33 results on '"Ferlito, Filippo"'
Search Results
2. Study of red vine phenotypic plasticity across central-southern Italy sites: an integrated analysis of the transcriptome and weather indices through WGCNA.
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Sicilia, Angelo, Villano, Clizia, Aversano, Riccardo, Di Serio, Ermanno, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Ferlito, Filippo, and Lo Piero, Angela Roberta
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SOLAR radiation ,VITIS vinifera ,DEW point ,PHENOTYPIC plasticity ,CABERNET wines - Abstract
The grapevine (Vitis spp., family Vitaceae) is characterized by marked phenotypic plasticity. Its ability to withstand specific environmental conditions depends on the activation of highly coordinated responses resulting from interactions among genotypes (G) and environmental factors (E). In this study, the transcriptomes of commercially ripe berries of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Aglianico genotypes grown in open fields at three different sites in central-southern Italy (Campania, Molise and Sicily) were analyzed with RNA sequencing. These transcriptomic data were integrated with a comprehensive set of weather course indices through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A total of 11,887 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were retrieved, most of which were associated with the Aglianico genotype. The plants from the Sicilian site presented the greatest number of DEGs for both genotypes. Most of the weather course data (daily maximum air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, dew point, and hours of sun radiation) were significantly correlated with the "lightcyan1" module, confirming WGCNA as a powerful method for identifying genes of high biological interest. Within this module, the gene encoding the ACA10 cation transporter was highly expressed in plants of both genotypes from Campania, where the lowest anthocyanin content was recorded. The transcriptome was also correlated with quality traits, such as total soluble solids and polyphenol content. This approach could lead to the identification of a transcriptomic profile that may specifically identify a genotype and its growing site and to the discovery of hub genes that might function as markers of wine quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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3. Physico-chemical and multielemental traits of anaerobic digestate from Mediterranean agro-industrial wastes and assessment as fertiliser for citrus nurseries
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Torrisi, Biagio, Allegra, Maria, Amenta, Margherita, Gentile, Fausto, Rapisarda, Paolo, Fabroni, Simona, and Ferlito, Filippo
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- 2021
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4. Influence of the genetic background on the performance of molecular markers linked to seedlessness in table grapes
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Bennici, Stefania, Di Guardo, Mario, Distefano, Gaetano, La Malfa, Stefano, Puglisi, Damiano, Arcidiacono, Fabio, Ferlito, Filippo, Deng, Ziniu, Gentile, Alessandra, and Nicolosi, Elisabetta
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- 2019
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5. Changes in the quality and antioxidant components of minimally processed table grapes during storage
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Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Ferlito, Filippo, Amenta, Margherita, Russo, Tiziana, and Rapisarda, Paolo
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- 2018
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6. Pomological diversity of the Italian blood orange germplasm
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Caruso, Marco, Ferlito, Filippo, Licciardello, Concetta, Allegra, Maria, Strano, Maria Concetta, Di Silvestro, Silvia, Russo, Maria Patrizia, Pietro Paolo, Donata, Caruso, Paola, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Stagno, Fiorella, Torrisi, Biagio, Roccuzzo, Giancarlo, Reforgiato Recupero, Giuseppe, and Russo, Giuseppe
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- 2016
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7. Physiological and Productive Responses of Two Vitis vinifera L. Cultivars across Three Sites in Central-South Italy.
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Ferlito, Filippo, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Sicilia, Angelo, Villano, Clizia, Aversano, Riccardo, and Lo Piero, Angela Roberta
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VITIS vinifera ,GENOTYPE-environment interaction ,CULTIVARS ,GRAPES ,CABERNET wines ,CLIMBING plants ,PHYSIOLOGICAL adaptation - Abstract
Grapevine adaptation to drought involves morphological, anatomical, and physiological modifications that could be viewed as a measure of drought avoidance. The main vine responses to drought consist of the regulation of carbon assimilation as a consequence of limited stomatal conductance, which is reflected in changes in plant water status. In this factorial study (2020–2021 growing seasons), two red cultivars, the local 'Aglianico', widely grown in Central-South Italy, and the international 'Cabernet Sauvignon', were used to evaluate how their interaction in three different environments can modify physiological adaptations and how yields and their qualitative traits can be modified. The lowest leaf water potential (−0.68 Mpa) for the two cultivars was registered in Molise, while the most stressed vine was found in Sicily for Aglianico (−1.86 MPa). At least in two of three locations, Molise and Campania, the detected stomatal conductance and the leaf water potential have shown that Cabernet Sauvignon can be classified as a near-isohydric cultivar, whereas Aglianico can be categorized as a near-anisohydric cultivar. The interactions between genotype x environment highlight different levels of adaptability between the two cultivars in different sites during each season. The data presented here contribute to a better understanding of the effects of genotype and environment interactions in progressive dry cultivation and how these interactions can modify the qualitative traits of grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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8. Cut the foliage, cut the water, reap the rewards
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Ferlito, Filippo, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Gentile, Alessandra, Lo Piero, Angela R, and Continella, Alberto
