Papers by Manuela Romagnoli
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
Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outst... more Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outstanding cultural values. In order to protect WAW for the next generations, this material must be accurately characterised to set its proper conservation, storage and exhibition conditions in museum environments. In this study, the mineral content found in WAW retrieved in a volcanic lake was investigated by analysing wood ash through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). This micro-destructive approach was coupled with morphological studies carried out through optical microscopy. SEM-EDS was also performed on the WAW and surrounding sediment to study the possible relationship between the mineral composition and the wood degradation state. The analysis revealed that calcium was the most abundant element in all poles, with weight percentages ranging between 24 % and 42 %. This element was more represented in heartwood (HW) than sapwood (SW). In sapwood the second most abundant element was arsenic. Sulfur, iron and potassium were present in all the analysed samples as well. Arsenic was also detected in the sediments; it was particularly concentrated in the samples taken near archaeological wood. The presence of this element can be linked to the volcanic origin of the lake, and its high concentration points to bioaccumulation processes induced by bacteria (erosion bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria) and biogeochemical processes favouring precipitation of insoluble compounds. The present work is the first investigation of the mineral content in archaeological wood establishing a contingent relationship with the surrounding volcanic lake sediments.
Waterlogged archaeological wood is exposed to a high risk of biological degradation during the po... more Waterlogged archaeological wood is exposed to a high risk of biological degradation during the post-excavation phases of storage and restoration. For this reason, often biocides must be used to preserve wooden remains. In the present work three essential oils (cinnamon, wild thyme, and common thyme) were tested as possible alternative biocides to use in the preservation of waterlogged archaeological wood. The oils were first tested in vitro to establish the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and to evaluate the biocidal activity on selected fungal strains. Then, the established MIC was applied on waterlogged archaeological wood samples and during an actual restoration treatment. The effectiveness of the oils was evaluated through cultural analyses, ATP quantification, and next-generation sequencing. The results showed that the oils caused a significant decrease in the vitality of fungal mycelia grown in vitro and of the microbiota present in treated wood and storage water. Furthermore, an influence on the composition of the bacterial communities of treated wood samples was observed. Although further tests are needed to evaluate interferences with the materials used during restoration procedures, essential oils could be considered as a possible alternative to the currently used biocide.
Forest Pathology, Apr 1, 2022
Phytophthora is a genus containing more than 150 species (Yang et al., 2017) that are mainly plan... more Phytophthora is a genus containing more than 150 species (Yang et al., 2017) that are mainly plant pathogenic organisms. Phytophthora spp. are frequently associated with ornamental plants, especially in nurseries where Phytophthora cactorum is one of the most common species isolated (Jung et al., 2016). P. cactorum (Lebert & Cohn) (Erwin & Ribeiro, 1996) can infect an extremely large number of hosts, causing root rot, wilting and mortality as well as foliar and fruit (Erwin & Ribeiro, 1996; Jung et al., 2016). There is a very high risk related to the introduction of Phytophthora species into new habitats via the movement of plants (Frankel et al., 2020; Santini et al., 2013). For instance, P. tentaculata was inadvertently introduced by restoration planting into new areas in California (Rooney-Latham & Blomquist, 2014; Rooney-Latham et al., 2015) while P. ramorum entered Europe through the trade of infested ornamental plants (Ivors et al., 2006; Mascheretti et al., 2008). Once established in a new country or region, these pathogens are very difficult to eradicate or manage. They can spread easily causing wilting and death of hosts, with further consequences of economic losses and damage to ecosystems and landscapes.
Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, Oct 1, 2013
Chestnut hydrolysable tannins are phenolic materials that have been considered too unreactive to ... more Chestnut hydrolysable tannins are phenolic materials that have been considered too unreactive to compete in the phenolic resin adhesives market for exterior boards for the building industry. However, an article in 1973 describing 3 years industrial application of chestnut hydrolysable tannins during the first oil crisis indicated that this was not the case. We have extended this old work by using
Engineering Structures, Aug 1, 2022
Forests, Apr 17, 2019
Plant roots play a key role in stabilizing slopes, particularly in the Mediterranean region, char... more Plant roots play a key role in stabilizing slopes, particularly in the Mediterranean region, characterized by rough and unstable terrain. However, forest species differ in their stabilizing capacities. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap of knowledge on root biomechanical properties of relevant Mediterranean trees and shrubs in relation to slope stability. Root specimens of typical montane Mediterranean tree and shrub species were sampled in Southern Italy. Root characteristics, such as tensile strength (T r) and root area ratio (RAR), were assessed from live roots sampled in trenches, while root cohesion was calculated. Power law functions yielded the best fit for the relationship of T r versus root diameter; however, no significant relationship was found between root strength and root moisture content. RAR varied amongst different tree and shrub species. Roots of Quercus cerris L. were the most resistant to breaking under tension, while roots of Ilex aquifolium L. had the highest tensile strength among all shrub species. Results provide quantitative information on the role of root systems of montane Mediterranean forest species in stabilizing soils and will improve modeling of landslide susceptibility to the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards in mountain environments.
