Alberto Barbaresi

Madagascar periwinkle [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don] produces vindoline and catharanthine, key precursors used in the semi-synthesis of the high-value anticancer alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine. Closed plant production systems (CPPS) allow precise application of environmental stimuli, including light spectrum and plasma-activated water (PAW). In a previous study, we demonstrated the potential of combining artificial light (white and red) and PAW to enhance the production of these alkaloids in periwinkle grown under controlled CPPS conditions. The present study expands this approach by adopting a more scalable PAW application method and a broader range of LED light spectra to evaluate their effects on vindoline and catharanthine accumulation. After a 37-day pre-treatment under white LEDs in environmentally controlled rooms, plants were subjected to fourteen treatments: phosphor-converted warm white (WW-P, control), red (R), blue (B), red–blue (RB), red–blue–far red (RBFR), phosphor-converted cool white (CW-P), and color-mixed white (W-CM) LED light, each with or without PAW. Plant growth and alkaloid-related responses were assessed at three sampling times: before treatment application (T0), 47 (T1), and 55 (T2) days after pre-treatment. RB produced the highest total vindoline and catharanthine yields [sum of leaf and root yields, with each organ yield calculated as organ dry mass (DM, g plant⁻¹) × organ alkaloid concentration (µg g⁻¹ DM)], reaching 228.0 ± 16.9 and 338.0 ± 27.0 µg plant⁻¹, respectively, which were significantly higher than those obtained under all other light spectra (1.4-fold for vindoline and 1.3-fold for catharanthine relative to WW-P), except for W-CM, for which no significant differences were observed. PAW significantly increased total vindoline and catharanthine yields, reaching 211.0 ± 8.0 and 278.0 ± 11.0 µg plant⁻¹, respectively, corresponding to 1.9- and 1.3-fold increases compared with the untreated condition. Sampling time had a strong effect on total vindoline and catharanthine yields, increasing from 6.0 ± 0.7 and 13.9 ± 1.7 µg plant⁻¹, respectively, at T0, to 258.7 ± 9.8 and 414.0 ± 17.0 µg plant⁻¹, respectively, at T2, corresponding to 43.1- and 29.8-fold increases. In conclusion, the combined use of RB light and PAW, together with harvesting at T2, represented the most effective strategy to achieve high vindoline and catharanthine production, as it enhanced the total yields of both alkaloids.

Urban overheating poses major challenges in Mediterranean cities, affecting public health and well-being. This study comparatively evaluates how alternative greening configurations influence urban microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in a brownfield regeneration site in Imola, Italy, using ENVI-met simulations under a representative extreme summer condition. Eight scenarios with varying vegetation density, structure, and spatial arrangement were modelled on the hottest day of the year, and the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) was evaluated at representative times. Results show that greening reduces heat stress, though its effectiveness varies over time and across configurations. No meaningful cooling occurred at 5:00 a.m., confirming that vegetation has a limited impact during nocturnal radiative processes. At 9:00 a.m., the medium-density scenario (S2b) achieved the greatest PET reduction (~2 °C), suggesting favorable evapotranspiration conditions under moderate radiation. At 4:00 p.m., the distributed high-density scenario (S3.2b) provided the strongest mitigation (~1.8–2 °C). Distributed layouts outperformed clustered ones, highlighting the non-linear nature of vegetation cooling. Zonal analysis showed the largest cooling in public green areas, followed by parking, building, and path zones, demonstrating the influence of surface type and shading geometry. Greening also produced modest improvements in surrounding neighborhoods (up to 0.8 °C in the morning), although impacts remained localized. Overall, results highlight how vegetation quantity, structure, and spatial distribution influence cooling performance under critical summer conditions, supporting climate-responsive urban regeneration design. These findings contribute to sustainable urban planning by supporting nature-based strategies for climate adaptation and improved environmental quality in regenerating urban districts. Future work should consider seasonal vegetation dynamics and multi-objective design optimization.

Indoor farming offers optimal conditions for high and stable ajmalicine and serpentine yields in Catharanthus roseus, enabling precise control over environmental stimuli such as light and biostimulants. This study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the combined effects of LED light spectrum and a biostimulant containing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on ajmalicine and serpentine production in indoor-grown C. roseus. Following a 60 days pre-treatment under white LEDs, plants received eight treatments: white (W, control), red (R), blue (B), red-blue (RB, R:B = 6:1) LED light, and their combinations with the biostimulant (BS). Samples were collected before treatments (T0) and at harvest (T1, 92 days after pre-treatment). R and RB significantly increased aerial fresh weight compared to W and B, with no significant differences in plant height relative to W. Although no mycorrhizal colonization occurred, BS significantly increased plant height, shoot fresh weight, total dry weight, leaf serpentine concentration, and total serpentine yield (+ 34.4%) compared to the untreated condition. When combined, R and BS had a synergistic effect on ajmalicine, resulting in its highest concentration and yield. Under this treatment, ajmalicine concentration and yield were significantly higher than in all other treatments (+ 144.3% and + 138.0% compared to the W control, respectively), except for the yields under B and RB with BS, which were comparable to those under R with BS. From T0 to T1, total serpentine yield increased by 2277.1%, while ajmalicine yield rose by 716.0%. In conclusion, the combined application of R and BS, followed by harvest after a 92 days treatment period, is the most effective strategy to optimize ajmalicine and serpentine production while ensuring vigorous yet size-controlled plant growth.

