Federico Berli - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Federico Berli

ACS food science & technology, Jul 25, 2023

Frontiers in Plant Science, May 26, 2022

Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the p... more Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the plant and the environment. Winemakers around the world are demanding a better understanding of the factors that influence berry growth and development. In the last decades, an increment in air temperature, CO 2 concentration and dryness occurred in wine-producing regions, affecting the physiology and the biochemistry of grapevines, and by consequence the berry quality. The scientific community mostly agrees in a further raise as a result of climate change during the rest of the century. As a consequence, areas most suitable for viticulture are likely to shift into higher altitudes where mean temperatures are suitable for grape cultivation. High altitude can be defined as the minimum altitude at which the grapevine growth and development are differentially affected. At these high altitudes, the environments are characterized by high thermal amplitudes and great solar radiations, especially ultraviolet-B (UV-B). This review summarizes the environmental contribution of global high altitude-related climatic variables to the grapevine physiology and wine composition, for a better evaluation of the possible establishment of vineyards at high altitude in climate change scenarios.

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Dec 1, 2016

Plant in Challenging Environments, 2021

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Aug 1, 2021

Water stress triggers acclimation responses and can damage plants, which varies by species and st... more Water stress triggers acclimation responses and can damage plants, which varies by species and stress levels. Ongoing climate change is projected to result in longer and more intense water stress conditions leading to an alarming increase in drought-induced forest decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses of leaves and stem wood anatomy from Araucaria araucana pot-grown three-year old seedlings, a conifer tree from northwestern Patagonia. Plants were subjected to moderate and severe water restriction regimes and compared to well-watered controls. Severe water stress reduced relative leaf water content and triggered an accumulation of free proline in leaves, regardless of age. Epicuticular wax extrusions increased in apical leaf stomata while photosynthetic pigments decreased, resulting in differential oxidative damage. The concentration of phenolic compounds was not affected by water restrictions. Plants exposed to restricted water regimes showed diminished middle leaf biomass and expansion (~60% of total leaves), increased stem wood density, and experienced 7% and 30% mortality rates under moderate and severe water stress, respectively. Our findings suggest that under moderate water stress, analogous to short-term droughts, A. araucana seedlings activate physiological mechanisms that allow them to withstand short periods of drought, while more severe water stress and longer droughts can be severely harmful.

Physiologia Plantarum, May 31, 2014

Production of phytohormones is one of the main mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of pl... more Production of phytohormones is one of the main mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Azospirillum sp. The PGPRs induce plant growth and development, and reduce stress susceptibility. However, little is known regarding the stress‐related phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) produced by bacteria. We investigated the effects of Azospirillum brasilense Sp 245 strain on Arabidopsis thaliana Col‐0 and aba2‐1 mutant plants, evaluating the morphophysiological and biochemical responses when watered and in drought. We used an in vitro‐grown system to study changes in the root volume and architecture after inoculation with Azospirillum in Arabidopsis wild‐type Col‐0 and on the mutant aba2‐1, during early growth. To examine Arabidopsis development and reproductive success as affected by the bacteria, ABA and drought, a pot experiment using Arabidopsis Col‐0 plants was also carried out. Azospirillum brasilense augmented plant biomass, altered root architecture by increasing lateral roots number, stimulated photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments and retarded water loss in correlation with incremented ABA levels. As well, inoculation improved plants seed yield, plants survival, proline levels and relative leaf water content; it also decreased stomatal conductance, malondialdehyde and relative soil water content in plants submitted to drought. Arabidopsis inoculation with A. brasilense improved plants performance, especially in drought.

