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Balli D, Bellumori M, Masoni A, Moretta M, Palchetti E, Bertaccini B, Mulinacci N, Innocenti M. Proso Millet ( Panicum miliaceum L.) as Alternative Source of Starch and Phenolic Compounds: A Study on Twenty-Five Worldwide Accessions. Molecules 2023; 28:6339. [PMID: 37687168 PMCID: PMC10489065 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Proso millet has been proposed as an effective anti-diabetic food thanks to the combined action of polyphenols and starch. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of twenty-five accessions, in order to enhance this cereal as an alternative to available starch for food applications or to propose new food ingredients with health benefits. Proso millet contained a high percentage of starch, reaching values of 58.51%. The amylose content showed high variability, with values ranging from 1.36 to 42.70%, and significantly higher values were recorded for the white accessions than for the colored ones. High-resistant starch content (13.41-26.07%) was also found. The HPLC-MS analysis showed the same phenolic pattern in all the samples. Cinnamic acids are the most abundant compounds and significant differences in their total content were found (0.69 to 1.35 mg/g DW), while flavonoids were only detected in trace amounts. Statistical results showed significantly higher antiradical activity in the colored accessions than in the white ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Balli
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Florence, Italy; (D.B.); (N.M.); (M.I.)
| | - Maria Bellumori
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Florence, Italy; (D.B.); (N.M.); (M.I.)
| | - Alberto Masoni
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy; (A.M.); (M.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Michele Moretta
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy; (A.M.); (M.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Enrico Palchetti
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy; (A.M.); (M.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Bruno Bertaccini
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications “G. Parenti”, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 59, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Nadia Mulinacci
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Florence, Italy; (D.B.); (N.M.); (M.I.)
| | - Marzia Innocenti
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Florence, Italy; (D.B.); (N.M.); (M.I.)
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Marini L, Palchetti E, Brilli L, Fico G, Giuliani C, Michelozzi M, Cencetti G, Foggi B, Bruschi P. Terpene Profiles Composition and Micromorphological Analysis on Two Wild Populations of Helichrysum spp. from the Tuscan Archipelago (Central Italy). Plants 2022; 11:plants11131719. [PMID: 35807672 PMCID: PMC9269274 DOI: 10.3390/plants11131719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Two wild populations of Helichrysum (Mill.) located at Elba Island (Tuscan Archipelago, Central Italy) were morphologically and phytochemically analyzed to taxonomically identify H. litoreum (population A) and H. italicum subsp. italicum (population B). Micromorphological and histochemical analyses were performed on the indumentum using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Light Microscope (LM). Morphometric analyses on vegetative and reproductive traits were also conducted. Finally, a chemotaxonomic analysis was carried out on the terpene profile of flowers, leaves and bark tissues using gas chromatography (GC-MS). Results suggested that morphological discriminant traits were mainly in leaves and cypselae glandular tissues. Phytochemical analysis indicated that a high relative content of α-pinene and β-caryophyllene were the main markers for population A, while a high relative content of neryl-acetate, α-curcumene, isoitalicene and italicene, especially in the terpene profile of bark tissue, were the main compounds for discriminating population B. The analysis suggested that the wild population A could be mainly ascribed to H. litoreum, whilst population B is defined by H. italicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Marini
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, DAGRI, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy; (E.P.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-055-275580
| | - Enrico Palchetti
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, DAGRI, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy; (E.P.); (P.B.)
| | - Lorenzo Brilli
- Institute for the BioEconomy, National Research Council, CNR-IBE, Via Giovanni Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Gelsomina Fico
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (G.F.); (C.G.)
| | - Claudia Giuliani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (G.F.); (C.G.)
| | - Marco Michelozzi
- Institute of Bioscience and BioResources, National Research Council, CNR-IBBR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.)
| | - Gabriele Cencetti
- Institute of Bioscience and BioResources, National Research Council, CNR-IBBR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.M.); (G.C.)
| | - Bruno Foggi
- Department of Biology, BIO, University of Florence, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Piero Bruschi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, DAGRI, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy; (E.P.); (P.B.)
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Corti E, Palchetti E, Biricolti S, Gori M, Tani C, Squillace A, Pittella A, Papini A, Falsini S. Histochemical observations in Piper malgassicum (Piperaceae) with a special focus on the epidermis. IB 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/italianbotanist.12.70675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the first contribution about the histochemistry of vegetative and reproductive aerial organs in the genus Piper L. Piper malgassicum accumulates alkaloids and terpenes in the epidermis and the underlying layers of parenchyma, both in the leaves, in the stems and in anthers. Some idioblasts appear to contain a large amount of secondary metabolites. The micro-anatomical analysis showed peculiar secretory structures both in the leaves, in the anthers and in the ovary. Several lipid aggregates, alkaloid droplets and calcium oxalate crystals were observed in leaves and stems, indicating their role in defence strategies, mechanical support, and pollinators attraction. In the anthers, we observed elaioplasts whose content suggest an alternative and indirect function in pollination and defence against micro-organisms. Besides, some lipid aggregates surrounded by microtubules, detected in the anthers, were recognized as lipotubuloids. The tapetum was of secretory type.
Alkaloids and terpenes were widely distributed in the plant confirming the important biological role of this type of biomolecules and its functional range. In the anthers, terpene and polyphenol inclusions appeared particularly abundant in the epidermal layer, whereas calcium oxalate crystals were observed close to the ovule in the ovary at maturity.
