochart, Biancamaria Senizza, Leilei Zhang, Luigi Lucini, Adriano Altissimo
Summary: Biostimulants can enhance tomato's ability to cope with drought stress by reprogramming secondary metabolism and modulating phytohormones profile. Several mechanisms, such as the preservation of photosynthetic machinery and modulation of chlorophyll synthesis, were identified.
Article
Horticulture
Yaqing Gao, Xinyuan Zhou, Hao Liang, Yanhai Ji, Mingchi Liu
Summary: In a soilless culture, root restriction can reduce production costs and improve fruit quality. This study investigated the impact of different levels of root restriction on tomatoes. Results showed that under root restriction, there was an increase in various sugar contents and a decrease in certain amino acids and acidity. Root restriction also promoted the accumulation of certain amino acids and enhanced the synthesis of lycopene and flavonoids. Overall, the root restriction treatments had a better effect on tomato quality. This study provides insights for improving substrate use efficiency and tomato quality.
Article
Agronomy
Jinghua Guo, Lingdi Dong, Shyam L. Kandel, Yonggang Jiao, Linqi Shi, Yubo Yang, Ainong Shi, Beiquan Mou
Summary: The study compared soilless substrate-based cultivation with soil cultivation in tomato plants and found that substrate-based cultivation can improve plant growth, overall fruit quality, and yield. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the improvement in fruit quality.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Asmaa M. Otify, Rana M. Ibrahim, Bishoy Abib, Annegret Laub, Ludger A. Wessjohann, Yueming Jiang, Mohamed A. Farag
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the primary and secondary metabolites of seven tomato varieties, discovering 30 newly reported substances. Light-colored tomatoes were found to be rich in valuable antioxidants, flavonoids, while red tomatoes contained tomatoside A, an antihyperglycemic saponin. Spectral analysis showed high phenolic content in light tomatoes. GC-MS analysis revealed that monosaccharides were the main contributors to tomato composition, with San Marzano tomatoes having abundant monosaccharides, which explains their sweet flavor. This study provides a complete map of the metabolome heterogeneity of tomatoes for future breeding programs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amal Ghannem, Imed Ben Aissa, Rajouene Majdoub
Summary: The study demonstrates that under managed water regimes, deficit irrigation can increase tomato yield and improve fruit quality, particularly during ripening fruit and flowering stages. Physiological indicators of tomato plants, such as leaf stomatal conductance and chlorophyll index, can serve as efficient indicators of water status.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gabriele Rocchetti, Biancamaria Senizza, Gokhan Zengin, Paolo Bonini, Luana Bontempo, Federica Camin, Marco Trevisan, Luigi Lucini
Summary: This work investigated the impact of terroir, cultivar, seasonality, and farming systems on the functional traits of tomatoes. The results showed that cultivar and pedo-climatic conditions are the main determinants for the functional quality of tomatoes, while the farming system has a lower but detectable effect.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Horticulture
Wendy L. Zellner
Summary: The study found that silicon absorption in tomato plants varies among different cultivars, with root concentrations significantly higher than leaves. Although some cultivars showed differences in other element concentrations in roots and leaves with silicon treatment, most macronutrients and micronutrients were unaffected.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raphael Ofoe, Raymond H. Thomas, Lord Abbey
Summary: This study investigated the effects of pyroligneous acid (PA) treatment on plant central carbon metabolism (CCM) in tomato seedlings under aluminum (Al) stress. The results showed that PA treatment significantly increased glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) metabolites, while reducing Calvin-Benson cycle (CBC) and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) metabolites. Additionally, a coordinated association between different CCM pathways was observed. These findings suggest that PA can modulate plant metabolism to alleviate the damage caused by Al toxicity through changes in energy production and organic acid biosynthesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luigi Formisano, Michele Ciriello, Christophe El-Nakhel, Milena Poledica, Giuseppe Starace, Giulia Graziani, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael
Summary: This study found that using pearl grey shading nets can increase the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of tomato fruits grown in summer under Mediterranean climate, without affecting fruit color or yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Matthew L. Fabian, Chong Zhang, Jianghao Sun, Neil P. Price, Pei Chen, Christopher R. Clarke, Richard W. Jones, John R. Stommel
Summary: Tomatoes with enhanced anthracnose resistance have higher levels of steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) in their fruit, which can inhibit the development of anthracnose and enhance tomato's resistance. This research provides significant insights into the defense mechanism of tomatoes against anthracnose.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Benjamin Youenou, Patricia Martins Simoes, Anne Tristan, Eric Farfour, Clemence Beauruelle, Camille Kolenda, Anne-Gaelle Ranc, Francois Vandenesch, Frederic Laurent, Celine Dupieux
