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Dr. Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Cyprus University of Technology

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0 Essential Oils
0 Horticulture
0 Ozone
0 Abiotic Stresses
0 Vegetable Science

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Essential Oils
Ozone
Fresh produce preservation

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Journal article
Published: 18 August 2021 in Plants
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Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered one of the most valuable and versatile vegetable crops globally and also serves as a significant model species for fruit developmental biology. Despite its significance, a severe genetic bottleneck and intense selection of genotypes with specific qualitative traits have resulted in the prevalence of a restricted number of (geno)types, also causing a lack of diversity across widespread cultivated types. As a result, the re-emergence of landraces as well as traditional and heirloom varieties is largely acknowledged as a countermeasure to restore phenotypic, phytochemical and genetic diversity while enriching the aroma/taste tomato palette. On those grounds, the Cypriot tomato germplasm was assessed and characterized. Ten landrace accessions were evaluated under greenhouse conditions and data were collected for 24 IPGRI discrete phenotypic traits. Grouping of accessions largely reflected the fruit shape and size; four different fruit types were recorded across accessions (flattened, heart-shaped, rounded and highly rounded). Moreover, a single run panel consisting of ten SSRs was developed and applied in order to genetically characterize 190 Cypriot genotypes and foreign heirloom varieties. Based on genetic indexes it was established that tomato landraces have a rather low level of heterogeneity and genetic variation. Finally, mineral and phytochemical analyses were conducted in order to estimate biochemical attributes (total phenolics, ascorbic acid, lycopene, β-carotene, total soluble content, titratable acidity) across genotypes; thus, ascertaining that the Cypriot panel has a high nutritional value. Due to the thermo-drought adaptation and tolerance of these genotypes, the current study serves as a roadmap for future breeding efforts in order to incorporate desirable traits or develop novel tomato lines combining resilience and alimentary value.

ACS Style

Filio Athinodorou; Petros Foukas; Georgios Tsaniklidis; Anastasios Kotsiras; Antonios Chrysargyris; Costas Delis; Angelos C. Kyratzis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Nikolaos Nikoloudakis. Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm. Plants 2021, 10, 1698 .

AMA Style

Filio Athinodorou, Petros Foukas, Georgios Tsaniklidis, Anastasios Kotsiras, Antonios Chrysargyris, Costas Delis, Angelos C. Kyratzis, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Nikolaos Nikoloudakis. Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm. Plants. 2021; 10 (8):1698.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Filio Athinodorou; Petros Foukas; Georgios Tsaniklidis; Anastasios Kotsiras; Antonios Chrysargyris; Costas Delis; Angelos C. Kyratzis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Nikolaos Nikoloudakis. 2021. "Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm." Plants 10, no. 8: 1698.

Journal article
Published: 12 August 2021 in Plants
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Heavy metal contamination is a major health issue concerning the commercial production of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that are used for the extraction of bioactive molecules. Copper (Cu) is an anthropogenic contaminant that, at toxic levels, can accumulate in plant tissues, affecting plant growth and development. On the other hand, plant response to metal-induced stress may involve the synthesis and accumulation of beneficial secondary metabolites. In this study, hydroponically grown Pelargonium graveolens plants were exposed to different Cu concentrations in a nutrient solution (4, 25, 50, 100 μM) to evaluate the effects Cu toxicity on plant growth, mineral uptake and distribution in plants, some stress indicators, and the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites in leaf tissues. P. graveolens resulted in moderately tolerant Cu toxicity. At Cu concentrations up to 100 μM, biomass production was preserved and was accompanied by an increase in phenolics and antioxidant capacity. The metal contaminant was accumulated mainly in the roots. The leaf tissues of Cu-treated P. graveolens may be safely used for the extraction of bioactive molecules.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Rita Maggini; Luca Incrocci; Alberto Pardossi; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture. Plants 2021, 10, 1663 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Rita Maggini, Luca Incrocci, Alberto Pardossi, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture. Plants. 2021; 10 (8):1663.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Rita Maggini; Luca Incrocci; Alberto Pardossi; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture." Plants 10, no. 8: 1663.

Journal article
Published: 28 July 2021 in Agronomy
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Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) play an essential role in global health systems, since more than 80% of population use natural products in primary healthcare. Given that the global use of herbal medicines is exponentially increasing, as well as many MAPs products are introduced into the market, many cultivation practices are applied to produce high quality and standardized plant raw materials. Thus, the present study focuses on the chemical fingerprints of two cultivated Sideritis species. In Cyprus, Sideritis cypria Post and S. perfoliata L. subsp. perfoliata are widely used in traditional medicine. To date, there is no research work presenting the comparative chemical profiling between the aforesaid species using NMR methods. In this study, 1D and 2D NMR experiments were used to compare the chemical fingerprints of these species originated from conventional cultivation practices. Iridoids (ajugol, monomelittoside, and melittoside) and one flavone (4′-methyl-isoscutellarein 7-O-[6‴-O-acetyl]-β-D-allosyl(1→2)glucoside) were present in the infusion of S. perfoliata subsp. perfoliata. The phenylethanoid glycoside, acteoside, was detected in both samples. The phytochemical profiles of these cultivated species were similar to those of Sideritis species, indicating the positive impact of cultivation practices in MAPs.

