Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Effect of hidroethanolic extract of Lavandula pedunculata (mill.) Cav. On morphometric parameters in HPV-16 trangenic mice

Publication . Nascimento-Gonçalves, Elisabete; Ferreira, Teresa; Moutinho, Magda S.S.; Pires, Maria João; Bastos, Margarida M.S.M.; Medeiros, Rui; Nogueira, António José M.; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Costa, Rui Miguel Gil; Oliveira, Paula A.

Lavandula penduculata (Mill.) Cav., common English name French lavender, belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has been used as a medicinal plant in infusions for respiratory and digestive systems and as a therapeutic agent with antiseptic action for cleaning wounds [1,2]. The K14HPV16 mice is a skin squamous carcinoma model that can be used to test the antitumoral properties of several chemical and natural products [3]. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the hydroethanolic French lavender extract (FLE) on body weight, relative organs weights, food and water consumption in an HPV-16-transgenic mice model. The extract was obtained from a maceration with ethanol/water (80:20, v/v), and the phenolic composition was determined through HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS. Twenty-eight male mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=7/group) according to their genotype: group I (HPV16- control); II (HPV16- FLE); III (HPV16+ control) and IV (HPV16+ FLE). The FLE was administrated orally in drinking water at 6.8 mg/10mL/animal to animals from groups II and IV and changed every 4 days. The animals were kept under controlled conditions such as temperature, light and humidity

2021Conference object

Open access

Assessing the Impact of Clearing and Grazing on Fuel Management in a Mediterranean Oak Forest through Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Multispectral Data

Publication . Pádua, Luís; Castro, João Paulo; Castro, José; Sousa, Joaquim J.; Castro, Marina

Climate change has intensified the need for robust fire prevention strategies. Sustainableforest fuel management is crucial in mitigating the occurrence and rapid spread of forest fires. Thisstudy assessed the impact of vegetation clearing and/or grazing over a three-year period in theherbaceous and shrub parts of a Mediterranean oak forest. Using high-resolution multispectral datafrom an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), four flight surveys were conducted from 2019 (pre- and post-clearing) to 2021. These data were used to evaluate different scenarios: combined vegetation clearingand grazing, the individual application of each method, and a control scenario that was neithercleared nor purposely grazed. The UAV data allowed for the detailed monitoring of vegetationdynamics, enabling the classification into arboreal, shrubs, herbaceous, and soil categories. Grazingpressure was estimated through GPS collars on the sheep flock. Additionally, a good correlation(r = 0.91) was observed between UAV-derived vegetation volume estimates and field measurements.These practices proved to be efficient in fuel management, with cleared and grazed areas showing alower vegetation regrowth, followed by areas only subjected to vegetation clearing. On the otherhand, areas not subjected to any of these treatments presented rapid vegetation growth.

2024Journal article

Open access

Confusão sexual contra a traça-da-uva, Lobesia botrana, na região demarcada do Douro usando dois modelos de difusores de feromona: ISONET-LTT BIO® E ISONET-LTT®

Publication . Seixas, Maria; Carlos, Cristina; Gonçalves, Maria de Fátima; Ferreira, Ana; Salvação, Juliana; Oliveira, José Carlos; Torres, Laura; Oliveira, Paula Seixas

