Species-specific internal ITS primers that amplify polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of di... more Species-specific internal ITS primers that amplify polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of different lengths were selected to distinguish the morphologically similar ectomycorrhizal fungi T. melanosporum, T. brumale and T. indicum by aligning their internal transcribed spacer sequences and taking into account any incidence of intraspecific variability. In multiplex PCR experiments, the species-specific primers yielded the expected amplicons on template DNA
This study reports results relating to the identification of wood samples from pile dwellings dis... more This study reports results relating to the identification of wood samples from pile dwellings discovered during the archaeological excavation of the Middle-Final Late Bronze Age pile dwelling of San Savino (Lake Trasimeno, PG, Italy). Anatomical descriptions and identification of 16 wooden piles were performed by microscopic evaluation. In this study, the species Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Quercus robur L. and Prunus spinosa L. were identified. For two samples, no precise identification of the species was carried out; however, these samples showed significant similarities to Ulmus spp. In addition, among the charcoal fragments, some have been identified as Fagus sylvatica L. The detected taxa reflect a species assemblage matching with a temperate deciduous mixed forest and, with reference to the current climate, it might be referred to conditions ranging from the mesotemperate to the Meso-Submediterranean bioclimatic belts. New information about the interactions between man and vegetation was provided. In fact, the wood species used in the construction of the Bronze Age pile-dwelling settlement in San Savino reflect a sensible choice; people living in that time period had solid knowledge and experience in the use of wood.
Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2013
ABSTRACT The natural resources are currently overexploited and since 1992 the Conference of Rio d... more ABSTRACT The natural resources are currently overexploited and since 1992 the Conference of Rio de Janeiro has focused on sustainable development to safeguard our planet for future generations. The Fungi kingdom includes producers of goods and services for ecosystems and organisms widely used in the food industry. Besides, macrofungi are recognized as non-timber forest products and could be utilized as agents of environmental management through weed biocontrol and environmental improvement. Moreover, the cultivation of fungi, in particular truffles, can provide an important income in agroecosystems, especially in marginal areas, along with the development of new technologies to produce novel products from fungi.
In semi-arid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and ... more In semi-arid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and abiotic stress to the plant and for sustaining a vegetation cover. Despite the important role that fungi play in habitats stability, mycological data from Mediterranean ecosystems are scarce and fragmentary. We investigated fungal diversity in several areas characterized by Mediterranean maquis, from continental Italy, Sicily, and Greece in order to contribute to the analysis of distribution, ecology, and diversity of macrofungi in evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands at different elevation and distance from the seashore across the Mediterranean Basin. Several fungal taxa that are remarkable due to their ecology, rarity, and limited geographical distribution were recovered. Among them, the ectomycorrhizal species Amanita dunensis and A. valens were recorded for the first time in Italy. The wood-inhabiting macrofungi, Aleurodiscus dextrinoideocerussatus, Peniophorella tsugae, Perenniporia meridionalis, Phanerochaete martelliana, Vararia ochroleuca, and six Peniophora species were reported for the first time in Greece. Some species, such as Gloeodontia columbiensis, Ceriporia aurantiocarnescens, Peniophora pithya, and P. tamaricicola were collected on new substrates. For the two rare basidiomycetes Amanita eliae and Battarrea phalloides, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis gave valuable information on their relationship with similar taxa.
Species-specific internal ITS primers that amplify polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of di... more Species-specific internal ITS primers that amplify polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of different lengths were selected to distinguish the morphologically similar ectomycorrhizal fungi T. melanosporum, T. brumale and T. indicum by aligning their internal transcribed spacer sequences and taking into account any incidence of intraspecific variability. In multiplex PCR experiments, the species-specific primers yielded the expected amplicons on template DNA
This study reports results relating to the identification of wood samples from pile dwellings dis... more This study reports results relating to the identification of wood samples from pile dwellings discovered during the archaeological excavation of the Middle-Final Late Bronze Age pile dwelling of San Savino (Lake Trasimeno, PG, Italy). Anatomical descriptions and identification of 16 wooden piles were performed by microscopic evaluation. In this study, the species Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Quercus robur L. and Prunus spinosa L. were identified. For two samples, no precise identification of the species was carried out; however, these samples showed significant similarities to Ulmus spp. In addition, among the charcoal fragments, some have been identified as Fagus sylvatica L. The detected taxa reflect a species assemblage matching with a temperate deciduous mixed forest and, with reference to the current climate, it might be referred to conditions ranging from the mesotemperate to the Meso-Submediterranean bioclimatic belts. New information about the interactions between man and vegetation was provided. In fact, the wood species used in the construction of the Bronze Age pile-dwelling settlement in San Savino reflect a sensible choice; people living in that time period had solid knowledge and experience in the use of wood.
Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2013
ABSTRACT The natural resources are currently overexploited and since 1992 the Conference of Rio d... more ABSTRACT The natural resources are currently overexploited and since 1992 the Conference of Rio de Janeiro has focused on sustainable development to safeguard our planet for future generations. The Fungi kingdom includes producers of goods and services for ecosystems and organisms widely used in the food industry. Besides, macrofungi are recognized as non-timber forest products and could be utilized as agents of environmental management through weed biocontrol and environmental improvement. Moreover, the cultivation of fungi, in particular truffles, can provide an important income in agroecosystems, especially in marginal areas, along with the development of new technologies to produce novel products from fungi.
In semi-arid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and ... more In semi-arid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and abiotic stress to the plant and for sustaining a vegetation cover. Despite the important role that fungi play in habitats stability, mycological data from Mediterranean ecosystems are scarce and fragmentary. We investigated fungal diversity in several areas characterized by Mediterranean maquis, from continental Italy, Sicily, and Greece in order to contribute to the analysis of distribution, ecology, and diversity of macrofungi in evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands at different elevation and distance from the seashore across the Mediterranean Basin. Several fungal taxa that are remarkable due to their ecology, rarity, and limited geographical distribution were recovered. Among them, the ectomycorrhizal species Amanita dunensis and A. valens were recorded for the first time in Italy. The wood-inhabiting macrofungi, Aleurodiscus dextrinoideocerussatus, Peniophorella tsugae, Perenniporia meridionalis, Phanerochaete martelliana, Vararia ochroleuca, and six Peniophora species were reported for the first time in Greece. Some species, such as Gloeodontia columbiensis, Ceriporia aurantiocarnescens, Peniophora pithya, and P. tamaricicola were collected on new substrates. For the two rare basidiomycetes Amanita eliae and Battarrea phalloides, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis gave valuable information on their relationship with similar taxa.
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Papers by Andrea Rubini