Rhytidome- and cork-type barks of holm oak, cork oak and their hybrids highlight processes leading to cork formation.

BACKGROUND: The periderm is basic for land plants due to its protective role during radial growth, which is achieved by the polymers deposited in the cell walls. In most trees, like holm oak, the first periderm is frequently replaced by subsequent internal periderms yielding a heterogeneous outer bark made of a mixture of periderms and phloem tissues, known as rhytidome. Exceptionally, cork oak forms a persistent or long-lived periderm which results in a homogeneous outer bark of thick phellem cell layers known as cork. Cork oak and holm oak distribution ranges overlap to a great extent, and they often share stands, where they can hybridize and produce offspring showing a rhytidome-type bark. RESULTS: Here we use the outer bark of cork oak, holm oak, and their natural hybrids to analyse the chemical composition, the anatomy and the transcriptome, and further understand the mechanisms underlying periderm development. We also include a unique natural hybrid individual corresponding to a backcross with cork oak that, interestingly, shows a cork-type bark. The inclusion of hybrid samples showing rhytidome-type and cork-type barks is valuable to approach cork and rhytidome development, allowing an accurate identification of candidate genes and processes. The present study underscores that abiotic stress and cell death are enhanced in rhytidome-type barks whereas lipid metabolism and cell cycle are enriched in cork-type barks. Development-related DEGs showing the highest expression, highlight cell division, cell expansion, and cell differentiation as key processes leading to cork or rhytidome-type barks. CONCLUSION: Transcriptome results, in agreement with anatomical and chemical analyses, show that rhytidome and cork-type barks are active in periderm development, and suberin and lignin deposition. Development and cell wall-related DEGs suggest that cell division and expansion are upregulated in cork-type barks whereas cell differentiation is enhanced in rhytidome-type barks.

Morphology and chemical composition of Taiwan oil millet (Eccoilopus formosanus) epicuticular wax.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Taiwan oil millet has two types of epicuticular wax: platelet wax composed primarily of octacosanol and filament wax constituted essentially by the singular compound of octacosanoic acid. Taiwan oil millet (TOM-Eccoilopus formosanus) is an orphan crop cultivated by the Taiwan indigenous people. It has conspicuous white powder covering its leaf sheath indicating abundant epicuticular waxes, that may contribute to its resilience. Here, we characterized the epicuticular wax secretion in TOM leaf blade and leaf sheath using various microscopy techniques, as well as gas chromatography to determine its composition. Two kinds of waxes, platelet and filaments, were secreted in both the leaf blades and sheaths. The platelet wax is secreted ubiquitously by epidermal cells, whereas the filament wax is secreted by a specific cell called epidermal cork cells. The newly developed filament waxes were markedly re-synthesized by the epidermal cork cells through papillae protrusions on the external periclinal cell wall. Ultrastructural images of cork cell revealed the presence of cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tubules along the periphery of plasma membrane (PM) and ER-PM contact sites (EPCS). The predominant wax component was a C28 primary alcohol in leaf blade, and a C28 free fatty acid in the leaf sheath, pseudopetiole and midrib. The wax morphology present in distinct plant organs corresponds to the specific chemical composition: platelet wax composed of alcohols exists mainly in the leaf blade, whereas filament wax constituted mainly by the singular compound C28 free fatty acids is present abundantly in leaf sheath. Our study clarifies the filament wax composition in relation to a previous study in sorghum. Both platelet and filament waxes comprise a protection barrier for TOM.

Effectiveness of cork and pine bark powders as biosorbents for potentially toxic elements present in aqueous solution.

