Anatomical and biochemical studies of Spartium junceum infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex ST 87

Spartium junceum L. is a typical species of Mediterranean shrubland areas, also grown in gardens and parks as an ornamental. In recent years in Europe, S. junceum has been recurrently found to be infected by different subspecies and genotypes of the quarantine regulated bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). This work presents for the first time the anatomy of S. junceum plants that we found, by means of genetic and immunochemistry analysis, to be naturally infected by Xf subsp. multiplex ST87 (XfmST87) in Monte Argentario (Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy), a new outbreak area within the EU. Our anatomical observations showed that bacteria colonized exclusively the xylem conductive elements and moved horizontally to adjacent vessels through pits. Interestingly, a pink/violet matrix was observed with Toluidine blue staining in infected conduits indicating a high content of acidic polysaccharides. In particular, when this pink-staining matrix was observed, bacterial cells were either absent or degenerated, suggesting that the matrix was produced by the host plant as a defense response against bacterial spread. In addition, a blue-staining phenolic material was found in the vessels and, at high concentration, in the pits and inter-vessels. SEM micrographs confirmed that polysaccharide and phenolic components showed different structures, which appear to be related to two different morphologies: fibrillary and granular, respectively. Moreover, our LM observations revealed bacterial infection in xylem conductive elements of green shoots and leaves only, and not in those of other plant organs such as roots and flowers.

Industrial scale bio-detoxification of raw olive mill wastewaters by the use of selected microbial yeast and bacterial strains to obtain a new source for fertigation

The Olive Mill Wastewaters (OMWs) are one of the most important agro-industrial wastes of the Mediterranean Countries and the disposal by draining them onto land has been proved to be damaging for soils, plants and groundwater due to their polluting power. The present report describes a new method for bio-detoxification of undiluted fresh OMW based on the driven selection of aerobic yeasts and bacteria. The identified yeast Candida boidinii A5y and the bacterium Paenibacillus albidus R32b strains allowed the treatment of freshly produced raw OMW characterized by very high COD value and phenolic content, when applied as sequential inoculum. The treated OMW showed the absence of antimicrobial effects and a strongly reduction of phytotoxic activity on the germination of several plant seeds. The process was successfully validated on an industrial scale without any pre-treatment, dilution and/or supplementation of the raw waste. Bio-detoxified OMW produced by this sustainable and low-cost process would be suitable for new non-chemical fertigation or soilless applications. The described procedure represents a virtuous example of circular economy efficaciously applied for a depleting agri-food resource.

Selection of non-conventional yeasts and their use in immobilized form for the bioremediation of olive oil mill wastewaters

The yeast population dynamics in olive wastewaters (OMW), sampled in five mills from Salento (Apulia, Southern Italy), were investigated. Three hundred yeasts were isolated in five industrial mills and identified by molecular analysis. Strains belonging to Geotrichum, Saccharomyces, Pichia, Rhodotorula and Candida were detected. Five G. candidum strains were able to grow in OMW as the sole carbon source and to reduce phenolics, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and antimicrobial compounds. One G. candidum isolate was selected for whole-cell immobilization in calcium alginate gel. The COD and phenolic reduction obtained with immobilized cells showed a 2.2- and 2-fold increase compared to the removal obtained with free cells, respectively. The immobilization system enhanced yeast oxidative activity by avoiding the presence of microbial protease in treated OMW. To our knowledge, this is the first report on G. candidum whole-cell immobilization for OMW bioremediation.

Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from must of grape grown in experimental vineyard

AIMS

Isolation and characterization of indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from 12 grape varieties grown in an experimental vineyard of Apulia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty to 40 colonies from each of the 12 fermentations were obtained at the end stage of spontaneous fermentation. By using morphological and physiological methods and by the PCR analysis of internal transcribed ITS1-5,8S-ITS2, the isolates belonging to Saccharomyces genus were identified. These isolates were further characterized by amplification with S. cerevisiae species- and delta element-specific primers, thus allowing the identification of S. cerevisiae strains selected from each of the 12 fermentations. By means of RFLP analysis of mtDNA, each S. cerevisiae population isolated from a single fermentation appeared to constitute a genetically homogenous group. The comparison of the 12 cultivar-specific mtDNA RFLP patterns, allowed classifying the 12 S. cerevisiae populations into three genetically homogenous groups. The isolated strains fermented vigorously in synthetic and grape juice medium and showed high alcohol and sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) resistance and low hydrogen sulphite (H(2)S) production.

CONCLUSIONS

The molecular analysis, in conjunction with the traditional morphological and physiological methods, was useful in discriminating at strain level the indigenous population of S. cerevisiae present in a vineyard of Apulia. The dominant S. cerevisiae strains identified in the 12 fermented musts showed potentially important oenological characteristics.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The characterization of natural S. cerevisiae strains from several typical Italian grapes grown in a restricted experimental vineyard is an important step towards the preservation and exploitation of yeast biodiversity of Apulia, a relevant wine-producing region. The close relationship between the S. cerevisiae strains from different grapes grown in the same vineyard indicated that the occurrence of native strains is representative of the area rather than of the variety of grapes.