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In recent decades, the food production chain has undergone transformations that have profoundly affected the way food is supplied, causing changes in the quality of the final products. Moreover, biodiversity is seriously threatened worldwide, and the valorization of local germplasm is a priority goal for most sectorial policies in Europe and elsewhere. Southern Italy and the Mediterranean basin present a vast heritage of fruit tree cultivars that is gradually being lost. Through this work, we aim to valorize a well-adapted local pear cultivar named Petrucina from the Salento area (southeastern Italy, Apulia region), which has never been studied before in detail. With this aim, the nutritional and nutraceutical features of pear flesh were characterized and compared with a reference pear cultivar that is widespread and well-known in Europe (cv. 'Conference'). Petrucina fruits have shown a peculiar aromatic compound profile, and a content of up to 398.3, 30.9, and 4.7 mg/100 g FW of malic acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid, respectively, much higher than that of Conference fruits. Additionally, Petrucina flesh presents a more than triple total phenolic content and an antioxidant activity more than double that of Conference, making Petrucina a true functional food that deserves wide appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crithmum maritimum L., known as sea fennel, is an aromatic halophyte typical of the cliffs and coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Their phytochemicals have been of great interest in the food and pharmaceutical industry. In this work, we analyzed, by SPME/gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, the chemical variability of C. maritimum accessions in terms of volatile organic compounds. C. maritimum seeds were collected from different coastal sites in Salento, Southern Apulia, Italy, and subsequently cultivated ex situ. Several volatile compounds produced by C. maritimum leaves were detected, and, among them, D-limonene was found to be emitted at high levels by plants of all accessions representing the main compound, while other monoterpenes were produced at low levels. Moreover, the phenylpropene volatiles dillapiol and apiol (designated together as (dill)apiol) were emitted at variable amounts with different accessions. The correlation among groups based on volatile compounds has been analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis, which has revealed three main groups based on (dill)apiol presence and its total amount in the cultivated plants of different geographic origins, confirming intraspecies biodiversity. Moreover, we have evaluated the seed germination and seedling development of C. maritimum in controlled conditions. We found no dormancy and a high germination rate for all samples analyzed. The chemo-diversity evidenced in cultivated plants obtained from seeds collected at different locations on the Salento peninsula is probably related to variations in climate resulting from different exposures along the coast. These findings highlighted the importance of C.maritimum as a suitable candidate for cultivation because it can tolerate harsh conditions/stresses and also has a possible use besides food and pharmaceuticals and for the restoration of coastal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first worldwide report of X. fastidiosa (Xf) subsp. pauca on Castanea sativa and the first characterization of Xf infection on this species. Plants located in three sites (in a long-term affected area in Apulia) were monitored for symptoms and bacterial concentrations in spring and summer, while microscopic analyses were performed to evaluate the pathogen distribution in the xylem vessels. All chestnut plants appeared asymptomatic but the Xf subsp. pauca strain "De Donno" was present at low concentrations (1.14 × 104 and 1.56 × 103 cfu mL−1 in April and June) and with a low incidence (respectively, 38% and 30%). The FISH-CLSM (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization—Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope) analysis showed evident Xf occlusions but in a low percentage (9.2 ± 3.4%); these data can explain the lack of symptoms on the canopy. Furthermore, through a bibliographic analysis it emerged that Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris, two Xf vectors present in Europe, are suckling feeding insects on chestnut trees and could be involved in the bacterial transmission to this species. Asymptomatic Xf host species can play a considerable role in new outbreak emergence or in the expansion of existing ones. So, it is essential to identify them to plan more effective monitoring activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]