Despite several studies reporting Penicillium as one of the most frequent fungal genera in cork planks, the isolates were rarely identified to species level. We conducted a detailed study to identify Penicillium species from the field to the factory environment prior to and after boiling the cork planks. A total of 84 samples were analyzed. Of the 486 Penicillium isolates phenotypically identif...

With the availability of new techniques to close wine bottles avoiding the risk of “corky” taste the tradition of closing wine bottles with cork stoppers is on the retreat. As a consequence the Mediterranean cork oak forests with their rich biodiversity are endangered since their cultivation is not profitable anymore. This paper explores the viability of a market approach to the preservation of...

The cork oak woodland production systems result from the integration of conflicting activities in the same space creating the need of constant search of equilibrium between its components in order to achieve sustainability. In a climate change environment, associated with recent modifications in rural societies, adaptive management concepts are needed so as to maintain cork oak woodland systems...

Patricia H. McNamara *, Mary Toner , Gerard Kearns , Catherine Keohane , Peter Daly , Colin P. Doherty a Department of Neurology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine and Pathology, Dublin Dental University Hospital and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Neuropathology, C...

Cork, a material with great economic, social and environmental importance in Portugal, is also a good oil sorbent that can be used in the remediation of oil spills. The oil-impregnated cork can be easily removed, but requires further treatment. In the case of vegetable oil spills, anaerobic digestion may be a potential solution. This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding cork contaminated...

The molecular processes underlying cork biosynthesis and differentiation are mostly unknown. Recently, a list of candidate genes for cork biosynthesis and regulation was made available opening new possibilities for molecular studies in cork oak (Quercus suber L.). Based on this list, we analyzed the seasonal variation in mRNA abundance in cork tissue of selected genes by real time reverse-trans...

Cork oak is the second most dominant forest species in Portugal and makes this country the world leader in cork export. Occupational exposure to Chrysonilia sitophila and the Penicillium glabrum complex in cork industry is common, and the latter fungus is associated with suberosis. However, as conventional methods seem to underestimate its presence in occupational environments, the aim of our s...

Sarah B. M. Kraak1,2*, Dave G. Reid2, Hans D. Gerritsen2, Ciarán J. Kelly2, Mike Fitzpatrick3, Edward A. Codling4,5, and Emer Rogan1 School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Department of Mathematical Sciences,...

E O’Sullivan, C Deasy Department of Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork

Over the last few years, the building industry has been focusing on research, on the construction of passive houses and on the use of natural, local materials that are non-toxic, recyclable and can assure high thermal insulation. Cork is a natural material whose qualities have been known since ancient times and which fully meets sustainability requirements. Cork granulate is a sustainable solut...