ACS Style

Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou; Krystalia Lytra; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Helen Skaltsa. NMR Fingerprint Comparison of Cultivated Sideritis spp. from Cyprus. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1503 .

AMA Style

Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou, Krystalia Lytra, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Helen Skaltsa. NMR Fingerprint Comparison of Cultivated Sideritis spp. from Cyprus. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (8):1503.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou; Krystalia Lytra; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Helen Skaltsa. 2021. "NMR Fingerprint Comparison of Cultivated Sideritis spp. from Cyprus." Agronomy 11, no. 8: 1503.

Journal article
Published: 18 June 2021 in Agronomy
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Abiotic factors in nutrient solutions (NSs), such as salinity and high electrical conductivity (EC), may adversely alter plant growth and crop performance. However, there are medicinal/aromatic plants which can not only withstand these adverse conditions, but which can also increase their productivity or even enhance their quality in such conditions. As fresh water sources suitable for irrigation are becoming more and more limited, the use of low-quality water sources and hydroponic growing systems have been suggested as the main alternatives. Towards that direction, this study aims to evaluate the effect of high EC levels in NSs on geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) and common verbena (Verbena officinallis L.) plants cultivated in a soilless (perlite) hydroponics system. Plants were irrigated with a full nutrient solution of EC 2.1 dS m−1 and pH 5.8 until they reached a uniform size. Then, three treatments were applied, namely: (a) a control treatment with an EC of 2.1 dS m−1 in the NS, (b) a high-salinity NS created by adding 75 mM of NaCl (EC under 8.5 dS m−1) and (c) a concentrated NS with an EC of 8.5 dS m−1. In pelargonium, high salinity decreased the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents; antioxidant capacity; N, K, Mg and P content; as well as chlorophyll fluorescence, compared to the control treatment. On the other hand, increased salinity levels increased the Na and Ca content and stomatal resistance. In common verbena, salinity decreased total phenolic content and chlorophyll fluorescence but increased total flavonoid content; antioxidants; leaf K, P, Na, Cu and Zn content; and stomatal resistance, compared to the control. In both species, high EC did not affect polyphenols, flavonoids or antioxidants, whereas it increased stomatal resistance and nutrient accumulation in the leaves, and decreased chlorophyll fluorescence compared to the control treatment. Damage indices, indicated by lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide production and the elevation of enzymes’ antioxidant activities, were evidenced in both saline- and high-EC-treated plants. In conclusion, despite having the same EC levels in the nutrient solution, it seems that ionic stress caused by high mineral concentrations in the nutrient solution had less severe effects on the tested plants than the relevant osmotic stress caused by high salinity due to the addition of NaCl in the nutrient solution.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Spyridon Petropoulos; Dejan Prvulovic; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Performance of Hydroponically Cultivated Geranium and Common Verbena under Salinity and High Electrical Conductivity Levels. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1237 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Spyridon Petropoulos, Dejan Prvulovic, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Performance of Hydroponically Cultivated Geranium and Common Verbena under Salinity and High Electrical Conductivity Levels. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1237.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Spyridon Petropoulos; Dejan Prvulovic; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Performance of Hydroponically Cultivated Geranium and Common Verbena under Salinity and High Electrical Conductivity Levels." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1237.

Journal article
Published: 17 June 2021 in Sustainability
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Biostimulants are a novel and eco-friendly agronomic tool with practical applications in alleviating negative effects of environmental stressors. The present work studied the effects of three biostimulant products (Nomoren (N), Twin-Antistress (TW), and X-Stress (XS)) under normal irrigation (W+) and water deficit irrigation conditions (W−) on the nutritional, chemical composition and bioactive properties of common bean fresh pods. A variable effect of biostimulants and water deficit irrigation was observed on nutritional value parameters, while fructose and sucrose were the main detected sugars, especially in NW+ and CW− treatments. Oxalic, malic, and citric acid were the main detected organic acids, while γ- and total tocopherol content was the highest in TWW+. (+)-Catechin and (−)-epicatechin were the most abundant phenolic compounds, especially in the NW− treatment. A variable antioxidant capacity was observed for the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) and Oxidative Haemolysis assays (OxHLIA), while TWW+ extracts showed the best overall results against the tested fungi. In conclusion, the tested biostimulants had a positive effect on chemical composition and bioactivities of purple bean depending on the irrigation regime.

ACS Style

Ângela Fernandes; Sara Figueiredo; Tiane Finimundy; José Pinela; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Marija Ivanov; Marina Soković; Isabel Ferreira; Spyridon Petropoulos; Lillian Barros. Chemical Composition and Bioactive Properties of Purple French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as Affected by Water Deficit Irrigation and Biostimulants Application. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6869 .

