Integrating morphology and molecular data to explore taxonomy, evolutionary history and conservation of Italian endemic Forficulidae (Dermaptera)

Italy hosts 27 species of Dermaptera, five belonging to Forficula, which were never thoroughly investigated. We integrated morphological (morphometric measurements) and molecular data (mitochondrial COI, 16S and nuclear 28S, ITS2) to revise the Italian species, focusing on the endemic taxa, and on the diversity within F. auricularia to reveal the presence of cryptic species. Our data were integrated with those available for other West Mediterranean Forficula. Our results confirmed the taxonom...

Comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis of Alternaria strains to uncover phytotoxic compounds

Current applications of benchtop FT-NMR in food science: from quality control to adulteration detection

The introduction of benchtop FT-NMR spectrometers in recent years represents a remarkable innovation in various fields, including the food sector. Modern benchtop FT-NMR spectrometers are low-field instruments, with a magnetic field ranging from 1 T to 2.35 T (1H resonance frequency from 43 MHz to 100 MHz), characterized by compact design, ease of use, and low maintenance costs. As in the case of high-field NMR instruments, benchtop NMR spectra (obtained by Fourier transformation) contain imp...

The presence of sulfonated oligomeric and polymeric procyanidins in red wines impacts the estimated mean degree of polymerisation of condensed tannins by phloroglucinolysis

The calculation of proanthocyanidin mean Degree of Polymerisation (mDP) is a relevant analytical tool for gaining insight into the characteristics of wine. Despite its limitations, it remains an effective method for studying the polymeric forms of proanthocyanidins. Recently, sulfonated monomeric and dimeric flavan-3-ols have been detected in wine, and their main mechanism of formation suggested the formation of even larger sulfonated analogues. This work aimed to explore if aged wines contai...