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Breeding Alnus species for resistance to Phytophthora disease in the Iberian Peninsula

Publication . Cordeiro, Daniela; Pizarro, Alberto; Vélez, M. Dolores; Guevara, M. Ángeles; Marıa, Nuria de; Ramos, Paula; Cobo-Simón, Irene; Diez-Galán, Alba; Benavente, Alfredo; Ferreira, Verónica; Martín, M. Ángela; Rodríguez-González, Patricia M.; Solla, Alejandro; Cervera, M. Teresa; Diez-Casero, Julio Javier; Cabezas, José Antonio; Díaz-Sala, Carmen

Alders are widely distributed riparian trees in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Recently, a strong reduction of alder stands has been detected in Europe due to infection by Phytophthora species (Stramenopila kingdom). This infection causes a disease known as alder dieback, characterized by leaf yellowing, dieback of branches, increased fruit production, and bark necrosis in the collar and basal part of the stem. In the Iberian Peninsula, the drastic alder decline has been confirmed in the Spanish Ulla and Ebro basins, the Portuguese Mondego and Sado basins and the Northern and Western transboundary hydrographic basins of Miño and Sil, Limia, Douro and Tagus. The damaging effects of alder decline require management solutions that promote forest resilience while keeping genetic diversity. Breeding programs involve phenotypic selection of asymptomatic individuals in populations where severe damage is observed, confirmation of tree resistance via inoculation trials under controlled conditions, vegetative propagation of selected trees, further planting and assessment in areas with high disease pressure and different environmental conditions and conservation of germplasm of tolerant genotypes for reforestation. In this way, forest biotechnology provides essential tools for the conservation and sustainable management of forest genetic resources, including material characterization for tolerance, propagation for conservation purposes, and genetic resource traceability, as well as identification and characterization of Phytophthora species. The advancement of biotechnological techniques enables improved monitoring and management of natural resources by studying genetic variability and function through molecular biology methods. In addition, in vitro culture techniques make possible large-scale plant propagation and long-term conservation within breeding programs to preserve selected outstanding genotypes.

2024-12Journal article

Open access

Pine Nutshells and Their Biochars as Sources of Chemicals, Fuels, Activated Carbons, and Electrode Materials

Publication . Sen, Umut; Rodrigues, João F. G.; Almeida, Daiana; Fernandes, Ângela; Gonçalves, Margarida; Martins, Marta; Santos, Diogo M. F.; Pereira, Helena

Pine nutshells (PNSs) are lignocellulosic waste materials with limited use in domestic heating. However, a biorefinery approach may be applied to fractionate PNSs and produce chemicals, materials, and improved solid fuels. In this study, we fractionated PNSs and produced antioxidant extracts, lignins, polysaccharides, chars, and activated carbons and analyzed their potential applica- tions. Pyrolytic kinetic modeling as an alternative method to chemical fractionation was also tested. The results showed that the PNS contains low amounts of extracts with weak thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) antioxidant properties, while its lignin content is remarkable (50.5%). Pyrolytic kinetic modeling was comparable to wet chemical analysis for estimating lignin yield. Moderate-temperature pyrolysis of the PNS resulted in a 23% char yield. The PNS chars showed improved fuel characteristics, retained 36% water, and leached 151 mg/L potassium into the water. The steam activation of PNS biochars at 750 ◦C resulted in oxygen-enriched activated carbons with specific surface areas up to 467 m2/g. The overall results indicate promising biochar applications of the PNS for soil amendment and supercapacitor uses.

2024-07Journal article

Open access

Florestas mistas de Sobreiro e Pinheiro-Manso: Conhecimento, desafios e recomendações de gestão

Publication . Correia, Alexandra C.; Barcik, Pedro; Lloberas Lafuente, David; Ramires, Inês; Pinto, Clara; Kurz-Besson, Cathy; Marcelo, Maria da Encarnação; Branco, Manuela; Barreiro, Susana; Botequim, Brigite; Nunes, Leónia; Tomé, Margarida; Costa-e-Silva, Filipe

2025Book

Open access

Exploring the Bioactive Properties of Hydroethanolic Cork Extracts of Quercus cerris and Quercus suber

Publication . Sen, Ali Umut; Almeida, Daiana; Silveira, Tayse F. F. da; Pires, Tânia S. P.; Añibarro-Ortega, Mikel; Mandim, Filipa; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C. F. R.; Pereira, Helena; Fernandes, Ângela

The bioactive properties of underutilized corks such as Quercus cerris cork and planted Quercus suber cork in the Eastern Mediterranean are not well-known but are crucial in developing lignocellulosic biorefineries. To assess their biological potential, hydroethanolic cork extracts of Quer- cus cerris and Quercus suber were analyzed for phenolic composition, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial activities, and hepatoxicity, as well as NO-production inhibition. Here, we show that a mild hydroethanolic extraction of Q. cerris and Q. suber corks yielded 3% phenolic extracts. The phenolic composition was similar in both cork extracts, with phenolic acids and ellagitannins as the primary compounds. The bioactivity of hydroethanolic cork extracts from Q. cerris surpassed that of Q. suber and showed effectiveness against all cancer cell lines tested. This first comprehensive study on the bioactivities of different corks involves detailed characterizations of phenolic compounds of cork extracts using UPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn, evaluations of the antioxidant properties with TBARS and OxHLIA methods, evaluation of antiproliferative activity against gastric (AGS), lung (NCI-H460), colon (CaCo2), and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines, as well as evaluations of hepatotoxicity and NO-production inhibition. The findings from this study will help bolster the potential of using underutilized cork-rich barks as a valuable resource in bark-based biorefineries.

2024-07Journal article

Open access