AMA Style

Ângela Fernandes, Sara Figueiredo, Tiane Finimundy, José Pinela, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Marija Ivanov, Marina Soković, Isabel Ferreira, Spyridon Petropoulos, Lillian Barros. Chemical Composition and Bioactive Properties of Purple French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as Affected by Water Deficit Irrigation and Biostimulants Application. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (12):6869.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ângela Fernandes; Sara Figueiredo; Tiane Finimundy; José Pinela; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Marija Ivanov; Marina Soković; Isabel Ferreira; Spyridon Petropoulos; Lillian Barros. 2021. "Chemical Composition and Bioactive Properties of Purple French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as Affected by Water Deficit Irrigation and Biostimulants Application." Sustainability 13, no. 12: 6869.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2021 in Plants
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The preservation of fresh produce quality is a major aim in the food industry since consumers demand safe and of high nutritional value products. In recent decades there has been a turn towards the use of eco-friendly, natural products (i.e., essential oils-EOs) in an attempt to reduce chemical-based sanitizing agents (i.e., chlorine and chlorine-based agents). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an eco-friendly product (EP—based on rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils) and two different application methods (vapor and dipping) on the quality attributes of tomato fruits throughout storage at 11 °C and 90% relative humidity for 14 days. The results indicated that overall, the EP was able to maintain the quality of tomato fruits. Dipping application was found to affect less the quality attributes of tomato, such as titratable acidity, ripening index and antioxidant activity compared to the vapor application method. Vapor application of 0.4% EP increased fruit’s antioxidant activity, whereas tomatoes dipped in EP solution presented decreased damage index (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation levels), activating enzymes antioxidant capacity (catalases and peroxidases). Moreover, higher EP concentration (up to 0.8%) resulted in a less acceptable product compared to lower concentration (0.4%). Overall, the results from the present study suggest that the investigated EP can be used for the preservation of fresh produce instead of the current commercial sanitizing agent (chlorine); however, the method of application and conditions of application must be further assessed for every commodity tested.

ACS Style

Panayiota Xylia; Irene Ioannou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Quality Attributes and Storage of Tomato Fruits as Affected by an Eco-Friendly, Essential Oil-Based Product. Plants 2021, 10, 1125 .

AMA Style

Panayiota Xylia, Irene Ioannou, Antonios Chrysargyris, Menelaos Stavrinides, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Quality Attributes and Storage of Tomato Fruits as Affected by an Eco-Friendly, Essential Oil-Based Product. Plants. 2021; 10 (6):1125.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Panayiota Xylia; Irene Ioannou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Quality Attributes and Storage of Tomato Fruits as Affected by an Eco-Friendly, Essential Oil-Based Product." Plants 10, no. 6: 1125.

Review
Published: 31 May 2021 in Biomolecules
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Chitin and chitosan are natural compounds that are biodegradable and nontoxic and have gained noticeable attention due to their effective contribution to increased yield and agro-environmental sustainability. Several effects have been reported for chitosan application in plants. Particularly, it can be used in plant defense systems against biological and environmental stress conditions and as a plant growth promoter—it can increase stomatal conductance and reduce transpiration or be applied as a coating material in seeds. Moreover, it can be effective in promoting chitinolytic microorganisms and prolonging storage life through post-harvest treatments, or benefit nutrient delivery to plants since it may prevent leaching and improve slow release of nutrients in fertilizers. Finally, it can remediate polluted soils through the removal of cationic and anionic heavy metals and the improvement of soil properties. On the other hand, chitin also has many beneficial effects such as plant growth promotion, improved plant nutrition and ability to modulate and improve plants’ resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors. The present review presents a literature overview regarding the effects of chitin, chitosan and derivatives on horticultural crops, highlighting their important role in modern sustainable crop production; the main limitations as well as the future prospects of applications of this particular biostimulant category are also presented.

ACS Style

Mohamad Shahrajabian; Christina Chaski; Nikolaos Polyzos; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Spyridon Petropoulos. Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Vegetable Production Using Chitin and Chitosan as Plant Biostimulants. Biomolecules 2021, 11, 819 .

AMA Style

Mohamad Shahrajabian, Christina Chaski, Nikolaos Polyzos, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Spyridon Petropoulos. Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Vegetable Production Using Chitin and Chitosan as Plant Biostimulants. Biomolecules. 2021; 11 (6):819.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mohamad Shahrajabian; Christina Chaski; Nikolaos Polyzos; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Spyridon Petropoulos. 2021. "Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Vegetable Production Using Chitin and Chitosan as Plant Biostimulants." Biomolecules 11, no. 6: 819.

