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Dr. Giovanni Agati
Istituto di Fisica Applicata 'Nello Carrara' Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IFAC-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Fluorescence
0 Optical Sensors
0 Precision Agriculture
0 Plant science
0 Non-destructive sensing

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Fluorescence
Non-destructive sensing
Precision Agriculture
Optical Sensors
Plant science

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Letter
Published: 27 August 2021 in New Phytologist
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ACS Style

Giovanni Agati; Lucia Guidi; Marco Landi; Massimiliano Tattini. Anthocyanins in photoprotection: knowing the actors in play to solve this complex ecophysiological issue. New Phytologist 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Giovanni Agati, Lucia Guidi, Marco Landi, Massimiliano Tattini. Anthocyanins in photoprotection: knowing the actors in play to solve this complex ecophysiological issue. New Phytologist. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giovanni Agati; Lucia Guidi; Marco Landi; Massimiliano Tattini. 2021. "Anthocyanins in photoprotection: knowing the actors in play to solve this complex ecophysiological issue." New Phytologist , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 20 July 2021 in Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
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The biosynthesis of polyphenolic compounds in cabbage waste, outer green leaves of white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata subvar. alba), was stimulated by postharvest irradiation with UVB lamps or sunlight. Both treatments boosted the content of kaempferol and quercetin glycosides, especially in the basal leaf zone, as determined by the HPLC analysis of leaf extracts and by a non-destructive optical sensor. The destructive analysis of samples irradiated by the sun for 6 days at the end of October 2015 in Skierniewice (Poland) showed an increase of leaf flavonols by 82% with respect to controls. The treatment by a broadband UVB fluorescent lamp, with irradiance of 0.38 W m−2 in the 290–315 nm range (and 0.59 W m−2 in the UVA region) for 12 h per day at 17 °C along with a white light of about 20 μmol m−2 s−1, produced a flavonols increase of 58% with respect to controls. The kinetics of flavonols accumulation in response to the photochemical treatments was monitored with the FLAV non-destructive index. The initial FLAV rate under the sun was proportional to the daily radiation doses with a better correlation for the sun global irradiance (R2 = 0.973), followed by the UVA (R2 = 0.965) and UVB (R2 = 0.899) irradiance. The sunlight turned out to be more efficient than the UVB lamp in increasing the flavonols level of waste leaves, because of a significant role played by UVA and visible solar radiation in the regulation of the flavonoid accumulation in cabbage. The FLAV index increase induced on the adaxial leaf side was accompanied by a lower but still significant FLAV increase on the unirradiated abaxial side, likely due to a systemic signaling by mean of the long-distance movement of macromolecules. Our present investigation provides useful data for the optimization of postharvest photochemical protocols of cabbage waste valorization. It can represent a novel and alternative tool of vegetable waste management for the recovery of beneficial phytochemicals.

ACS Style

Artur Kowalski; Giovanni Agati; Maria Grzegorzewska; Ryszard Kosson; Barbara Kusznierewicz; Tomasz Chmiel; Agnieszka Bartoszek; Lorenza Tuccio; Daniele Grifoni; Ingunn M. Vågen; Stanislaw Kaniszewski. Valorization of waste cabbage leaves by postharvest photochemical treatments monitored with a non-destructive fluorescence-based sensor. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 2021, 222, 112263 .

AMA Style

Artur Kowalski, Giovanni Agati, Maria Grzegorzewska, Ryszard Kosson, Barbara Kusznierewicz, Tomasz Chmiel, Agnieszka Bartoszek, Lorenza Tuccio, Daniele Grifoni, Ingunn M. Vågen, Stanislaw Kaniszewski. Valorization of waste cabbage leaves by postharvest photochemical treatments monitored with a non-destructive fluorescence-based sensor. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. 2021; 222 ():112263.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Artur Kowalski; Giovanni Agati; Maria Grzegorzewska; Ryszard Kosson; Barbara Kusznierewicz; Tomasz Chmiel; Agnieszka Bartoszek; Lorenza Tuccio; Daniele Grifoni; Ingunn M. Vågen; Stanislaw Kaniszewski. 2021. "Valorization of waste cabbage leaves by postharvest photochemical treatments monitored with a non-destructive fluorescence-based sensor." Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 222, no. : 112263.

Communication
Published: 12 January 2021 in Sensors
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The correct fertilization of vegetable crops is commonly determined on the basis of soil and plant costly destructive analyses, demanding more sustainable non-invasive optical detection. Here, we tested the ability of the combined transmittance/fluorescence leaf clip Dualex device for determining the nitrogen (N) status of cabbage plants. Fully developed leaves from plants grown under different N rates of 0; 100; 200; 300 kg N ha−1 in 2018 and 2019 were measured in the field by the Dualex sensor twice a year in July and October. The chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (nitrogen balance index, NBI) indices and the flavonols (Flav) index of the sensor were positively and negatively correlated to leaf nitrogen, respectively. Merging the two-years data, the NBI versus leaf N correlation was less point dispersed in October than July (R2 = 0.76 and 0.64, respectively). NBI was also correlated to cabbage yield, better in July than October. Our results showed that the multiparametric Dualex device can be used as precision agriculture tool for the early prediction of plant N and cabbage yield with economic advantage for the growers and reduced environmental contamination due to nitrate leaching.

