Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria V. Aparicio Chacon, Judith Van Dingenen, Sofie Goormachtig
Summary: Plants can be colonized by fungi with both harmful and beneficial effects. One way the fungi colonize is by secreting effector proteins that change the plant's physiology to suit the fungus. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), the oldest plant symbionts, may benefit from using effectors. Recent research has focused on understanding the function, evolution, and diversification of AMF effectors through genome analysis and transcriptomic studies. However, only a small fraction of the predicted effector proteins have been characterized, limiting our understanding of how they manipulate their host plants and which plant proteins they interact with.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Iver Jakobsen, Lisa Munkvold Murmann, Soren Rosendahl
Summary: The study investigated the impact of two fungicides on the performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and found that low doses of the fungicides enhanced root colonization by AMF, while high doses suppressed their performance. The fungicides generated biphasic response curves in irradiated soil, indicating a hormetic effect on AMF.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
Eleni Papoui, Filippos Bantis, Nikolaos Kapoulas, Ioannis Ipsilantis, Athanasios Koukounaras
Summary: The effects of two types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inocula on lettuce and green onion were examined. The AMF inoculation did not significantly affect the yield and root system architecture of the crops. Nitrate accumulation was within the limits set by the European Commission. However, important phytochemical characteristics and antioxidant capacity showed a tendency for reduced values in the AMF-treated lettuce.
Article
Agronomy
Murugesan Chandrasekaran, Manivannan Paramasivan
Summary: Our meta-analysis study suggests that AMF plays a pivotal role in the elimination of H2O2 through the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes but it depends upon the identity of AMF and plant species under drought stress conditions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Eva F. Leifheit, Anika Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig
Summary: Microplastics have diverse effects on soil and plant growth, altering soil structure and microbial activity, which in turn affects the abundance and activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The impacts of microplastics may also change how plants respond to other global change factors, highlighting the need for further research on their overall impact on ecosystems.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Analia Valdebenito, Javiera Nahuelcura, Christian Santander, Pablo Cornejo, Boris Contreras, Sergio Gomez-Alonso, Antonieta Ruiz
Summary: This study evaluated the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of potato crops inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The results showed that AMF can protect plants against water stress.
Article
Agronomy
Maria Geneva, Marieta Hristozkova, Elisaveta Kirova, Mariana Sichanova, Ira Stancheva
Summary: This research investigated the response of golden berry plants to drought stress and found that plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and propagated in vitro showed higher resistance to drought compared to plants developed from seeds. The findings are important for optimizing the cultivation of golden berry in adverse environments and understanding plant responses to drought conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Min Zhou, Xinru Li, Xuesong Liu, Yidong Mi, Zhiyou Fu, Ruiqing Zhang, Hailei Su, Yuan Wei, Huifang Liu, Fanfan Wang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the uptake and distribution of antimony (Sb) in rice. The results showed that AMF increased the contact area between roots and metals, changed the pH and Eh of the root soil, and resulted in more Sb entering various parts of the rice. AMF inoculation also led to a decrease in rice chlorophyll content, biomass, and antioxidant enzyme activity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hongjian Wei, Jiajin Wang, Qi Wang, Wenyuan He, Songkai Liao, Jiahao Huang, Wentao Hu, Ming Tang, Hui Chen
Summary: This research investigated the impact of AM fungi inoculation and exogenous melatonin on cold tolerance in perennial ryegrass. The results showed that melatonin can enhance AM symbiosis, improve the accumulation of protective molecules and trigger antioxidant activity, thus aiding in the mitigation of cold stress in perennial ryegrass.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Meijuan Wu, Yaru Yan, Yaqi Wang, Qi Mao, Yalun Fu, Xiaohua Peng, Zhengkun Yang, Jingjing Ren, Airong Liu, Shuangchen Chen, Golam Jalal Ahammed
Summary: The study demonstrated that the inoculation of vegetable (VT) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly improved growth and disease resistance in watermelon plants, particularly against the soil-borne fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Optimal dosage of VT enhanced watermelon's resistance to R. solani and can be considered as a biological control agent for the management of R. solani in cucurbits.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2021)
Review
Agronomy
Xiaozhe Bao, Jixiang Zou, Bin Zhang, Longmei Wu, Taotao Yang, Qing Huang
Summary: Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and microorganisms in the rice mycorrhizosphere have significant impacts on the paddy ecosystem, and may play a crucial role in sustainable, low-input productivity.
Article
Ecology
Fiona Jevon, Ashley K. Lang
Summary: The allocation of tree biomass to leaves, roots, and wood has implications for carbon residence time and storage in ecosystems. This study found that the type of mycorrhizal association, along with climate and leaf habit, significantly influenced biomass allocation. Trees associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi allocated more biomass to root tissue compared to trees associated with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Considering mycorrhizal associations could improve our understanding of ecosystem carbon storage.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ruwanthika Kalamulla, Samantha C. Karunarathna, Saowaluck Tibpromma, Mahesh C. A. Galappaththi, Nakarin Suwannarach, Steven L. Stephenson, Suhail Asad, Ziad Salman Salem, Neelamanie Yapa
Summary: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play important roles in soil and plant productivity through their nutritional and non-nutritional functionalities. They maintain soil structure, change nutrient acquisition, alleviate stress, and interact with other microorganisms and plants, all of which contribute to plant growth and productivity.