Plants, May 8, 2021

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Plant Science, Aug 1, 2017

Influence of altitude and enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on tuber production, seed viability, l... more Influence of altitude and enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on tuber production, seed viability, leaf pigments and morphology in the wild potato species Solanum kurtzianum Bitter and Wittm collected from an elevational gradient

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Apr 16, 2008

The responses of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malbec to different solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) l... more The responses of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malbec to different solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) levels were assessed in two contrasting situations, under sunlight with full UV-B (+UV-B) and filtered UV-B (-UV-B), in three different locations at 500, 1000, and 1500 m above sea level (asl). To evaluate the effects of radiation, a simple, accurate, and rapid method for the separation and simultaneous determination of representative phenolic compounds in grape berry skins by capillary zone electrophoresis was developed. Separation was carried out in less than 20 min with 20 mM sodium tetraborate buffer containing 30% methanol, pH 9.00. The procedure is fast and reliable, and extracted grape berry skins can be directly analyzed without prior sample cleanup procedure. Berry skins from the +UV-B treatment at 1500 m asl showed the highest levels of total polyphenols anthocyanins, and resveratrol, compared with the-UV-B treatment at this altitude.

Applied Soil Ecology, 2017

The element As is ubiquitous in nature and it has been reported all over the world in irrigation ... more The element As is ubiquitous in nature and it has been reported all over the world in irrigation and drinking water. Bacterization with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) may increase plant growth and minimize stress and toxic effects of many abiotic factors. The aim of this study was to test the ability of As(III) tolerant PGPR isolated from grapevine rhizosphere to minimize As toxic effect in in vitro grapevine cv. Malbec. Nine bacterial strains were tested adding different NaAsO 2 concentrations to the medium. According to their As(III) tolerance and PGP traits, Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas fluorescens were selected. B. licheniformis and M. luteus (both highly tolerant to As(III)) had the ability to produce siderophores in presence of high NaAsO 2 concentration, but only M. luteus solubilized phosphates and fixed N 2 under such condition. In vitro-grown grapevine plants were bacterized with the PGPR and added or not (controls) with NaAsO 2. M. luteus increased plant biomass and protein content, while B. licheniformis only increased plant biomass, and P. fluorescens, less tolerant to As (III), had no effect. Depending on the treatments combination antioxidant enzymes were differentially affected. In presence of NaAsO 2 , all the strains increased catalase; B. licheniformis enhanced ascorbate peroxidase, while M. luteus and P. fluorescens augmented peroxidase activity. The results showed a significant decrease of NaAsO 2 toxic effect in in vitro grapevines inoculated with M. luteus, suggesting that this bacterium is a good candidate for bioremediation towards As(III) contamination. 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plant and Soil, Apr 3, 2021

Background and aims In Vitis vinifera L., the same genotype can express different phenotypic char... more Background and aims In Vitis vinifera L., the same genotype can express different phenotypic characteristics depending on the environmental conditions, e.g. soil deepness. Wood anatomy, specifically xylem vessel traits, provide information about the plant's eco-physiological responses to the environment. Slight changes in vessel diameter and density may impact plant hydrosystem functionality, since large vessels are more efficient in the volume of transported water compared to narrower ones, although the latter are more effective in avoiding stress-induced embolism. The aim of this study was to analyze variations in the wood hydraulic structure of three grapevine cultivars, induced by soils with strong contrast in depth, texture and rock volume, providing evidence of their adaptative capacities. Methods Anatomical and growth traits of each annual growth ring were measured in 8-year-old plants of Bonarda, Malbec and Tempranillo cultivars growing in contrasting depths of soils. Results Bonarda exhibited no differences in wood productivity between soils with different depths, showing the ability to modulate the earlywood vessel lumen area. Malbec and Tempranillo did show differences in wood productivity between the two types of soils, with major changes in the trade-off between vessel density and lumen area in Tempranillo, while in Malbec there were few changes in the vessel traits. Conclusions Xylem hydraulic characteristics of the grapevine stems varied in response to soil environment and cultivar. This knowledge may help to select management strategies in areas of soil heterogeneity.