ACS Style

Stanisław Kaniszewski; Artur Kowalski; Jacek Dysko; Giovanni Agati. Application of a Combined Transmittance/Fluorescence Leaf Clip Sensor for the Nondestructive Determination of Nitrogen Status in White Cabbage Plants. Sensors 2021, 21, 482 .

AMA Style

Stanisław Kaniszewski, Artur Kowalski, Jacek Dysko, Giovanni Agati. Application of a Combined Transmittance/Fluorescence Leaf Clip Sensor for the Nondestructive Determination of Nitrogen Status in White Cabbage Plants. Sensors. 2021; 21 (2):482.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stanisław Kaniszewski; Artur Kowalski; Jacek Dysko; Giovanni Agati. 2021. "Application of a Combined Transmittance/Fluorescence Leaf Clip Sensor for the Nondestructive Determination of Nitrogen Status in White Cabbage Plants." Sensors 21, no. 2: 482.

Review
Published: 09 November 2020 in Antioxidants
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Whether flavonoids play significant antioxidant roles in plants challenged by photooxidative stress of different origin has been largely debated over the last few decades. A critical review of the pertinent literature and our experimentation as well, based on a free-of-scale approach, support an important antioxidant function served by flavonoids in plants exposed to a wide range of environmental stressors, the significance of which increases with the severity of stress. On the other side, some questions need conclusive answers when the putative antioxidant functions of plant flavonoids are examined at the level of both the whole-cell and cellular organelles. This partly depends upon a conclusive, robust, and unbiased definition of “a plant antioxidant”, which is still missing, and the need of considering the subcellular re-organization that occurs in plant cells in response to severe stress conditions. This likely makes our deterministic-based approach unsuitable to unveil the relevance of flavonoids as antioxidants in extremely complex biological systems, such as a plant cell exposed to an ever-changing stressful environment. This still poses open questions about how to measure the occurred antioxidant action of flavonoids. Our reasoning also evidences the need of contemporarily evaluating the changes in key primary and secondary components of the antioxidant defense network imposed by stress events of increasing severity to properly estimate the relevance of the antioxidant functions of flavonoids in an in planta situation. In turn, this calls for an in-depth analysis of the sub-cellular distribution of primary and secondary antioxidants to solve this still intricate matter.

ACS Style

Giovanni Agati; Cecilia Brunetti; Alessio Fini; Antonella Gori; Lucia Guidi; Marco Landi; Federico Sebastiani; Massimiliano Tattini. Are Flavonoids Effective Antioxidants in Plants? Twenty Years of Our Investigation. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 1098 .

AMA Style

Giovanni Agati, Cecilia Brunetti, Alessio Fini, Antonella Gori, Lucia Guidi, Marco Landi, Federico Sebastiani, Massimiliano Tattini. Are Flavonoids Effective Antioxidants in Plants? Twenty Years of Our Investigation. Antioxidants. 2020; 9 (11):1098.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giovanni Agati; Cecilia Brunetti; Alessio Fini; Antonella Gori; Lucia Guidi; Marco Landi; Federico Sebastiani; Massimiliano Tattini. 2020. "Are Flavonoids Effective Antioxidants in Plants? Twenty Years of Our Investigation." Antioxidants 9, no. 11: 1098.

Journal article
Published: 25 June 2020 in Plants
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Ocimum basilicum (basil) leaves are rich in polyphenols, conferring them a high antioxidant activity. The application of UV-B can be used to maintain the post-harvest nutraceutical quality of basil leaves. We aimed to investigate the effects of pre-harvest UV-B application on polyphenolic and pigment contents, antioxidant capacity, and the visual quality of basil stored leaves. We also evaluated the applicability of the non-invasive Dualex® for monitoring the accumulation of leaf epidermal phenolics (Flav Index). After exposing plants to white light (control) and to supplemental UV-B radiation for 4 d, the leaves were harvested and stored for 7d (TS7). The UV-B leaves showed both a higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity than the controls at TS7. In addition, the correlations between the Flav Index and phenolic content demonstrated that Dualex® can reliably assess the content of epidermal phenolics, thus confirming its promising utilization as a non-destructive method for monitoring the phytochemical quality of O. basilicum leaves. In conclusion, a pre-harvesting UV-B application may be a tool for enhancing the content of polyphenols and the antioxidant potential of basil stored leaves without detrimental effects on their visual quality. These results are important considering the nutraceutical value of this plant and its wide commercial distribution.

ACS Style

Luana Beatriz Dos S. Nascimento; Cecilia Brunetti; Giovanni Agati; Clara Lo Iacono; Cassandra Detti; Edgardo Giordani; Francesco Ferrini; Antonella Gori. Short-Term Pre-Harvest UV-B Supplement Enhances the Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Ocimum basilicum Leaves during Storage. Plants 2020, 9, 797 .

AMA Style

Luana Beatriz Dos S. Nascimento, Cecilia Brunetti, Giovanni Agati, Clara Lo Iacono, Cassandra Detti, Edgardo Giordani, Francesco Ferrini, Antonella Gori. Short-Term Pre-Harvest UV-B Supplement Enhances the Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Ocimum basilicum Leaves during Storage. Plants. 2020; 9 (6):797.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luana Beatriz Dos S. Nascimento; Cecilia Brunetti; Giovanni Agati; Clara Lo Iacono; Cassandra Detti; Edgardo Giordani; Francesco Ferrini; Antonella Gori. 2020. "Short-Term Pre-Harvest UV-B Supplement Enhances the Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Ocimum basilicum Leaves during Storage." Plants 9, no. 6: 797.

