Search results for "abiotic stre"

An Epigenetic Alphabet of Crop Adaptation to Climate Change

2022

Crop adaptation to climate change is in a part attributed to epigenetic mechanisms which are related to response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Although recent studies increased our knowledge on the nature of these mechanisms, epigenetics remains under-investigated and still poorly understood in many, especially non-model, plants, Epigenetic modifications are traditionally divided into two main groups, DNA methylation and histone modifications that lead to chromatin remodeling and the regulation of genome functioning. In this review, we outline the most recent and interesting findings on crop epigenetic responses to the environmental cues that are most relevant to climate change. In additi…

Resilience of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) to salinity, heat and drought stresses: A mini-review

2022

Over recent years, the cultivation of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) has spread widely in the Mediterranean, also affecting the southern regions of Spain and Italy with a typical semi-arid climate. Several and recent studies have investigated the responses of this species to the main abiotic stresses, which is an aspect of absolute relevance to the knowledge of the adaptive capacity of hops to the growing conditions of a new cultivation environment. Moreover, given the fact that hops’ phytochemical composition is determined primarily by genetic and environmental factors, and that the species is perennial, the lack of knowledge on the effects of abiotic stress could be reflected in subsequent yea…

Characterization of Sicilian Olive Genotypes by Multivariate Analysis of Leaf and Fruit Chemical and Morphological Properties

2013

Leaf and fruit size and shape were measured and mannitol, glucose, sucrose and malic acid were quantified in leaf, bark and fruit of 25 Sicilian olive genotypes. Multivariate analysis was used to individuate groups with similar chemical composition and morphological traits suggesting potential for stress tolerance and/or oil yield and quality. Mannitol content varied greatly among genotypes and was the most abundant carbohydrate in leaf and bark, whereas glucose was the most abundant in fruit. Sucrose and malic acid were generally low indicating a marginal role in olive tissues. Mannitol and glucose were directly related in both leaf and fruit tissues. Genotypes also differed for carbohydra…

Essential Oil Composition of Alluaudia procera and in Vitro Biological Activity on Two Drug-Resistant Models

2019

Drug resistance is a major obstacle in antibiotic and antitumor chemotherapy. In response to the necessity to find new therapeutic strategies, plant secondary metabolites including essential oils (EOs) may represent one of the best sources. EOs in plants act as constitutive defenses against biotic and abiotic stress, and they play an important role in the pharmacology for their low toxicity, good pharmacokinetic and multitarget activity. In this context, natural products such as EOs are one of the most important sources of drugs used in pharmaceutical therapeutics. The aim of this paper was to identify the chemical composition of the essential oil of Alluaudia procera leaves, obtained by hy…

FUNCTIONAL GENOMIC APPROACHES TO ELUCIDATE BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS RESPONSES IN PLANTS

Grass Pea

2011

Grass pea (Lathyrus. sativus L.) is an annual legume crop with high protein content and remarkable resistance to extreme environmental conditions, including fl ooding, drought, salinity and low soil fertility, and a signifi cant degree of resistance to biotic stress agents. It is rightly considered one of the most promising sources of calories and protein for the vast and expanding populations of drought-prone and marginal areas of Asia and Africa and as an interesting alternative for cropping systems diversifi cation in marginal lands in Europe, Australia and America. It is a dual purpose crop with great agronomic potential as a grain and forage legume. Nevertheless, as a result of the lit…