Accumulative air temperature as a predicting parameter for daily airborne olive pollen(Olea europaeaL.) during the pre‐peak period in Málaga (Western Mediterranean area)

Nowadays, there is a growing demand for high-quality vegetal protein food products, such as pulses and lentils in particular. However, there is no scientific evidence on the nutritional and morphometric characterization of the main lentil cultivars in the Western Mediterranean area. For this reason, the aim of this work is to carry out a morphometric and nutritional characterization of the main Spanish lentil cultivars. Nutrient content assessment was performed on dry matter. The results showed that all studied cultivars are large and heavy lentils, except for the cultivar “Pardina”. They have high protein levels, ranging from 21% to 25%, which is higher than those found in any other pulse, as well as a high carbohydrate content, greater than 59% in all cases. Fiber content was higher than expected in “Armuña” and “Rubia Castellana” cultivars, ranging from 6% to 6.6%, and exceptionally high in the case of the cultivar “Pardina”, which reached 7.8%. Conversely, very low values were found for fat content, varying between 0.5% and 0.9%. Ca, Fe and Mg levels were remarkably higher (from 550 ppm to 851 ppm, from 98 ppm to 139 ppm and from 790 ppm to 989 ppm, respectively) than those found for other lentil cultivars, especially the high Mg content in the cultivars “Jaspeada” and “Microjaspeada”, both above 955 ppm. Clear differentiation was found between the cultivars “Rubia Castellana”, “Pardina” and those included in the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Lenteja de la Armuña”. Overall, lentil cultivars included in the PGI “Lenteja de la Armuña” showed better morphometric and nutritional characteristics than cultivars “Pardina” or “Rubia Castellana”.

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Algerian Olive Germplasm and Its Relationships with the Central-Western Mediterranean Varieties Contributes to Clarify Cultivated Olive Diversification

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10040678 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 678

Author(s):

Kamel Atrouz ◽

Ratiba Bousba ◽

Francesco Paolo Marra ◽

Annalisa Marchese ◽

Francesca Luisa Conforti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Genetic Relationships ◽

Olive Tree ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Central Mediterranean ◽

Western Mediterranean Basin ◽

New Information ◽

Mediterranean History ◽

New Synonymy

Olive tree with its main final product, olive oil, is an important element of Mediterranean history, considered the emblematic fruit of a civilization. Despite its wide diffusion and economic and cultural importance, its evolutionary and phylogenetic history is still difficult to clarify. As part of the Mediterranean basin, Algeria was indicated as a secondary diversification center. However, genetic characterization studies from Maghreb area, are currently underrepresented. In this context, we characterized 119 endemic Algerian accessions by using 12 microsatellite markers with the main goal to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure. In order to provide new insights about the history of olive diversification events in the Central-Western Mediterranean basin, we included and analyzed a sample of 103 Italian accessions from Sicily and, a set of molecular profiles of cultivars from the Central-Western Mediterranean area. The phylogenetic investigation let us to evaluate genetic relationships among Central-Mediterranean basin olive germplasm, highlight new synonymy cases to support the importance of vegetative propagation in the cultivated olive diffusion and consolidate the hypothesis of more recent admixture events occurrence. This work provided new information about Algerian germplasm biodiversity and contributed to clarify olive diversification process.

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Multi-Oxygenated Organic Compounds in Fine Particulate Matter Collected in the Western Mediterranean Area

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12010094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 94

Author(s):

Esther Borrás ◽

Luis Antonio Tortajada-Genaro ◽

Francisco Sanz ◽

Amalia Muñoz

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Carboxylic Acids ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Pollutants ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Industrial Emissions ◽

Tetradecanoic Acid

The chemical characterization of aerosols, especially fine organic fraction, is a relevant atmospheric challenge because their composition highly depends on localization. Herein, we studied the concentration of multi-oxygenated organic compounds in the western Mediterranean area, focusing on sources and the effect of air patterns. The organic aerosol fraction ranged 3–22% of the total organic mass in particulate matter (PM)2.5. Seventy multi-oxygenated organic pollutants were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, including n-alkanones, n-alcohols, anhydrosugars, monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and keto-derivatives. The highest concentrations were found for carboxylic acids, such as linoleic acid, tetradecanoic acid and, palmitic acid. Biomarkers for vegetation sources, such as levoglucosan and some fatty acids were detected at most locations. In addition, carboxylic acids from anthropogenic sources—mainly traffic and cooking—have been identified. The results indicate that the organic PM fraction in this region is formed mainly from biogenic pollutants, emitted directly by vegetation, and from the degradation products of anthropogenic and biogenic volatile organic pollutants. Moreover, the chemical profile suggested that this area is interesting for aerosol studies because several processes such as local costal breezes, industrial emissions, and desert intrusions affect fine PM composition.