Journal article
Published: 12 February 2020 in Sensors
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Non-destructive tools for the in situ evaluation of vine fruit quality and vineyard management can improve the market value of table grape. We proposed a new approach based on a portable fluorescence sensor to map the ripening level of Crimson Seedless table grape in five different plots in the East, Central-North and South of the Macedonia Region of Greece. The sensor provided indices of ripening and color such as SFRR and ANTHRG correlated to the chlorophyll and anthocyanin berry contents, respectively. The mean ANTHRG index was significantly different among all the plots examined due to the occurrence of different environmental conditions and/or asynchronous ripening processes. The indices presented moderate, poor in some cases, spatial variability, probably due to a significant vine-to-vine, intra-vine and intra-bunch variability. The cluster analysis was applied to the plot with the most evident spatial structure (at Kilkis). Krigged maps of the SFRR, ANTHRG and yield were classified by k-means clustering in two-zones that differed significantly in their mean values. ANTHRG and SFRR were inversely correlated over 64% of the plot. SFRR appeared to be a potential useful proxy of yield since it was directly correlated to yield over 66% of the plot. The grape color (ANTHRG) was slightly higher over the low-yield zones with respect to the high-yield zones. Our study showed that the combination of anthocyanins and chlorophyll indices detected in the field on Crimson Seedless table grape by a portable fluorescence sensor can help in defining the best harvest time and the best areas for harvesting.

ACS Style

Lorenza Tuccio; Lucia Cavigli; Francesca Rossi; Olga Dichala; Fotis Katsogiannos; Ilias Kalfas; Giovanni Agati. Fluorescence-Sensor Mapping for the in Vineyard Non-Destructive Assessment of Crimson Seedless Table Grape Quality. Sensors 2020, 20, 983 .

AMA Style

Lorenza Tuccio, Lucia Cavigli, Francesca Rossi, Olga Dichala, Fotis Katsogiannos, Ilias Kalfas, Giovanni Agati. Fluorescence-Sensor Mapping for the in Vineyard Non-Destructive Assessment of Crimson Seedless Table Grape Quality. Sensors. 2020; 20 (4):983.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lorenza Tuccio; Lucia Cavigli; Francesca Rossi; Olga Dichala; Fotis Katsogiannos; Ilias Kalfas; Giovanni Agati. 2020. "Fluorescence-Sensor Mapping for the in Vineyard Non-Destructive Assessment of Crimson Seedless Table Grape Quality." Sensors 20, no. 4: 983.

Journal article
Published: 27 June 2019 in Foods
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There is a large potential in Europe for valorization in the vegetable food supply chain. For example, there is occasionally overproduction of tomatoes for fresh consumption, and a fraction of the production is unsuited for fresh consumption sale (unacceptable color, shape, maturity, lesions, etc.). In countries where the facilities and infrastructure for tomato processing is lacking, these tomatoes are normally destroyed, used as landfilling or animal feed, and represent an economic loss for producers and negative environmental impact. Likewise, there is also a potential in the tomato processing industry to valorize side streams and reduce waste. The present paper provides an overview of tomato production in Europe and the strategies employed for processing and valorization of tomato side streams and waste fractions. Special emphasis is put on the four tomato-producing countries Norway, Belgium, Poland, and Turkey. These countries are very different regards for example their climatic preconditions for tomato production and volumes produced, and represent the extremes among European tomato producing countries. Postharvest treatments and applications for optimized harvest time and improved storage for premium raw material quality are discussed, as well as novel, sustainable processing technologies for minimum waste and side stream valorization. Preservation and enrichment of lycopene, the primary health promoting agent and sales argument, is reviewed in detail. The European volume of tomato postharvest wastage is estimated at >3 million metric tons per year. Together, the optimization of harvesting time and preprocessing storage conditions and sustainable food processing technologies, coupled with stabilization and valorization of processing by-products and side streams, can significantly contribute to the valorization of this underutilized biomass.

ACS Style

Trond Løvdal; Bart Van Droogenbroeck; Evren Caglar Eroglu; Stanislaw Kaniszewski; Giovanni Agati; Michel Verheul; Dagbjørn Skipnes. Valorization of Tomato Surplus and Waste Fractions: A Case Study Using Norway, Belgium, Poland, and Turkey as Examples. Foods 2019, 8, 229 .

AMA Style

Trond Løvdal, Bart Van Droogenbroeck, Evren Caglar Eroglu, Stanislaw Kaniszewski, Giovanni Agati, Michel Verheul, Dagbjørn Skipnes. Valorization of Tomato Surplus and Waste Fractions: A Case Study Using Norway, Belgium, Poland, and Turkey as Examples. Foods. 2019; 8 (7):229.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Trond Løvdal; Bart Van Droogenbroeck; Evren Caglar Eroglu; Stanislaw Kaniszewski; Giovanni Agati; Michel Verheul; Dagbjørn Skipnes. 2019. "Valorization of Tomato Surplus and Waste Fractions: A Case Study Using Norway, Belgium, Poland, and Turkey as Examples." Foods 8, no. 7: 229.