Cork oak and pine bark, two of the most prolific byproducts of the European forestry sector, were assessed as biosorbents for eliminating potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from water-based solutions. Our research suggests that bioadsorption stands out as a viable and environmental eco-friendly technology, presenting a sustainable method for the extraction of PTEs from polluted water sources. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficiency of cork powder and pine bark powder as biosorbents. Specifically, the adsorption of Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb and Sn at equilibrium were studied through batch experiments by varying PTEs concentrations, pH, and ionic strength. Results from adsorption-desorption experiments demonstrate the remarkable capacity of both materials to retain the studied PTE. Cork powder and pine bark powder exhibited the maximum retention capacity for Fe and Cd, while they performed poorly for Pb and Sn, respectively. Nevertheless, pine bark showed a slightly lower retention capacity than cork. Increasing the pH resulted in cork showing the highest adsorption for Zn and the lowest for Sn, while for pine bark, Cd was the most adsorbed, and Sn was the least adsorbed, respectively. The highest adsorption of both materials occurred at pH 3.5-5, depending on the PTE tested. The ionic strength also influenced the adsorption of the various PTEs for both materials, with decreased adsorption as ionic strength increased. The findings suggest that both materials could be effective for capturing and eliminating the examined PTEs, albeit with different efficiencies. Remarkably, pine bark demonstrated superior adsorption capabilities, which were observed to vary based on the specific element and the experimental conditions. These findings contribute to elucidating the bio-adsorption potential of these natural materials, specifically their suitability in mitigating PTEs pollution, and favoring the recycling and revalorization of byproducts that might otherwise be considered residue.

Data-driven modelling for assessing trophic status in marine ecosystems using machine learning approaches.

Assessing eutrophication in coastal and transitional waters is of utmost importance, yet existing Trophic Status Index (TSI) models face challenges like multicollinearity, data redundancy, inappropriate aggregation methods, and complex classification schemes. To tackle these issues, we developed a novel tool that harnesses machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), enhancing the reliability and accuracy of trophic status assessments. Our research introduces an improved data-driven methodology specifically tailored for transitional and coastal (TrC) waters, with a focus on Cork Harbour, Ireland, as a case study. Our innovative approach, named the Assessment Trophic Status Index (ATSI) model, comprises three main components: the selection of pertinent water quality indicators, the computation of ATSI scores, and the implementation of a new classification scheme. To optimize input data and minimize redundancy, we employed ML techniques, including advanced deep learning methods. Specifically, we developed a CHL prediction model utilizing ten algorithms, among which XGBoost demonstrated exceptional performance, showcasing minimal errors during both training (RMSE = 0.0, MSE = 0.0, MAE = 0.01) and testing (RMSE = 0.0, MSE = 0.0, MAE = 0.01) phases. Utilizing a novel linear rescaling interpolation function, we calculated ATSI scores and evaluated the model's sensitivity and efficiency across diverse application domains, employing metrics such as R2, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and the model efficiency factor (MEF). The results consistently revealed heightened sensitivity and efficiency across all application domains. Additionally, we introduced a brand new classification scheme for ranking the trophic status of transitional and coastal waters. To assess spatial sensitivity, we applied the ATSI model to four distinct waterbodies in Ireland, comparing trophic assessment outcomes with the Assessment of Trophic Status of Estuaries and Bays in Ireland (ATSEBI) System. Remarkably, significant disparities between the ATSI and ATSEBI System were evident in all domains, except for Mulroy Bay. Overall, our research significantly enhances the accuracy of trophic status assessments in marine ecosystems. The ATSI model, combined with cutting-edge ML techniques and our new classification scheme, represents a promising avenue for evaluating and monitoring trophic conditions in TrC waters. The study also demonstrated the effectiveness of ATSI in assessing trophic status across various waterbodies, including lakes, rivers, and more. These findings make substantial contributions to the field of marine ecosystem management and conservation.

Bioprospection of the bacterial ß-myrcene-biotransforming trait in the rhizosphere.