Journal article
Published: 25 April 2021 in Foods
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When minimally processed vegetables reach their expiration date, expose an increased microbial load. This includes mainly spoilage microorganisms but also foodborne pathogens, thus affecting the quality and safety of highly consumed ready-to-eat salads. A total of 144 ready-to-eat salads from the Cypriot market were analyzed in an attempt to determine the effects of the expiration date on the microbial load and plant metabolic variables of the salads. Possible correlations between them were also investigated for the first time. Furthermore, the impacts of the season (winter, summer), salad producing companies and type of salad and/or their interactions with the tested parameters were investigated. Results revealed that the microbial load (mainly spoilage microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas spp., yeasts and molds) increased towards the end of the shelf life. The microbial load was differentiated among the five salad producers and/or the salad types, highlighting the importance of a common and safe sanitation-processing chain in the preparation of ready-to-eat salads. Summer was the season in which Escherichia coli counts were found to be higher for plain lettuce, while Staphylococcus spp. was increased numbers for the lettuce+endive/radicchio, lettuce+rocket and lettuce+chives type of salads. Additionally, an increased Staphylococcus spp. was observed for plain rocket salads in winter. All samples examined were found negative for Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, carbon dioxide production and damage indexes (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) increased on expiration date on both winter and summer seasons, indicating plant tissue stress at the end of shelf life. These findings indicate that the expiration date and relevant shelf life of processed vegetables are important parameters to be considered when postharvest management is applied to these products, ensuring safety and quality.

ACS Style

Panayiota Xylia; George Botsaris; Panagiotis Skandamis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Expiration Date of Ready-to-Eat Salads: Effects on Microbial Load and Biochemical Attributes. Foods 2021, 10, 941 .

AMA Style

Panayiota Xylia, George Botsaris, Panagiotis Skandamis, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Expiration Date of Ready-to-Eat Salads: Effects on Microbial Load and Biochemical Attributes. Foods. 2021; 10 (5):941.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Panayiota Xylia; George Botsaris; Panagiotis Skandamis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Expiration Date of Ready-to-Eat Salads: Effects on Microbial Load and Biochemical Attributes." Foods 10, no. 5: 941.

Journal article
Published: 09 April 2021 in Agronomy
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Strawberry is considered as a fruit of high nutritional value, with appreciated benefits on human health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are commonly used plant symbionts that affect plant growth and its effectiveness is plant species specific. Additionally, selenium (Se) projects a special interest to humans for its antioxidant specialties, and to plants, because of the potential to make them grow faster when added to the nutrient solution. Nonetheless, the performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in Se biofortification in strawberry is unexplored. The purpose of the present study experiment was to determine whether mycorrhizal inoculation of AMF can have a positive impact on growth and quality of strawberries, and whether Se contributes in this effort or will adversely affect the plants. Four Se concentrations (0, 1, 5 and 10 mg L−1) in the nutrient solution, with or without mycorrhizal inoculation of AMF to the root system, were evaluated. Results demonstrated that Se of 10 mg L−1 negatively affected plant growth, photosynthetic rates, decreased fruit firmness and total soluble solids, induced oxidative stress in fruits and affected nutrient accumulation in different plant organs. Mycorrhizal inoculation of AMF mainly stimulated antioxidative mechanisms of the fruits and increased nutrient accumulation for plants grown at high Se levels. Based on our observations, mycorrhizal inoculation can enhance the nutritional value of strawberry fruits and strawberry plants seem to be a strong candidate for Se biofortification, allowing the rise of Se of the consumers’ intake.

ACS Style

Omiros Antoniou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Effects of Selenium and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Strawberry Grown in Hydroponic Trial. Agronomy 2021, 11, 721 .

AMA Style

Omiros Antoniou, Antonios Chrysargyris, Panayiota Xylia, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Effects of Selenium and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Strawberry Grown in Hydroponic Trial. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (4):721.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Omiros Antoniou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Effects of Selenium and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Strawberry Grown in Hydroponic Trial." Agronomy 11, no. 4: 721.

Journal article
Published: 22 March 2021 in Agronomy
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Intensive crop production and irrational use of fertilizers and agrochemicals have questionable effects on the quality of products and the sustainable use of water for agricultural purposes. Organic cultivation and/or deficit irrigation are, among others, well appreciated practices for a sustainable crop production system. In the present study, spearmint plants (Mentha spicata L.) were grown in different cultivation schemes (conventional versus organic cultivation, full versus deficit irrigation), and effects on the plant physiological and biochemical attributes were examined in two harvesting periods. Deficit irrigation decreased plant growth, but increased total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of the plants at the second harvest. Spearmint nutrient accumulation was affected by the examined cultivation practices; nitrogen was decreased in organic cultivation, potassium and sodium were elevated at full-irrigated plants, while magnesium, phosphorus, and copper levels were higher at the deficit-irrigated plants. However, conventional/full-irrigated plants had increased height and fresh biomass at the first harvest. Essential oil content decreased at the second harvest in organic and/or deficit treated plants. Additionally, deficit irrigation affected plant growth and delayed the formation of carvone from limonene. The essential oils were further evaluated with regard to their bioactivity on a major vineyard pest Lobesia botrana. Volatile compounds from all essential oils elicited strong electroantennographic responses on female insects antennae, highlighting the role of carvone, which is the major constituent (~70%) in all the tested essential oils. M. spicata essential oils also exhibited larvicidal activity on L. botrana, suggesting the potential of their incorporation in integrated pest management systems.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Eleni Koutsoumpeli; Panayiota Xylia; Anastasia Fytrou; Maria Konstantopoulou; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants. Agronomy 2021, 11, 599 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Eleni Koutsoumpeli, Panayiota Xylia, Anastasia Fytrou, Maria Konstantopoulou, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (3):599.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Eleni Koutsoumpeli; Panayiota Xylia; Anastasia Fytrou; Maria Konstantopoulou; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants." Agronomy 11, no. 3: 599.