Comparative study
Published: 14 November 2018 in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
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BACKGROUND Accumulation and stability of tomato lycopene markedly depends on the cultivar, plant growing and storage conditions. To estimate lycopene in open‐field cultivated processing and fresh market tomatoes, we used a calibrated spectral reflectance portable sensor. RESULTS Lycopene accumulation in fruits attached to the plant, starting from the Green ripening stage, followed a sigmoidal function. It was faster and reached higher levels in processing (cv. Calista) than fresh market (cv. Volna) tomatoes (90 and 62 mg kg‐1 FW, respectively). During storage at 12, 20 and 25 °C, Red tomatoes retained about 90% of harvest lycopene for 3 weeks. Pink tomatoes increased lycopene during the first week of storage, but never reached the lycopene values of Red tomatoes ripened on the vine. Storability at 12 °C retaining the highest quality in Red tomatoes was limited to 14 and 7 days for Calista and Volna cvs., respectively. CONCLUSION Significant differences in lycopene accumulation and stability between processing and fresh market tomatoes were precisely established following with time the very same fruits by a non‐destructive optical tool. It can be useful in agronomical and postharvest physiological studies and can be of interest for producers oriented to the niche nutraceutical market. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

ACS Style

Kalina Sikorska-Zimny; Ewa Badełek; Maria Grzegorzewska; Anna Ciecierska; Artur Kowalski; Ryszard Kosson; Lorenza Tuccio; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Leonardo Ciaccheri; Anna Grazia Mignani; Stanisław Kaniszewski; Giovanni Agati. Comparison of lycopene changes between open‐field processing and fresh market tomatoes during ripening and post‐harvest storage by using a non‐destructive reflectance sensor. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2018, 99, 2763 -2774.

AMA Style

Kalina Sikorska-Zimny, Ewa Badełek, Maria Grzegorzewska, Anna Ciecierska, Artur Kowalski, Ryszard Kosson, Lorenza Tuccio, Andrea A. Mencaglia, Leonardo Ciaccheri, Anna Grazia Mignani, Stanisław Kaniszewski, Giovanni Agati. Comparison of lycopene changes between open‐field processing and fresh market tomatoes during ripening and post‐harvest storage by using a non‐destructive reflectance sensor. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2018; 99 (6):2763-2774.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kalina Sikorska-Zimny; Ewa Badełek; Maria Grzegorzewska; Anna Ciecierska; Artur Kowalski; Ryszard Kosson; Lorenza Tuccio; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Leonardo Ciaccheri; Anna Grazia Mignani; Stanisław Kaniszewski; Giovanni Agati. 2018. "Comparison of lycopene changes between open‐field processing and fresh market tomatoes during ripening and post‐harvest storage by using a non‐destructive reflectance sensor." Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 99, no. 6: 2763-2774.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2018 in Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
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Non-destructive tools for evaluating the lycopene content in tomatoes is of great interest to the entire fruit chain because of an increasing demand for beneficial health products. With the aim of developing compact low-cost reflectance sensors for lycopene determination, we compared Partial Least Squares (PLS) prediction models by using either directional or total reflectance in the 500–750 nm range. Directional reflectance at 45° with respect to the LED lighting direction was acquired by means of a compact spectrometer sensor. Total reflectance was acquired through a 50-mm integrating sphere connected to a spectrometer. The analysis was conducted on two hydroponic greenhouse cultivated red tomato varieties, namely the large round ‘Dometica’ (average diameter: 57 mm) and the small cherry ‘Juanita’ (average diameter: 26 mm). For both varieties, the spectral variance of directional reflectance was well correlated to that of total reflectance. The performances of the PLS prediction models were also similar, with R2 of cross-validation between 0.73 and 0.81. The prediction error, relative to the mean lycopene content of full ripe tomatoes, was similar: i.e. around 16–17% for both varieties and sensors. Our results showed that directional reflectance measured by means of portable, low-cost and compact LED-based sensors can be used with an adequate precision for the non-destructive assessment of lycopene in tomatoes.

ACS Style

Leonardo Ciaccheri; Lorenza Tuccio; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Anna G. Mignani; Ewelina Hallmann; Kalina Sikorska-Zimny; Stanislaw Kaniszewski; Michè̀l J. Verheul; Giovanni Agati. Directional versus total reflectance spectroscopy for the in situ determination of lycopene in tomato fruits. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 2018, 71, 65 -71.

AMA Style

Leonardo Ciaccheri, Lorenza Tuccio, Andrea A. Mencaglia, Anna G. Mignani, Ewelina Hallmann, Kalina Sikorska-Zimny, Stanislaw Kaniszewski, Michè̀l J. Verheul, Giovanni Agati. Directional versus total reflectance spectroscopy for the in situ determination of lycopene in tomato fruits. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2018; 71 ():65-71.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leonardo Ciaccheri; Lorenza Tuccio; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Anna G. Mignani; Ewelina Hallmann; Kalina Sikorska-Zimny; Stanislaw Kaniszewski; Michè̀l J. Verheul; Giovanni Agati. 2018. "Directional versus total reflectance spectroscopy for the in situ determination of lycopene in tomato fruits." Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 71, no. : 65-71.

