Annalisa Rotondi

Morphological and molecular analyses for the characterization of a group of Italian olive cultivars

A group of olive varieties, commonlycultivated in the sub-coastal area of theEmilia-Romagna region, in Italys northernolive cultivation area limit, weredescribed using both morphological andmolecular approaches. The morpho-biologicalcharacters of each accession were collectedaccording to the UPOVs descriptor list(International Union for the Protection ofNew Varieties of Plants). Biometric indexesof inflorescence, leaf, fruit, and stone,measured using the Video Image Analysis(VIA), were compared to the molecular dataobtained on the same set of cultivars usingAFLP (Amplified Fragment LengthPolymorphism) and SSR (Simple SequenceRepeat) markers. The morphological andmolecular data led to similarrepresentations of the cultivarrelationships. However, only the AFLP andSSR data were able to characterize specificolive varieties and identify erroneousdenominations and cases of synonymy.

Leaf characteristics and optical properties of different woody species

Abstract Light partition has been examined and evaluated on five woody species (Olea europaea, Ficus carica, Pittosporum tobira, Hedera helix maculata, Persica vulgaris) in relation to their leaf morpho-histological characteristics, water and chlorophyll contents. Leaf parameters and optical properties (reflectance, transmittance, absorbance) in PAR, FR and NIR wavebands (400–1100 nm) were preliminarily submitted to a canonical correlation analysis where lamina thickness and water content showed a leading role in determining all the optical properties, while chlorophyll, influential in the PAR region, was remarkably effective only in an extreme pigment situation when green and albino patches of ivy leaves were compared. Transmittance appeared inversely related to lamina thickness in accordance with the Lambert Beer law. Significant correlations were found also between mesophyll water content and both transmittance (positive) and reflectance (negative). Olive leaves showed peculiar optical patterns because of the dense and continuous trichome layer on their abaxial surface.

Influence of genetic matrix and crop year on chemical and sensory profiles of Italian monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils

BACKGROUND Commercial virgin olive oils belonging to the cultivars (Bosana, Carolea, Coratina, Frantoio, Itrana, Leccino, Moraiolo, Peranzana, Piantone di Mogliano and Ravece) most represented at the Italian National Review of Monovarietal olive oils (Rassegna Nazionale Italiana degli oli Monovarietali) were considered. The evaluation of the influence of the cultivar and of the crop year as well as their interaction on oil composition were statistically analysed by a complete factorial design by principal components analysis and by linear discriminant analysis. RESULTS In fatty acids composition, the effect of the cultivar and crop year and their interaction were highly significant. The statistical analysis showed that the sensory attributes (olive fruity, grassy, fresh almond, artichoke, tomato, aromatic herbs, bitter and pungent) were strongly influenced by the cultivar. The prevalent effect of the cultivar on the sensory profile was also demonstrated by the low or absent level of significance observed in the crop year. CONCLUSION The construction of a databank based on a large number of samples, which is available at URL http://www.olimonovarietali.it, has contributed to the reduction of the variable effects involved in the oil production process. Knowledge of the chemical and sensory profiles of the Italian monovarietal olive oils could start a certification process of these oils, thus giving greater guarantees about their origin.

Blue light regulation of the growth of Prunus persica plants in a long term experiment: morphological and histological observations

Abstract Prunus persica plants were grown under prolonged exposure to different light treatments to determine the interaction between the blue light (BL) receptor and phytochrome and/or an independent BL response in the photoregulation of shoot and leaf development. Different light conditions were established in growth chambers by changing both the state of phytochrome and the BL photon flux density (PFD) at constant photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Furthermore, to evaluate the independent action of the BL photoreceptor, increasing amounts of BL photons were added to the light emitted by low-pressure sodium (LPS) lamps without altering irradiance and phytochrome photoequilibrium. Applying the principle of equivalent light action, the observed blue inhibition of shoot elongation, leaf expansion and thickness were clearly related to a specific BL receptor because the state of phytochrome for each treatment was nearly identical. Increasing amounts of blue photons to light emitted from LPS lamps decreased shoot elongation, whereas leaf expansion was negatively affected only at the highest blue level, suggesting a specific fluence dependence response to BL for each organ and tissue. The BL effect was evident in reducing the thickness of all the leaf tissues except for the upper epidermis, which became thicker. This could be the result of an adaptation to protect the underlying photosynthetic apparatus. Other morphological and anatomical responses to the action of the BL receptor were greatly altered when the state of phytochrome changed in the plant tissues.

Effects of simulated light environments on growth and leaf morphology of peach plants

SummaryThe role of light quality and quantity in regulating growth and differentiation of Prunus persica plants was evaluated using different coloured filters in an outdoor experiment. Examination of total growth showed that neutral shading (80% of transparent control) did not affect shoot length, internode elongation, leaf number, and branching, but strongly influenced the anatomical characteristics of leaves. The combination blue + far red (B + FR) acted quite differently from the combination red + far red (R + FR) and caused a general inhibition of growth phenomena. Shorter and more compact plants were produced under B + FR tunnels where the reduction in shoot elongation was consistent with the reduction in internode length. Furthermore, light transmitted through the B + FR filter resulted in lower branching and in smaller and thinner leaves compared with those grown under the other light treatments. The number of flowers was not affected by either light quality or quantity. The negative effect on grow...

