Organic farming is increasing in Europe, and it is a key sector in the policies that promote the ... more Organic farming is increasing in Europe, and it is a key sector in the policies that promote the transition towards more sustainable farming systems in the European Union (Farm to Fork, Biodiversity Strategy). However, most organic production depends on organic quality seeds of cultivars which have been bred under conventional conditions or even sometimes are non-chemically treated conventional seeds. As a result, there is a remarkable lack of organic seeds of cultivars specifically adapted to organic farming
Cucurbitaceae, or cucurbit family, are important cr ops widely distributed in the warmest areas o... more Cucurbitaceae, or cucurbit family, are important cr ops widely distributed in the warmest areas of the world supplying humans with ed ibl products and useful fibres. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is considered the most diversified species in the genus Cucumis. The inodorus melon varieties, commonly known as “winter melons” for their capability to be preserved during the winter time, are traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean area and they have a relevant imp ortance in the economy of the Italian southern regions. The genetic diversity and relationships among 13 Italian inodorus accessions of different geographic origin were rev ealed by using 90 ISSR primers and 18 SSR primer pairs. The DH line Nad-1 and the Charentais-T genotype, both belonging to the botanical variety cantalupensis, were used as outgroup. Out of 90 primers ISSR used, 39 resulted polymorphic among the landraces revealing a total of 358 polymorphic bands. The molecular data were u s d to calculate the genetic dista...
Parthenocarpy, referred to as the ability to develop fruits in absence of fertilization, is a des... more Parthenocarpy, referred to as the ability to develop fruits in absence of fertilization, is a desirable genetic trait in vegetable crops grown for the commercial value of their fruits. The advantages conferred by parthenocarpy are fruit production under environmental condition prohibitive for fertilization and production of seedless fruit. Methods for achieving parthenocarpic development use either synthetic growth factors, genetic mutants, or plant altered in their ploidy level. Nevertheless, parthenocarpic cultivars have so far been available only to a limited degree. Therefore, flower buds treatment with synthetic phytohormones is commonly used to induce parthenocarpic vegetable fruit development for early or late production under protected cultivation. Transgenic parthenocarpic tobacco, eggplant and tomato plants are described which contain in their genome the coding region of the iaaM gene from Pseudomonas syringae pv. savastanoi under the control of the placental- ovule-specific defh9 gene regulator sequences from Anthirrhinum majus. Expression of the chimeric defH9- iaaM transgene starts during early flower development and causes production of marketable eggplant and tomato fruits from both emasculated and pollinated flowers under environmental conditions prohibitive for fruit setting in the untransformed controls, which did not set fruit at all. Under normal environmental conditions, production of marketable fruits took place from pollinated and unplanted transgenic flowers, while untransformed plants produced fruits of marketable size only from fertilized flowers. Field tests, performed in a cold plastic-greenhouse in the Mediterranean area, showed that three experimental transgenic parthenocarpic eggplant hybrids were able to give satisfactory winter production without need of phytohormones treatment.
Seedlings of durum wheat and lentil were utilized to investigate the efficiency of magnetic water... more Seedlings of durum wheat and lentil were utilized to investigate the efficiency of magnetic water on growth and metabolic epicotyl profile. Tap water was passed through a magnetic device with a flow rate of max. 12900 - 13200 Gauss (G). Seeds and plantlets were grown on sand-free paper soaked by magnetized water, with unmagnetized tap water used in a control group. The growth parameters were collected at three time points (48, 96, and 144 hours after treatment), the same times at which metabolomic analysis was conducted on seeds, roots, and epicotyls. Although the effects varied with the species, tissues, and time point considered, compared with tap water (TW), the use of magnetized water treatment (MWT) led to higher root elongation in both genotypes. On the contrary, epicotyl length was not affected by treatment both in durum wheat and lentil. The results indicate that the use of magnetized water in agriculture can be considered a sustainable technology to promote plant developmen...