Research article
Published: 18 May 2018 in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
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We analyzed the potential of non-destructive optical sensing of grape skin anthocyanins for selective harvesting in precision viticulture. We measured anthocyanins by a hand-held fluorescence optical sensor on a 7-ha Sangiovese vineyard plot in central Italy. Optical indices obtained by the sensor were calibrated for the transformation in units of anthocyanins per berry mass, i.e. mg g-1 berry fresh weight. A full protocol for optimal data filtration, interpolation and homogenous zones delineation based on a very large number of optical measurements was proposed. Both the single signal-based fluorescence index (ANTHR) and the two signals ratio-based index (ANTHRG) can be used for Sangiovese grapes. Significant separations of grape-quality batches were obtained by several methods of data classification and zones delineation. Basic statistical criteria were as efficient as the K-means clustering. The best separations were obtained with three classes.

ACS Style

Giovanni Agati; Kamel Soudani; Lorenza Tuccio; Elisa Fierini; Naïma Ben Ghozlen; El Mostafa Fadaili; Annalisa Romani; Zoran G. Cerovic. Management Zone Delineation for Winegrape Selective Harvesting Based on Fluorescence-Sensor Mapping of Grape Skin Anthocyanins. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2018, 66, 5778 -5789.

AMA Style

Giovanni Agati, Kamel Soudani, Lorenza Tuccio, Elisa Fierini, Naïma Ben Ghozlen, El Mostafa Fadaili, Annalisa Romani, Zoran G. Cerovic. Management Zone Delineation for Winegrape Selective Harvesting Based on Fluorescence-Sensor Mapping of Grape Skin Anthocyanins. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2018; 66 (23):5778-5789.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giovanni Agati; Kamel Soudani; Lorenza Tuccio; Elisa Fierini; Naïma Ben Ghozlen; El Mostafa Fadaili; Annalisa Romani; Zoran G. Cerovic. 2018. "Management Zone Delineation for Winegrape Selective Harvesting Based on Fluorescence-Sensor Mapping of Grape Skin Anthocyanins." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66, no. 23: 5778-5789.

Research article
Published: 20 April 2018 in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
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Reflectance spectroscopy represents a useful tool for the non-destructive assessment of tomato lycopene, even in the field. For this reason, a compact, low-cost, LED-based sensor has been developed to measure reflectance in the 400-750 nm spectral range. It was calibrated against wet chemistry and evaluated by Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression analyses. The lycopene prediction models were defined for two open-field cultivated red-tomato varieties: the processing oblong tomatoes of the cv. Calista (average weight: 76 g) and the fresh-consumption round tomatoes of the cv. Volna (average weight: 130 g), over a period of two consecutive years. The lycopene prediction models were dependent on both cultivar and season. The lycopene RMSEP produced by the 2014 single-cultivar calibrations validated on the 2015 samples was large (33 mg kg-1) in the Calista tomatoes and acceptable (9.5 mg kg-1) in the Volna tomatoes. A more general bi-cultivar and bi-year model could still explain almost 80% of the predicted lycopene variance, with a relative error in red tomatoes of less than 20%. In 2016, the in-field applications of the multi-seasonal prediction models, built with the 2014 and 2015 data, showed significant (P<0.001) differences in the average lycopene estimated in the crop on two sampling dates that were 20 days apart: on 19 August and 7 September 2016, the lycopene was 98.9±9.3 and 92.2±10.8 mg kg-1 FW for cv. Calista, and 54.6±13.2 and 60.8±6.8 mg kg-1 FW for cv. Volna. The sensor was also able to monitor the temporal evolution of lycopene accumulation on the very same fruits attached to the plants. These results indicated that a simple, compact reflectance device and PLS analysis could provide adequately precise and robust (through-seasons) models for the non-destructive assessment of lycopene in whole tomatoes. This technique could guarantee tomatoes with the highest nutraceutical value from the production, during storage and distribution, and finally to consumers.

ACS Style

Leonardo Ciaccheri; Lorenza Tuccio; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Kalina Maja Sikorska-Zimny; Ewelina Hallmann; Artur Kowalski; Anna Grazia Mignani; Stanislaw Kaniszewski; Giovanni Agati. Prediction Models for Assessing Lycopene in Open-Field Cultivated Tomatoes by Means of a Portable Reflectance Sensor: Cultivar and Growing-Season Effects. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2018, 66, 4748 -4757.

AMA Style

Leonardo Ciaccheri, Lorenza Tuccio, Andrea A. Mencaglia, Kalina Maja Sikorska-Zimny, Ewelina Hallmann, Artur Kowalski, Anna Grazia Mignani, Stanislaw Kaniszewski, Giovanni Agati. Prediction Models for Assessing Lycopene in Open-Field Cultivated Tomatoes by Means of a Portable Reflectance Sensor: Cultivar and Growing-Season Effects. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2018; 66 (18):4748-4757.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leonardo Ciaccheri; Lorenza Tuccio; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Kalina Maja Sikorska-Zimny; Ewelina Hallmann; Artur Kowalski; Anna Grazia Mignani; Stanislaw Kaniszewski; Giovanni Agati. 2018. "Prediction Models for Assessing Lycopene in Open-Field Cultivated Tomatoes by Means of a Portable Reflectance Sensor: Cultivar and Growing-Season Effects." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66, no. 18: 4748-4757.