Bosque, Apr 1, 2023

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) has become an important health food as one of the berries with the ... more Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) has become an important health food as one of the berries with the highest known levels of antioxidant capacity, and its international demand has therefore increased. There is currently no cultivation of this species in Argentina, so all that is marketed comes from wild harvesting, with an inherent risk of resource degradation. Therefore, a process of domestication of this species has been initiated. Fifteen female and three male individuals (pollinators) were selected from previously identified natural populations of maqui from two forest types, coihue-or cypress-dominated. Those individuals were propagated vegetatively and the plants grown were installed in a cultivation plot under controlled conditions of solar radiation and water supply. Total height and diameter of main axes were measured in female clones during three consecutive seasons. Growth was modulated by the contrasting levels of solar radiation assayed, but not by the different levels of water supply. Clones growing under direct sunlight grew taller than those under shade net. Growth in height was higher in the second season, while in the third season the clones grew less in height but more in the sectional area of stems. No flowering or fruiting was observed in any clone or season. Maqui demonstrated the ability to acclimatise to culture conditions. This work constitutes the first study of selected maqui clones in the Andean-Patagonian forests of Argentina, with the aim of developing a productive alternative for farmers in the region.

American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Oct 1, 2014

Bodega Catena Zapata scholarship. The authors thank the statistical assistance of M. Balzarini an... more Bodega Catena Zapata scholarship. The authors thank the statistical assistance of M. Balzarini and M. Alberto and the technical support of L. Bolcato.

Plant Cell and Environment, Dec 1, 2009

We investigated the interactions of abscisic acid (ABA) in the responses of grape leaf tissues to... more We investigated the interactions of abscisic acid (ABA) in the responses of grape leaf tissues to contrasting ultraviolet (UV)-B treatments. One-year-old field-grown plants of Vitis vinifera L. were exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) where solar UV-B was eliminated by using polyester filters, or where PAR was supplemented with UV-B irradiation. Treatments combinations included weekly foliar sprays of ABA or a water control. The levels of UV-B absorbing flavonols, quercetin and kaempferol were significantly decreased by filtering out UV-B, while applied ABA increased their content. Concentration of two hydroxycinnamic acids, caffeic and ferulic acids, were also increased by ABA, but not affected by plus UV-B (+UV-B) treatments. Levels of carotenoids and activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase were elevated by +ABA treatments, but only if +UV-B was given. Cell membrane b-sitosterol was enhanced by ABA independently of +UV-B. Changes in photoprotective compounds, antioxidant enzymatic activities and sterols were correlated with lessened membrane harm by UV-B, as assessed by ion leakage. Oxidative damage expressed as malondialdehyde content was increased under +UV-B treatments. Our results suggest that the defence system of grape leaf tissues against UV-B is activated by UV-B irradiation with ABA acting downstream in the signalling pathway.

OENO One

Many commercial vineyards of Malbec, the most cultivated grapevine in Argentina, show unstable yi... more Many commercial vineyards of Malbec, the most cultivated grapevine in Argentina, show unstable yield because of variations in bud fruitfulness and the occurrence of “shatter”, characterised by poor fruit set and fruitlet abscission. Shatter can be due to plant material, growing conditions and meteorological events. Among the parameters that determine fruit set efficiency and vine yield, the availability of carbohydrates (CH) plays an essential role. We previously showed that controlling CH partitioning by removing part of the phloem tissue through an annular incision at the base of the fruit shoots (shoot girdling) reduced shatter in Malbec. The objective of this research was to evaluate the partitioning of CH for the different sink organs of the aerial part of the plant when an interruption of phloem flux from leaves to storage organs is imposed by a girdle. Shoot and trunk girdling trials were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, respectively. At flowering, girdling...

Plants

The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple ... more The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple and two non-purple (one orange and one yellow) carrot accessions for concentration of root anthocyanins, phenolics, and carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity estimated by four different methods (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), in a partially replicated experimental design comprising data from two growing seasons (2018 and 2019). Broad and significant (p < 0.0001) variation was found among the accessions for all the traits. Acylated anthocyanins (AA) predominated over non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA) in all the accessions and years analyzed, with AA accounting for 55.5–100% of the total anthocyanin content (TAC). Anthocyanins acylated with ferulic acid and coumaric acid were the most abundant carrot anthocyanins. In general, black or solid purple carrots had the greatest TAC and total phenolic content (TPC), and the strongest antioxidant capacities, measured by all methods. Antioxidant capacit...

