Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are highly damaging pests responsible for heavy losses in worldwide productivity in a significant number of important plant crops. Common pest man- agement strategies rely on the use of synthetic chemical nematicides, which have led to serious concerns regarding their impacts on human health and the environment. Plant natural products, or phytochemicals, can provide a good sourc...
Owing to its applications in both food and pharmaceutical industries honey is regarded as a functional product. This study evaluated 32 Portuguese monofloral honeys and their activity was compared with manuka honey 850 +. The antimicrobial activity was determined against Gram-positive and negative bacteria, and yeast. Antioxidant activity, wound healing ability, and cell viability were studied in the human kera...
“Maçã de Alcobaça” is a type of apple from the West coast of Portugal with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This study evaluated the influence of the orchard’s fertilization and post-harvest storage time on the quality of “Maçã de Alcobaça”, ‘Gala’ cultivar. Five orchards were studied for four years, using three fertilization treatments [Standard, twice Standard (2xStandard) and twice Standard including...
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the world’s most common agricultural crop for human consumption and considered an excellent source of essential nutrients and vitamins. The productivity of this crop is threatened by several plant-parasitic nematodes, among which the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is considered to have a significant impact. This organism is extremely difficult to eradicate and c...
The root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans, is a serious threat to agricultural crops worldwide, being extremely difficult to control with common pest management practices. New EU commission policies on the development of plant protection products restrict the application of synthetic nematicides. Aiming at the development of a sustainable and environment friendly approach for nematode control, 20 oxygen-...
The root-lesion nematode (RLN), Pratylenchus penetrans, is one of the most severe plant parasitic nematodes (PPN), responsible for productivity losses in a significant number of plant hosts. The chemical control of these PPNs relies on fumigants and non-fumigants compounds, which offer a systemic protection. Such control methods are costly and hazardous to the environment and to humans. Compounds naturally prod...
Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg is a plant endemic to the Northern and Central regions of Morocco known since the ancient Roman and Greek times for secreting a poisonous latex containing resiniferatoxin. However, E. resinifera pseudo -inflorescences called cyathia are devoid of laticifers and, therefore, do not secrete latex. Instead, they exudate nectar that local honey bees collect and craft into honey. Honey an...
Although the plants of the genus Euphorbia are largely exploited by therapists in Morocco, the composition and antibacterial activities of propolis from these plants are still unknown. To address this gap, this study aimed to characterize the pollen type, the volatile compounds, and the phenolic and mineral profiles of three Euphorbia propolis samples collected in Morocco and evaluate their antimicrobial activi...
Moroccan honey with Bupleurum spinosum (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae) as the main pollen source is locally known as Zantaz honey. In the present work, the volatiles from 18 honeys of this type, were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), for volatiles quantification and identification. The percentage composition of the volatiles and polle...
Although the plants of the genus Euphorbia are largely exploited by therapists in Morocco, the composition and antibacterial activities of propolis from these plants are still unknown. To address this gap, this study aimed to characterize the pollen type, the volatile compounds, and the phenolic and mineral profiles of three Euphorbia propolis samples collected in Morocco and evaluate their antimicrobial activi...