Additional file 4:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified ... more Additional file 4:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified by cDNA-AFLP analysis from fungal samples of colonies grown in vitro and selected for sequencing. TDFs were chosen on the basis of their differential abundance in the different FOM strains. Identification numbers (ID) correspond to the progressive numbering of bands in the gels. The primer combination used to visualize each band (Bst-Mse column) and the corresponding length of the fragment are reported, along with the accession number retrieved from the database and the corresponding blast score and annotation. In addition, the file reports the presence (+) or absence (-) of expression of each transcript for the 3 strains of FOM. (XLS 34 KB)
Additional file 1:Complete list of melon genes modulated by infection with avirulent (ISPaVe1070 ... more Additional file 1:Complete list of melon genes modulated by infection with avirulent (ISPaVe1070 race1) or virulent (ISPaVe1018 and ISPaVe1083 strains of race 1,2) strains of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis, organized by clusters as defined in the results section. Identification numbers (ID) correspond to the progressive numbering of bands in the gels. The primer combination used to visualize each band (Bst-Mse column) and the corresponding length of the fragment are reported, along with the accession number retrieved from the Melon Unigene or Uniprot database, the annotation, the corresponding blast score, and the functional category to which each transcript was assigned. In addition, the file reports the expression profile of each transcript, estimated on the basis of the band intensity with a score ranging from -3 to 3, in comparison to the corresponding band in the mock-inoculated controls. (XLS 184 KB)
Additional file 2:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified ... more Additional file 2:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified in infected melon plants, either specifically in planta, or both in planta and in vitro. Identification numbers (ID) correspond to the progressive numbering of bands in the gels. The primer combination used to visualize each band (Bst-Mse column) and the corresponding length of the fragment are reported, along with the accession number retrieved from the database, the annotation, the corresponding blast score, and the functional category to which each transcript was assigned. In addition, the file reports the expression profile of each transcript, in each interaction and at each time point, estimated on the basis of the band intensity with a score ranging from 1 to 3. (XLS 63 KB)
The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 2019
Cucurbita maxima Duch. is one of the most diversified Cucurbita species worldwide. The objective ... more Cucurbita maxima Duch. is one of the most diversified Cucurbita species worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationship between and within Tunisian and Italian Cucurbita maxima germplasm collections using morphological and molecular markers. The phenotypic parameters showed a large qualitative variability, primarily according to fruit-related traits, for both collections. The RAPD, ISSR and SRAP molecular marker systems used turned out to be effective in discriminating all the accessions. Among the Tunisian collection, the polymorphic information content (PIC) and genetic diversity (H) values were of 0.461 and 0.50 respectively, with a total of 96% of polymorphism detected. The Italian collection revealed a PIC and H values of 0.454 and 0.50 respectively and 90% of polymorphism. Population structure analysis reflected the geographical origin of the accessions and helped to classify the Tunisian collection into two populations and to group all the Italian accessions into one. The results suggest that the combination of morphological and molecular approaches is a highly reliable technique in studying and evaluating Cucurbita maxima germplasm which represents an important genetic resource to be preserved and used in breeding programs.
Organic farming is increasing in Europe, and it is a key sector in the policies that promote the ... more Organic farming is increasing in Europe, and it is a key sector in the policies that promote the transition towards more sustainable farming systems in the European Union (Farm to Fork, Biodiversity Strategy). However, most organic production depends on organic quality seeds of cultivars which have been bred under conventional conditions or even sometimes are non-chemically treated conventional seeds. As a result, there is a remarkable lack of organic seeds of cultivars specifically adapted to organic farming
Cucurbitaceae, or cucurbit family, are important cr ops widely distributed in the warmest areas o... more Cucurbitaceae, or cucurbit family, are important cr ops widely distributed in the warmest areas of the world supplying humans with ed ibl products and useful fibres. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is considered the most diversified species in the genus Cucumis. The inodorus melon varieties, commonly known as “winter melons” for their capability to be preserved during the winter time, are traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean area and they have a relevant imp ortance in the economy of the Italian southern regions. The genetic diversity and relationships among 13 Italian inodorus accessions of different geographic origin were rev ealed by using 90 ISSR primers and 18 SSR primer pairs. The DH line Nad-1 and the Charentais-T genotype, both belonging to the botanical variety cantalupensis, were used as outgroup. Out of 90 primers ISSR used, 39 resulted polymorphic among the landraces revealing a total of 358 polymorphic bands. The molecular data were u s d to calculate the genetic dista...
Parthenocarpy, referred to as the ability to develop fruits in absence of fertilization, is a des... more Parthenocarpy, referred to as the ability to develop fruits in absence of fertilization, is a desirable genetic trait in vegetable crops grown for the commercial value of their fruits. The advantages conferred by parthenocarpy are fruit production under environmental condition prohibitive for fertilization and production of seedless fruit. Methods for achieving parthenocarpic development use either synthetic growth factors, genetic mutants, or plant altered in their ploidy level. Nevertheless, parthenocarpic cultivars have so far been available only to a limited degree. Therefore, flower buds treatment with synthetic phytohormones is commonly used to induce parthenocarpic vegetable fruit development for early or late production under protected cultivation. Transgenic parthenocarpic tobacco, eggplant and tomato plants are described which contain in their genome the coding region of the iaaM gene from Pseudomonas syringae pv. savastanoi under the control of the placental- ovule-specific defh9 gene regulator sequences from Anthirrhinum majus. Expression of the chimeric defH9- iaaM transgene starts during early flower development and causes production of marketable eggplant and tomato fruits from both emasculated and pollinated flowers under environmental conditions prohibitive for fruit setting in the untransformed controls, which did not set fruit at all. Under normal environmental conditions, production of marketable fruits took place from pollinated and unplanted transgenic flowers, while untransformed plants produced fruits of marketable size only from fertilized flowers. Field tests, performed in a cold plastic-greenhouse in the Mediterranean area, showed that three experimental transgenic parthenocarpic eggplant hybrids were able to give satisfactory winter production without need of phytohormones treatment.