The biocatalysis of ß-myrcene into value-added compounds, with enhanced organoleptic/therapeutic properties, may be performed by resorting to specialized enzymatic machinery of ß-myrcene-biotransforming bacteria. Few ß-myrcene-biotransforming bacteria have been studied, limiting the diversity of genetic modules/catabolic pathways available for biotechnological research. In our model Pseudomonas sp. strain M1, the ß-myrcene catabolic core-code was identified in a 28-kb genomic island (GI). The lack of close homologs of this ß-myrcene-associated genetic code prompted a bioprospection of cork oak and eucalyptus rhizospheres, from 4 geographic locations in Portugal, to evaluate the environmental diversity and dissemination of the ß-myrcene-biotransforming genetic trait (Myr+). Soil microbiomes were enriched in ß-myrcene-supplemented cultures, from which ß-myrcene-biotransforming bacteria were isolated, belonging to Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Sphingobacteriia classes. From a panel of representative Myr+ isolates that included 7 bacterial genera, the production of ß-myrcene derivatives previously reported in strain M1 was detected in Pseudomonas spp., Cupriavidus sp., Sphingobacterium sp., and Variovorax sp. A comparative genomics analysis against the genome of strain M1 found the M1-GI code in 11 new Pseudomonas genomes. Full nucleotide conservation of the ß-myrcene core-code was observed throughout a 76-kb locus in strain M1 and all 11 Pseudomonas spp., resembling the structure of an integrative and conjugative element (ICE), despite being isolated from different niches. Furthermore, the characterization of isolates not harboring the Myr+-related 76-kb locus suggested that they may biotransform ß-myrcene via alternative catabolic loci, being thereby a novel source of enzymes and biomolecule catalogue for biotechnological exploitation. KEY POINTS: • The isolation of 150 Myr+ bacteria hints the ubiquity of such trait in the rhizosphere. • The Myr+ trait is spread across different bacterial taxonomic classes. • The core-code for the Myr+ trait was detected in a novel ICE, only found in Pseudomonas spp.

Characterization of Functional Coatings on Cork Stoppers with Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Imaging.

Evaluating the efficiency of surface treatments is a problem of paramount importance for the cork stopper industry. Generically, these treatments create coatings that aim to enhance the impermeability and lubrification of cork stoppers. Yet, current methods of surface analysis are typically time-consuming, destructive, have poor representativity or rely on indirect approaches. In this work, the use of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) imaging solution is explored for evaluating the presence of coating along the cylindrical surface and in depth. To test it, several cork stoppers with different shaped areas of untreated surface were analyzed by LIBS, making a rectangular grid of spots with multiple shots per spot, to try to identify the correspondent shape. Results show that this technique can detect the untreated area along with other features, such as leakage and holes, allowing for a high success rate of identification and for its performance at different depths, paving the way for future industry-grade quality control solutions with more complex surface analysis.

Added-Value Compounds in Cork By-Products: Methods for Extraction, Identification, and Quantification of Compounds with Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Interest.

The growing threat of climatic crisis and fossil fuel extinction has caused a boom in sustainability trends. Consumer demand for so-called eco-friendly products has been steadily increasing, built upon the foundation of environmental protection and safeguarding for future generations. A natural product that has been used for centuries is cork, resulting from the outer bark of Quercus suber L. Currently, its major application is the production of cork stoppers for the wine industry, a process that, although considered sustainable, generates by-products in the form of cork powder, cork granulates, or waste such as black condensate, among others. These residues possess constituents of interest for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, as they exhibit relevant bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. This interesting potential brings forth the need to develop methods for their extraction, isolation, identification, and quantification. The aim of this work is to describe the potential of cork by-products for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry and to assemble the available extraction, isolation, and analytical methods applied to cork by-products, as well the biological assays. To our knowledge, this compilation has never been done, and it opens new avenues for the development of new applications for cork by-products.

'The area I'm from is very rough': Drug users' views on the role of social and economic factors in their experiences of drug-related harm.

Over the last thirty-five years, academic researchers in Ireland have consistently demonstrated the relationship between social deprivation and the most severe instances of drug-related harm. More recently, researchers have begun to include the voices of drug users with lived experiences of harm in these discussions. However, these studies have more often tended to focus on drug users' views on alternative drug policy options, rather than their views on the social and economic factors relevant to their experiences of drug-related harm. Therefore, the current study conducted 12 in-depth interviews with drug users experiencing harm in an Irish city, in order to elicit their views on the specific role they believe social and economic factors played in conditioning their later experiences of drug--related harm. The study participants highlight harms experienced in the education system, the family home, and the local community as more relevant to their later experiences of drug-related harm than their social deficits in education, a lack of resources in the local community or in their families. Many participants also discuss meaningful relationships as the last defence against these harms and argue that the loss of such relationships coincided with their most severe incidences of drug-related harm. The study concludes with a discussion of the conceptual framework of structural violence in terms of its potential for interpreting the participants' views and suggests several avenues for further research.