OENO One

The high-altitude viticulture of Mendoza is being increasingly recognised among the top wine regi... more The high-altitude viticulture of Mendoza is being increasingly recognised among the top wine regions worldwide. High levels of solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, alluvial heterogeneous soils and cool night temperatures are major influences on Vitis vinifera L. phenotypic characteristics, especially on Malbec, Argentina’s emblematic grapevine variety. In the present work, the effect of intra-vineyard contrasting soil depth on Malbec was evaluated in a high-altitude vineyard (1450 m a.s.l.), over two growing seasons for physiological traits and over three vintages for yield components and berry skin phenolic compounds. The experiment was carried out in two parcels of shallow (SS) and deep (DS) soils, with different physico-chemical characteristics, and submitted to equal irrigation and crop management. Results showed that root depth was not limited by any soil physical constraints and fine roots (< 1 mm) were patchily distributed in sites with higher contents of silt, clay and o...

Allium sp. vegetables are widely consumed for their characteristic flavour. Additionally, their c... more Allium sp. vegetables are widely consumed for their characteristic flavour. Additionally, their consumption may provide protection against cardiovascular disease due to their antiplatelet and antioxidant activities. Although antiplatelet and antioxidant activities in Allium sp. are generally recognised, comparative studies of antiplatelet and antioxidant potency among the main Allium vegetable species are lacking. Also, the relationship between organosulfur and phenolic compounds and these biological activities has not been well established. In this study, the in vitro antiplatelet and antioxidant activities of the most widely consumed Allium species are characterised and compared. The species total organosulfur and phenolic content, and the HPLC profiles of 11 phenolic compounds were characterised and used to investigate the relationship between these compounds and antiplatelet and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, antiplatelet activities in chives and shallot have been characte...

ACS food science & technology, Jul 25, 2023

Frontiers in Plant Science, May 26, 2022

Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the p... more Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the plant and the environment. Winemakers around the world are demanding a better understanding of the factors that influence berry growth and development. In the last decades, an increment in air temperature, CO 2 concentration and dryness occurred in wine-producing regions, affecting the physiology and the biochemistry of grapevines, and by consequence the berry quality. The scientific community mostly agrees in a further raise as a result of climate change during the rest of the century. As a consequence, areas most suitable for viticulture are likely to shift into higher altitudes where mean temperatures are suitable for grape cultivation. High altitude can be defined as the minimum altitude at which the grapevine growth and development are differentially affected. At these high altitudes, the environments are characterized by high thermal amplitudes and great solar radiations, especially ultraviolet-B (UV-B). This review summarizes the environmental contribution of global high altitude-related climatic variables to the grapevine physiology and wine composition, for a better evaluation of the possible establishment of vineyards at high altitude in climate change scenarios.

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Dec 1, 2016

Plant in Challenging Environments, 2021

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Aug 1, 2021

Water stress triggers acclimation responses and can damage plants, which varies by species and st... more Water stress triggers acclimation responses and can damage plants, which varies by species and stress levels. Ongoing climate change is projected to result in longer and more intense water stress conditions leading to an alarming increase in drought-induced forest decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses of leaves and stem wood anatomy from Araucaria araucana pot-grown three-year old seedlings, a conifer tree from northwestern Patagonia. Plants were subjected to moderate and severe water restriction regimes and compared to well-watered controls. Severe water stress reduced relative leaf water content and triggered an accumulation of free proline in leaves, regardless of age. Epicuticular wax extrusions increased in apical leaf stomata while photosynthetic pigments decreased, resulting in differential oxidative damage. The concentration of phenolic compounds was not affected by water restrictions. Plants exposed to restricted water regimes showed diminished middle leaf biomass and expansion (~60% of total leaves), increased stem wood density, and experienced 7% and 30% mortality rates under moderate and severe water stress, respectively. Our findings suggest that under moderate water stress, analogous to short-term droughts, A. araucana seedlings activate physiological mechanisms that allow them to withstand short periods of drought, while more severe water stress and longer droughts can be severely harmful.