Seedlings of durum wheat and lentil were utilized to investigate the efficiency of magnetic water... more Seedlings of durum wheat and lentil were utilized to investigate the efficiency of magnetic water on growth and metabolic epicotyl profile. Tap water was passed through a magnetic device with a flow rate of max. 12900 - 13200 Gauss (G). Seeds and plantlets were grown on sand-free paper soaked by magnetized water, with unmagnetized tap water used in a control group. The growth parameters were collected at three time points (48, 96, and 144 hours after treatment), the same times at which metabolomic analysis was conducted on seeds, roots, and epicotyls. Although the effects varied with the species, tissues, and time point considered, compared with tap water (TW), the use of magnetized water treatment (MWT) led to higher root elongation in both genotypes. On the contrary, epicotyl length was not affected by treatment both in durum wheat and lentil. The results indicate that the use of magnetized water in agriculture can be considered a sustainable technology to promote plant developmen...
Additional file 4:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified ... more Additional file 4:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified by cDNA-AFLP analysis from fungal samples of colonies grown in vitro and selected for sequencing. TDFs were chosen on the basis of their differential abundance in the different FOM strains. Identification numbers (ID) correspond to the progressive numbering of bands in the gels. The primer combination used to visualize each band (Bst-Mse column) and the corresponding length of the fragment are reported, along with the accession number retrieved from the database and the corresponding blast score and annotation. In addition, the file reports the presence (+) or absence (-) of expression of each transcript for the 3 strains of FOM. (XLS 34 KB)
Additional file 1:Complete list of melon genes modulated by infection with avirulent (ISPaVe1070 ... more Additional file 1:Complete list of melon genes modulated by infection with avirulent (ISPaVe1070 race1) or virulent (ISPaVe1018 and ISPaVe1083 strains of race 1,2) strains of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis, organized by clusters as defined in the results section. Identification numbers (ID) correspond to the progressive numbering of bands in the gels. The primer combination used to visualize each band (Bst-Mse column) and the corresponding length of the fragment are reported, along with the accession number retrieved from the Melon Unigene or Uniprot database, the annotation, the corresponding blast score, and the functional category to which each transcript was assigned. In addition, the file reports the expression profile of each transcript, estimated on the basis of the band intensity with a score ranging from -3 to 3, in comparison to the corresponding band in the mock-inoculated controls. (XLS 184 KB)
Additional file 2:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified ... more Additional file 2:Complete list of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis(FOM) transcripts identified in infected melon plants, either specifically in planta, or both in planta and in vitro. Identification numbers (ID) correspond to the progressive numbering of bands in the gels. The primer combination used to visualize each band (Bst-Mse column) and the corresponding length of the fragment are reported, along with the accession number retrieved from the database, the annotation, the corresponding blast score, and the functional category to which each transcript was assigned. In addition, the file reports the expression profile of each transcript, in each interaction and at each time point, estimated on the basis of the band intensity with a score ranging from 1 to 3. (XLS 63 KB)
The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 2019
Cucurbita maxima Duch. is one of the most diversified Cucurbita species worldwide. The objective ... more Cucurbita maxima Duch. is one of the most diversified Cucurbita species worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationship between and within Tunisian and Italian Cucurbita maxima germplasm collections using morphological and molecular markers. The phenotypic parameters showed a large qualitative variability, primarily according to fruit-related traits, for both collections. The RAPD, ISSR and SRAP molecular marker systems used turned out to be effective in discriminating all the accessions. Among the Tunisian collection, the polymorphic information content (PIC) and genetic diversity (H) values were of 0.461 and 0.50 respectively, with a total of 96% of polymorphism detected. The Italian collection revealed a PIC and H values of 0.454 and 0.50 respectively and 90% of polymorphism. Population structure analysis reflected the geographical origin of the accessions and helped to classify the Tunisian collection into two populations and to group all the Italian accessions into one. The results suggest that the combination of morphological and molecular approaches is a highly reliable technique in studying and evaluating Cucurbita maxima germplasm which represents an important genetic resource to be preserved and used in breeding programs.
Uploads
Papers by Sara Sestili