Scientific paper is publish in the journal Metabolites on the topic of targeted and non-targeted profiling of metabolites of Maraština wine produced by spontaneous fermentation from different growing areas of Dalmatia.

Boban, A.; Vrhovsek, U.; Carlin, S.; Mucalo, A.; Budić-Leto, I. A Targeted and an Untargeted Metabolomics Approach to the Volatile Aroma Profile of Young ‘Maraština’ Wines. Metabolites 2022, 12, 1295. (IF=5.581, Q2).

The work is available at the link: https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12121295

We participated in the jubilee 10th International Congress of Food Technologists, Biotechnologists and Nutritionists, which was held in Zagreb from November 29 to December 2, 2022. We presented part of the results from the WINE AROMAS project in two poster sections.

Innovation section:

V. Milanović, F. Cardinali, A. Boban, J. Gajdoš Kljusurić, A. Mucalo, A. Osimani, L. Aquilanti, C. Garofalo and I. Budić-Leto

Oenological characterization of non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from Croatian white grape variety Maraština

Section Nutrition, Health and Consumer:

A. Boban, U. Vrhovsek, S. Carlin, A. Mucalo and I. Budić-Leto

A targeted and untargeted approach to volatile metabolite characterization of “Maraština” wines produced by spontaneous fermentation

Posters are available at the link: https://pbn2022congress.pbf.hr/?page_id=668

On October 5, 2022, two more diploma theses were defended at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Ancona, Italy as part of the research on the WINE AROMAS project under the mentorship of Dr Vesna Milanović.

The diploma thesis entitled Clonal selection of non-Saccharomyces yeast isolated from Maraština grapes located in wine growing region of Northern Dalmatia (Croatia) was defended by student Eduardo Corvatta. Student Tommaso Cechini defended his diploma thesis entitled Oenological characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains obtained from Maraština grapes located in wine-growing region of Central and Southern Dalmatia (Croatia).

On September 30, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., in Marmontova Street in Split, we participated in the project named: Reconnect Science with the blue society (Blue-connect) as part of the HORIZON MSCA Researchers’ Night with the theme “The role of yeast in wine production“. We presented the project with a powerpoint presentation and brought different species of autochthonous yeasts from the Maraština variety that we developed on solid nutrient media. We presented the experiment of alcoholic fermentation of sugar to the general public in an interesting way, and with simple physicochemical methods, we approached the measurements that we perform on must and wine in the Enological Laboratory.

In the period from September 26 to September 30, project collaborator Dr Vesna Milanović held a research workshop on yeast growth kinetics at the Institute for Adriatic Crops. During the workshop, we worked with selected non-Saccharomyces yeasts taken from a collection of autochthonous yeasts at the Institute. Yeasts were isolated from Maraština grapes during the first year of the project, identified and tested for basic oenological characteristics. During the workshop, we carried out analyses related to the determination and monitoring of yeast growth kinetics using several different techniques, such as seeding and counting live yeasts on solid nutrient media, preparation of yeast inoculum for inoculation into sterile Maraština, and including other important steps related to growth and yeast development. Acquired microbiological skills and knowledge are of great use for the methodology of monitoring alcoholic fermentation experiments.

As part of the research on the WINE AROMAS project, the first thesis entitled “Isolation and identification of non-Saccharomyces yeasts from grapes of the Maraština variety” was defended.

On December 5 2021, student Pierpaolo Nocchi successfully defended his diploma thesis at the Università Politecnica della Marche, Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie Alimentari e Ambientali, Ancona, Italy under the supervision of a project associate, Dr Vesne Milanović, with the commentary of Dr Federica Cardinali, and the mentorship of Dr Cristiane Garofalo. These are also the first results from the project presented in the diploma thesis.

Student Giacomo Migliorini defended his graduation bachelor thesis entitled Oenological characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from Maraština grapes at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Ancona, Italy under the mentorship of Dr Vesna Milanović. This is the second diploma thesis defended from the research results of our collaborators on the WINE AROMAS project.

In the journal, Food Research International (I.F.= 7,425, Q1) a scientific paper is published on the topic of molecular identification and characterization of autochthonous microbiota identified for the first time from the Maraština variety.

Milanović, V., Cardinali, F., Ferrocino, I., Boban, A., Franciosa, I., Gajdoš Kljusurić, J., Mucalo, A., Osimani, A., Aquilanti, L., Garofalo, C., Budić-Leto, I. Croatian white grape variety Maraština: first taste of its indigenous mycobiota. Food Research International 162, 111917, 2022 (I.F.=7.425, Q1).

The paper is available at the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111917

Ana Boban, mag.chem. is currently staying (May 12 – June 12, 2022) at the Research and Innovation Center – Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige in Italy, as part of a Short-Term Scientific Missions scholarship (STSM) within the COST Action CA 17111 INTEGRAPE; “Data integration to maximize the power of OMICs for grapevine improvement”.

During the scholarship, Ana Boban acquires knowledge and skills in the field of metabolomics, related to the profiling of aromas and lipids from grapes and wine under the mentorship of Dr Urska Vrhovsek, who is part of the COST Action CA 17111 working group, together with Dr Budić-Leto.

We thank COST Action 17111 Integrape for recognition and financial support!

In the period from April 20 to May 4 2022, as part of training on a project in the field of metabolomics, Ana Boban, mag.chem., stayed at the Research and Innovation Center – Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) in San Michele all’Adige in Italy. The host and mentor at the training was Dr Urska Vrhovsek, head of the Metabolomics Unit and our collaborator on the project.

Ana Boban acquired knowledge and gained practical experience in profiling aromas and lipids from grapes and wine. She became familiar with advanced analytical instruments and methods. She actively participated in aroma profiling with a targeted metabolic approach using SPE-GC-QqQ-MS/MS and a untargeted approach with SPME-GCxGC-TOF-MS in samples of must and experimental wines of the Maraština variety from our project. In addition, the PhD student worked on lipid profiling with a targeted metabolic approach using UPLC/QqQ-MS/MS in grape skin samples of the Maraština variety from different growing areas. The analyzes included sample preparation, familiarization with the way the instrument works, chromatogram analysis, and identification and quantification of numerous chemical compounds.