Summary: This study describes the presence of linezolid-resistant MRSA strains carrying the cfr(B) gene in the French National Reference Centre for staphylococci. The strains showed resistance to linezolid but susceptibility to tedizolid, and carried the cfr(B) gene on the same chromosomal transposon. This finding highlights the risk of horizontal transfer of oxazolidinone resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ariana S. C. Goncalves, Miguel M. M. Leitao, Manuel Simoes, Anabela Borges
Summary: Covering the period from 2009 to 2021, antimicrobial resistance has reached dangerous levels worldwide, posing a serious threat to the treatment of various infectious diseases. The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial species and their ability to form biofilms have exacerbated this public health problem. Current anti-infective therapies have limited effectiveness against biofilm-related infections, leading to recurrence, chronicity, and increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the search for innovative strategies/antibacterial agents to overcome the limitations of conventional antibiotics is necessary. Natural compounds, particularly those derived from plants, have shown promising properties in this regard. Plant secondary metabolites (phytochemicals) can act as antibiofilm agents through different mechanisms of action, such as inhibition of quorum sensing, motility, adhesion, and reactive oxygen species production. Combinations of different phytochemicals and antibiotics have demonstrated synergistic or additive effects in biofilm control. This review aims to compile the most relevant reports on the antibiofilm properties of phytochemicals, as well as provide insights into their structure and mechanisms of action against bacterial pathogens, spanning from December 2008 to December 2021.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Cristina Ruiz Martinez, Juana M. M. Perez, Francisco M. M. Arrabal-Campos, Antonio Rodriguez-Dieguez, Duane Choquesillo-Lazarte, Juan A. A. Martinez-Lao, Manuel A. A. Ortuno, Ignacio Fernandez
Summary: We report the synthesis and characterization of three novel lithium complexes (2b-d) with different hydrazonyl anthraquinonic backbones, tested in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide and epsilon-caprolactone for synthesizing cyclic polymers. Various analytical methods, including NMR, MS spectrometry, and FTIR spectroscopy, are used to identify the catalyst structures. The resulting cyclic polymers are characterized using MALDI-TOF, end-group NMR analysis, and PGSE diffusion NMR. Differences in selectivity (linear vs cyclic) are observed when using ligand backbones with different abilities and/or steric restrictions.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rim Bouhajeb, Ana Cristina Abreu, Salima Selmi, Christoph Gerke, Ahlem Bellalah, Alexis Alvear-Jimenez, Laura Lozano Chamizo, Marzia Marciello, Gonzalo Villaverde, Ana Isabel Tristan, Leila Chekir-Ghedira, Ignacio Fernandez, Rafael Contreras-Caceres
Summary: We have developed an implantable dressing material made of electrospun poly(lactic acid) nanofibers containing the hydroethanolic extract of T. ramosissimum. The material showed improved wound-healing capabilities, reduced injury area, and high wound closure percentage in in vivo experiments on mice. The chemical structures of the main released compounds were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Perrine M. R. Wingering, Silvia Hohnstein, Felix Kraemer, Melina E. A. Dilanas, Cristina Ruiz-Martinez, Ignacio Fernandez, Frank Breher
Summary: The synthesis and characterization of rare earth element complexes (Ln=Y, La, Sm, Lu, Ce) of several podant & kappa;N-6-coordinating ligands were conducted. The structural properties of the complexes were studied using X-ray diffraction and advanced NMR methods. To evaluate the donor capabilities of the ligands, cyclic voltammetry, absorption experiments, and Y-89 NMR chemical shift analysis were performed. Quantum chemical calculations were also used to support the experimental findings. Furthermore, coordination competition studies were carried out using H-1 and P-31 NMR spectroscopy to investigate the correlation with donor properties and selectivity.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Clement Munier, Celine Dupieux, Camille Kolenda, Anne-Gaelle Ranc, Olivier Dauwalder, Michele Bes, Francois Vandenesch, Anne Tristan, Frederic Laurent
Summary: The sensitivity of an immunochromatographic assay for detecting methicillin resistance in short-term subcultures of staphylococci in blood cultures was evaluated. The assay showed high sensitivity for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after 4 hours of subculture, but required 6 hours of incubation for methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Ana Isabel Tristan, Encarnacion Gonzalez-Flores, Ana del Mar Salmeron, Ana Cristina Abreu, Octavio Caba, Cristina Jimenez-Luna, Consolacion Melguizo, Jose Prados, Ignacio Fernandez
Summary: Nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics was used to analyze blood serum from healthy individuals and those with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The analysis revealed specific metabolite changes associated with CRC, including increased levels of lactate, glutamate, and pyruvate, and decreased levels of certain amino acids and total fatty acids. Biomarker ratios like glutamate-to-glutamine and pyruvate-to-alanine were related to CRC. Glutamate was also linked to progression-free survival and both glutamate and 3-hydroxybutyrate were risk factors for metastatic CRC. Gas chromatography and pathway analysis were used to study fatty acid profiles and metabolic processes in CRC. Certain metabolites in the blood of CRC patients were correlated with clinical features.