Light quality is a recognized driver of plant growth and secondary metabolism in Coleus blumei, a valuable source of rosmarinic acid (RA) and quercetin (QU), whereas its combination with salinity stress represents a potential strategy that still requires further investigation. We evaluated four LED spectra, red–blue (RB) (6:1, control), blue (B), red (R), and RB + Far-Red, under both control (0 mM NaCl) and moderate salt stress (120 mM NaCl), measuring biomass (dry weight) and RA/QU in leaves and roots after three (T1) and five weeks (T2). Blue light produced the greatest root biomass, while the leaf dry weight under B did not differ significantly from RB or RBfr. RA peaked at T2 under B in leaves and under R in roots; QU was maximal under B in leaves and under RB in roots. Extending exposure from T1 to T2 markedly increased both metabolites’ yield. Salinity had little effect on biomass, increased the total QU yield, and did not enhance the total RA yield. These results indicate that targeted LED regimes and longer exposure can raise the yields of bioactive compounds, and that combining specific spectra with moderate salinity is an effective strategy for selectively increasing quercetin accumulation in indoor-grown C. blumei.

Light quality and biostimulants regulate alkaloid biosynthesis and promote plant growth, but their combined effects on vindoline (VDL) and catharanthine (CAT) production in Catharanthus roseus remain underexplored. This study investigated the impact of different LED spectra and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-based biostimulant (BS) on VDL and CAT production in indoor-grown C. roseus. After a 60-day pretreatment under white LEDs, plants were exposed to eight treatments: white (W, control), red (R), blue (B), and red-blue (RB) light, and their combinations with BS. Samples were collected before treatments (T0) and 92 days after pretreatment (T1). No mycorrhizal development was observed. VDL was detected in both roots and leaves, with higher levels in roots. R produced significantly higher mean concentrations of both VDL and CAT than W. BS significantly increased mean concentrations and total yields of both alkaloids than the untreated condition. The combination of R and BS produced the highest mean concentrations and total yields of VDL and CAT. In particular, it resulted in a significantly higher mean concentration and total yield of VDL compared to sole W. Total yields increased from T0 to T1, primarily due to a substantial rise in root yield. In conclusion, combining R and BS proved to be the most effective strategy to enhance VDL and CAT production by maximizing their total yields, which also increased over time due to greater root contribution. This underscores the importance of combining targeted treatments with harvesting at specific stages to optimize alkaloid production under controlled conditions.

Throughout human settlement history, the pursuit of durability has been a paramount objective in building construction. The emphasis on durability has resulted in the construction of buildings designed to outlast human lifespans. However, the lack of consideration for building demolition and disposal during the design and construction phases has created challenges for future generations. This oversight contributes to the environmental impact of structures after demolition, which is a significant concern given that the construction industry is a major contributor to energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and solid waste production. In fact, in recent decades, there has been an increasing demand for temporary constructions, driven by factors such as migration phenomena, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in sectors like agriculture, where seasonality and annual variations in activities require adaptable structures such as warehouses, barns, livestock shelters, and food storage facilities. Unlike traditional constructions, these temporary buildings must be assembled and disassembled multiple times during their lifespan. The challenge lies in ensuring the structural integrity, adaptability to varying conditions, and compliance with specific requirements to extend their usability and postpone the disposal phase. This study focuses on the design of a novel type of temporary structures intended for temporary needs such as emergencies and planned agricultural activities, resulting in a European patent. The structure is based on a glulam frame inside two OSB panels—that work as structural bracing, creating a hollow, resistant, light structure—connected with external steel connections. This work reports results of mechanical simulations and thermal transmittance calculations. Specifically, it demonstrates the building maintains structural strength through multiple usages and its thermal characteristics can be easily adapted to the context. These are the first steps for a resilient and sustainable building.

The control of environmental parameters in livestock farming is essential to achieve optimal ranges of temperature and humidity. HVAC systems for this purpose are characterized by high energy demands, causing significant GHG emissions when relying on fossil fuels. The aim of this study is the development and testing of a sustainable heating system for a nursery barn hosting 2500 weaners, as well as the assessment of the effectiveness and the performance of the new system. This work involved the implementation of a renewable energy source (RES) system incorporating a borehole thermal energy storage and photovoltaic thermal collectors, integrated with a Dual-Source Heat Pump. A smart control system was installed and the collected data were processed to define the optimal settings of the integrated plant for energy production and efficiency. The performance in terms of the control of the environmental conditions of the nursery barn was assessed on the basis of the environmental parameters analyzed, with particular reference to the animal-occupied zones. The results showed that a mix of RESs can be properly defined and integrated in an automated heating system to meet the specific requirements of a swine farm, thanks to a project specifically designed to exploit the renewable resources typically available in farming environments.

The benefits of ecosystem services provided by urban green systems have been highlighted in research on spatial and landscape planning, and the need has emerged for an integrated approach to urban green planning aiming at increasing climate mitigation and urban resilience. Research indicates that plant selection and substrate management are vital for optimizing the most important performance of green roofs, like building thermal insulation, urban heat reduction, air quality improvement, and stormwater management. In Mediterranean climates, it is essential to investigate sustainable management solutions for green roofs like the growth potential of native, low-maintenance forbs adapted to thermal and water stress on specific substrates. Medicinal species may be suitable, provided that interactions with pollutants are controlled. This study evaluates the performance of Melissa officinalis and Hypericum perforatum on experimental green roof modules under controlled conditions, comparing chemical fertilization and three different treatments with biomass from Trifolium repens used as green manure. The key metrics of fresh and dry biomass, plant cover ratio, and chlorophyll content are measured. Results show significantly higher values of cover and biomass for these two species treated with green manure in comparison to chemical fertilization, with no significant differences in chlorophyll content, indicating that T. repens is a useful source of green manure in green roof management. Overall, the results are consistent with the research goals of suggesting sustainable solutions for green roof management, since low-maintenance vegetation and green manure contribute to the elimination of chemicals in urban green.