Reference entry
Published: 19 April 2018 in Annual Plant Reviews online
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ACS Style

Erhard E. Pfündel; Giovanni Agati; Zoran G. Cerovic; Jeremy A Roberts; David Evan; Michael T McManus; Jocelyn K. C. Rose. Optical Properties of Plant Surfaces. Annual Plant Reviews online 2018, 216 -249.

AMA Style

Erhard E. Pfündel, Giovanni Agati, Zoran G. Cerovic, Jeremy A Roberts, David Evan, Michael T McManus, Jocelyn K. C. Rose. Optical Properties of Plant Surfaces. Annual Plant Reviews online. 2018; ():216-249.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Erhard E. Pfündel; Giovanni Agati; Zoran G. Cerovic; Jeremy A Roberts; David Evan; Michael T McManus; Jocelyn K. C. Rose. 2018. "Optical Properties of Plant Surfaces." Annual Plant Reviews online , no. : 216-249.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2018 in Food Chemistry
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Fluorescence sensors are useful tools for the non-destructive assessment of grape berry anthocyanins. The Multiplex (Mx) sensor here studied provides two anthocyanin indices: ANTH = log(1/Chl-fluorescence_R) and ANTH = log(Chl-fluorescence_R/Chl-fluorescence_G), based on the chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence excited with red (R) and green (G) light. These indices were calibrated against wet chemistry. The dependence of anthocyanin prediction models on cultivar, season and site was studied on four cultivars in two Italian regions during three consecutive years. The 2010 global model (all cultivars at both growing sites) gave relative prediction errors on anthocyanin content less than 14.1% (ANTH) and 19.0% (ANTH). The ANTH was independent of season, maintaining a relative error of about 20% in both 2011 and 2012. In field applications of the calibrated Mx, it showed its ability to detect inter-plot and inter-season differences on both growing sites.

ACS Style

Patrizia Pinelli; Annalisa Romani; Elisa Fierini; Giovanni Agati. Prediction models for assessing anthocyanins in grape berries by fluorescence sensors: Dependence on cultivar, site and growing season. Food Chemistry 2018, 244, 213 -223.

AMA Style

Patrizia Pinelli, Annalisa Romani, Elisa Fierini, Giovanni Agati. Prediction models for assessing anthocyanins in grape berries by fluorescence sensors: Dependence on cultivar, site and growing season. Food Chemistry. 2018; 244 ():213-223.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patrizia Pinelli; Annalisa Romani; Elisa Fierini; Giovanni Agati. 2018. "Prediction models for assessing anthocyanins in grape berries by fluorescence sensors: Dependence on cultivar, site and growing season." Food Chemistry 244, no. : 213-223.

Journal article
Published: 19 April 2017 in Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research
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Modern viticulture requires robust, fast, non-destructive methods to assess berry composition. We tested a chlorophyll fluorescence screening method to estimate berry phenolic substances. We focused on anthocyanin and flavonol in red and white cultivars. The ANTH_RG index was dependent on the cultivar anthocyanin profile. In Nebbiolo, in which dihydroxylated anthocyanins prevail, ANTH_RG was 2.4 times higher than in Barbera, in which trihydroxylated anthocyanins prevail. Considering the profiles of the two cultivars at similar anthocyanin concentration and their relative in vitro absorbance, a bathochromic shift of 10 nm emerged, which can explain the different screening effect exerted by anthocyanin on chlorophyll fluorescence. As to flavanols, we propose the calibration of a new spectroscopic index, the FLAV_UV, in coloured and white berries, finding good correlation with flavonol concentration determined analytically (R2 higher than 0.7). Spectroscopic indices can estimate the concentration of anthocyanin and flavonol in grape berries. A calibration curve for Nebbiolo, which has a distinctive anthocyanin profile, and the calibration of a new index, the FLAV_UV, able to estimate flavonol concentration in both red and white cultivars, are described for the first time. These indices can effectively be applied for non-destructive assessment of grape flavonoid.

ACS Style

A. Ferrandino; Chiara Pagliarani; A. Carlomagno; V. Novello; A. Schubert; G. Agati. Improved fluorescence-based evaluation of flavonoid in red and white winegrape cultivars. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 2017, 23, 207 -214.

AMA Style

A. Ferrandino, Chiara Pagliarani, A. Carlomagno, V. Novello, A. Schubert, G. Agati. Improved fluorescence-based evaluation of flavonoid in red and white winegrape cultivars. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research. 2017; 23 (2):207-214.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Ferrandino; Chiara Pagliarani; A. Carlomagno; V. Novello; A. Schubert; G. Agati. 2017. "Improved fluorescence-based evaluation of flavonoid in red and white winegrape cultivars." Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 23, no. 2: 207-214.

Journal article
Published: 10 April 2017 in Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science
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Ryszard Kosson; Kazimierz Felczyński; Justyna Szwejda-Grzybowska; Maria Grzegorzewska; Lorenza Tuccio; Giovanni Agati; Stanisław Kaniszewski. Nutritive value of marketable heads and outer leaves of white head cabbage cultivated at different nitrogen rates. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 2017, 67, 524 -533.