NMR IN BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ana C. Afonso, Mariana Sousa, Ana Rita Pinto, Mario Cotovio, Manuel Simoes, Maria Jose Saavedra
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major concern and animals play a significant role in its dissemination, posing a threat to public health. This study identifies antibiotic resistant bacteria in a horse's chronic wound, emphasizing the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment. The formation of biofilms by these bacteria highlights the need for urgent control measures to address this pandemic.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariana Sousa, Ana Cristina Afonso, Lilia Soares Teixeira, Anabela Borges, Maria Jose Saavedra, Lucia Chaves Simoes, Manuel Simoes
Summary: The treatment of bacterial infections is hindered by increasing antibiotic resistance, prompting the search for new antimicrobial therapies. Phytochemicals have shown broad-spectrum antibacterial effects and can modify antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the antimicrobial actions of perillyl alcohol and hydrocinnamic acid against Escherichia coli, as well as their combinations with chloramphenicol and amoxicillin. The results demonstrated synergistic or additive effects at low concentrations, highlighting the potential of combinatorial therapies using phytochemicals as potentiators or resistance-modifying agents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer M. Castro, Mercedes G. Montalban, Noelia Martinez-Perez, Daniel Domene-Lopez, Juana M. Perez, Francisco M. Arrabal-Campos, Ignacio Fernandez, Ignacio Martin-Gullon, Juan C. Garcia-Quesada
Summary: This study used oligomers based on glycerol citrates to reduce plasticizer migration in potato-based TPS/PVA blends, while maintaining high swelling degree and providing high mechanical performance. This approach, using melt-mixing technique, represents a first step towards industrial scalability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Isabel M. Oliveira, Ines B. Gomes, Tania Moniz, Lucia Chaves Simoes, Maria Rangel, Manuel Simoes
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of pentapotassium bis(peroxymonosulphate) bis(sulphate) (OXONE) as an alternative method for controlling biofilms in drinking water distribution systems. OXONE exhibited strong bactericidal effects, achieving a greater reduction in biofilm culturability compared to chlorine disinfection. Additionally, OXONE demonstrated greater stability in synthetic tap water.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Henrique Sousa, Catia A. Sousa, Francisca Vale, Lucia Santos, Manuel Simoes
Summary: Anthropogenic activities have increased the presence of emerging contaminants, particularly parabens, in wastewater. Current wastewater treatment technologies are not efficient in removing these contaminants. However, using microalgae-based systems and microalgae-bacteria consortia can improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bernardo Sanchez-Sevilla, Melissa Olmedo-Navarro, Juana M. Perez, Juan A. Martinez-Lao, Ignacio Fernandez
Summary: This study explores the revalorization of olive wood shell stone as a biocomposite material. The functionalization of the lignocellulosic matrix with different coupling agents improves adhesion with the resin. Various characterization techniques were used to analyze the resulting materials, which demonstrate promising mechanical and thermal properties.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Joao Correia, Anabela Borges, Manuel Simoes, Lucia C. Simoes
Summary: Antibiotics are widely used in medicine to treat infectious diseases, but their misuse has led to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. These resistant bacteria, especially when forming biofilms, pose a challenge for infection treatment. New antibiotics entering the market have similar modes of action to existing ones, allowing bacteria to rapidly develop resistance. Effective measures are needed to prevent antibiotic resistance and bioprospecting of fungi can provide potential novel antimicrobial drugs. New techniques involving genetic engineering can enhance antibiotic production. This study aims to review the bioprospection of fungi for producing new drugs against multi-drug-resistant bacteria and biofilm-associated infections.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tatiana F. Vieira, Nuno M. F. S. A. Cerqueira, Manuel Simoes, Sergio F. Sousa
Summary: PqsD is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of essential secondary metabolites for Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) inducer molecules. Inhibition of PqsD activity can inhibit biofilm formation and can be combined with PqsR inhibition. This study used computational methods to screen and select eight compounds as potential quorum sensing inhibitors.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING
(2024)