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- 2014
9. Pre-Harvest Bagging of Table Grapes Reduces Accumulations of Agrochemical Residues and Increases Fruit Quality.
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Luca, Leonardo Paul, Scollo, Francesco, Distefano, Gaetano, Ferlito, Filippo, Bennici, Stefania, Inzirillo, Ilaria, Gentile, Alessandra, La Malfa, Stefano, and Nicolosi, Elisabetta
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TABLE grapes ,FRUIT quality ,FOOD habits ,VITIS vinifera ,SUSTAINABILITY ,BERRIES ,AGRICULTURAL chemicals - Abstract
Since ancient times, table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) have been one of the most important fruit crops from the standpoint both of the producer (regional economics) and the consumer (healthy eating). In recent decades, much effort has been devoted to the development of this crop in order to improve fruit quality and yield; however, these advances have also entailed considerable increases in the use of agrochemicals. Unfortunately, as is now coming to light, the increased agrochemical use has had deleterious effects on the environment and has also had significant negative effects on human health and wellbeing. Our research investigates the effects of pre-harvest fruit bagging on key fruit quality traits and also on the accumulation of agrochemical residues in the fruit. Two prevalent white table grape cultivars were used, 'Italia' (late ripening) and 'Vittoria' (early ripening). They were bagged with three different materials: (1) paper, (2) parchment (a cellulose-based material), and (3) a non-woven fabric (felted polypropylene fibers). The bags were placed on grape clusters at phenological state BBCH 75 until harvest, and the bagged clusters were then compared with the unbagged control clusters. Qualitative traits and agrochemical residuals were assessed at harvest for two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022). The results show that the parchment protection bags positively affected some key fruit quality traits, with bigger and better-colored berries than the unbagged controls. Compared with the unbagged controls, all bagging treatments greatly reduced the levels of agrochemical residues, analyzed using GC-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS. For cv. 'Italia', in 2021 residues fell from 0.733 mg/kg (unbagged control) to 0.006 mg/kg (bagged), and in 2022 from 0.201 mg/kg (unbagged control) to 0.008 mg/kg (bagged); for cv. 'Vittoria', in 2021 residues fell from 0.201 mg/kg (unbagged control) to 0.008 mg/kg (bagged), and in 2022 from 0.077 mg/kg (unbagged control) to 0.046 mg/kg (bagged). The study shows the benefits of pre-harvest fruit bagging on grape berry quality and underscores the pivotal role bags can play in minimizing agrochemical residue accumulations on the fruit. The study marks the taking of a crucial step towards more sustainable and safer practices in the table grape production industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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10. Investigating the impact of pedoclimatic conditions on the oenological performance of two red cultivars grown throughout southern Italy.
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Iorizzo, Massimo, Sicilia, Angelo, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Forino, Martino, Picariello, Luigi, Lo Piero, Angela Roberta, Vitale, Andrea, Monaco, Eugenia, Ferlito, Filippo, Succi, Mariantonietta, Tremonte, Patrizio, Gambuti, Angelita, Villano, Clizia, Bonfante, Antonello, Aversano, Riccardo, and Coppola, Raffaele
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BERRIES ,VITIS vinifera ,CULTIVARS ,GENE expression ,CABERNET wines ,GRAPES ,WINE districts - Abstract
The cultivated grapevine, Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera, possesses a rich biodiversity with numerous varieties. Each variety adapts differently to varying pedoclimatic conditions, which greatly influence the terroir expression of wine regions. These conditions impact vine growth, physiology, and berry composition, ultimately shaping the unique characteristics and typicity of the wines produced. Nowadays, the potential of the different adaptation capacities of grape varieties has not yet been thoroughly investigated. We addressed this issue by studying two grape varieties, Aglianico and Cabernet Sauvignon, in two different pedoclimatic conditions of Southern Italy. We evaluated and compared the effect of different pedoclimatic conditions on plant physiology, the microbial quality of grapes using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, the expression trends of key genes in ripe berries and the concentration of phenolic compounds in grapes and wines by HPLC-MS, HPLC-DAD, NMR and spectrophotometric analyses. Metabolomic and microbiome data were integrated with quantitative gene expression analyses to examine varietal differences and plasticity of genes involved in important oenological pathways. The data collected showed that the phenotypic response of studied grapes in terms of vigor, production, and fruit quality is strongly influenced by the pedoclimatic conditions and, in particular, by soil physical properties. Furthermore, Aglianico grape variety was more influenced than the Cabernet Sauvignon by environmental conditions. In conclusion, the obtained findings not only reinforce the terroir concept and our comprehension of grape's ability to adapt to climate variations but can also have implications for the future usage of grape genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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11. Comparison of Canopy Architecture of Five Olive Cultivars in a High-Density Planting System in Sicily.
