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Papers by Maria Francesca Silletti

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary investigations on bioactive molecules concentration in ‘Aglianico’ grape berries

Acta Horticulturae, 2017

'Aglianico' is a red, late ripening grapevine cultivar, mainly cultivated in the hillsides of Cam... more 'Aglianico' is a red, late ripening grapevine cultivar, mainly cultivated in the hillsides of Campania and Basilicata regions. Late summer rains, after a dried and warm period, may produce some skin cracking, favoring the pathogens colonization. The work investigated anthocyanins, flavonoids and ochratoxin A (OTA) changes in grape berries as a function of berry damage and probable secondary infections. Aspergillus spp. and/or Penicillium spp. are mycotoxin-producing fungi, and cause secondary fungal infections, thanks to their ability to proliferate on damaged berries. Their presence or the presence of their metabolites, as for example OTA, may affect the biosynthesis of some polyphenolic compounds. The data of this preliminary study indicate that ailing berries have a significant lower fresh weight and an higher concentration of OTA, flavonoids and anthocyanins in the juice, respect to healthy berries. On the other side, it is not clear the effect of secondary fungal infections on the modification of the flavonoids biosynthetic pathway. More chemical analyses could explain these aspects.

Research paper thumbnail of An increase of lycopene content in tomato fruit is associated with a novel Cyc-B allele isolated through TILLING technology

Molecular Breeding, 2013

Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-c... more Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-carotene during ripening of the fruit. By screening the tomato Red Setter mutant population with the TILLING method, we identified eight new alleles at the Cyc-B locus. Results of greenhouse phenotypic analysis revealed that the novel A949G Cyc-B allele produced modifications in the carotenoid profile and content of tomato petals and fruit. The cyc-b7 genotype, carrying the A949G Cyc-B allele, was therefore evaluated in an open field trial for standard agronomic traits as well as carotenoid content of the fruit. Results of the field trial confirmed that the induced A949G missense mutation favored the accumulation of lycopene in the fruit with no detrimental effects on the yield or on other agronomic and technological properties such as fruit firmness and Brix degree of fruit juice. On the basis of these results, it can be affirmed that the A949G Cyc-B allele constitutes a useful new genetic variant which can be used for improving carotenoid content in tomato fruit and for the development of new tomato commercial lines. Finally, the results presented here furthermore demonstrate that TILLING is a powerful methodology not only as a confirmatory system for gene functional analysis but also for selecting new gene variants useful for genetic improvement of important crops.

Research paper thumbnail of Indagini preliminari sulla concentrazione di sostanze bioattive in acini di cultivar di Aglianico

Research paper thumbnail of Nanoparticulate Antibiotic Systems as Antibacterial Agents and Antibiotic Delivery Platforms to Fight Infections

Journal of Nanomaterials

Today’s human society, product of decades of progress in all fields of knowledge, would have been... more Today’s human society, product of decades of progress in all fields of knowledge, would have been unimaginable without the discovery of antibiotics and more generally of antimicrobials. However, from the beginning, the scientific community was aware that microorganisms through various strategies were able to hinder and render vain antibiotic action. Common examples are the phenomena of persistence, tolerance, and resistance, up to the creation of the feared bacterial biofilms. Antibiotics are a precious but equally labile resource that must be preserved but at the same time reinforced to safeguard their effectiveness. Nanoparticulate systems such as nanobactericides, with their inherent antibacterial activity, and nanocarriers, which operate as drug delivery systems for conventional antibiotics, are innovative therapies made available by nanotechnology. Inorganic nanoparticles are effective both as nanobactericides (AgNPs, ZnONPs, and TiO2NPs) and as nanocarriers (AgNPs, AuNPs, ZnON...

Research paper thumbnail of An increase of lycopene content in tomato fruit is associated with a novel Cyc-B allele isolated through TILLING technology

Molecular Breeding, 2013

Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-c... more Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-carotene during ripening of the fruit. By screening the tomato Red Setter mutant population with the TILLING method, we identified eight new alleles at the Cyc-B locus. Results of greenhouse phenotypic analysis revealed that the novel A949G Cyc-B allele produced modifications in the carotenoid profile and content of tomato petals and fruit. The cyc-b7 genotype, carrying the A949G Cyc-B allele, was therefore evaluated in an open field trial for standard agronomic traits as well as carotenoid content of the fruit. Results of the field trial confirmed that the induced A949G missense mutation favored the accumulation of lycopene in the fruit with no detrimental effects on the yield or on other agronomic and technological properties such as fruit firmness and Brix degree of fruit juice. On the basis of these results, it can be affirmed that the A949G Cyc-B allele constitutes a useful new genetic variant which can be used for improving carotenoid content in tomato fruit and for the development of new tomato commercial lines. Finally, the results presented here furthermore demonstrate that TILLING is a powerful methodology not only as a confirmatory system for gene functional analysis but also for selecting new gene variants useful for genetic improvement of important crops.