Journal article
Published: 10 March 2021 in Foods
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Increasing demands by consumers for fresh, nutritional, and convenient food has led to the increase of fresh-cut produce market. Nowadays, there is a turn towards the investigation of natural products (i.e., essential oils, organic acids, and edible coatings) in an effort to lower the usage of chemical synthetic compounds (i.e., chlorine) as postharvest sanitizers. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of Origanum majorana essential oil (EO), ascorbic acid (AA), chitosan, and their combinations on quality attributes of fresh-cut lettuce stored for six days at 7 °C. When applied, Chitosan+AA resulted to a less acceptable product (visual quality and aroma), while the application of marjoram EO was able to preserve the visual quality of fresh-cut lettuce and at the same time resulted in a pleasant aroma. The application of EO+AA and Chitosan+AA increased total phenolics and antioxidant levels of fresh-cut lettuce on the fourth and sixth day of storage. The EO and EO+AA increased damage index (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) of fresh-cut lettuce, while at the same time these treatments decreased the activity of enzymes related with plant tissue browning (i.e., peroxidase activity and polyphenol oxidase). Chitosan decreased total valuable counts and yeasts and molds counts on the sixth day of storage, while EO, AA, EO+Chitosan, and Chitosan+AA decreased yeasts and molds after four days of application. The findings of the present work indicating that the combination of marjoram EO, AA, and chitosan could be considered further as alternative means for fresh-cut produce preservation.

ACS Style

Panayiota Xylia; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. The Combined and Single Effect of Marjoram Essential Oil, Ascorbic Acid, and Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Lettuce Preservation. Foods 2021, 10, 575 .

AMA Style

Panayiota Xylia, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. The Combined and Single Effect of Marjoram Essential Oil, Ascorbic Acid, and Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Lettuce Preservation. Foods. 2021; 10 (3):575.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Panayiota Xylia; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "The Combined and Single Effect of Marjoram Essential Oil, Ascorbic Acid, and Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Lettuce Preservation." Foods 10, no. 3: 575.

Journal article
Published: 30 January 2021 in Plants
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Climate change will increase the occurrence of plants being simultaneously subjected to drought and pathogen stress. Drought can alter the way in which plants respond to pathogens. This research addresses how grapevine responds to the concurrent challenge of drought stress and Plasmopara viticola, the causal agent of downy mildew, and how one stress affects the other. Self-rooted cuttings of the drought-tolerant grapevine cultivar Xynisteri and the drought-sensitive cultivar Chardonnay were exposed to full or deficit irrigation (40% of full irrigation) and artificially inoculated with P. viticola in vitro or in planta. Leaves were sampled at an early infection stage to determine the influence of the single and combined stresses on oxidative parameters, chlorophyll, and phytohormones. Under full irrigation, Xynisteri was more susceptible to P. viticola than the drought-sensitive cultivar Chardonnay. Drought stress increased the susceptibility of grapevine leaves inoculated in vitro, but both cultivars showed resistance against P. viticola when inoculated in planta. Abscisic acid, rather than jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, seemed to play a prominent role in this resistance. The irrigation-dependent susceptibility observed in this study indicates that the practices used to mitigate the effects of climate change may have a profound impact on plant pathogens.

ACS Style

Lisa Heyman; Antonios Chrysargyris; Kristof Demeestere; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Monica Höfte. Responses to Drought Stress Modulate the Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in Vitis vinifera Self-Rooted Cuttings. Plants 2021, 10, 273 .

AMA Style

Lisa Heyman, Antonios Chrysargyris, Kristof Demeestere, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Monica Höfte. Responses to Drought Stress Modulate the Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in Vitis vinifera Self-Rooted Cuttings. Plants. 2021; 10 (2):273.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lisa Heyman; Antonios Chrysargyris; Kristof Demeestere; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Monica Höfte. 2021. "Responses to Drought Stress Modulate the Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in Vitis vinifera Self-Rooted Cuttings." Plants 10, no. 2: 273.

Journal article
Published: 23 October 2020 in Sustainability
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We present for the first time the environmental footprint (EF) of grapes following the methodology proposed by the EU and life cycle assessment (LCA). We used data from three different production systems, conventional high- or low-input and organic from vineyards on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The life cycle inventory (LCI) data were retrieved from the recently released AGRIBALYSE database, and the EF was determined with the Open LCA software. The system boundary was from “cradle to winery door” and the functional unit was 1 ton of grapes delivered to the winery. Organic grape production had the lowest values for most of the 16 EF impact categories. Machinery, fuel, and sulfur production and use were identified as EF hotspots for organic grapes. Fertilizer production and use were identified as EF hotspots for high-input grape production. The EF impact category values for low-input grapes showed similarities with organic production. Future research needs to enrich the LCI databases with data more applicable to the methods and inputs applied in Mediterranean agriculture.