The influence of bioclimate on soil microbial communities of cork oak.

BACKGROUND: Soil microbiomes are important to maintain soil processes in forests and confer protection to plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. These microbiomes can be affected by environmental changes. In this work, soil microbial communities from different cork oak Portuguese forests under different edaphoclimatic conditions were described by using a metabarcoding strategy targeting ITS2 and 16S barcodes. RESULTS: A total of 11,974 fungal and 12,010 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were obtained, revealing rich and diverse microbial communities associated with different cork oak forests. Bioclimate was described as the major factor influencing variability in these communities (or bioclimates/cork oak forest for fungal community), followed by boron and granulometry. Also, pH explained variation of fungal communities, while C:N ratio contributed to bacterial variation. Fungal and bacterial biomarker genera for specific bioclimates were described. Their co-occurrence network revealed the existence of a complex and delicate balance among microbial communities. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that bacterial communities are more likely to be affected by different edaphoclimatic conditions than fungal communities, also predicting a higher impact of climate change on bacterial communities. The integration of cork oak fungal and bacterial microbiota under different bioclimates could be further explored to provide information about useful interactions for increasing cork oak forest sustainability in a world subject to climate changes.

An Electroanalytical Solution for the Determination of Pb2+ in Progressive Hair Dyes Using the Cork-Graphite Sensor.

Lead is one of the most toxic metals for living organisms: once absorbed by soft tissues, it is capable of triggering various pathologies, subsequently bioaccumulating in the bones. In consideration of this, its detection and quantification in products for human consumption and use is of great interest, especially if the procedure can be carried out in an easy, reproducible and economical way. This work presents the results of the electroanalytical determination of lead in three different commercial products used as progressive hair dyes. Analyses were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV) using a composite cork-graphite sensor in 0.5M H2SO4 solution or 0.1M acetate buffer (pH 4.5), in the presence and absence of hair dye samples. The H2SO4 solution gave better results in terms of analyte sensitivity than the acetate buffer electrolyte. In both cases, well-defined signals for lead were obtained by DPSV analyses, enabling the calibration curve and figures of merit to be determined. The limits of detection (LOD) were found to be approximately 1.06 µM and 1.26 µM in H2SO4 and acetate buffer, respectively. The DPSV standard addition method was successfully applied to quantify the lead in hair dye samples, yielding values below 0.45% in Pb. All three analyzed samples were shown to comply with the limit set by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, i.e., 0.6% lead in this type of product. The comparison of the electroanalytical results with those obtained by the reference method, based on the use of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), confirmed that the electroanalytical detection approach is potentially applicable as a strategy for quality control.

Portable Electronic Nose Based on Digital and Analog Chemical Sensors for 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole Discrimination.

2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is mainly responsible for cork taint in wine, which causes significant economic losses; therefore, the wine and cork industries demand an immediate, economic, noninvasive and on-the-spot solution. In this work, we present a novel prototype of an electronic nose (e-nose) using an array of digital and analog metal-oxide gas sensors with a total of 31 signals, capable of detecting TCA, and classifying cork samples with low TCA concentrations (≤15.1 ng/L). The results show that the device responds to low concentrations of TCA in laboratory conditions. It also differentiates among the inner and outer layers of cork bark (81.5% success) and distinguishes among six different samples of granulated cork (83.3% success). Finally, the device can predict the concentration of a new sample within a ±10% error margin.

Rapid and Non-Destructive Analysis of Corky Off-Flavors in Natural Cork Stoppers by a Wireless and Portable Electronic Nose.