Construction and Building Materials, Feb 1, 2021
ACS omega, Dec 30, 2019
Lignin isolated from beech sawdust was used for the preparation of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) wi... more Lignin isolated from beech sawdust was used for the preparation of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) with entrapped essential oil (EO) from cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), common thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), and wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) using a fast antisolvent method. Analysis of EO-loaded LNPs by pyrolysisgas chromatography−mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed molecular interaction between EOs and LNPs. Quantification of EO incorporation into the LNPs and their in vitro release profiles were assessed by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Utilized EOs were, to different extents, successfully entrapped inside LNPs, which were attributed to extensive π-stacking between aromatic compounds in EOs like cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and carvacrol on one side and aromatic lignin units on the other side. In vitro release of common thyme and wild thyme EOs from EO-loaded LNPs was strongly delayed compared to the use of pure oil, giving a promising outlook for the development of new bio-based biocide delivery systems for wood preservation.
Biogeosciences
Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outst... more Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outstanding cultural values. In order to protect WAW for the next generations, this material must be accurately characterised to set its proper conservation, storage and exhibition conditions in museum environments. In this study, the mineral content found in WAW retrieved in a volcanic lake was investigated by analysing wood ash through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). This micro-destructive approach was coupled with morphological studies carried out through optical microscopy. SEM-EDS was also performed on the WAW and surrounding sediment to study the possible relationship between the mineral composition and the wood degradation state. The analysis revealed that calcium was the most abundant element in all poles, with weight percentages ranging between 24 % and 42 %. This element was more represented in heartwood (HW) than sapwood (SW). In sapwood the second most abundant element was arsenic. Sulfur, iron and potassium were present in all the analysed samples as well. Arsenic was also detected in the sediments; it was particularly concentrated in the samples taken near archaeological wood. The presence of this element can be linked to the volcanic origin of the lake, and its high concentration points to bioaccumulation processes induced by bacteria (erosion bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria) and biogeochemical processes favouring precipitation of insoluble compounds. The present work is the first investigation of the mineral content in archaeological wood establishing a contingent relationship with the surrounding volcanic lake sediments.
Wooden pile dwellings (WPD) are an inexhaustible and precious source of information on landscape ... more Wooden pile dwellings (WPD) are an inexhaustible and precious source of information on landscape evolution and contingent cultural activities. There have been significant investigations on WPD submerged in Alpine areas, but important knowledge gaps are evident regarding Mediterranean volcanic and karstic lakes. The conservation of the latter archaeological remnants is endangered by the climatic change impacts and anthropogenic pressure, further exacerbated by the sensitive and circumscribed lake environments. Wood from pile dwellings is waterlogged, and its conservation mostly depends on the surrounding environment i.e. sediments and water quality. This project aims to study all the aspects of WPD in volcanic and karstic lakes through studies ranging from their potential exploitation, the investigation into their conservation and restoration, monitoring lake environment and forecasting scenarios through an aquarium reproducing the most significant abiotic conditions occurring in the...
Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outst... more Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and precious organic material that can hold outstanding cultural values. In order to protect WAW for the next generations, this material must be accurately characterised to set its proper conservation, storage and exhibition conditions in museum environments. In this study, the mineral content found in WAW retrieved in a volcanic lake was investigated by analysing wood ash through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). This micro-destructive approach was coupled with morphological studies carried out through optical microscopy. SEM-EDS was also performed on the WAW and surrounding sediment to study the possible relationship between the mineral composition and the wood degradation state. The analysis revealed that calcium was the most abundant element in all poles, with weight percentages ranging between 24 % and 42 %. This element was more represented in heartwood (HW) than sapwood (SW). In sapwood the second most abundant element was arsenic. Sulfur, iron and potassium were present in all the analysed samples as well. Arsenic was also detected in the sediments; it was particularly concentrated in the samples taken near archaeological wood. The presence of this element can be linked to the volcanic origin of the lake, and its high concentration points to bioaccumulation processes induced by bacteria (erosion bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria) and biogeochemical processes favouring precipitation of insoluble compounds. The present work is the first investigation of the mineral content in archaeological wood establishing a contingent relationship with the surrounding volcanic lake sediments.