AMA Style

Ryszard Kosson, Kazimierz Felczyński, Justyna Szwejda-Grzybowska, Maria Grzegorzewska, Lorenza Tuccio, Giovanni Agati, Stanisław Kaniszewski. Nutritive value of marketable heads and outer leaves of white head cabbage cultivated at different nitrogen rates. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science. 2017; 67 (6):524-533.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ryszard Kosson; Kazimierz Felczyński; Justyna Szwejda-Grzybowska; Maria Grzegorzewska; Lorenza Tuccio; Giovanni Agati; Stanisław Kaniszewski. 2017. "Nutritive value of marketable heads and outer leaves of white head cabbage cultivated at different nitrogen rates." Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 67, no. 6: 524-533.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2016 in Environmental and Experimental Botany
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An UV-exclusion experiment was conducted on Mediterranean plant species grown in pots: the evergreen sclerophyllous shrub Arbutus unedo and the deciduous woody crop Vitis vinifera. After 130 days, of exclusion of UVB and both UVA and UVB radiations, during leaf unfolding and development, the plants were exposed to the ambient solar radiation (about 80% of the whole solar spectrum). The different radiative treatments were obtained with tunnels, covered with appropriate filters (cutting UV radiation), where the plants grown. The leaf UV absorbing compounds were analysed, during the growing season, in both species, in plants under the different radiative regimes. The flavonols content in leaf epidermis was, also periodically assessed, in both species, by means of a non-destructive optical index (the FLAV index of the Multiplex sensor). Structural characteristics and functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus of the plants were assessed by means of chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements. The UV radiation exclusion provoked a reduction of UVA-absorbing compounds, mainly flavonols, in the leaves of both species. The results evidenced an increase of these compounds over time in plants previously grown under both UV exclusion treatments, especially in V. vinifera. Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis showed a delay in the development of the photosynthetic apparatus in V. vinifera leaves previously grown under total UV exclusion (both UVA and UVB) and damage to the oxygen evolving complex. No significant effects of the UV treatments on the leaf photochemical properties were detected in A. unedo. Overall the results highlighted the relevance of UV radiation on the leaf physiology of the species considered and its essential role in the photomorphogenesis of protective substances in the leaves.

ACS Style

Daniele Grifoni; Giovanni Agati; Filippo Bussotti; Marco Michelozzi; Martina Pollastrini; Gaetano Zipoli. Different responses of Arbutus unedo and Vitis vinifera leaves to UV filtration and subsequent exposure to solar radiation. Environmental and Experimental Botany 2016, 128, 1 -10.

AMA Style

Daniele Grifoni, Giovanni Agati, Filippo Bussotti, Marco Michelozzi, Martina Pollastrini, Gaetano Zipoli. Different responses of Arbutus unedo and Vitis vinifera leaves to UV filtration and subsequent exposure to solar radiation. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2016; 128 ():1-10.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniele Grifoni; Giovanni Agati; Filippo Bussotti; Marco Michelozzi; Martina Pollastrini; Gaetano Zipoli. 2016. "Different responses of Arbutus unedo and Vitis vinifera leaves to UV filtration and subsequent exposure to solar radiation." Environmental and Experimental Botany 128, no. : 1-10.

Journal article
Published: 07 March 2016 in Environmental and Experimental Botany
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There is evidence that UV radiation may detrimentally affect the biosynthesis of carotenoids, particularly de-epoxided xanthophylls, while strongly promoting phenylpropanoid, particularly flavonoid biosynthesis in a range of taxa. Here we tested the hypothesis that mesophyll flavonoids might protect chloroplasts from UV-induced photo-oxidative damage, by partially compensating for the UV-induced depression of xanthophyll biosynthesis. To test this hypothesis we grew two members of the Oleaceae family, Ligustrum vulgare L. and Phillyrea latifolia L., under either partial shading or fully exposed to sunlight, in the presence or in the absence of UV radiation. The examined species, which display very similar flavonoid composition, largely differ in their ability to limit the transmission of UV and visible light through the leaf and, hence, in the accumulation of flavonoids in mesophyll cells. We conducted measurements of photosynthesis, chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics, the concentrations of individual carotenoids and phenylpropanoids at the level of whole-leaf, as well as the content of epidermal flavonoids. We also performed multispectral fluorescence micro-imaging to unveil the intra-cellular distribution of flavonoids in mesophyll cells. UV radiation decreased the concentration of carotenoids, particularly of xanthophylls, while greatly promoting the accumulation of flavonoids in palisade parenchyma cells. These effects were much greater in L. vulgare than in P. latifolia. UV radiation significantly inhibited the de-epoxidation of xanthophyll cycle pigments, while enhancing the concentration of luteolin, and particularly of quercetin glycosides. Flavonoids accumulated in the vacuole and the chloroplasts in palisade cells proximal to the adaxial epidermis. We hypothesize that flavonoids might complement the photo-protective functions of xanthophylls in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells exposed to the greatest doses of UV radiation. However, UV radiation might result in adaxial mesophyll cells being less effective in dissipating the excess of radiant energy, e.g., by decreasing their capacity of thermal dissipation of excess visible light in the chloroplast.

ACS Style

Lucia Guidi; Cecilia Brunetti; Alessio Fini; Giovanni Agati; Francesco Ferrini; Antonella Gori; Massimiliano Tattini. UV radiation promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, while negatively affecting the biosynthesis and the de-epoxidation of xanthophylls: Consequence for photoprotection? Environmental and Experimental Botany 2016, 127, 14 -25.