This article discusses the use of a handheld electronic nose to obtain information on the presence of some aromatic defects in natural cork stoppers, such as haloanisoles, alkylmethoxypyrazines, and ketones. Typical concentrations of these compounds (from 5 to 120 ng in the cork samples) have been measured. Two electronic nose prototypes have been developed as an instrumentation system comprise of eight commercial gas sensors to perform two sets of experiments. In the first experiment, a quantitative approach was used whist in the second experiment a qualitative one was used. Machine learning algorithms such as k-nearest neighbors and artificial neural networks have been used in order to test the performance of the system to detect cork defects. The use of this system tries to improve the current aromatic defect detection process in the cork stopper industry, which is done by gas chromatography or human test panels. We found this electronic nose to have near 100 % accuracy in the detection of these defects.

Sono-Enzymatically Embedded Antibacterial Silver-Lignin Nanoparticles on Cork Filter Material for Water Disinfection.

Providing clean drinking water is a great challenge worldwide, especially for low-income countries where the access to safe water is limited. During the last decade, new biotechnological approaches have been explored to improve water management. Among them, the use of antimicrobial nanoparticles for designing innovative centralized and decentralized (point-of-use) water treatment systems for microbial decontamination has received considerable attention. Herein, antimicrobial lignin capped silver nanoparticles (AgLNP) were embedded on residual cork pieces using high-intensity ultrasound coupled with laccase-mediated grafting to obtain biofunctionalized nanomaterial. The developed AgLNP-coated cork proved to be highly efficient to drastically reduce the number of viable Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in liquid medium. Additionally, the coated-cork was characterized using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and SEM imaging, and further used as a filter bed in a point-of-use device for water disinfection. The constructed water filtering system significantly reduced the amount of viable E. coli and resistant Bacillus cereus spores from filtered water operating at increasing residence times of 1, 4, 6, 16, 24, and 48 h. Therefore, the presented results prove that the obtained cork-based antimicrobial nanocomposite material could be used as a filtering medium for the development of water filtration system to control pathogen dissemination.

Robust machine learning algorithms for predicting coastal water quality index.

Coastal water quality assessment is an essential task to keep "good water quality" status for living organisms in coastal ecosystems. The Water quality index (WQI) is a widely used tool to assess water quality but this technique has received much criticism due to the model's reliability and inconsistence. The present study used a recently developed improved WQI model for calculating coastal WQIs in Cork Harbour. The aim of the research is to determine the most reliable and robust machine learning (ML) algorithm(s) to anticipate WQIs at each monitoring point instead of repeatedly employing SI and weight values in order to reduce model uncertainty. In this study, we compared eight commonly used algorithms, including Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Extra Tree (ExT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Linear Regression (LR), and Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB). For the purposes of developing the prediction models, the dataset was divided into two groups: training (70%) and testing (30%), whereas the models were validated using the 10-fold cross-validation method. In order to evaluate the models' performance, the RMSE, MSE, MAE, R2, and PREI metrics were used in this study. The tree-based DT (RMSE = 0.0, MSE = 0.0, MAE = 0.0, R2 = 1.0 and PERI = 0.0) and the ExT (RMSE = 0.0, MSE = 0.0, MAE = 0.0, R2 = 1.0 and PERI = 0.0) and ensemble tree-based XGB (RMSE = 0.0, MSE = 0.0, MAE = 0.0, R2 = 1.0 and PERI = +0.16 to -0.17) and RF (RMSE = 2.0, MSE = 3.80, MAE = 1.10, R2 = 0.98, PERI = +3.52 to -25.38) models outperformed other models. The results of model performance and PREI indicate that the DT, ExT, and GXB models could be effective, robust and significantly reduce model uncertainty in predicting WQIs. The findings of this study are also useful for reducing model uncertainty and optimizing the WQM-WQI model architecture for predicting WQI values.

Air-Depleted and Solvent-Impregnated Cork Powder as a New Natural and Sustainable Fining Agent for Removal of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) from Red Wines.