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary investigations on bioactive molecules concentration in ‘Aglianico’ grape berries

Acta Horticulturae, 2017

'Aglianico' is a red, late ripening grapevine cultivar, mainly cultivated in the hillsides of Cam... more 'Aglianico' is a red, late ripening grapevine cultivar, mainly cultivated in the hillsides of Campania and Basilicata regions. Late summer rains, after a dried and warm period, may produce some skin cracking, favoring the pathogens colonization. The work investigated anthocyanins, flavonoids and ochratoxin A (OTA) changes in grape berries as a function of berry damage and probable secondary infections. Aspergillus spp. and/or Penicillium spp. are mycotoxin-producing fungi, and cause secondary fungal infections, thanks to their ability to proliferate on damaged berries. Their presence or the presence of their metabolites, as for example OTA, may affect the biosynthesis of some polyphenolic compounds. The data of this preliminary study indicate that ailing berries have a significant lower fresh weight and an higher concentration of OTA, flavonoids and anthocyanins in the juice, respect to healthy berries. On the other side, it is not clear the effect of secondary fungal infections on the modification of the flavonoids biosynthetic pathway. More chemical analyses could explain these aspects.

Research paper thumbnail of An increase of lycopene content in tomato fruit is associated with a novel Cyc-B allele isolated through TILLING technology

Molecular Breeding, 2013

Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-c... more Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-carotene during ripening of the fruit. By screening the tomato Red Setter mutant population with the TILLING method, we identified eight new alleles at the Cyc-B locus. Results of greenhouse phenotypic analysis revealed that the novel A949G Cyc-B allele produced modifications in the carotenoid profile and content of tomato petals and fruit. The cyc-b7 genotype, carrying the A949G Cyc-B allele, was therefore evaluated in an open field trial for standard agronomic traits as well as carotenoid content of the fruit. Results of the field trial confirmed that the induced A949G missense mutation favored the accumulation of lycopene in the fruit with no detrimental effects on the yield or on other agronomic and technological properties such as fruit firmness and Brix degree of fruit juice. On the basis of these results, it can be affirmed that the A949G Cyc-B allele constitutes a useful new genetic variant which can be used for improving carotenoid content in tomato fruit and for the development of new tomato commercial lines. Finally, the results presented here furthermore demonstrate that TILLING is a powerful methodology not only as a confirmatory system for gene functional analysis but also for selecting new gene variants useful for genetic improvement of important crops.

Research paper thumbnail of Indagini preliminari sulla concentrazione di sostanze bioattive in acini di cultivar di Aglianico

Research paper thumbnail of Nanoparticulate Antibiotic Systems as Antibacterial Agents and Antibiotic Delivery Platforms to Fight Infections

Journal of Nanomaterials

Today’s human society, product of decades of progress in all fields of knowledge, would have been... more Today’s human society, product of decades of progress in all fields of knowledge, would have been unimaginable without the discovery of antibiotics and more generally of antimicrobials. However, from the beginning, the scientific community was aware that microorganisms through various strategies were able to hinder and render vain antibiotic action. Common examples are the phenomena of persistence, tolerance, and resistance, up to the creation of the feared bacterial biofilms. Antibiotics are a precious but equally labile resource that must be preserved but at the same time reinforced to safeguard their effectiveness. Nanoparticulate systems such as nanobactericides, with their inherent antibacterial activity, and nanocarriers, which operate as drug delivery systems for conventional antibiotics, are innovative therapies made available by nanotechnology. Inorganic nanoparticles are effective both as nanobactericides (AgNPs, ZnONPs, and TiO2NPs) and as nanocarriers (AgNPs, AuNPs, ZnON...

Research paper thumbnail of An increase of lycopene content in tomato fruit is associated with a novel Cyc-B allele isolated through TILLING technology

Molecular Breeding, 2013

Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-c... more Tomato Cyc-B gene encodes a chromoplast-specific lycopene b-cyclase that converts lycopene to b-carotene during ripening of the fruit. By screening the tomato Red Setter mutant population with the TILLING method, we identified eight new alleles at the Cyc-B locus. Results of greenhouse phenotypic analysis revealed that the novel A949G Cyc-B allele produced modifications in the carotenoid profile and content of tomato petals and fruit. The cyc-b7 genotype, carrying the A949G Cyc-B allele, was therefore evaluated in an open field trial for standard agronomic traits as well as carotenoid content of the fruit. Results of the field trial confirmed that the induced A949G missense mutation favored the accumulation of lycopene in the fruit with no detrimental effects on the yield or on other agronomic and technological properties such as fruit firmness and Brix degree of fruit juice. On the basis of these results, it can be affirmed that the A949G Cyc-B allele constitutes a useful new genetic variant which can be used for improving carotenoid content in tomato fruit and for the development of new tomato commercial lines. Finally, the results presented here furthermore demonstrate that TILLING is a powerful methodology not only as a confirmatory system for gene functional analysis but also for selecting new gene variants useful for genetic improvement of important crops.