Luca Cappellin

Agaricus bisporus is highly valued for its sensory and nutritional aspects, but it is highly perishable because of its intense postharvest metabolism. In this study, we looked at how white button mushrooms responded to three thermal regimes including constant refrigeration (4 °C), ambient storage (20 °C), and repeated temperature stress (RTS). The investigations were combined with an innovative smart packaging called Store Box (SB). Using an integrated volatilomics approach combining both gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS), we tracked volatile compounds from intact mushrooms and internal tissues and linked these with weight loss and CO₂ production. According to the results, the SB stabilizes the internal microenvironment by reducing moisture loss and modulating gas exchange through controlled CO₂ buildup. This mechanism attenuated the respiratory surge and significantly delayed the rise of spoilage-related markers like methanethiol, acetaldehyde, and hexanal. At the same time, SB preserved freshness indicators such as 1-octen-3-one and benzaldehyde, which normally fade as mushrooms age. The protective effect was especially clear during thermal fluctuations, where SB acted as a metabolic buffer. Overall, this work offers new insights into the volatilome dynamics of Agaricus bisporus and confirms that smart packaging can help offset the damage caused by temperature instability along the supply chain.

Grapevine (Vitis spp.) is a crop of major economic importance in Europe. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events reduce the yield and alter berry composition, affecting wine quality. Despite advances in vineyard management, mechanisms underlying grapevine thermotolerance remain poorly understood. To fill this gap, we combined physiological and volatile organic compound profiling and untargeted metabolomics. Selected genotypes from a 'Rhine Riesling' × 'Cabernet Sauvignon' progeny were exposed to a 3 h heat shock at 40 and 43 °C under controlled conditions. At 43 °C, genotypes were heat stressed, with a significant chlorophyll fluorescence decrease and modulation of leaf transpiration and metabolism. VOC analysis highlighted 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one as a candidate heat stress marker, as well as benzenic compounds (i.e., 2-phenyl-2-propanol). Untargeted metabolite profiling revealed several candidate heat-stress biomarkers; notably, the hypothesized 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (MEP-cPP) and guanosine accumulated preferentially in susceptible genotypes. Both markers were validated in the field, providing candidate molecular tools for breeding heat-tolerant grapevines.

Key message: QTL analysis for key physiological traits assessed during hot days highlighted 26 genomic regions and promising candidate genes for thermotolerance and response to light stress under field conditions in grapevine. Grapevine is one of the most widely cultivated perennial fruit crops in the world, with its economic relevance mainly related to wine production. Climate change, with global warming and increased frequency of intense phenomena, is greatly affecting viticulture and the wine sector. Thus, studying the genetic factors involved in grapevine response to high temperatures can help to improve vineyard management strategies and support plant breeding innovations. In this experiment, a mapping population (Rhine Riesling × Cabernet Sauvignon) was used to perform a genetic dissection of the physiological response to increased temperatures under vineyard conditions. Photosynthetic activity and stomatal dynamics were evaluated for three seasons during hot days at different plant developmental stages. Results of quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis highlighted 26 genomic regions that consistently contribute to the eight tested traits. Candidate genes with supporting evidence, underlying QTL clusters with explained variance above 10%, are those associated with signal perception and transduction, protein homeostasis, osmoprotection, photosynthesis and response to radiation which are relevant mechanisms for plant heat acclimation. Within the stable chromosomal intervals identified by this exploratory analysis, other gene predictions emerged that may be tested for their involvement in grapevine resilience to increasing temperatures. The genetic architecture of quantitative traits linked to grapevine heat tolerance investigated under real field conditions, helps to define key targets for adapting an important traditional crop to environmental changes.

