Ricerc@Sapienza

In this research, we isolated the sesquiterpenoids isofuranodiene and germacrone from the essential oil of Smyrnium olusatrum (Apiaceae), and evaluated their potential against Tetranychus urticae (Tetranychidae), an important agricultural pest, which attacks over two hundred species of plants. We evaluated both compounds for their acute and chronic toxicity via tarsal toxicity assays and oviposition inhibitory effects.

The recent outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases, such as chikungunya and Zika virus, highlighted the pivotal importance of effective mosquito control programs. Nowadays, Culicidae management is being challenging, due to the rapid development of resistance to synthetic pesticides and the spread of highly invasive mosquito vectors worldwide.

Malaria mortality rates have fallen by 47% globally since 2000 and by 54% in the African region, but they are still a major problem. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, vectored to people through Anopheles mosquitoes, which mainly bite between dusk and dawn. Currently, a growing number of Plasmodium species and strains developed resistance to the most commonly used anti-malarial drugs. Chloroquine (CQ), the most commonly used anti-malarial drug, actually is not effective in a number of cases, and growing Plasmodium resistance has been already observed to artemisinin.

The differential degree by which paraheliotropism may counterbalance the deleterious impact of high irradiance between congeneric species in relation to different water availabilities has been poorly investigated. We followed the evolution of gas exchange, quenching analysis and OJIP parameters in restrained (R) and free (F) to move leaves of Cistus monspeliensis (CM) and Cistus salvifolius (CS) under drought stress (WS) and well-watered conditions (WW).

A rapid and selective method for the determination of phosphatidylcholine (PC) is described. It is based on the use of a single packed bed reactor in which phospholipase C, alkaline phosphatase and choline oxidase are co-immobilized on long chain-alkylamino controlled pore glass. The detection of hydrogen peroxide, that is the final product of subsequent enzymatic reactions occurring within the bioreactor, is used for the determination of PC in a dietary supplement. The results of triplicate analysis show a coefficient of variation of 5%.

The increase of L-Ascorbic Acid (AsA) content in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a common goal in breeding programs due to its beneficial effect on human health. To shed light into the regulation of fruit AsA content, we exploited a Solanum pennellii introgression line (IL12-4-SL) harbouring one quantitative trait locus that increases the content of total AsA in the fruit. Biochemical and transcriptomic analyses were carried out in fruits of IL12-4-SL in comparison with the cultivated line M82 at different stages of ripening.

Classical biological control of weeds depends on finding agents that are highly host-specific. This requires not only correctly understanding the identity of the target plant, sometimes to subspecific levels, in order to find suitable agents, but also identifying agents that are sufficiently specific to be safe and effective. Behavioral experiments and molecular genetic tools have revealed that some arthropod species previously thought to be polyphagous really consist of multiple cryptic species, host races or biotypes, some of which are more host-specific than others.

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), non essential, but toxic, elements for animals and plants are frequently present in paddy fields. Oryza sativa L., a staple food for at least the half of world population, easily absorbs As and Cd by the root, and in this organ the pollutants evoke consistent damages, reducing/modifying the root system. Auxins are key hormones in regulating all developmental processes, including root organogenesis. Moreover, plants respond to environmental stresses, such as those caused by Cd and As, by changing levels and distribution of endogenous phytohormones.