European Journal of Forest Research
Forest Pathology
Phytophthora cactorum is a plant pathogen affecting a wide range of hosts, causing economically d... more Phytophthora cactorum is a plant pathogen affecting a wide range of hosts, causing economically damaging diseases, such as damping off and root rot, in fields and nurseries. Current plant protection strategies are often inadequate to control Phytophthora diseases. Hence, an attempt was made to evaluate the potential of a novel control method using lignin nanoparticles loaded with essential oil of Thymus serpyllum (EO‐LNPs) for controlling P. cactorum infections on Pinus nigra in vitro and greenhouse conditions. Nanoparticles were characterized by Py‐GCMS and the drug efficiency, and drug loading capacity were determined using HPLC. T. serpyllum essential oils (EOs) were characterized by gas chromatography (GC‐FID and GC‐MS). Under in vitro conditions, the median effective concentration (EC50) values were 20.453 and 88.711 μg/ml, for EOs and EO‐LNPs, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo tests revealed that thyme EOs and EO‐LNPs were very effective in reducing the mortality of inoculate...
Microorganisms, 2020
Waterlogged archaeological wood is exposed to a high risk of biological degradation during the po... more Waterlogged archaeological wood is exposed to a high risk of biological degradation during the post-excavation phases of storage and restoration. For this reason, often biocides must be used to preserve wooden remains. In the present work three essential oils (cinnamon, wild thyme, and common thyme) were tested as possible alternative biocides to use in the preservation of waterlogged archaeological wood. The oils were first tested in vitro to establish the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and to evaluate the biocidal activity on selected fungal strains. Then, the established MIC was applied on waterlogged archaeological wood samples and during an actual restoration treatment. The effectiveness of the oils was evaluated through cultural analyses, ATP quantification, and next-generation sequencing. The results showed that the oils caused a significant decrease in the vitality of fungal mycelia grown in vitro and of the microbiota present in treated wood and storage water. Furth...
Scientific Reports, 2021
Site conditions and forest management affect dendrometric parameters of chestnut (Castanea sativa... more Site conditions and forest management affect dendrometric parameters of chestnut (Castanea sativaMill.) coppices, but there is modest knowledge on the effect of stand dendrometric characters on physical and mechanical wood characteristics. The aim of this study was to verify these relationships in chestnut coppices that were 12–14 years old. Wood density, compression and bending strength, shrinkages were measured on shoots of five different stand in a vulcanic site in Monte Amiata (Central – Italy). Investigated stands differ in number of stools/ha and dominant height, diameter/basal area of the shoots. The main difference in the physical characters among the stands is density. The initial results of the study showed that physical, mechanical wood characters are more dependent by the shoot than by the site. There is a positive relationships between the number of stools/ha and density and a negative one among shoot dominant height and basal area with wood density. Spectroscopic profi...
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 2019
The paper takes into account the most important wood based products used in architecture, structu... more The paper takes into account the most important wood based products used in architecture, structural engineering and design. The amount of roundwood, sawnwood and wood panel production is analysed and forest certification is reported as possible tool to ensure a sustainable forest management, fighting illegal logging and deforestation. A smart review of the most used wood-based products is performed together with the chance to activate a modern short supply chain. The state of art of the wood species actually used is considered together with most important actual challenges addressed to obtain sustainable wood-based products referring to eco-friendly process of gluing and increasing durability. The possibility to use short chain species for structural purposes is reported looking to Italian case studies (chestnut, eucalyptus and pines). A lot of successful prototypes and products have been obtained using short supply species, but research still is needed on the most type or products especially if they are to be used for structural purposes.
Forests, 2019
Research Highlights: Chestnut trees’ (Castanea sativa Mill.) growth and their responses to climat... more Research Highlights: Chestnut trees’ (Castanea sativa Mill.) growth and their responses to climate are influenced by stand-characteristics and managements. This study highlighted that chestnut tree-ring growth is not particularly influenced by climate, while minimum temperature showed a positive relation with both intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) and δ¹8O. Background and Objectives: The aim is to check the responses of chestnut trees to climate conditions and the role of stand structure and management. Materials and Methods: Stands with 12–14-year-old shoots were studied using dendrochronological and isotopic (δ18O and δ13C) approaches. Correlations with climate parameters were investigated and principal component analysis was performed using site-characteristics and tree growth parameters as variables. Results: Correlations between tree-ring width (TRW), tree-ring δ18O, and δ13C-derived intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) revealed stand-dependent effects. The highest Correla...
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Papers by Manuela Romagnoli