AMA Style

Lucia Guidi, Cecilia Brunetti, Alessio Fini, Giovanni Agati, Francesco Ferrini, Antonella Gori, Massimiliano Tattini. UV radiation promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, while negatively affecting the biosynthesis and the de-epoxidation of xanthophylls: Consequence for photoprotection? Environmental and Experimental Botany. 2016; 127 ():14-25.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lucia Guidi; Cecilia Brunetti; Alessio Fini; Giovanni Agati; Francesco Ferrini; Antonella Gori; Massimiliano Tattini. 2016. "UV radiation promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, while negatively affecting the biosynthesis and the de-epoxidation of xanthophylls: Consequence for photoprotection?" Environmental and Experimental Botany 127, no. : 14-25.

Research article
Published: 28 December 2015 in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
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A multiparametric optical sensor was used to nondestructively estimate phytochemical compounds in white cabbage leaves directly in the field. An experimental site of 1980 white cabbages (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata subvar. alba), under different nitrogen (N) treatments, was mapped by measuring leaf transmittance and chlorophyll fluorescence screening in one leaf/cabbage head. The provided indices of flavonols (FLAV) and chlorophyll (CHL) displayed the opposite response to applied N rates, decreasing and increasing, respectively. The combined nitrogen balance index (NBI = CHL/FLAV) calculated was able to discriminate all of the plots under four N regimens (0, 100, 200, and 400 kg/ha) and was correlated with the leaf N content determined destructively. CHL and FLAV were properly calibrated against chlorophyll (R2 = 0.945) and flavonol (R2 = 0.932) leaf contents, respectively, by using a homographic fit function. The proposed optical sensing of cabbage crops can be used to estimate the N status of plants and perform precision fertilization to maintain acceptable crop yield levels and, additionally, to rapidly detect health-promoting flavonol antioxidants in Brassica plants.

ACS Style

Giovanni Agati; Lorenza Tuccio; Barbara Kusznierewicz; Tomasz Chmiel; Agnieszka Bartoszek; Artur Kowalski; Maria Grzegorzewska; Ryszard Kosson; Stanislaw Kaniszewski. Nondestructive Optical Sensing of Flavonols and Chlorophyll in White Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata subvar. alba) Grown under Different Nitrogen Regimens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2015, 64, 85 -94.

AMA Style

Giovanni Agati, Lorenza Tuccio, Barbara Kusznierewicz, Tomasz Chmiel, Agnieszka Bartoszek, Artur Kowalski, Maria Grzegorzewska, Ryszard Kosson, Stanislaw Kaniszewski. Nondestructive Optical Sensing of Flavonols and Chlorophyll in White Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata subvar. alba) Grown under Different Nitrogen Regimens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2015; 64 (1):85-94.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giovanni Agati; Lorenza Tuccio; Barbara Kusznierewicz; Tomasz Chmiel; Agnieszka Bartoszek; Artur Kowalski; Maria Grzegorzewska; Ryszard Kosson; Stanislaw Kaniszewski. 2015. "Nondestructive Optical Sensing of Flavonols and Chlorophyll in White Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata subvar. alba) Grown under Different Nitrogen Regimens." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 64, no. 1: 85-94.

Conference paper
Published: 13 May 2015 in Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety VII
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ACS Style

Anna G. Mignani; Leonardo Ciaccheri; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Lorenza Tuccio; Giovanni Agati. Application of a LED-based reflectance sensor for the assessing in situ the lycopene content of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety VII 2015, 948806 -948806-6.

AMA Style

Anna G. Mignani, Leonardo Ciaccheri, Andrea A. Mencaglia, Lorenza Tuccio, Giovanni Agati. Application of a LED-based reflectance sensor for the assessing in situ the lycopene content of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety VII. 2015; ():948806-948806-6.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna G. Mignani; Leonardo Ciaccheri; Andrea A. Mencaglia; Lorenza Tuccio; Giovanni Agati. 2015. "Application of a LED-based reflectance sensor for the assessing in situ the lycopene content of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)." Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety VII , no. : 948806-948806-6.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2015 in Acta Horticulturae
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ACS Style

D.L. Betemps; J.C. Fachinello; N. Machado Portela; S. Padilha Galarça; D. Remorini; R. Massai; G. Agati. APPLICATION OF VIS/NIR SPECTROSCOPY TO ESTABLISH PEACH RIPENING AS AFFECTED BY ROOTSTOCK. Acta Horticulturae 2015, 649 -655.

AMA Style

D.L. Betemps, J.C. Fachinello, N. Machado Portela, S. Padilha Galarça, D. Remorini, R. Massai, G. Agati. APPLICATION OF VIS/NIR SPECTROSCOPY TO ESTABLISH PEACH RIPENING AS AFFECTED BY ROOTSTOCK. Acta Horticulturae. 2015; (1084):649-655.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D.L. Betemps; J.C. Fachinello; N. Machado Portela; S. Padilha Galarça; D. Remorini; R. Massai; G. Agati. 2015. "APPLICATION OF VIS/NIR SPECTROSCOPY TO ESTABLISH PEACH RIPENING AS AFFECTED BY ROOTSTOCK." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1084: 649-655.