Table grapes are harvested based on well-known maturity indices that must be monitored after fruit veraison. The aim of this study was to assess these indices across multiple locations and environmental conditions, encompassing different table grape cultivars such as Black Pearl, Crimson Seedless, Superior Seedless, and Red Globe. For this reason, grape sampling was conducted across six distinct locations characterized by varying altitudes above sea level (m asl) and environmental conditions over the ripening season. The main maturity indices, including pH, sugar content, titratable acidity, berry firmness, and other parameters were monitored over the growing season. Moreover, the quantification of total polyphenols, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity was determined using spectrophotometric assays at harvesting. The study has examined the effect of the vineyard’s location on grape quality and its interaction with the cultivar and environment. Crimson Seedless maintained a relatively high level of acidity with altitude near harvesting. Black Pearl exhibited a notable decline in both sugar content and berry firmness as elevation increased, whereas Red Globe demonstrated contrasting outcomes. The optimal maturity of Superior Seedless was observed at an elevation of 1000 m asl. Black Pearl and Crimson Seedless exhibited better adaptability to intermediate elevations (650 and 950 m asl), while Red Globe and Superior Seedless showed better adaptability to higher elevations (1000–1150 m asl). Among the studied cultivars, Black Pearl exhibited significantly higher levels of total polyphenols and anthocyanins, while close values were noticed between red and green cultivars.

Vitis vinifera commonly known as grapevine is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. Its cultivation started more than 7000 years ago in the Near East, and over the millennia was followed by the development of thousands of cultivars that were further selected and characterized for specific purposes. Its important pharmacological value and its richness in phytoconstituents were the triggers to perform this project. Seven extracts were prepared from five different V. vinifera varieties (V. vinifera ‘Black Pearl’ (BP), V. vinifera ‘Red Glob’ (RG), V. vinifera ‘Crimson’ (CR), V. vinifera ‘Beitamouni’ (BE) and V. vinifera ‘Superior’ (SU)) by separating the pulp from the seeds, followed by methanolic extraction. The phytochemical analysis showed that red colored grapes (RE, BP and CR), the seeds from V. vinifera ‘Black Pearl’ and V. vinifera ‘Red Globe’ contain higher amounts of primary and secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, anthocyanins and reducing sugars. In addition to their richness in phytoconstituents, these varieties/seeds possess an important antioxidant activity. The results of the cell viability assays showed that the red varieties have a potential anticancer activity against Capan-2 pancreatic cancer and MDA-MB231(TNBC) breast cancer cell lines, with the greatest promise when combined with the seeds.

Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment due to both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) commonly co-occur in contaminated environments, yet most toxicity studies focus on individual metals. We investigated the combined toxicity of Ni and Cu in Escherichia coli using environmentally relevant concentrations of each. While each metal alone caused minimal growth inhibition, their combination was synergistically toxic. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed unique alterations in gene expression and metabolite abundances during the combined metal treatment. Key pathways uniquely impacted by the combined metal exposure included sulfur assimilation, cysteine biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Many of these responses appeared to be linked to dysregulation of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster metabolism. We observed increased expression of the genes encoding ISC Fe-S cluster assembly machinery only during metal co-treatment. Growth experiments with deletion mutants confirmed that the ISC machinery was required for survival only under the combined metal stress. We also observed the activation of a sulfur starvation response during the combined metal stress that was consistent with increased sulfur demand for Fe-S cluster biosynthesis. Deletion of cysK , encoding cysteine synthase, impaired growth only under combined metal exposure. Because Fe-S clusters are universal across microbial taxa, the common co-occurrence of Ni and Cu in the environment represents a widespread and underrecognized threat to microbial life and the ecosystem processes they sustain. Our findings highlight the need to further assess the effects of metal mixtures, which can trigger emergent stress responses not yet predictable from single-metal exposures. IMPORTANCE: Many environments are contaminated by metals. These metals are toxic to the microorganisms that inhabit these environments and carry out important ecosystem services. While much is known about bacterial responses to single metal stress, in most contaminated environments, metals typically exist as mixtures. Nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) are common co-contaminants. We tested Ni and Cu in combination to examine the mechanism behind their synergistic toxicity in the model bacterium Escherichia coli K-12. We found that the two metals in combination are likely disrupting iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters. Since Fe-S clusters are ubiquitous across microbial taxa and critical for microbial metabolism, this suggests that these two common co-contaminants may be toxic to diverse microorganisms.

Background: Leafy greens, particularly romaine lettuce, are often associated with outbreaks due to their susceptibility to contamination from various environmental sources. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of E. coli, Salmonella, copper, nickel, zinc, and manganese in irrigation water, lettuce leaves, and agricultural soil in the Litani River Basin (LRB), Lebanon. Method: Samples were collected from five demonstration plots employing different agricultural practices. Heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry, while E. coli and Salmonella testing were conducted through conventional culturing techniques. The impact of E. coli contamination on seed germination and the interaction effects between E. coli and heavy metals were also examined. The study also compared the effectiveness of various irrigation systems in reducing bacterial contamination. Results: The results demonstrated that contamination levels varied significantly across the plots and irrigation types. This variation underscores the necessity of site-specific mitigation strategies to enhance food safety. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate irrigation methods and implementing tailored agricultural practices to minimize the risk of contamination. Conclusion: This research provides valuable insights for optimizing agricultural practices in the LRB to ensure food safety and environmental sustainability.

Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment due to both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) commonly co-occur in contaminated environments, yet most toxicity studies focus on individual metals. We investigated the combined toxicity of Ni and Cu in Escherichia coli using environmentally relevant concentrations of each. While each metal alone caused minimal growth inhibition, their combination was synergistically toxic. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed unique alterations in gene expression and metabolites during the combined metal treatment. Key pathways uniquely impacted by the combined metal exposure included sulfur assimilation, cysteine biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Many of these responses appeared to be linked to dysregulation of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster metabolism. We observed increased expression of the genes encoding ISC Fe-S cluster assembly machinery only during metal co-treatment. Growth experiments with deletion mutants confirmed that the ISC machinery was required for survival only under the combined metal stress. We also observed the activation of a sulfur starvation response during the combined metal stress that was consistent with increased sulfur demand for Fe-S cluster biosynthesis. Deletion of cysK , encoding cysteine synthase, impaired growth only under combined metal exposure. Because Fe-S clusters are universal across microbial taxa, the common co-occurrence of Ni and Cu in the environment represents a widespread and underrecognized threat to microbial life and the ecosystem processes they sustain. Our findings highlight the need to further assess the effects of metal mixtures, which can trigger emergent stress responses not yet predictable from single-metal exposures. IMPORTANCE: Many environments are contaminated by metals. These metals are toxic to the microorganisms that inhabit these environments and carry out important ecosystem services. While much is known about bacterial responses to single metal stress, in most contaminated environments, metals typically exist as mixtures. Nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) are common co-contaminants. We tested Ni and Cu in combination to shed light on the mechanism behind their synergistic toxicity in the model bacterium Escherichia coli K-12 using a novel, multi-omics approach. We found that the two metals in combination are likely disrupting iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters. Since Fe-S clusters are ubiquitous across microbial taxa and critical for microbial metabolism, this suggests that these two common co-contaminants may be toxic to diverse microorganisms.