OBJECTIVES Wild edible plants (WEP) play the dual role of securing food diversity and promoting health in traditional societies. Current simplified dietary habits contribute to increasing population health risks. Since WEP are integral to the diet of traditional communities, identifying their significance as foods to people provides further evidence to conserve them and promote their consumptio...

Binary- and multi-species sown mixtures may increase herbage yield and/or reduce inorganic nitrogen (N) requirement compared to perennial ryegrass (PRG) (Lolium perenne L.) swards. A split-plot design was used compare yields of binary- single-species swards three grasses red clover managed for intensive silage production under varying N application rates. Perennial Italian multiflorum Lam.) rye...

Root growth through biopores is facilitated by low mechanical impedance and nutrient enrichment due to the deposition of organic material at biopore sheath. Plant roots earthworms impact sheath properties differently. However, literature lacks a quantitative study root distribution within pores, which were originated taproots or earthworms. According previous on pore connectivity, it can be hyp...

Chicory (Chicorum intybus L.) is a high moisture, low fibre forage, traits that have been identified to influence protein degradation and urea metabolism. Our recent study revealed sole diets of chicory increased urinations diluted the concentration nitrogen in urine. The purpose this was compare effect feeding lesser proportion diet, impact diurnal changes chemical composition on urinary conce...

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) sesquiterpene lactones were recently shown to be derived from a common sesquiterpene intermediate, (+)-germacrene A. Germacrene A is of interest because of its key role in sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis and because it is an enzyme-bound intermediate in the biosynthesis of a number of phytoalexins. Using polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers, we have i...

Abstract Aims Biopores offer favorable chemical, biological and physical properties for root growth in untilled soil layers. There they are considered as nutrient “hotspots” with preferential growth. However, the literature lacks a quantification of metabolic activity due to acquisition main crops while growing biopore sheath. Methods A pot experiment was performed map roots, indicated by pH ch...

Some wild Mediterranean plants used as traditional food are an extraordinary source of antioxidants. We tested some properties of 10 of these herbaceous plants, used in Liguria (Northwest Italy) to prepare a traditional dish known as "prebuggiun." A total of 9 of them were found to have a polyphenol content and antioxidant properties similar or better than those of red chicory and blueberry, wh...