Article
Agronomy
Wenjie Qin, Hengyu Yan, Bingyin Zou, Runze Guo, Dunwei Ci, Zhaohui Tang, Xiaoxia Zou, Xiaojun Zhang, Xiaona Yu, Yuefu Wang, Tong Si
Summary: The study showed that AMF can alleviate the growth of peanuts under saline stress by regulating physiological and transcriptional responses, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and other mechanisms. In field experiments, AMF inoculation not only increased peanut pod yield but also helped plants adapt to saline stress.
FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elisabeth B. Ward, Alexander Polussa, Mark A. Bradford
Summary: Plant mycorrhizal associations impact the accumulation and persistence of soil organic matter, which can affect how ecosystems respond to global changes. The co-occurrence of trees and shrubs with different mycorrhizal associations can influence soil organic matter pools, but more research is needed to understand these effects.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Marios C. Kyriacou, Christophe El-Nakhel, Georgios A. Soteriou, Giulia Graziani, Angelos Kyratzis, Chrystalla Antoniou, Alberto Ritieni, Stefania De Pascale, Youssef Rouphael
Summary: Microgreens, as a novel class of functional foods, are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals but also accumulate antinutritive agents such as nitrate. Nutrient deprivation before harvest (DBH) can effectively reduce nitrate levels in microgreens, with varying responses among different species. Further research is needed to understand the impact of DBH on sensory and bioactive profiles of microgreens.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Luigi Castaldo, Sonia Lombardi, Anna Gaspari, Mario Rubino, Luana Izzo, Alfonso Narvaez, Alberto Ritieni, Michela Grosso
Summary: The study demonstrated that spent coffee ground with high content in bioactive molecules could be used to enhance the bioactive potential of baked foods, with SCGc showing higher antioxidant activity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Cristina Santarcangelo, Alessandra Baldi, Roberto Ciampaglia, Marco Dacrema, Alessandro Di Minno, Valentina Pizzamiglio, Gian Carlo Tenore, Maria Daglia
Summary: This study measured the concentrations of four health-related trace elements in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and found that 40-month ripened cheese is a good source of selenium and chromium, providing 15% of the nutrient reference intake values.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giacomo Russo, Sonia Laneri, Ritamaria Di Lorenzo, Ilaria Neri, Irene Dini, Roberto Ciampaglia, Lucia Grumetto
Summary: The concentration levels of thirteen organic pollutants and selected heavy metals were investigated in plastics bottled and tap water samples. Some of the selected contaminants have endocrine disrupting activity. The most frequently detected pollutants were Bisphenol AF, DEHP, and BPA, with higher concentration levels found in tap waters. The health impact of continuous intake of xenobiotics from various sources is complex and still not fully understood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Maisto, Vincenzo Piccolo, Ettore Novellino, Elisabetta Schiano, Fortuna Iannuzzo, Roberto Ciampaglia, Vincenzo Summa, Gian Carlo Tenore
Summary: Phlorizin, a plant-derived molecule with anti-diabetic activity, has the potential to be used as a functional component in nutraceutical formulations for glycemia management. This study optimized the extraction process of phlorizin from Annurca apple tree leaves and evaluated the nutraceutical potential of the obtained extract. The extract showed promising antioxidant activity and antidiabetic potential.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Elisabetta Schiano, Maria Maisto, Vincenzo Piccolo, Ettore Novellino, Giuseppe Annunziata, Roberto Ciampaglia, Camilla Montesano, Martina Croce, Giuseppe Caruso, Fortuna Iannuzzo, Vincenzo Summa, Gian Carlo Tenore
Summary: The control of glucose homeostasis is crucial for the prevention and management of diabetes. Recent research has shown that the hypoglycemic hormone abscisic acid (ABA) found in immature fruits may be a potential candidate for diabetes control. A study tested the efficacy of a nutraceutical formulation based on thinned nectarines (TNs) rich in ABA in sixty-one patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). After three months of treatment, both low-dose and high-dose TN showed significant reductions in glycemic parameters compared to baseline. The low-dose TN treatment showed a greater insulin-sparing effect and there was a significant correlation between glycemia and ABA levels in the blood.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Donatella Ambroselli, Fabrizio Masciulli, Enrico Romano, Giuseppina Catanzaro, Zein Mersini Besharat, Maria Chiara Massari, Elisabetta Ferretti, Silvia Migliaccio, Luana Izzo, Alberto Ritieni, Michela Grosso, Caterina Formichi, Francesco Dotta, Francesco Frigerio, Eleonora Barbiera, Anna Maria Giusti, Cinzia Ingallina, Luisa Mannina
Summary: The definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has changed over time due to the difficulty in establishing universal criteria. MetS is associated with a pro-inflammatory state related to altered glucose metabolism, leading to increased cardiovascular risk. Complications of MetS include cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Genetic factors, human microbiota, and diet play complex roles in the predisposition to MetS. This review summarizes the literature of the past decade on MetS, including its definition, pathophysiology, treatment approaches, prediction and diagnosis using advanced methodologies, and the role of specific foods in prevention and/or treatment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luigi Castaldo, Luana Izzo, Sonia Lombardi, Anna Gaspari, Stefania De Pascale, Michela Grosso, Alberto Ritieni
Summary: The study found that water-based extracts from broad bean hulls contain various polyphenolic compounds, with p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin being the most common. Encapsulating the extracts into capsules helps preserve the active compounds, resulting in higher antioxidant capacity and polyphenol bioaccessibility during the gastrointestinal process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luigi Castaldo, Marianna Toriello, Luana Izzo, Raffaele Sessa, Sonia Lombardi, Silvia Trombetti, Yelko Rodriguez-Carrasco, Alberto Ritieni, Michela Grosso
Summary: Coffee can protect against the adverse effects of putrefactive compounds by reducing oxidative stress and exerting anti-inflammatory effects in colon cancer cells, suggesting that coffee intake may improve health conditions in the presence of altered intestinal microbiota metabolism.