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Boukail S, Macharia M, Miculan M, Masoni A, Calamai A, Palchetti E, Dell'Acqua M. Genome wide association study of agronomic and seed traits in a world collection of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.). BMC Plant Biol 2021; 21:330. [PMID: 34243721 PMCID: PMC8268170 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03111-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The climate crisis threatens sustainability of crop production worldwide. Crop diversification may enhance food security while reducing the negative impacts of climate change. Proso millet (Panicum milaceum L.) is a minor cereal crop which holds potential for diversification and adaptation to different environmental conditions. In this study, we assembled a world collection of proso millet consisting of 88 varieties and landraces to investigate its genomic and phenotypic diversity for seed traits, and to identify marker-trait associations (MTA). RESULTS Sequencing of restriction-site associated DNA fragments yielded 494 million reads and 2,412 high quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs were used to study the diversity in the collection and perform a genome wide association study (GWAS). A genotypic diversity analysis separated accessions originating in Western Europe, Eastern Asia and Americas from accessions sampled in Southern Asia, Western Asia, and Africa. A Bayesian structure analysis reported four cryptic genetic groups, showing that landraces accessions had a significant level of admixture and that most of the improved proso millet materials clustered separately from landraces. The collection was highly diverse for seed traits, with color varying from white to dark brown and width spanning from 1.8 to 2.6 mm. A GWAS study for seed morphology traits identified 10 MTAs. In addition, we identified three MTAs for agronomic traits that were previously measured on the collection. CONCLUSION Using genomics and automated seed phenotyping, we elucidated phylogenetic relationships and seed diversity in a global millet collection. Overall, we identified 13 MTAs for key agronomic and seed traits indicating the presence of alleles with potential for application in proso breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameh Boukail
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mercy Macharia
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mara Miculan
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Masoni
- School of Agriculture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Matteo Dell'Acqua
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
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Frizzi F, Masoni A, Çelikkol M, Palchetti E, Ciofi C, Chelazzi G, Santini G. Serpentine soils affect heavy metal tolerance but not genetic diversity in a common Mediterranean ant. Chemosphere 2017; 180:326-334. [PMID: 28412490 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Natural habitats with serpentine soils are rich in heavy metal ions, which may significantly affect ecological communities. Exposure to metal pollutants results, for instance, in a reduction of population genetic diversity and a diffused higher tolerance towards heavy metals. In this study, we investigated whether chronic exposure to metals in serpentine soils affect accumulation patterns, tolerance towards metal pollutants, and genetic diversity in ants. In particular, we studied colonies of the common Mediterranean ant, Crematogaster scutellaris, along a contamination gradient consisting of two differently contaminated forests and a reference soil with no geogenic contamination. We first evaluated the metal content in both soil and ants' body. Then, we tested for tolerance towards metal pollutants by evaluating the mortality of ants fed with nickel (Ni) solutions of increasing concentrations. Finally, differences in genetic diversity among ants from different areas were assessed using eight microsatellite loci. Interestingly, a higher tolerance to nickel solutions was found in ants sampled in sites with intermediate levels of heavy metals. This may occur, because ants inhabiting strongly contaminated areas tend to accumulate higher amounts of contaminants. Additional ingestion of toxicants beyond the saturation threshold would lead to death. There was no difference in the genetic diversity among ant colonies sampled in different sites. This was probably the result of queen mediated gene flow during nuptial flights across uncontaminated and contaminated areas of limited geographical extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Frizzi
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Alberto Masoni
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Mine Çelikkol
- İstanbul University, Institute of Science, Department of Biology, PK 34134, Vezneciler, Fatih, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Enrico Palchetti
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agroalimentari e dell'Ambiente (DISPAA), Piazzale delle Cascine, 18, 50144, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Ciofi
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Guido Chelazzi
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Giacomo Santini
- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
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Whittaker A, Marotti I, Dinelli G, Calamai L, Romagnoli S, Manzelli M, Palchetti E, Vecchio V, Benedettelli S. The influence of tuber mineral element composition as a function of geographical location on acrylamide formation in different Italian potato genotypes. J Sci Food Agric 2010; 90:1968-1976. [PMID: 20582923 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.4026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study was aimed at examining the effect of tuber mineral composition, distinctive for geographical location, on the expression of acrylamide precursors in three potato genotypes (Arinda, Rossa di Cetica and Sieglinde) in three Italian potato cultivation regions (Puglia, Sicily and Tuscany). RESULTS Sucrose and amino acids were not correlated with acrylamide formation. In contrast, reducing sugars, limiting with respect to the principal amino acid precursor asparagine, were positively correlated with acrylamide. From analysis of variance, both acrylamide and reducing sugars were not significant for variety but highly significant for location, with higher levels occurring in all three varieties cultivated in Tuscany, followed by Sicily and Puglia respectively. Reducing sugars were negatively correlated with K and Ca and positively correlated with Zn and Cu. Neither N nor P was correlated with reducing sugar content. Path analysis, a statistical technique distinguishing causation and correlation between variables, was implemented to provide additional insight on the interactions between mineral elements and reducing sugars under open field conditions. The variation in reducing sugars in all three varieties was shown to be attributable to Zn. CONCLUSION Cultivation location has a significant impact on the composition of tuber mineral elements and, as a result, on genotype in the expression of reducing sugars. The negative correlation between Zn and K and the variation in reducing sugar content attributed to the element Zn, which is particularly available in acid soils, are important factors warranting future research aimed at reducing acrylamide formation from an agronomic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Whittaker
- Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence; Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I-50144 Florence, Italy.
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