ACS Style

Vassilis Litskas; Athanasia Mandoulaki; Ioannis Vogiatzakis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Menelaos Stavrinides. Sustainable Viticulture: First Determination of the Environmental Footprint of Grapes. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8812 .

AMA Style

Vassilis Litskas, Athanasia Mandoulaki, Ioannis Vogiatzakis, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Menelaos Stavrinides. Sustainable Viticulture: First Determination of the Environmental Footprint of Grapes. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21):8812.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vassilis Litskas; Athanasia Mandoulaki; Ioannis Vogiatzakis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Menelaos Stavrinides. 2020. "Sustainable Viticulture: First Determination of the Environmental Footprint of Grapes." Sustainability 12, no. 21: 8812.

Journal article
Published: 15 October 2020 in Sustainability
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The environmental burden from crop production byproducts is gradually increasing and necessitates the sustainable management of waste towards a circular economy approach. In the present study, three byproducts (cotton ginning waste (CGW), ground hazelnut husks (GHH) and ground peanut husks (GPH)) were evaluated in lettuce cultivation. For this purpose, the tested materials were incorporated in soil at two different rates (25% and 50% of total substrate volume) while a control treatment (no addition of byproducts) was also considered. Fresh weight per plant and total yield was the highest for the GHH50% treatment. The highest fat, protein, carbohydrates and energy content were observed for the CGW25% treatment. Chemical composition also differed among the tested byproducts where CGW25% treatment had the highest total tocopherols, sugars (sucrose, fructose, trehalose and total sugars) and organic acids content. The most abundant fatty acids were α-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acid in all the tested treatments, while the highest antioxidant activity was observed for the GHH50% treatment. Regarding polyphenols, phenolic acids content was the highest in the GHH treatments, whereas flavonoids were the highest for the CGW25% treatment. No cytotoxicity against the PLP2 non-tumor cell line was observed, whereas only the GPH50% treatment showed moderate efficacy against HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. The tested extracts also showed moderate antibacterial activities and only the extracts from the CGW50% treatment were more effective than the positive control against Trichoderma viride. In conclusion, the present results showed the great potential of using the tested byproducts as soil amendments for vegetable crops production, since they may improve the nutritional parameters, the chemical profile and the bioactivities of the final product. The suggested alternative use of the tested byproducts not only will increase the added value of crops but will also alleviate the environmental burden from bulky agroindustry byproducts.

ACS Style

Spyridon Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Sofia Plexida; Carla Pereira; Maria Dias; Ricardo Calhelha; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Jovana Petrović; Marina Soković; Isabel Ferreira; Lillian Barros. The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8511 .

AMA Style

Spyridon Petropoulos, Ângela Fernandes, Sofia Plexida, Carla Pereira, Maria Dias, Ricardo Calhelha, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Jovana Petrović, Marina Soković, Isabel Ferreira, Lillian Barros. The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8511.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Spyridon Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Sofia Plexida; Carla Pereira; Maria Dias; Ricardo Calhelha; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Jovana Petrović; Marina Soković; Isabel Ferreira; Lillian Barros. 2020. "The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8511.

Journal article
Published: 13 October 2020 in Sustainability
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The aim of this research was to evaluate the biostimulant effects of an eco-product (EP) containing essential oils of rosemary and eucalyptus on tomato crop. Experiments were conducted to evaluate EP effects on plant growth and physiological parameters (e.g., chlorophyll content), total phenols and antioxidant activity, enzyme activities (e.g., catalase), plant macronutrient content and fresh tomato fruit quality. The application of an EP once (EP-1x) increased tomato plant height by 19%, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content compared to the control (sprayed with water). EP triplicate (EP-3x) application significantly increased yield (0.79 kg plant−1) compared to the control (0.58 kg plant−1). However, application of EP-3x was associated with a higher percentage of fruit cracking in comparison to the control. Total phenols and antioxidant activity were affected from both the use of EP and application frequency. EP application decreased by 27.3% the leaf damage index in comparison to the control. Nutrient content in leaves (N, Mg) was significantly decreased in the case of EP-3x treatment. Fruit firmness was decreased by 19.9% in the case of EP-1x application. Fruit marketability and tomato-like aroma, fresh weight and soluble solids did not differ among the treatments. Further research is required to examine the potential use of essential oils as biostimulants.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Savvas Charalambous; Panayiota Xylia; Vassilis Litskas; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikos Tzortzakis. Assessing the Biostimulant Effects of a Novel Plant-Based Formulation on Tomato Crop. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8432 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Savvas Charalambous, Panayiota Xylia, Vassilis Litskas, Menelaos Stavrinides, Nikos Tzortzakis. Assessing the Biostimulant Effects of a Novel Plant-Based Formulation on Tomato Crop. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8432.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Savvas Charalambous; Panayiota Xylia; Vassilis Litskas; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Assessing the Biostimulant Effects of a Novel Plant-Based Formulation on Tomato Crop." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8432.