Physiologia Plantarum, May 31, 2014

Production of phytohormones is one of the main mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of pl... more Production of phytohormones is one of the main mechanisms to explain the beneficial effects of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Azospirillum sp. The PGPRs induce plant growth and development, and reduce stress susceptibility. However, little is known regarding the stress‐related phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) produced by bacteria. We investigated the effects of Azospirillum brasilense Sp 245 strain on Arabidopsis thaliana Col‐0 and aba2‐1 mutant plants, evaluating the morphophysiological and biochemical responses when watered and in drought. We used an in vitro‐grown system to study changes in the root volume and architecture after inoculation with Azospirillum in Arabidopsis wild‐type Col‐0 and on the mutant aba2‐1, during early growth. To examine Arabidopsis development and reproductive success as affected by the bacteria, ABA and drought, a pot experiment using Arabidopsis Col‐0 plants was also carried out. Azospirillum brasilense augmented plant biomass, altered root architecture by increasing lateral roots number, stimulated photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments and retarded water loss in correlation with incremented ABA levels. As well, inoculation improved plants seed yield, plants survival, proline levels and relative leaf water content; it also decreased stomatal conductance, malondialdehyde and relative soil water content in plants submitted to drought. Arabidopsis inoculation with A. brasilense improved plants performance, especially in drought.

Plants, May 8, 2021

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Plant Science, Aug 1, 2017

Influence of altitude and enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on tuber production, seed viability, l... more Influence of altitude and enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on tuber production, seed viability, leaf pigments and morphology in the wild potato species Solanum kurtzianum Bitter and Wittm collected from an elevational gradient

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Apr 16, 2008

The responses of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malbec to different solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) l... more The responses of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malbec to different solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) levels were assessed in two contrasting situations, under sunlight with full UV-B (+UV-B) and filtered UV-B (-UV-B), in three different locations at 500, 1000, and 1500 m above sea level (asl). To evaluate the effects of radiation, a simple, accurate, and rapid method for the separation and simultaneous determination of representative phenolic compounds in grape berry skins by capillary zone electrophoresis was developed. Separation was carried out in less than 20 min with 20 mM sodium tetraborate buffer containing 30% methanol, pH 9.00. The procedure is fast and reliable, and extracted grape berry skins can be directly analyzed without prior sample cleanup procedure. Berry skins from the +UV-B treatment at 1500 m asl showed the highest levels of total polyphenols anthocyanins, and resveratrol, compared with the-UV-B treatment at this altitude.

Applied Soil Ecology, 2017

The element As is ubiquitous in nature and it has been reported all over the world in irrigation ... more The element As is ubiquitous in nature and it has been reported all over the world in irrigation and drinking water. Bacterization with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) may increase plant growth and minimize stress and toxic effects of many abiotic factors. The aim of this study was to test the ability of As(III) tolerant PGPR isolated from grapevine rhizosphere to minimize As toxic effect in in vitro grapevine cv. Malbec. Nine bacterial strains were tested adding different NaAsO 2 concentrations to the medium. According to their As(III) tolerance and PGP traits, Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas fluorescens were selected. B. licheniformis and M. luteus (both highly tolerant to As(III)) had the ability to produce siderophores in presence of high NaAsO 2 concentration, but only M. luteus solubilized phosphates and fixed N 2 under such condition. In vitro-grown grapevine plants were bacterized with the PGPR and added or not (controls) with NaAsO 2. M. luteus increased plant biomass and protein content, while B. licheniformis only increased plant biomass, and P. fluorescens, less tolerant to As (III), had no effect. Depending on the treatments combination antioxidant enzymes were differentially affected. In presence of NaAsO 2 , all the strains increased catalase; B. licheniformis enhanced ascorbate peroxidase, while M. luteus and P. fluorescens augmented peroxidase activity. The results showed a significant decrease of NaAsO 2 toxic effect in in vitro grapevines inoculated with M. luteus, suggesting that this bacterium is a good candidate for bioremediation towards As(III) contamination. 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plant and Soil, Apr 3, 2021