Trichloroanisole (TCA) in wine results in a sensory defect called "cork taint", a significant problem for the wine industry. Wines can become contaminated by TCA absorption from the atmosphere through contaminated wood barrels, cork stoppers, and wood pallets. Air-depleted solvent-impregnated (ADSI) cork powder (CP) was used to mitigate TCA in wines. The ADSI CP (0.25 g/L) removed 91% of TCA (6 ng/L levels), resulting in an olfactory activity value of 0.14. A Freundlich isotherm described ADSI CP TCA adsorption with irreversible adsorption and a KF = 33.37. ADSI CP application had no significant impact on the phenolic profile and chromatic characteristics of red wine. Using headspace sampling with re-equilibration, an average reduction in the volatile abundance of 29 ± 15%, 31 ± 19%, and 37 ± 24% was observed for the 0.10, 0.25, and 0.50 g/L ADSI CP, respectively. The alkyl esters and acids were the most affected. The impact observed was much lower when using headspace sampling without re-equilibration. Isoamyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl hexanoate, and ethyl decanoate abundances were not significantly different from the control wine and 0.25 g/L ADSI CP application. Thus, ADSI CP can be a new sustainable fining agent to remove this "off-flavor" from wine, with a reduced impact on the wine characteristics.

Nonlinear plant-plant interactions modulate impact of extreme drought and recovery on a Mediterranean ecosystem.

Interaction effects of different stressors, such as extreme drought and plant invasion, can have detrimental effects on ecosystem functioning and recovery after drought. With ongoing climate change and increasing plant invasion, there is an urgent need to predict the short- and long-term interaction impacts of these stressors on ecosystems. We established a combined precipitation exclusion and shrub invasion (Cistus ladanifer) experiment in a Mediterranean cork oak (Quercus suber) ecosystem with four treatments: (1) Q. suber control; (2) Q. suber with rain exclusion; (3) Q. suber invaded by shrubs; and (4) Q. suber with rain exclusion and shrub invasion. As key parameter, we continuously measured ecosystem water fluxes. In an average precipitation year, the interaction effects of both stressors were neutral. However, the combination of imposed drought and shrub invasion led to amplifying interaction effects during an extreme drought by strongly reducing tree transpiration. Contrarily, the imposed drought reduced the competitiveness of the shrubs in the following recovery period, which buffered the negative effects of shrub invasion on Q. suber. Our results demonstrate the highly dynamic and nonlinear effects of interacting stressors on ecosystems and urges for further investigations on biotic interactions in a context of climate change pressures.

Small molecule inhibitors of mammalian GSK-3ß promote in vitro plant cell reprogramming and somatic embryogenesis in crop and forest species.

Plant in vitro regeneration systems, such as somatic embryogenesis, are essential in breeding; they permit propagation of elite genotypes, production of doubled-haploids, and regeneration of whole plants from gene editing or transformation events. However, in many crop and forest species, somatic embryogenesis is highly inefficient. We report a new strategy to improve in vitro embryogenesis using synthetic small molecule inhibitors of mammalian glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß), never used in plants. These inhibitors increased in vitro embryo production in three different systems and species, microspore embryogenesis of Brassica napus and Hordeum vulgare, and somatic embryogenesis of Quercus suber. TDZD-8, a representative compound of the molecules tested, inhibited GSK-3 activity in microspore cultures, and increased expression of embryogenesis genes FUS3, LEC2, and AGL15. Plant GSK-3 kinase BIN2 is a master regulator of brassinosteroid (BR) signalling. During microspore embryogenesis, BR biosynthesis and signalling genes CPD, GSK-3-BIN2, BES1, and BZR1 were up-regulated and the BAS1 catabolic gene was repressed, indicating activation of the BR pathway. TDZD-8 increased expression of BR signalling elements, mimicking BR effects. The findings support that the small molecule inhibitors promoted somatic embryogenesis by activating the BR pathway, opening up the way for new strategies using GSK-3ß inhibitors that could be extended to other species.

Identifying dietary patterns in Irish schoolchildren and their association with nutritional knowledge and markers of health before and after intervention.