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Lodolini, Enrico Maria, de Iudicibus, Alberto, Lucchese, Pompea Gabriella, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Torrisi, Biagio, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Giuffrida, Alessio, and Ferlito, Filippo
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CULTIVARS ,PLANTING ,OLIVE ,PLANTATIONS ,FRUIT quality ,ORCHARDS ,BIOMETRY - Abstract
In a young super-high-density (SHD) olive orchard located in Aidone (EN), in the Sicily Region, Italy, the architectural features of five olive cultivars were studied, specifically Arbequina, Arbosana, Oliana
® , Giulia® , and FS-17® . Surveys were conducted in November 2019 considering biometric measurements for the whole tree, the canopy, and the primary and secondary branches. The "total branching frequency", the "sectorial branching frequency", the "total branching efficiency", the "sectorial branching efficiency", and the "total relative vigour" indexes were also calculated from the previous measurements. In addition, olive yield recorded for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 (respectively, the third, fourth, and fifth years from planting) are shown in order to provide a more exhaustive description of the features of the cultivars. Giulia® and Oliana® resulted in being more similar to Arbequina and Arbosana, presenting a compact shape of the canopy and high and regular ramification of primary and secondary branches. FS-17® showed a higher expansion in canopy volume and higher vigour than the other cultivars, features that suggest it can be more susceptible to damage during mechanical harvest. Regarding the elaborated indexes, "total branching frequency" resulted in being not statistically different among the cultivars. "Sectorial branching frequency" resulted in being higher in the middle sector of the trunk height (51–100 cm) for all the tested cultivars. This study supplies helpful information about the different canopy and branch architectural characteristics of the five studied olive cultivars with respect to their suitability to high-density plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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12. Influence of early leaf removal on autochthonous and international grapevines in Sicily
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Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Continella, Alberto, Gentile, Alessandra, Cicala, Antonio, and Ferlito, Filippo
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- 2012
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13. Effect of branch girdling on berry traits, chemical and sensory characteristics of 'Italia' and 'Victoria' table grapes.
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Timpanaro, Nicolina, Ferlito, Filippo, Amenta, Margherita, Torrisi, Biagio, Allegra, Maria, Rapisarda, Paolo, and Romeo, Flora V.
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TABLE grapes , *PRINCIPAL components analysis , *BERRIES , *GRAPES , *PLANT hormones , *PLANT nutrients , *VITIS vinifera - Abstract
Girdling is an ancient agronomic technique that causes a change in the distribution of photosynthates, mineral nutrients and plant hormones. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of girdling technique on 'Italia' and 'Victoria' table grape cultivars. In this study, the carpological, physico-chemical and sensory data were evaluated. In order to assess the effect of girdling on grape volatile compounds, a headspace solid-phase microextraction was also performed. Results showed the effects of girdling on morphological, physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of table grapes with a different change of berry size and colour depending on the cultivar. The girdling treatment produced a significant decrease of sugar content and total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio only for 'Italia' cultivar. The analysis of volatile compounds revealed that 'Italia' cultivar had three more compounds than 'Victoria' and that the samples taken from the girdled grapevines had fewer compounds than their ungirdled ones. The results exhibited that the girdling treatment was more effective on the 'Italia' cultivar. This study showed that girdling efficacy strongly depends on the cultivar. The samples from the girdled grapevines had fewer volatile compounds than the ungirdled ones. The Principal Component Analysis totally differentiated both cultivar and treatment without overlap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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14. Reproductive Biology Factors Hampering Lemon [ Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.] Genetic Improvement.
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Catalano, Chiara, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Giuffrida, Alessio, Ferlito, Filippo, Di Guardo, Mario, Continella, Alberto, Bennici, Stefania, La Malfa, Stefano, Gentile, Alessandra, and Distefano, Gaetano
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LEMON ,BIOLOGY ,FRUIT seeds ,CITRUS ,APOMIXIS ,SEEDS - Abstract
Background: Floral sterility and nucellar embryony are peculiar traits of several Citrus species and represent an obstacle to traditional breeding. Morphological sterility mainly results in pistil abortion and anther atrophy, while polyembryony is due to a mechanism known as sporophytic apomixis, which consists of the presence of embryos in the seed generated from the nucellar (maternal) tissue alongside the zygotic embryo (sexual origin). Considering the growing interest in lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.] breeding, and the lack of information on floral sterility and the polyembryony trait among different lemon cultivars, a morphological and molecular characterization of these traits of interest was performed on forty Sicilian and international lemon cultivars available in the citrus germplasm collection of Catania University (Italy). Methods: Eight traits related to the reproductive biology were assessed on the selected lemon cultivars, namely: pistil abortion and anther atrophy, number of seeds per fruit, number of embryos per seed, percentage of seeds showing polyembryony, germination, percentage of seeds resulting in more than one plantlet, and average seed weight. Moreover, seedlings recovered after the germination assay were genotyped with SNP and SSR markers for ascertaining their nucellar or zygotic origin. In addition, PCR analysis were performed to assess the allele combination of the miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) insertion in CitRKD1, a gene associated with the occurrence of apomixis in citrus. Results: All traits showed high variability among the accessions analyzed. As for polyembryony, lemon 'Adamopoulos' scored the highest percentage of polyembryonic seeds (67.6%), whilst lemon 'Lunario' showed the lowest value (8.7%). Conclusions: Insights on the level of polyembryony within lemon varieties will represent a valuable tool for breeders for the set-up of novel mating schemes. In fact, when a polyembryonic female parent is used in cross breeding, the selection of the zygotic individual is hampered by the presence of a nucellar one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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15. Hundred Horses Chestnut: a model system for studying mutation rate during clonal propagation in superior plants.