Background and aims In Vitis vinifera L., the same genotype can express different phenotypic char... more Background and aims In Vitis vinifera L., the same genotype can express different phenotypic characteristics depending on the environmental conditions, e.g. soil deepness. Wood anatomy, specifically xylem vessel traits, provide information about the plant's eco-physiological responses to the environment. Slight changes in vessel diameter and density may impact plant hydrosystem functionality, since large vessels are more efficient in the volume of transported water compared to narrower ones, although the latter are more effective in avoiding stress-induced embolism. The aim of this study was to analyze variations in the wood hydraulic structure of three grapevine cultivars, induced by soils with strong contrast in depth, texture and rock volume, providing evidence of their adaptative capacities. Methods Anatomical and growth traits of each annual growth ring were measured in 8-year-old plants of Bonarda, Malbec and Tempranillo cultivars growing in contrasting depths of soils. Results Bonarda exhibited no differences in wood productivity between soils with different depths, showing the ability to modulate the earlywood vessel lumen area. Malbec and Tempranillo did show differences in wood productivity between the two types of soils, with major changes in the trade-off between vessel density and lumen area in Tempranillo, while in Malbec there were few changes in the vessel traits. Conclusions Xylem hydraulic characteristics of the grapevine stems varied in response to soil environment and cultivar. This knowledge may help to select management strategies in areas of soil heterogeneity.

Bosque, Apr 1, 2023

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) has become an important health food as one of the berries with the ... more Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) has become an important health food as one of the berries with the highest known levels of antioxidant capacity, and its international demand has therefore increased. There is currently no cultivation of this species in Argentina, so all that is marketed comes from wild harvesting, with an inherent risk of resource degradation. Therefore, a process of domestication of this species has been initiated. Fifteen female and three male individuals (pollinators) were selected from previously identified natural populations of maqui from two forest types, coihue-or cypress-dominated. Those individuals were propagated vegetatively and the plants grown were installed in a cultivation plot under controlled conditions of solar radiation and water supply. Total height and diameter of main axes were measured in female clones during three consecutive seasons. Growth was modulated by the contrasting levels of solar radiation assayed, but not by the different levels of water supply. Clones growing under direct sunlight grew taller than those under shade net. Growth in height was higher in the second season, while in the third season the clones grew less in height but more in the sectional area of stems. No flowering or fruiting was observed in any clone or season. Maqui demonstrated the ability to acclimatise to culture conditions. This work constitutes the first study of selected maqui clones in the Andean-Patagonian forests of Argentina, with the aim of developing a productive alternative for farmers in the region.

American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, Oct 1, 2014

Bodega Catena Zapata scholarship. The authors thank the statistical assistance of M. Balzarini an... more Bodega Catena Zapata scholarship. The authors thank the statistical assistance of M. Balzarini and M. Alberto and the technical support of L. Bolcato.

Plant Cell and Environment, Dec 1, 2009

We investigated the interactions of abscisic acid (ABA) in the responses of grape leaf tissues to... more We investigated the interactions of abscisic acid (ABA) in the responses of grape leaf tissues to contrasting ultraviolet (UV)-B treatments. One-year-old field-grown plants of Vitis vinifera L. were exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) where solar UV-B was eliminated by using polyester filters, or where PAR was supplemented with UV-B irradiation. Treatments combinations included weekly foliar sprays of ABA or a water control. The levels of UV-B absorbing flavonols, quercetin and kaempferol were significantly decreased by filtering out UV-B, while applied ABA increased their content. Concentration of two hydroxycinnamic acids, caffeic and ferulic acids, were also increased by ABA, but not affected by plus UV-B (+UV-B) treatments. Levels of carotenoids and activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase were elevated by +ABA treatments, but only if +UV-B was given. Cell membrane b-sitosterol was enhanced by ABA independently of +UV-B. Changes in photoprotective compounds, antioxidant enzymatic activities and sterols were correlated with lessened membrane harm by UV-B, as assessed by ion leakage. Oxidative damage expressed as malondialdehyde content was increased under +UV-B treatments. Our results suggest that the defence system of grape leaf tissues against UV-B is activated by UV-B irradiation with ABA acting downstream in the signalling pathway.