Article
Agronomy
Aurora Cirillo, Lucia De Luca, Giulia Graziani, Marco Cepparulo, Christophe El-Nakhel, Maria Giordano, Youssef Rouphael, Alberto Ritieni, Raffaele Romano, Claudio Di Vaio
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of three biostimulants on olive tree yield, fruit and oil composition. The results showed that the application of these biostimulants increased the polyphenol content in olive fruits and oil, enhancing their antioxidant capacity and nutritional value.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Alfonso Narvaez, Luana Izzo, Luigi Castaldo, Sonia Lombardi, Yelko Rodriguez-Carrasco, Alberto Ritieni
Summary: Breakfast cereals are highly susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, posing a concerning risk to human health, especially for children. This study aimed to monitor multiple mycotoxins in Italian breakfast cereal samples using advanced analytical techniques. The results revealed that 93% of the samples contained at least one mycotoxin, with beauvericin being the most prevalent toxin. Multiple mycotoxins were found to co-occur in 73% of the positive samples. These findings highlight the need for improved analytical methodologies to detect non-regulated mycotoxins that may go unnoticed with current methods.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Antonella Vitiello, Luana Izzo, Luigi Castaldo, Ivana d'Angelo, Francesca Ungaro, Agnese Miro, Alberto Ritieni, Fabiana Quaglia
Summary: Food supplements containing red yeast rice are commonly used to reduce lipid levels in the blood. The main active ingredient, monacolin K, is a natural compound with similar structure as lovastatin. In this study, the quality profile of red yeast rice supplements marketed in Italy was evaluated, and variations in dosage form uniformity and disintegration time were observed. The bioaccessibility of monacolin K and the contamination of citrinin were also investigated, with no contamination found. These findings suggest the need for greater attention to the quality and safety of marketed products.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aurora Cirillo, Giulia Graziani, Lucia De Luca, Marco Cepparulo, Alberto Ritieni, Raffaele Romano, Claudio Di Vaio
Summary: The effects of climate change on Mediterranean regions have led to increased drought periods and extreme temperatures. The use of anti-transpirant products, such as kaolin, has been found to reduce the damage caused by extreme environmental conditions on olive plants. This study evaluated the effect of kaolin on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of drupes and oil in a little-known olive cultivar. The results showed that kaolin treatments increased the oil content, anthocyanins, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and certain fatty acids in the drupes and oil of the olive cultivar.
Article
Horticulture
Aurora Cirillo, Lucia De Luca, Luana Izzo, Marco Cepparulo, Giulia Graziani, Alberto Ritieni, Raffaele Romano, Claudio Di Vaio
Summary: The Vesuvian apricot includes numerous varieties originating from the same production area and with a long tradition of cultivation. The presence of secondary metabolites, many of which act as antioxidants, makes apricot fruit and its derivatives important for human health. This study analyzed 12 Vesuvian apricot accessions using chemical-physical and nutraceutical analyses. The results showed a wide range of organoleptic characteristics in Vesuvian apricot accessions, providing options for consumers and processors.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria Giordano, Michele Ciriello, Luigi Formisano, Christophe El-Nakhel, Antonio Pannico, Giulia Graziani, Alberto Ritieni, Marios C. Kyriacou, Youssef Rouphael, Stefania De Pascale
Summary: The success of space missions and colonization of extraterrestrial environments require ensuring adequate nutrition for astronauts and independence from terrestrial resources. Microgreens, such as tatsoi, coriander, green basil, and purple basil, can provide a balanced diet and improve the overall nutraceutical profile of astronaut meals. The addition of potassium iodide (KI) at different concentrations increased the level of iodine (I) in the microgreens, resulting in improved antioxidant activity and increased concentration of phenolic acids and flavonoids.