Journal article
Published: 18 September 2020 in Agronomy
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Biochar can be used as an alternative component in growing media, positively affecting plant growth/yield, but also media properties. In the present study, two commercial grade biochars (BFW-forest wood; and BTS-fresh wood screening), mainly wood-based materials, were used at 7.5% and 15% (v/v), adding nutrient in two levels (100% and 150% standard fertilizer level-Fert). Biochar affected growing media properties, with increases on pH and changes on the nutrient content levels. Biochar BFW enhanced the emergence of seeds in comparison to the control. Increased fertilizer levels benefited plant yield in BFW and BTS at 7.5%, but not at 15%. Leaf stomatal conductance was reduced at 150% fertilized biochars (BFW + Fert and BTS + Fert) at 7.5%, while total chlorophylls increased at BTS + Fert at 7.5% and 15%. The addition of biochars decreased the antioxidant activity in the plant. Lipid peroxidation in lettuce was increased in most cases with the presence of biochars (BFW, BTS) and 150% fertilization, activating antioxidant (superoxide oxidase and peroxidase) enzymatic metabolisms. The addition of Biochars in the growing media increased the content of nutrients in seedlings, as plants could absorb more available nutrients. Biochar of beech, spruce, and pine species (BFW) at 7.5% was more promising for substituting peat to produce lettuce seedlings. However, examining different species (tomato, leek, impatiens, and geranium) with BFW at 7.5%, the results were not common, and each species needs to be evaluated further.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Munoo Prasad; Anna Kavanagh; Nikos Tzortzakis. Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1421 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Munoo Prasad, Anna Kavanagh, Nikos Tzortzakis. Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (9):1421.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Munoo Prasad; Anna Kavanagh; Nikos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance." Agronomy 10, no. 9: 1421.

Journal article
Published: 25 July 2020 in Sustainability
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Significant quantities of paper waste (PW) have been accumulated in recent years and the reuse/recycling of PW is required due to environmental concerns. In the present study, printed PW was used as a peat (P) substitute in growing medium for the Brassica seedlings production, considering recycling, sustainable agriculture, and partly peat replacement. Seeds of cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage were seeded in growing media made of 0–10–30–50% PW. The addition of PW improved the growing media pH and mineral content, reduced the media aeration, and affected seed emergence. The PW decreased plant growth and the effects were more pronounced at 50% PW. The PW ≥ 30% decreased stomatal conductance, while chlorophyll fluorescence and content of chlorophylls decreased with high PW ratio, negatively affecting the plant physiology. The PW decreased plant sodium and iron and increased potassium, calcium, magnesium, and copper content. The PW increased antioxidant activity to a certain degree for cauliflower and cabbage and resulted in no change for broccoli, while polyphenols increased in cabbage seedlings. The addition of PW did not cause cellular damage as both lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide production remained at low levels, maintaining low levels on the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) metabolism. The present study shows that low PW content can partially replace peat for Brassica seedling production under a sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly scheme.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Gorkem Akinci; Konstantinos Moustakas; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Printed Paper Waste as an Alternative Growing Medium Component to Produce Brassica Seedlings under Nursery Conditions. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5992 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Panayiota Xylia, Gorkem Akinci, Konstantinos Moustakas, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Printed Paper Waste as an Alternative Growing Medium Component to Produce Brassica Seedlings under Nursery Conditions. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (15):5992.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Gorkem Akinci; Konstantinos Moustakas; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Printed Paper Waste as an Alternative Growing Medium Component to Produce Brassica Seedlings under Nursery Conditions." Sustainability 12, no. 15: 5992.

Journal article
Published: 24 May 2020 in Sustainability
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Low-fertility soil and the use of brackish water for irrigation act as obstacles and limit crop production. The utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW), compost (C), and treated wastewater (TWW) is receiving attention nowadays not only to overcome the above limitations but also as an efficient way for waste management and reuse of raw materials. In the present study, MSW compost in different ratios (5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%), fertigation and/or irrigation with TWW were studied in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The addition of compost increased organic content, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and mineral content of the growing media, while fertigation and TWW supported the mineral status of the growing media, and this was reflected in the increase of N, K, and Na in tomato leaves. Plants grown in compost-based media with fertigation produced more leaves, compared to the control, while irrigation with TWW did not increase the number of leaves. Plant biomass increased with the application of ≥20% C, fertigation, and/or TWW applications. Plant yield increased in 40% C, while fertigation increased yield in case of lower (5%-10% C) compost ratios, but TWW application did not change the yield. The combination of high C ratios and fertigation and/or TWW decreased tomato fresh weight. Different levels of C did not affect leaf photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, and chlorophyll fluorescence, but, in general, the combination of compost with fertigation and/or TWW affected them negatively. Fruit total soluble solids, acidity, ascorbic acid, firmness, and total phenolics were increased with the high ratios of compost and/or fertigation and TWW applications, but marketability did not. Bacteria (total coliform and Escherichia coli) units increased in growing media subjected to TWW, but lower levels were counted on the fruit, mainly due to splashing or fruit contact with the soil. The results indicate that up to 40% C can be added into the substrate, as increased plant growth and maintained plant yield for greenhouse tomato cultivation is observed, while fertigation and TWW could be used in a controlled manner as alternative means for nutrient and irrigation in vegetables following safety aspects.