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First Report of Damping-Off Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 on Mediterranean Fan Palm in Italy

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-94-1-0125a ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 125-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. Polizzi ◽

D. Aiello ◽

I. Castello ◽

V. Guarnaccia ◽

A. Vitale

Keyword(s):

Rhizoctonia Solani ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Fluorescent Light ◽

Damping Off ◽

Centraalbureau Voor ◽

First Report ◽

Stem Lesions

Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis L.), one of just two autochthonous European palms, is native to the western Mediterranean Region in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. It can be found growing wild in the Mediterranean area. In Europe, this species is very popular as an ornamental plant. In March 2009, a widespread damping-off was observed in a stock of approximately 30,000 potted 1-month-old plants of C. humilis cv. Vulcano in a nursery in eastern Sicily. Disease incidence was approximately 20%. Disease symptoms consisted of lesions at the seedling shoot (plumule). Stem lesions were initially orange, turned brown, and followed by death of the entire plumule or eophyll. A fungus with mycelial and morphological characteristics of Rhizoctonia solani Kühn was consistently isolated from lesions when plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with streptomycin sulfate at 100 μg/ml. Fungal colonies were initially white, turned brown with age, and produced irregularly shaped, brown sclerotia. Mycelium was branched at right angles with a septum near the branch and a slight constriction at the branch base. Hyphal cells removed from cultures grown at 25°C on 2% water agar were determined to be multinucleate when stained with 1% safranin O and 3% KOH solution (1) and examined at ×400. Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing isolates with tester strains AG-1 IA, AG-2-2-1, AG-2-2IIIB, AG-2-2IV, AG-3, AG-4, AG-5, AG-6, and AG-11 on 2% water agar in petri plates (3). Anastomosis was observed only with tester isolates of AG-4, giving both C2 and C3 reactions (2). One representative isolate obtained from symptomatic tissues was deposited at the Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS No. 125095). Pathogenicity tests were performed on container-grown, healthy, 1-month-old seedlings. Twenty plants of C. humilis cv. Vulcano were inoculated near the base of the stem with two 1-cm2 PDA plugs from 5-day-old mycelial cultures. The same number of plants served as uninoculated controls. Plants were incubated in a growth chamber and maintained at 25°C and 95% relative humidity on a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Symptoms identical to those observed in the nursery appeared 5 days after inoculation and all plants died within 20 days. No disease was observed on control plants. A fungus identical in culture morphology to R. solani AG-4 was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissues, confirming its pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world of R. solani causing damping-off on Mediterranean fan palm. References: (1) R. J. Bandoni. Mycologia 71:873, 1979. (2) D. E. Carling. Page 37 in: Grouping in Rhizoctonia solani by Hyphal Anastomosis Reactions. Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands, 1996. (3) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.

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Evolutionary Models of the Cenozoic Basins of Central-Western Mediterranean Area: A Review of Methodological Approaches

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences10090366 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 366 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francesco Guerrera ◽

Manuel Martín-Martín ◽

Mario Tramontana

Keyword(s):

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Evolutionary Model ◽

Digital Processing ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Open Problems ◽

Different Types ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

Plate Kinematics ◽

Modern Technologies

In the last 40 years, several models based on very different methodological approaches have been proposed to interpret the complex geodynamic evolution of the central-western Mediterranean area and, in particular, of the Cenozoic basins. The persistence of numerous interpretations and still-open problems resulted in the proliferation of very different models. The reconstructions presented are highly influenced by difficulties often encountered in considering constraints introduced by models built by means of completely different methodological approaches. For example, major difficulties can arise in integrating data from individual classical disciplines (i.e., geology, stratigraphy, geophysics, tectonics, magmatology and plate kinematics) with those resulting from the use of modern technologies (i.e., digital processing, uses of software, field observations using drones, etc.) and generally aimed to support specific topics. These considerations lead researchers to believe that a multidisciplinary approach would always be auspicious for these studies, because a greater control of the reconstruction of geologic and geodynamic events, and, therefore, for resulting models, would be ensured. After some considerations about different types of literature models based on specific investigation methodologies, the updating of a recently presented evolutionary model is proposed by attempting to integrate as much data as possible about the Cenozoic basins of the central-western Mediterranean area.