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Nunziata, Angelina, Ferlito, Filippo, Magri, Anna, Ferrara, Elvira, and Petriccione, Milena
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PLANT propagation ,CASTANEA ,SOMATIC mutation ,DNA fingerprinting ,HORSES ,SOMATIC embryogenesis ,CHESTNUT - Abstract
The Hundred Horses Chestnut is a monumental European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) of an estimated age of 2000–3000 years living in Sicily (Italy). Its value as a model plant was here explored by ascertaining its genetic uniformity. Two different kinds of molecular markers, already in use for chestnut varieties identification, were used in the present work for analysing the DNA isolated from eight different points of its foliage. Results document that the three trunks that now form the monumental tree originated from the same seed, and could came, therefore, by the radial fragmentation of a main trunk as hypothesized and argued since 1815. A detailed genetic fingerprint of the tree is provided that can be used for tracking its clones worldwide. The confirm of the genetic uniformity of the tree also corroborates the hypothesis concerning its age and confirms that the plant is a good model system for studying genetic intra-varietal variability deriving from the accumulation of somatic mutations. In fact, chestnut cultivars, that are vegetatively propagated, have more recent origin and can therefore be considered at least as homogeneous as the different parts of the Hundred Horses Chestnut foliage. First results are discussed, and perspectives are pointed out for studies about somatic mutations in monumental trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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16. Long-Term Experiments As A Tool For Governing The Transition Towards New Food Systems: An Italian Trajectory
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Ciaccia, Corrado, Diacono, Mariangela, Canali, Stefano, Testani, Elena, Montemurro, Francesco, Ferlito, Filippo, Roccuzzo, Giancarlo, Campanelli, Gabriele, Di Pierro, Marta, Mele, Giuseppe, Ranuzzi, Monica, Grasselli, Olga, and Ceccarelli, Danilo
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Values, standards and certification ,Food systems - Abstract
In order to face the challenges of Agenda 2030 and sustainability goals, there is an urgent need to promote transformative changes in food production, from field to market. Agricultural research should encompass all the dimensions of agriculture, at farm, landscape and food system scale, by multidisciplinary and participatory approaches. To accomplish this need, the activation of long-term processes of food system co-design can be a valuable strategy to achieve the ambitious goal of producing in a sustainable way. The Long-Term Experiments can be considered as the training ground to apply this approach for information and co-production and sharing. In this study, we present an on-going process activated in Italy, based on the connection of different local farmer-to-farmer/researcher networks through common objectives and methodology sharing.
- Published
- 2021
17. Phenotypic Plasticity in Bud Fruitfulness Expressed in Two Distinct Wine Grape Cultivars Grown under Three Different Pedoclimatic Conditions.
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Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Sicilia, Angelo, Ferlito, Filippo, Bonfante, Antonello, Monaco, Eugenia, and Lo Piero, Angela Roberta
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PHENOTYPIC plasticity ,GRAPE growing ,CABERNET wines ,GRAPES ,BUDS ,FRUIT yield ,VITIS vinifera - Abstract
The effects of interactions between the genotype and environmental conditions are expressed in the phenotype. Comparing the performances of genotypes under the same range of environmental conditions allows for relative measurements to be made of the different levels of plasticity among those genotypes. The objective of this research was to evaluate the different responses of two wine grape cultivars, native Aglianico and international Cabernet Sauvignon, under different pedoclimatic conditions in terms of the functional traits that govern grapevine bud fruitfulness, vegetative growth, and yield development. The study was conducted over two consecutive seasons (2020 and 2021), in six commercial Vitis vinifera L. vineyards, located in three distinct viticultural regions of central-southern Italy (Molise, Campania, and Sicily). In each experimental vineyard, the bud fruitfulness, number of leaves, total leaf area per vine, midday vine water status, and fruit yield were measured. The obtained results showed that bud fruitfulness was higher for Aglianico than for Cabernet Sauvignon in each experimental site, while the variability of plant responses between the vineyards was lower for Cabernet Sauvignon cultivar compared to those for Aglianico. The genetic × environmental interactions were expressed predominantly during berry ripening stages, while plasticity was generally greater in Aglianico than in Cabernet Sauvignon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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18. Parents' Selection Affects Embryo Rescue, Seed Regeneration and the Heredity of Seedless Trait in Table Grape Breeding Programs.
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Puglisi, Damiano, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Ferlito, Filippo, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Di Guardo, Mario, Scollo, Francesco, Saitta, Giuseppe, La Malfa, Stefano, Gentile, Alessandra, and Distefano, Gaetano
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TABLE grapes ,EMBRYOS ,HEREDITY ,SEEDS ,BERRIES ,BIRTHPARENTS ,PLANT breeding - Abstract
The development of new seedless cultivar represents one of the most important goals in table grape breeding programmes worldwide. The most common technique to obtain new seedless cultivars is embryo rescue, an approach that allows the isolation of immature embryos and their cultivation in vitro. In this study, a total of 23 crosses (developed employing one seeded and one seedless parent) were performed during two seasons (2017 and 2018) for a total of 1140 seedlings. For each cross, the principal parameters related to the efficiency of the pollination were measured (harvested bunches, collected berries, recovered embryos/seeds and plants obtained). Based on these traits, statistical analyses were performed to calculate the female and male parental efficiency and to compare the two techniques of propagation employed: embryo rescue (7.8% of plants obtained) and gamic propagation (8.4%). Finally, the segregation of the SSR marker p3_VvAGL11 was evaluated on the progeny of four crosses in which the same cultivar was used alternately as female or male parent (SugxIta/ItaxSug and CrixIta/ItaxCri). The parameters measured showed a positive correlation between berries, seeds and plants obtained, exclusively in combination with a seeded female parent. The crossing combinations investigated indicate that some genotypes outperformed others when used as female parent in terms of embryos/seeds produced. Therefore, the efficiency in terms of seedlings obtained for the seedless female parents is actually balanced with those obtained for the seeded ones. The proposed research aims to provide useful information to guide the choice of genotypes used in the genetic improvement programs of seedless grapes, to increase their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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19. Effects of Different Inter-Row Soil Management and Intra-Row Living Mulch on Spontaneous Flora, Beneficial Insects, and Growth of Young Olive Trees in Southern Italy.