Adding milk to coffee balances its flavor and reduces unpalatable notes (e.g., burnt aroma, bitterness), but research on how adding milk affects in vivo aroma release and perception is limited. This study analyzed the impact of adding cow or oat milk (30% w/w) on in vivo aroma release and flavor perception in medium and dark roasted Arabica coffees. Temporal dominance of sensations showed that medium roast had bitter and roasted flavors, while bitter and burnt flavors dominated the dark roast. The milks elicited their own inherent notes (dairy-like or caramel-like/vanilla-like) and decreased the perception of coffee-related flavors. Aroma release analysis by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry provided data on 47 volatiles, with quantitative differences between roasting levels being indicative of the changes in perception. While milk addition strongly affected perception, it did not systematically affect in vivo release of coffee-related volatiles, highlighting the challenges in aligning analytical and sensory data sets.

This study explores the impact of geographical origin, harvest time, and cooking on the volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles of wild and reared seabream from the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. A Proton Transfer Reaction–Time of Flight–Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) allowed for VOC profiling with high sensitivity and high throughput. A total of 227 mass peaks were identified. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a clear separation between cooked and raw samples, with cooking causing a significant increase in 64% of VOCs, especially hydrogen sulphide, methanethiol, and butanal. A two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of origin, time, and their interaction on VOC concentration, with 102 mass peaks varying significantly based on all three factors. Seasonal effects were also notable, particularly in reared fish from the Adriatic Sea, where compounds like monoterpenes and aromatics were higher during non-breeding months, likely due to environmental factors unique to that area. Differences between wild and reared fish were influenced by lipid content and seasonal changes, impacting the VOC profile of seabream. These findings provide valuable insights into how cooking, geographical origin, and seasonality interact to define the flavour profile of seabream, with potential applications in improving quality control and product differentiation in seafood production.

Invasive pests and plant pathogens pose a significant threat to ecosystems and economies worldwide, prompting the need of anticipatory strategies. Preventing their introduction by detection at the ports of entry has been proven extremely difficult. This review explores the potential of biogenic volatile detection as a reliable preventive solution. It underscores the importance of early detection and rapid response as integral components of effective invasive pest management, and it discusses the limitations of current control measures and the increasing globalization that facilitates the spread of pests and pathogens. Through a synthesis of existing literature, this review analyzes the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions in five invasive model species: three insects, Halyomorpha halys, Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa armigera, a nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and an oomycete, Phytophthora ramorum. The review focuses on the specific volatiles, released by both the invasive organisms and the infested host plants. If available, the volatiles emitted from similar species were considered for comparison. Ultimately, this review highlights specific pest volatile and shared Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) as a reliable and innovative solution in pest detection. If possible, candidate compounds are provided, whilst the lack of some emphasizes the urge of expanding the information available.

A pH colorimetric sensor array (CSA) was prepared on a nitrocellulose membrane and used for accurate pH measurement in highly concentrated saline solutions. The CSAs consisted of sensing spots made of a suitable OrMoSil polymer prepared from organo-fluorinated-silane precursors and/or organosilane with tetraethyl orthosilicate hosting an acid-base indicator. Four CSAs were prepared: D, 1F, 2F, and 3F. In D, a nonfluorinated organosilane was present. From 1F to 3F, the concentration of the fluorinated organosilane increased and improved the pH measurement accuracy in highly saline concentrations. No recalibrations were required, and the analytical signal was stable in time. D, 1F, 2F, and 3F were deposited in triplicate, and they were prepared to work in the seawater pH interval (7.50-8.50). The use of fluorinated precursors led to a lower pH prediction error and tailored the interval of the CSA at more basic pH values so that the inflection points of the sigmoidal calibrations of D, 1F, 2F, and 3F moved from 6.97 to 7.98. The overall pH prediction error was 0.10 pH (1F), 0.02 pH (2F), and 0.04 pH units (3F). The CSAs were stable, reversible, reusable, and independent of salinity (S) between 20 and 40. The performances of the CSA were compared with those of a glass electrode, whose pH_NIST values were converted in the pH_SWS scale through a conversion equation. Being unaffected by the typical drawback of the glass electrode, the CSAs can be used directly in seawater real samples, and it validated the proposed conversion equation.