A confusão sexual é uma técnica inovadora de proteção biotécnica contra a traça-da-uva, Lobesia botrana, considerada praga-chave da vinha na Região Demarcada do Douro (RDD). O difusor ISONET-LTT®, desenvolvido pela Shin-Etsu Chemical Co, mostrou, em trabalhos recentes, ser eficaz na proteção da vinha contra L. botrana. Porém, a utilização repetida de difusores feitos à base de polietileno, gera um problema de natureza ambiental, pela acumulação de plástico na vinha. Recentemente, a mesma empresa desenvolveu um novo difusor feito com materiais biodegradáveis, o ISONET-LTT BIO®, semelhante aos tradicionais. No presente estudo, que decorreu durante 2020, pretendeu-se avaliar a eficácia destes dois modelos de difusores de feromona na proteção da vinha contra a traça-da-uva na RDD. Adicionalmente, foi também avaliado o efeito da altitude na evolução da quantidade de feromona libertada por cada modelo. De forma geral, os dois difusores permitiram uma redução da intensidade de ataque de L. botrana, nas três gerações, com exceção de algumas parcelas durante o terceiro voo e terceira geração. A evolução da quantidade de feromona libertada pelos difusores estudados prolongou-se até ao início de agosto. A avaliação da quantidade de feromona emitida, em miligramas por dia por hectare, permitiu identificar diferenças de perdas a cotas diferentes, com maior libertação nas cotas mais baixas. A aplicação do difusor biodegradável foi eficaz na proteção contra a traça-da-uva, podendo constituir uma alternativa viável para a redução de resíduos de plástico no ecossistema vitícola.

2022Journal article

Open access

Almond By-Products Substrates as Sustainable Amendments for Green Bean Cultivation

Publication . Silva, Vânia; Oliveira, Ivo; Pereira, J.A.; Gonçalves, Berta

Almond processing generates a high quantity of by-products, presenting the untapped potential for alternative applications and improved sustainability in production. This study aimed to evaluate whether the incorporation of almond by-products (hulls/shells) can improve the biochemical characteristics of green bean pods when used as an alternative to traditional growing media in green bean plants. Four substrates were prepared: the Control substrate (C): 70% peat + 30% perlite; substrate (AS): 70% peat + 30% shells; substrate (AH): 70% peat + 30% perlite + 1 cm hulls as mulch; substrate (MIX): 70% peat + 15% shells + 15% hulls. Plants were grown in each of these substrates and subjected to two irrigation levels, 100% and 50% of their water-holding capacity. Biochemical parameters (photosynthetic pigments, total phenolics, flavonoids, ortho-diphenols, soluble proteins, antioxidant capacity) and color were evaluated in the harvested pods. Results showed that pods from plants growing in AH substrate presented statistically significant higher values in their total phenolic content, while AS and MIX substrates did not reveal significant benefits. Summarily, this study highlights the potential of almond hulls as a promising medium for green bean cultivation, particularly when employed as mulch. Further research is recommended to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the application of almond by-products as natural fertilizers/mulch.

2024Journal article

Open access

Unravelling the effect of control agents on Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi on a chestnut‐based medium by proteomics

Publication . Álvarez Rubio, Micaela; Agostini, Isadora; Sampaio, Ana; Román, Ángel-Carlos; Delgado, Josué; Rodrigues, Paula

Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi is the major chestnut pathogen, responsible for economic losses and recently described as a 3-nitropropionic acid and diplodiatoxin mycotoxin producer. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST 713 (Serenade® ASO), B. amyloliquefaciens CIMO-BCA1, and the fungicide Horizon® (tebuconazole) have been shown to reduce the growth of G. smithogilvyi. However, they enhanced mycotoxin production. Proteomics can clarify the mould's physiology and the impact of antifungal agents on the mould's metabolism. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of Horizon®, Serenade®, and B. amyloliquefaciens CIMO-BCA1 in the proteome of G. smithogilvyi to unveil their modes of action and decipher why the mould responds by increasing the mycotoxin production. For this, themyceliumclose to the inhibition zone provoked by antifungals was macroscopically and microscopically observed. Proteins were extracted and analysed using a Q-Exactive plus Orbitrap. RESULTS: The results did not elucidate specific proteins involved in the mycotoxin biosynthesis, but these agents provoked different kinds of stress on the mould, mainly affecting the cell wall structures and antioxidant response, which points to the mycotoxins overproduction as a defence mechanism. The biocontrol agent CIMO-BCA1 acts similar to tebuconazole. The results revealed different responses on the mould's metabolism when co-cultured with the two B. amyloliquefaciens, showing different modes of action of each bacterium, which opens the possibility of combining both biocontrol strategies. CONCLUSION: These results unveil different modes of action of the treatments that could help to reduce the use of toxic chemicals to combat plant pathogens worldwide.

2023Journal article

Open access