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Las Casas, Giuseppina, Ciaccia, Corrado, Iovino, Valeria, Ferlito, Filippo, Torrisi, Biagio, Lodolini, Enrico Maria, Giuffrida, Alessio, Catania, Roberto, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, and Bella, Salvatore
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SOIL management ,BOTANY ,NO-tillage ,OLIVE ,MULCHING ,INSECTS ,WEEDS ,NEUROPTERA - Abstract
Conservation agriculture (i.e., minimized soil disturbance and permanent soil covering) and living mulches represent two agroecological practices that can improve soil fertility, spontaneous flora, and beneficial insect communities. This research studied the effect of these practices in a young olive orchard in the Mediterranean area. Two Sicilian olive cultivars ('Nocellara del Belice' and 'Nocellara etnea') were used for the field experiment; inter-row minimum and zero tillage and four species of aromatic plants as living mulch along the row were tested. Spontaneous flora and beneficial insect communities, as well as tree growth, were monitored. The inter-row management did not influence the spontaneous flora dynamics. The species adopted for living mulch showed a very different degree of development and soil cover; 69 insect species (pollinators and predators) belonging to five orders (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Neuroptera, and Coleoptera) and 17 families were recorded. The growth of the olive trees was not affected by the conservative strategies.: In the inter-row, the growth of the spontaneous flora was limited by the high temperatures during the summer. Among the living mulch species, sage and lemongrass guaranteed an almost full soil cover, reducing the need for weed management along the row, as well as increasing the beneficial insects without influencing the young tree growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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20. Long-term monitoring of deficit irrigation regimes on citrus orchards in Sicily.
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Vanella, Daniela, Ferlito, Filippo, Torrisi, Biagio, Giuffrida, Alessio, Pappalardo, Salvatore, Saitta, Daniela, Longo-Minnolo, Giuseppe, and Consoli, Simona
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DEFICIT irrigation , *CITRUS , *PLANT transpiration , *WATER restrictions , *MICROIRRIGATION , *ORCHARDS , *PLANT-water relationships , *MASS measurement - Abstract
The study aims to identify the responses of citrus orchards (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck), grown under typical Mediterranean climatic conditions, to deficit irrigation (DI) regimes applied over more than a decade (2010-2020). In particular, the DI regimes were declined at the study site in terms of sustained deficit irrigation, regulated deficit irrigation, partial drying of the root-zone, with increasing severity of the water deficit, from 25% to 50% of the crop evapotranspiration, using surface and sub-surface micro-irrigation techniques. Long-term monitoring was set up for identifying the main processes acting at the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) level through direct in situ measurements of mass and energy fluxes (i.e., via micrometeorological technique) and the estimation of ETc and transpiration fluxes (i.e., via sap flow method), and the soil-plant-water processes (via geoelectrical techniques). In addition, the main physiological, qualitative, and quantitative parameters were evaluated since the beginning of the experiment. The results of the long-term experiment demonstrated the great adaptability of the crop species to sustain even the highest water reductions without substantial alterations of the main marketable productive and qualitative characteristics, evidencing the importance of controlling the SPAC dynamics for correctly applying the water restriction regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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21. Assessment of Chilling Requirement and Threshold Temperature of a Low Chill Pear (Pyrus communis L.) Germplasm in the Mediterranean Area.
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Ferlito, Filippo, Di Guardo, Mario, Allegra, Maria, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Continella, Alberto, Malfa, Stefano La, Gentile, Alessandra, and Distefano, Gaetano
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GERMPLASM ,DECIDUOUS plants ,PHENOTYPES ,DORMANCY in plants - Abstract
In temperate climates, bud break and shoot and flower emission of deciduous fruit tree species are regulated by precise chilling and heating requirements. To investigate this aspect, sixtyone accessions of European pear (Pyrus communis L.) collected in Sicily were phenotyped for three consecutive years for harvest date, bud sprouting and blooming to determine both the chilling requirements and the threshold temperature using the Chill Days model. The whole germplasm collection was grown in two different experimental fields located at 10 and 850 m above sea level representing two Mediterranean-type climates in which pear is commonly cultivated. Results revealed a mean threshold temperature of 6.70 and 8.10 °C for the two experimental fields, respectively, with a mean chilling requirement ranging from [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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22. Smart nanocomposites of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles loaded with copper oxide as alternative nanofertilizers.