Nutritional Properties of Extra Virgin Olive Oils from the Emilia-Romagna Region: Profiles of Phenols, Vitamins and Fatty Acids

Publisher Summary Emilia-Romagna, along with Apulia, Abruzzo and Tuscany, is one of the four Italian regions where national genetic and sanitary certification processes have started. This process is a definite point of strength for the region, which is now able to benefit from a very solid foundation for a maximum production qualification. The nutritional properties of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) produced in the Emilia-Romagna region have been determined in relation to many principal factors such as the genetic matrix; EVOO nutritional properties will, moreover, be related to the quality of raw materials, particularly considering the influence of both the olive ripening process and the olive preservation time before crushing. In order to obtain information about the nutritional properties of the EVOO produced in Emilia-Romagna, it is important to take into consideration the data regarding fatty acid composition, total phenols and total ortho-diphenols, single minor polar compounds and their antioxidant activity, vitamins and pigments such as tocopherols, lutein, and β-carotene.

An ethanol-based fixation method for anatomical and micro-morphological characterization of leaves of various tree species

Abstract The use of formalin constitutes serious health hazards for laboratory workers. We investigated the suitability and performance of the ethanol-based fixative, FineFIX, as a substitute for formalin for anatomical and cellular structure investigations of leaves by light microscopy and for leaf surface and ultrastructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We compared the anatomical features of leaf materials prepared using conventional formalin fixation with the FineFIX. Leaves were collected from ornamental tree species commonly used in urban areas. FineFIX was also compared with glutaraldehyde fixation and air drying normally used for scanning electron microscopy to develop a new method for evaluating leaf morphology and microstructure in three ornamental tree species. The cytological features of the samples processed for histological analysis were well preserved by both fixatives as demonstrated by the absence of nuclear swelling or shrinkage, cell wall detachment or tissue flaking, and good presentation of cytoplasmic vacuolization. In addition, good preservation of surface details and the absence of shrinkage artefacts confirmed the efficacy of FineFIX fixation for SEM analysis. Cuticular wax was preserved only in air dried samples. Samples treated with chemical substances during the fixation and dehydration phases showed various alterations of the wax structures. In some air dried samples a loss of turgidity of the cells was observed that caused general wrinkling of the epidermal surfaces. Commercial FineFIX is an adequate substitute for formalin in histology and it can be applied successfully also for SEM investigation, while reducing the health risks of glutaraldehyde or other toxic fixatives. To investigate the potential for plants to absorb and capture particulates in air, which requires preservation of the natural morphology of trichomes and epicuticular waxes, a combination of FineFIX fixation and air drying is recommended.

Italian National Database of Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils

In Italy, new regulation was recently introduced forcing virgin and extra virgin olive oil pro‐ ducers to indicate the location of both olive harvest and oil production. More recently the European Commission has established compulsory standards for the labelling of origin for extra virgin and virgin olive oils (Reg EC n.182/2009). The significant increase in demand for extra virgin olive oils is due not only to the health benefits it offers, but also to its organolep‐ tic properties; the large number of Italian olive cultivars allows for the production of differ‐ ent monovarietal oils marked out by a wide range of pleasant flavours.

Optical properties of juniper and lentisk canopies in a coastal Mediterranean macchia shrubland

Abstract. Light absorbance and reflectance were measured on representative shrubs of two dominant shrub species (Pistacia lentiscus and Juniperus phoenicea) of coastal Mediterranean macchia ecosystems in Sardinia (Italy). An array of 64 calibrated photodiodes was adopted for both calculations of leaf area index (LAI) and canopy transmittance of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). PAR and NIR reflectance of canopies having similar LAI allowed us to establish the particular optical properties of each species. Lentisk reflected twice as much as juniper in the 700–1,100 spectral region. Water indexes of the two species were also different in relation to leaf water content and red edge amplitude appeared to be related to chlorophyll content. Epidermis and mesophyll structures of both species are shown.

Influence of olive ripening degree and crusher typology on chemical and sensory characteristics of Correggiolo virgin olive oil

BACKGROUND In this study, two types of crusher, hammer and blade, were used to produce olive oils from cv. Correggiolo olives at four stages of ripeness, to analyse the effect of these two factors on oil quality indices (free acidity, peroxide value, UV absorption), on phenolic compounds content and sensory profiles. Differences in chemical and sensory data were analysed by two-way ANOVA. RESULTS Ripeness exerted a stronger influence than the crushing equipment on quality indices, phenolic content and sensory evaluation; moreover the statistical significance of interaction between the factors considered suggests that they are intertwined. Differences in the texture of olive pastes obtained by squashing and crushing were clearly evident at the first stage of ripeness via observation with a scanning electron microscope. The stronger mechanical action of the hammer crusher also produced smaller pit fragments compared to the blade crusher, as shown by particle size analysis of the kernels fragments. CONCLUSION Knowledge about the interaction between ripening and crushing will allow olive oil producers to pursue a product of the quality most suitable for a particular type of consumer. For example, bitterness and pungency, characters recently connected with health effects because sensory markers of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols, do not have a great sensory appeal for most consumers; however, there is a niche of gourmet estimators interested in these peculiar flavours and ready to pay a premium price for them. The producer will be able to customise the EVOO by modulating its chemical and sensory characteristics, especially the phenolic fraction, thus addressing the needs of consumers with different tastes.