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SIMILARITIES IN THE SURNAMES OF ISLAND AND CONTINENTAL POPULATIONS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932007002465 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 359-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. LUCCHETTI ◽

M. TASSO ◽

P. PIZZETTI ◽

S. DE IASIO ◽

G. U. CARAVELLO

Keyword(s):

Genetic Analysis ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Recent History ◽

Local Populations ◽

The North ◽

The Matrix ◽

Mediterranean Regions ◽

Geographical Position ◽

North Western

SummaryThis paper compares the structures of the surnames of 75 municipal populations living in six north-western Mediterranean regions. Its purpose is to unravel the relations between the local populations in Corsica and Sardinia and the links between these populations and those living in the Italian and French continental territory. On the basis of the matrix of similarity of surnames, some topological representations have been drafted showing the above-mentioned relations between populations under the light of their geographical position, their recent history and studies of genetic analysis. Corsica has an eterogeneous surname structure and evident similarity of the north with Tuscany and some centres of continental France. When only the populations of Sardinia were taken into consideration, it emerged that they differ among each other in relation to their geographical position and their history; when, instead, they were considered in relation to other populations outside the island, it was possible to observe that they form a highly different cluster. This study also identified many differences in the analysed geographical areas of Sardinia. In the minor islands – Elba, Giglio, Capraia – the structure of the surnames has a Tuscan origin as well as some similarity with other geographically distant areas, as in the case of the island of Giglio, if compared with some communities of Liguria.

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Alien Plant Diversity in Mediterranean Wetlands: A Comparative Study within Valencian, Balearic and Sardinian Floras

Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca ◽

10.15835/nbha46210470 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 317-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Olga MAYORAL ◽

Francesco MASCIA ◽

Lina PODDA ◽

Emilio LAGUNA ◽

Pere FRAGA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽

Ricinus Communis ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Balearic Islands ◽

Control Measures ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Alien Plant ◽

Mediterranean Wetlands ◽

Alien Flora

Although wetlands provide an important range of environmental, social and economic services, they are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic perturbations, amongst which invasion by alien plants is particularly alarming. This paper focuses on the alien flora of wetlands from three territories belonging to the western Mediterranean area: one continental (Valencian Community) and two insular (Balearic Islands and Sardinia), providing a complete checklist for the three territories and a general comparison. In total, 380 alien taxa from 89 families have been reported, being the Valencian Community the area richer in taxa (312), followed by the Balearic Islands (151) and Sardinia (134). The invasive component includes 77 taxa, of which nine are common to the three territories - and have been recognised as the most invasive ones in Mediterranean islands - and six are considered invasive worldwide (Ailanthus altissima, Arundo donax, Cortaderia selloana, Oxalis pes-caprae, Ricinus communis and Eichhornia crassipes). Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) revealed that the three territories do not show statistically relevant differences in relation to the alien species present in wetlands and their characteristics. The information on the characteristics of plants in similar habitats of the same biogeographic region provides a portrait of the current dimensions of the phenomenon in Western Mediterranean wetlands and is especially useful from the management perspective: its predictive value can be applied in establishing a prioritization of control measures of those most invasive species and will help screening new introductions with invasive potential.

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Past African dust inputs in the western Mediterranean area controlled by the complex interaction between the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and total solar irradiance

Climate of the Past ◽

10.5194/cp-16-283-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 283-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pierre Sabatier ◽

Marie Nicolle ◽

Christine Piot ◽

Christophe Colin ◽

Maxime Debret ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Area ◽

Total Solar Irradiance ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Saharan Dust ◽

Climatic Forcing ◽

African Dust ◽

The North ◽

The North Atlantic Oscillation ◽

Wavelet Analyses

Abstract. North Africa is the largest source of mineral dust on Earth, which has multiple impacts on the climate system; however, our understanding of decadal to centennial changes in African dust emissions over the last few millenniums is limited. Here, we present a high-resolution multiproxy analysis of sediment core from high-elevation Lake Bastani, on the island of Corsica, to reconstruct past African dust inputs to the western Mediterranean area over the last 3150 cal BP. Clay mineralogy with palygorskite and a clay ratio associated with geochemical data allow us to determine that terrigenous fluxes are almost exclusively related to atmospheric dust deposition from the western Sahara and Sahel areas over this period. High-resolution geochemical contents provide a reliable proxy for Saharan dust inputs with long-term (millennial) to short-term (centennial) variations. Millennial variations have been correlated with the long-term southward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), with an increase in dust input since 1070 cal BP. This correlation suggests a strong link with the ITCZ and could reflect the increased availability of dust sources to be mobilized with an increase in wind and a decrease in precipitation over western and North Africa. For centennial to decadal variations, wavelet analyses show that since 1070 cal BP, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been the main climatic forcing, with an increase in Saharan dust input during the positive phase, as suggested by previous studies over the last decades. However, when the ITCZ is in a northern position, before 1070 cal BP, wavelet analyses indicate that total solar irradiance (TSI) is the main forcing factor, with an increase in African dust input during low TSI. With climate reanalysis over the instrumental era, during low TSI we observe a significant negative anomaly in pressure over Africa, which is known to increase the dust transport. These two climatic forcing factors (NAO, TSI) modulate Saharan dust inputs to the Mediterranean area at a centennial timescale through changes in wind and transport pathways.

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