- Author
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Leonardi, Marco, Caruso, Giuseppe M., Carroccio, Sabrina C., Boninelli, Simona, Curcuruto, Giusy, Zimbone, Massimo, Allegra, Maria, Torrisi, Biagio, Ferlito, Filippo, and Miritello, Maria
- Published
- 2021
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23. Early defoliation effects on water status, fruit yield and must quality of 'Nerello mascalese' grapes.
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Ferlito, Filippo, Allegra, Maria, Torrisi, Biagio, Pappalardo, Helena, Gentile, Alessandra, La Malfa, Stefano, Continella, Alberto, Stagno, Fiorella, and Nicolosi, Elisabetta
- Published
- 2020
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24. Comparison of Orange Orchard Evapotranspiration by Eddy Covariance, Sap Flow, and FAO-56 Methods under Different Irrigation Strategies.
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Saitta, Daniela, Vanella, Daniela, Ramírez-Cuesta, Juan Miguel, Longo-Minnolo, Giuseppe, Ferlito, Filippo, and Consoli, Simona
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IRRIGATION ,EVAPOTRANSPIRATION ,MEDITERRANEAN climate ,HEAT pulses ,DEFICIT irrigation ,ORCHARDS - Abstract
The study evaluates the accuracy of measured and estimated crop evapotranspiration fluxes (ETc) on Citrus in a semiarid Mediterranean climate (Sicily, Italy). Specifically, ETc rates derived from in situ techniques [eddy covariance (EC) and sap flow heat pulse velocity (HPV)] and modelling approaches [Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States (FAO) Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 (FAO-56) single and dual crop coefficient (Kc)] were compared under deficit irrigation scenarios. Results of the comparison showed that the single and dual Kc approaches provided similar ETc estimates (292 and 324 mm), even if these approaches overestimated ETc measured by EC (ETEC) (17% and 30% respectively). HPV was able to show transpiration (T) reductions caused by deficit irrigation strategies when compared with T under full irrigation condition (ranging from 70% to 82%). Overall, the assessed methodologies were able to capture ETc trends, but the selection of the most appropriate one will depend on the specific crop and study site characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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25. Evaluation of Conifer Wood Biochar as Growing Media Component for Citrus Nursery.
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Ferlito, Filippo, Torrisi, Biagio, Allegra, Maria, Stagno, Fiorella, Caruso, Paola, and Fascella, Giancarlo
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BIOCHAR ,CITRUS ,MASS media ,VOLCANIC soils ,CITRUS fruit industry ,CONIFERS - Abstract
(1) Background: The commercial sustainability of the citrus nursery industry involves cutting costs by using alternative planting substrates to replace (or partially replace) the conventional black peat. Conifer wood biochar was evaluated as a component of the growth medium in a commercial citrus nursery for Carrizo citrange seedlings. (2) Methods: Seven growth media mixtures (A–G) were tested. Each mixture consisted of 50% sandy volcanic soil with the remaining 50% made up as follows: A = black peat and perlite 1:1; B = biochar 1; C = black peat, perlite, and biochar 0.5:1:0.5; D = black peat and biochar 1:1; E = black peat, compost, and biochar 0.5:0.5:1; F = black peat, perlite, compost, and biochar 0.5:0.5:0.5:0.5; G = black peat and lapillus 1:1, this substrate, previously adopted by the hosting nursery, was the control. (3) Results: The best media for the rootstock studied here were those containing 25% biochar (mixtures D and E). In the deeper layers the substrate was more compact, and the roots were limited to the shallow layers of the pot. (4) Conclusions: Conifer wood biochar can be partly added in place of peat in growth media mixtures, thus reducing costs and ameliorating sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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26. Elucidating the contribution of wild related species on autochthonous pear germplasm: A case study from Mount Etna.
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Bennici, Stefania, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Distefano, Gaetano, Di Guardo, Mario, Continella, Alberto, Ferlito, Filippo, Gentile, Alessandra, and La Malfa, Stefano
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PLANT germplasm ,PEARS ,CLIMATE change ,CULTIVARS ,CHLOROPLAST DNA ,PHYLOGENY - Abstract
The pear (genus Pyrus) is one of the most ancient and widely cultivated tree fruit crops in temperate climates. The Mount Etna area claims a large number of pear varieties differentiated due to a long history of cultivation and environmental variability, making this area particularly suitable for genetic studies. Ninety-five pear individuals were genotyped using the simple sequence repeat (SSR) methodology interrogating both the nuclear (nDNA) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) to combine an investigation of maternal inheritance of chloroplast SSRs (cpSSRs) with the high informativity of nuclear SSRs (nSSRs). The germplasm was selected ad hoc to include wild genotypes, local varieties, and national and international cultivated varieties. The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) estimate the level of differentiation within local varieties; (ii) elucidate the phylogenetic relationships between the cultivated genotypes and wild accessions; and (iii) estimate the potential genetic flow and the relationship among the germplasms in our analysis. Eight nSSRs detected a total of 136 alleles with an average minor allelic frequency and observed heterozygosity of 0.29 and 0.65, respectively, whereas cpSSRs allowed identification of eight haplotypes (). These results shed light on the genetic relatedness between Italian varieties and wild genotypes. Among the wild species, compared with P. amygdaliformis, few P. pyraster genotypes exhibited higher genetic similarity to local pear varieties. Our analysis revealed the presence of genetic stratification with a ‘wild’ subpopulation characterizing the genetic makeup of wild species and the international cultivated varieties exhibiting the predominance of the ‘cultivated’ subpopulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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27. First characterisation of minor and neglected Vitis vinifera L. cultivars from Mount Etna.