The aim of the study was to identify dietary patterns (DP) and examine differences in anthropometric measures, blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness and nutritional knowledge of 6- and 10-year-old children at baseline and following a nutrition and physical activity intervention, with respect to DP and treatment group. This is a longitudinal study. Food diary, nutritional knowledge questionnaire and 550-m walk/run test measured dietary intake, nutritional knowledge and cardiorespiratory fitness, respectively. BP, weight, height and waist circumference were also measured and BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were derived. All measurements were performed at baseline and following intervention. Two primary schools (one intervention, one control) in Cork, Ireland, were selected. Participants were 6- (n 39, age 5·9 (sd 0·6) years) and 10- (n 49, age 9·8 (sd 0·5) years)-year-olds. Two DP were identified, using k-means cluster analysis, for both 6- (unhealthy and nutrient-dense) and 10-year-olds (processed and Western diet) at baseline. DP derived post-intervention were (1) plant-based and (2) processed foods for 6-year-olds and (1) nutrient-dense and (2) unhealthy for 10-year-olds. There was no statistically significant difference in DP for 6- and 10-year-olds at baseline and post-intervention (P > 0·05). Following the intervention, a multivariate ANOVA showed there were no statistically significant differences in nutritional knowledge, BMI, WHtR, cardiorespiratory fitness and BP based on DP and intervention/control group for both age groups (P > 0·05). Three out of four dietary patterns identified for 6- and 10-year-olds were unfavourable. While no statistically significant evidence of intervention impact was found on DP, a positive trend was emerging among 10-year-olds.

Bacteria could help ectomycorrhizae establishment under climate variations.

Rhizosphere microbiome is one of the main sources of plant protection against drought. Beneficial symbiotic microorganisms, such as ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) and mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB), interact with each other for increasing or maintaining host plant fitness. This mutual support benefits all three partners and comprises a natural system for drought acclimation in plants. Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) tolerance to drought scenarios is widely known, but adaptation to climate changes has been a challenge for forest sustainability protection. In this work, ECMF and MHB communities from cork oak forests were cross-linked and correlated with climates. Cenococcum, Russula and Tuber were the most abundant ECMF capable of interacting with MHB (ECMF~MHB) genera in cork oak stands, while Bacillus, Burkholderia and Streptomyces were the most conspicuous MHB. Integrating all microbial data, two consortia Lactarius/Bacillaceae and Russula/Burkholderaceae have singled out but revealed a negative interaction with each other. Russula/Burkholderaceae might have an important role for cork oak forest sustainability in arid environments, which will be complemented by the lower drought adaptation of competitive Lactarius/Bacillaceae. These microbial consortia could play an essential role on cork oak forest resilience to upcoming climatic changes.

Evaluation of the Storage Conditions and Type of Cork Stopper on the Quality of Bottled White Wines.

The effects of different storage conditions, light exposure, temperature and different commercially available cork stoppers on the phenolic, volatile and sensorial profile of Verdejo wines were studied. Two natural corks of different visual quality and a microgranulated cork stopper were investigated over one year at two different storage conditions. One simulating light exposure and temperature in retail outlets and the other simulating optimal cellar conditions (darkness and 12 °C). The wines stored under commercial conditions showed greater losses of total and free SO2 and higher levels of brown-yellowish tones, related to the oxidation of flavan-3-ols. Although these wines underwent a decrease in the total content of stilbenes, a significant increase in trans-piceid was observed. In addition, these wines suffered important changes in their volatile and sensory profile. Volatile compounds with fruity and floral aromas decreased significantly, while volatile compounds related to aged-type characters, as linalool oxides, vitispirane, TDN or furan derivatives increased. Wines stored in darkness at 12 °C underwent minor changes and their sensory profiles were similar to wine before bottling. The high-quality natural corks and microgranulated corks better preserved the quality of the white wines from a sensory point of view. These results showed that temperature and light exposure conditions (diffuse white LEDs and 24 ± 2 °C) in retail outlets considerably decrease the quality of bottled white wines and, consequently, their shelf life, due to the premature development of aged-type characters.