ACS Style

Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Christos Saridakis; Antonios Chrysargyris. Treated Wastewater and Fertigation Applied for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Grown in Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Soil Mixtures. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4287 .

AMA Style

Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Christos Saridakis, Antonios Chrysargyris. Treated Wastewater and Fertigation Applied for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Grown in Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Soil Mixtures. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (10):4287.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Christos Saridakis; Antonios Chrysargyris. 2020. "Treated Wastewater and Fertigation Applied for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Grown in Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Soil Mixtures." Sustainability 12, no. 10: 4287.

Journal article
Published: 21 May 2020 in Current Pharmaceutical Design
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Background: There is an increasing interest from the pharmaceutical and food industry in natural antioxidant and bioactive compounds derived from plants as substitutes for synthetic compounds. The genus Allium is one of the largest genera, with more than 900 species, including important cultivated and wild species, having beneficial health effects. Objective: The present review aims to unravel the chemical composition of wild Allium species and their healthrelated effects, focusing on the main antioxidant compounds. For this purpose, a thorough study of the literature was carried out to compile reports related to health effects and the principal bioactive compounds. Considering the vast number of species, this review is divided into subsections where the most studied species are presented, namely Allium ampeloprasum, A. flavum, A. hookeri, A. jesdianum, A. neapolitanum, A. roseum, A. stipitatum, A. tricoccum, and A. ursinum, with an additional composite section for less studied species. Methods: The information presented in this review was obtained from worldwide accepted databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar and Researchgate, using as keywords the respective names of the studied species (both common and Latin names) and the additional terms of “antioxidants” “health effects” and “bioactive properties”. Conclusion: The genus Allium includes several wild species, many of which are commonly used in traditional and folklore medicine while others are lesser known or are of regional interest. These species can be used as sources of natural bioactive compounds with remarkable health benefits. Several studies have reported these effects and confirmed the mechanisms of action in several cases, although more research is needed in this field. Moreover, considering that most of the studies refer to the results obtained from species collected in the wild under uncontrolled conditions, further research is needed to elucidate the effects of growing conditions on bioactive compounds and to promote the exploitation of this invaluable genetic material.

ACS Style

Spyridon A. Petropoulos; Francesco Di Gioia; Nikos Polyzos; Nikos Tzortzakis. Natural Antioxidants, Health Effects and Bioactive Properties of Wild Allium Species. Current Pharmaceutical Design 2020, 26, 1816 -1837.

AMA Style

Spyridon A. Petropoulos, Francesco Di Gioia, Nikos Polyzos, Nikos Tzortzakis. Natural Antioxidants, Health Effects and Bioactive Properties of Wild Allium Species. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2020; 26 (16):1816-1837.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Spyridon A. Petropoulos; Francesco Di Gioia; Nikos Polyzos; Nikos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Natural Antioxidants, Health Effects and Bioactive Properties of Wild Allium Species." Current Pharmaceutical Design 26, no. 16: 1816-1837.

Journal article
Published: 19 May 2020 in Agronomy
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In the present study, the yield, the chemical composition, and the antioxidant activities of the essential oils (EOs) of eight medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) cultivated under two environmental conditions characterized by a different altitude (namely mountainous and plain) were evaluated. Cultivation at different environmental conditions resulted in significant differences in the chemical composition and antioxidant activity for most of the studied species. In particular, high altitudes resulted in increased phenolic compounds’ content and antioxidant activity for artemisia plants, while specific parameters increased in the case of spearmint (total phenols) and rosemary (flavonoids). In contrast, in pelargonium, all the tested parameters were positively affected in the plain area, whereas, for laurel and sage, only flavanols remained unaffected. EO yield in mountainous pelargonium and spearmint decreased while, in mountainous laurel, pelargonium and spearmint increased when compared to plain areas. In addition, the major EO constituents’ content for most of the species were affected by environmental conditions. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were variably correlated with total phenols, flavonoids, and flavanols, depending on the species and the altitude. Lastly, in limited cases, antioxidant activity (DPPH or FRAP values) was positively correlated with some EO components (e.g., borneol and β-pinene in artemisia and laurel plants grown in the plain, respectively, or 1,8-cineole in mountainous grown verbena plants). In conclusion, environmental conditions (altitude) affected antioxidants’ content and EO yield and composition of the studied MAPs. These findings can be used to introduce cultivation of MAPs in specific ecosystems for the production of high added value products.

ACS Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Maria Mikallou; Spyridon Petropoulos; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Profiling of Essential Oils Components and Polyphenols for Their Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Grown in Different Environmental Conditions. Agronomy 2020, 10, 727 .

AMA Style

Antonios Chrysargyris, Maria Mikallou, Spyridon Petropoulos, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Profiling of Essential Oils Components and Polyphenols for Their Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Grown in Different Environmental Conditions. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (5):727.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonios Chrysargyris; Maria Mikallou; Spyridon Petropoulos; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Profiling of Essential Oils Components and Polyphenols for Their Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Grown in Different Environmental Conditions." Agronomy 10, no. 5: 727.