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FERLITO, FILIPPO, NICOLOSI, ELISABETTA, LA MALFA, STEFANO, CICALA, ANTONIO, and GENTILE, ALESSANDRA
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VITIS vinifera ,CULTIVARS ,GRAPES ,PLANT species ,PLANT growth - Abstract
Eight minor and neglected cultivars of Vitis vinifera L. were characterised according to their ampelographic and agronomic traits and discriminated by molecular analysis with SSR markers. These results are the first complete ampelographic description of these minor and neglected cultivars from the Mount Etna region. The results of this study reveal high morphological diversity of ancient grapevines growing in this region. SSR markers enabled us to discriminate the cultivars and revealed the genetic divergence between them and several autochthonous cultivars. Our efforts could contribute to a better knowledge of grape biodiversity based on morphological and molecular data and could be useful for the development of a reliable germplasm conservation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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28. Bio-agronomic characterization of twelve plum cultivars on two clonal rootstocks in a semi-arid environment in Sicily.
- Author
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Ferlito, Filippo, Continella, Alberto, Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Dimauro, Biagio, Brugaletta, Massimiliano, Cicala, Antonio, and Malfa, Stefano La
- Abstract
Copyright of Fruits is the property of International Society for Horticultural Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2015
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29. Mid-Term Effects of Conservative Soil Management and Fruit-Zone Early Leaf Removal Treatments on the Performance of Nerello Mascalese (Vitis vinifera L.) Grapes on Mount Etna (Southern Italy).
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Nicolosi, Elisabetta, Iovino, Valeria, Distefano, Gaetano, Di Guardo, Mario, La Malfa, Stefano, Gentile, Alessandra, Palliotti, Alberto, Las Casas, Giuseppina, and Ferlito, Filippo
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CONSERVATIVE treatment ,SOIL management ,GRAPES ,VITIS vinifera ,FRUIT quality ,DEFOLIATION - Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the mid-term influence of minimum tillage (MT) combined with early leaf removal (ELR) on the performance of the black grapevine variety Nerello Mascalese (Vitis vinifera L.). The research was carried out from 2015 to 2018 in a vineyard located in the Mount Etna area, East Sicily, Southern Italy. An average of about 8000 cm
2 of leaves were removed from the ELR vines, corresponding to a canopy defoliation of 44% in 2017 and 30% in 2018. As for the stem water potential of both primary and lateral leaves, ELR-MT treatment showed the best performance (up to −0.4 MPa) among the four combinations. In 2017, no differences in yield/vine were found among treatments, whereas in 2018 the yield was significantly lower in ELR treatments. Among the different treatments performed, the ELR-MT showed the best results both in terms of physiological plant parameters (water status and photosynthetic activity) and fruit quality (higher concentration of sugars and total anthocyanins and polyphenols). ELR-MT treatment is also associated with a lower incidence of tillage operations from four to only one per year (−60–70 h/ha). In contrast to what was observed in the first 3 years of application (i.e., from 2015 to 2017), yield was heavily penalized during the fourth year of application (2018), probably due to the excessive depletion of nutritional reserves, the reduction of bud fertility and the unfavorable meteorological condition. For these reasons, the ELR-MT combination might require an interruption every 2–3 years of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2021
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30. Organic Agroforestry Long-Term Field Experiment Designing Trough Actors' Knowledge towards Food System Sustainability.
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Ciaccia, Corrado, Testani, Elena, Fiore, Angelo, Iocola, Ileana, Di Pierro, Marta, Mele, Giuseppe, Ferlito, Filippo, Cutuli, Marcello, Montemurro, Francesco, Farina, Roberta, Ceccarelli, Danilo, Persiani, Alessandro, Canali, Stefano, Diacono, Mariangela, and van der Werf, Hayo
- Abstract
The implementation of agroecology principles within organic farming research is a crux to redesign sustainable agri-food systems. To govern this transition, the local research demand should be addressed by direct engagement of all stakeholders in the research process. The first step is the involvement of farmers and technicians, with the aim of restoring their decision-making role, switching governance to local scale. The co-design/co-management of Long-Term Experiments (LTEs) can be crucial to govern the above-described transition through networking and participatory activities. In this study, we report the experience of co-designing a new LTE in Southern Italy by local actors and scientists. Through a participatory action research methodology, an LTE was considered as a biophysical component of an agroecological living lab, a public–private environment aimed to design a local food system. The setup of parallel field trials in satellite farms stands for the other biophysical component, whereas the stakeholder platform represents the social one. Through definition of common objectives, a step-by-step process is presented, which highlights the interest of local organic actors to share ideas and perspectives for the territory, pointing out the inclusion of end-users (the consumers) in the process to complete the transition to sustainable food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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31. Deciphering S -RNase Allele Patterns in Cultivated and Wild Accessions of Italian Pear Germplasm.