OENO One

Many commercial vineyards of Malbec, the most cultivated grapevine in Argentina, show unstable yi... more Many commercial vineyards of Malbec, the most cultivated grapevine in Argentina, show unstable yield because of variations in bud fruitfulness and the occurrence of “shatter”, characterised by poor fruit set and fruitlet abscission. Shatter can be due to plant material, growing conditions and meteorological events. Among the parameters that determine fruit set efficiency and vine yield, the availability of carbohydrates (CH) plays an essential role. We previously showed that controlling CH partitioning by removing part of the phloem tissue through an annular incision at the base of the fruit shoots (shoot girdling) reduced shatter in Malbec. The objective of this research was to evaluate the partitioning of CH for the different sink organs of the aerial part of the plant when an interruption of phloem flux from leaves to storage organs is imposed by a girdle. Shoot and trunk girdling trials were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, respectively. At flowering, girdling...

Plants

The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple ... more The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple and two non-purple (one orange and one yellow) carrot accessions for concentration of root anthocyanins, phenolics, and carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity estimated by four different methods (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), in a partially replicated experimental design comprising data from two growing seasons (2018 and 2019). Broad and significant (p < 0.0001) variation was found among the accessions for all the traits. Acylated anthocyanins (AA) predominated over non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA) in all the accessions and years analyzed, with AA accounting for 55.5–100% of the total anthocyanin content (TAC). Anthocyanins acylated with ferulic acid and coumaric acid were the most abundant carrot anthocyanins. In general, black or solid purple carrots had the greatest TAC and total phenolic content (TPC), and the strongest antioxidant capacities, measured by all methods. Antioxidant capacit...

OENO One

The high-altitude viticulture of Mendoza is being increasingly recognised among the top wine regi... more The high-altitude viticulture of Mendoza is being increasingly recognised among the top wine regions worldwide. High levels of solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, alluvial heterogeneous soils and cool night temperatures are major influences on Vitis vinifera L. phenotypic characteristics, especially on Malbec, Argentina’s emblematic grapevine variety. In the present work, the effect of intra-vineyard contrasting soil depth on Malbec was evaluated in a high-altitude vineyard (1450 m a.s.l.), over two growing seasons for physiological traits and over three vintages for yield components and berry skin phenolic compounds. The experiment was carried out in two parcels of shallow (SS) and deep (DS) soils, with different physico-chemical characteristics, and submitted to equal irrigation and crop management. Results showed that root depth was not limited by any soil physical constraints and fine roots (< 1 mm) were patchily distributed in sites with higher contents of silt, clay and o...

Allium sp. vegetables are widely consumed for their characteristic flavour. Additionally, their c... more Allium sp. vegetables are widely consumed for their characteristic flavour. Additionally, their consumption may provide protection against cardiovascular disease due to their antiplatelet and antioxidant activities. Although antiplatelet and antioxidant activities in Allium sp. are generally recognised, comparative studies of antiplatelet and antioxidant potency among the main Allium vegetable species are lacking. Also, the relationship between organosulfur and phenolic compounds and these biological activities has not been well established. In this study, the in vitro antiplatelet and antioxidant activities of the most widely consumed Allium species are characterised and compared. The species total organosulfur and phenolic content, and the HPLC profiles of 11 phenolic compounds were characterised and used to investigate the relationship between these compounds and antiplatelet and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, antiplatelet activities in chives and shallot have been characte...