Olive Mill Wastes: A Source of Bioactive Molecules for Plant Growth and Protection against Pathogens
Fabio Sciubba,
Laura Chronopoulou,
Daniele Pizzichini,
Vincenzo Lionetti,
Claudia Fontana,
Rita Aromolo,
Silvia Socciarelli,
Loretta Gambelli,
Barbara Bartolacci,
Enrico Finotti,
Anna Benedetti,
Alfredo Miccheli,
Ulderico Neri,
Cleofe Palocci,
Daniela Bellincampi
Affiliations
Fabio Sciubba
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Laura Chronopoulou
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Daniele Pizzichini
Bio-Products-Bio-Processes Laboratory, Division of Biotechnology and Agriculture, Department for Sustainability, ENEA, Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
Vincenzo Lionetti
Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Claudia Fontana
CREA-Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy
Rita Aromolo
CREA-Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy
Silvia Socciarelli
CREA-Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy
Loretta Gambelli
CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, 00184 Rome, Italy
Barbara Bartolacci
Order of Agronomists and Forestry Doctors, Province of Viterbo, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Enrico Finotti
CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, 00184 Rome, Italy
Anna Benedetti
CREA-Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy
Alfredo Miccheli
NMR-Based Metabolomics Laboratory, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Ulderico Neri
CREA-Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy
Cleofe Palocci
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Daniela Bellincampi
Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Olive oil production generates high amounts of liquid and solid wastes. For a long time, such complex matrices were considered only as an environmental issue, due to their polluting properties. On the other hand, olive mill wastes (OMWs) exert a positive effect on plant growth when applied to soil due to the high content of organic matter and mineral nutrients. Moreover, OMWs also exhibit antimicrobial activity and protective properties against plant pathogens possibly due to the presence of bioactive molecules including phenols and polysaccharides. This review covers the recent advances made in the identification, isolation, and characterization of OMW-derived bioactive molecules able to influence important plant processes such as plant growth and defend against pathogens. Such studies are relevant from different points of view. First, basic research in plant biology may benefit from the isolation and characterization of new biomolecules to be potentially applied in crop growth and protection against diseases. Moreover, the valorization of waste materials is necessary for the development of a circular economy, which is foreseen to drive the future development of a more sustainable agriculture.