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Bennici, Stefania, Di Guardo, Mario, Distefano, Gaetano, Las Casas, Giuseppina, Ferlito, Filippo, De Franceschi, Paolo, Dondini, Luca, Gentile, Alessandra, and La Malfa, Stefano
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PEARS ,GERMPLASM ,SPECIES hybridization - Abstract
The genus Pyrus is characterized by an S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system, a mechanism that promotes outbreeding and prevents self-fertilization. While the S-genotype of the most widely known pear cultivars was already described, little is known on the S-allele variability within local accessions. The study was conducted on 86 accessions encompassing most of the local Sicilian varieties selected for their traits of agronomic interest and complemented with some accessions of related wild species (P. pyrifolia Nakai, P. amygdaliformis Vill.) and some national and international cultivars used as references. The employment of consensus and specific primers enabled the detection of 24 S-alleles combined in 48 S-genotypes. Results shed light on the distribution of the S-alleles among accessions, with wild species and international cultivars characterized by a high diversity and local accessions showing a more heterogeneous distribution of the S-alleles, likely reflecting a more complex history of hybridization. The S-allele distribution was largely in agreement with the genetic structure of the studied collection. In particular, the "wild" genetic background was often characterized by the same S-alleles detected in P. pyrifolia and P. amygdaliformis. The analysis of the S-allele distribution provided novel insight into the contribution of the wild and international cultivars to the genetic background of the local Sicilian or national accessions. Furthermore, these results provide information that can be readily employed by breeders for the set-up of novel mating schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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32. Agroecological Practices and Agrobiodiversity: A Case Study on Organic Orange in Southern Italy.
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Ciaccia, Corrado, La Torre, Anna, Ferlito, Filippo, Testani, Elena, Battaglia, Valerio, Salvati, Luca, and Roccuzzo, Giancarlo
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AGROBIODIVERSITY ,SOIL fertility ,FAVA bean ,SOIL quality ,PRINCIPAL components analysis ,BARLEY ,ORGANIC farmers ,ORCHARDS - Abstract
The integration of Agroecological Service Crops (ASCs) into agroecosystems can provide several ecological services, such as nutrient cycling and disease and weed management. A two-year experiment on an organic orchard was carried out to compare barley (B) and horse bean (HB) ASCs with a control without ASC (Cont) in combination with fertilizers. Their effects on soil fertility and weed- and soil-borne fungi communities were evaluated by direct measurements, visual estimation, and indicators computation. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify latent patterns and redundancy among variables, whereas a correlation analysis was used to discriminate the compared systems within the PCA matrix. The empirical results of this study put in evidence the correlation among soil, weed, and fungal variables. A slight contribution of fertilizers on the system's variability was observed, whereas a clear effect of ASCs was highlighted. The systems differed in weed communities, with the lowest density associated to B and the highest to Cont. B showed the highest fungal diversity, with changes in community compared to HB. HB showed a contribution on soil fertility, being associated to organic matter increase and N availability, and evidencing mixed impacts on soil quality and ecosystem functioning. Overall, the above-ground diversity and below-ground community results were inter-correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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33. Adaptation of citrus orchards to deficit irrigation strategies.
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Saitta, Daniela, Consoli, Simona, Ferlito, Filippo, Torrisi, Biagio, Allegra, Maria, Longo-Minnolo, Giuseppe, Ramírez-Cuesta, Juan Miguel, and Vanella, Daniela
- Subjects
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FRUIT yield , *WATER efficiency , *CITRUS , *ORANGES , *DEFICIT irrigation , *ORCHARDS , *IRRIGATION - Abstract
In this study, the adaptation characteristics of orange trees, related to the application over a decade of deficit irrigation (DI) strategies, have been explored. To this purpose, the analysis of a minimal dataset composed of physiological information (stem water potential - Ψ stem and sap flow - SF measurements), yield (fruits number and weight) and qualitative parameters (titratable acidity, TA; and total soluble solids, TSS) was performed with reference to the last irrigation seasons (i.e. 2018–19). The applied irrigation treatments were the following: sustained deficit irrigation (SDI); regulated deficit irrigation (RDI); partial root-zone drying (PRD), each distributing a water deficit of about 19%, 29% and 52%, respectively, compared to the control treatment (FI) supplying the full irrigation level (100% ET c). In general, higher water use efficiencies (WUE) have been obtained in DI treatments, which guarantee greater water savings (up to 50%), without affecting yield and quality characteristics. In particular, the most stressed treatment (PRD), while reaching the lowest Ψ stem values (− 1.8 to − 2.0 MPa), as also shown by SF versus Ψ stem clusters, resulted in WUE values for yield (WUE Y), TA (WUE TA) and TSS (WUE TSS) parameters of approximately 2.6, 2.9, and 3.1 times greater than FI, respectively. Overall, this study allowed identifying the cumulative adaptation characteristics of the orange trees under study to the application of long-term DI strategies and showing that trees were able to achieve yields and qualitative features similar to those obtained with FI, even after 10 years of application of deficient irrigation regimes. • Water savings up to 53% were reached for citrus grove under deficit irrigation (DI). • Higher water use efficiencies for DI regimes than for full irrigation conditions. • Orange trees showed adaptation effects after long-term DI application. • Long-term water deficit application did not affect orange yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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