1,721,042 research outputs found
A STUDY OF CUMULATIVE TOMATO YIELD FOR FRESH MARKET: CHARACTERISATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF DIFFERENT CULTIVARS.
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Side effects of biostimulants against root-knot nematodes on tomato
No full textPlant biostimulants are often reported for their suppressive side effects against root-knot nematodes, due to an enhancement of host-plant resistance or to direct nematoxicity. Effects of soil treatments with four different commercial biostimulants based on quillay extract, sesame oil, neem seed cake or algae were investigated against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on tomato in potting mixes. Infested soil, either untreated or treated with Oxamyl, and uninfested soil were used as controls. Numbers of nematode eggs and juveniles and gall formation on tomato roots and plant fresh top and root weight were checked at 75 days after transplanting. Treatments with neem cake, sesame oil and quillay extract formulations resulted in a significant reduction of nematode multiplication and gall formation on tomato roots compared with untreated controls, and were not significantly different from treatment with Oxamyl. Neem cake and sesame oil were also significantly more suppressive than the quillay extract formulation in the first experiment. The algae formulation provided the lowest effect on nematode infestation, causing only a slight significant reduction of eggs and galls on tomato roots only in the first experiment. Almost all treatments with the four biostimulants also significantly increased tomato plant growth, though the best growth effect was always provided by the quillay formulation. Results from these experiments seem to indicate that biostimulants may play a role in sustainable nematode management strategies, either by limiting nematode impact on plant growth and/or by directly suppressing multiplication
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Quality Traits of some Cauliflower Cultivars Grown in the “Valle dell’Ofanto” Area (Italy) as Affected by Post-Harvest Storage
No full textSome quality characteristics of the “Valle dell’Ofanto” cauliflower, that hasbeen recently appointed the certification of collective brand, were investigated atGaudiano (41°03’N; 15°42’E, Southern Italy, Basilicata Region). Six white head cauliflowercultivars, characterized by a different length of the crop cycle (2 early, 2medium and 2 late), were studied. The above cultivars were transplanted in open fieldat the middle of August 2004 and harvested from the middle of October 2004 to theend of March 2005. At harvest time, yield traits and head sizes of cauliflowers weremeasured. Among the qualitative traits, color, weight loss, total soluble solids, nitrateand vitamin C content were assessed on the fresh florets and after a storage periodlasting 15 days at 0°C and 95% R.H. The “Valle dell’Ofanto” cauliflower was characterizedby a high content in sugars and vitamin C, even if significant differences insome qualitative parameters (e.g., vitamin C and nitrate content) were affected bycultivars and crop cycle length. On the other hand, the storage at controlled temperatureand R.H. did not substantially change the qualitative characteristics of the heads,but caused only a slight increase of dry matter and soluble solids levels, especially inthose cultivars more susceptible to weight loss
Biostimulants for Plant Growth Promotion and Sustainable Management of Phytoparasitic Nematodes in Vegetable Crops
No full textThe parasitism of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., can cause heavy yield losses
to vegetable crops. Plant biostimulants are often reported for a side-suppressive eect on these
pests and many commercial products are increasingly included in sustainable nematode control
strategies. Source materials of most biostimulants derived from plant or seaweed raw materials were
documented for a reliable suppression of root-knot nematode species, whereas the suppressiveness of
microbial biostimulants was found largely variable, as related to the crop and to environmental factors.
Chitosan-based biostimulants were also stated for a variable phytonematode suppression, though
clearly demonstrated only by a few number of studies. In a preliminary experimental case study, four
commercial biostimulants based on quillay extract (QE), sesame oil (SO), seaweeds (SE), or neem
seed cake (NC) were comparatively investigated for their eects against the root-knot nematode M.
incognita on potted tomato. Soil treatments with all the four biostimulants resulted in a significant
reduction of nematode eggs and galls on tomato roots, though NC and SO were significantly more
suppressive than QE or SE. In addition, almost all biostimulant treatments also resulted in a significant
improvement of tomato growth compared to the non-treated control. These preliminary results
seem to confirm the literature data and clearly indicate the potential role of biostimulants for a safe
nematode management both in organic and integrated crop systems
Germination analysis of tassel hyacinth [Muscari comosum (L.) Mill.] seeds: first results
No full textTassel hyacinth [Muscari comosum (L.) Mill.], a species belonging to the Liliaceae family, is a widespread spontaneous plant typical of the Mediterranean area, which bulbs are used for food, especially in Southern Italy where they represent a traditional meal. Tassel hyacinth can be propagated both by bulbs and by seeds but, since bulb growth is very slow, gamic propagation modality seems to be increased to speed up the production of bulbs. Unfortunately, Muscari comosum seeds are not easy to germinate and often pre-germinative treatments are needed. In this research, tassel hyacinth seeds were subjected to different pre-germinative treatments to estimate differences in times, speeds, and percentages of germination. Namely, soaking and osmo-priming pre-germinative treatments, both conducted at two different temperatures that is 4 and 20°C, were investigated. Seeds were immerged in distilled water for the soaking treatment whereas in the osmo-priming, to vary the osmotic pressure of the solution, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) were used. Moreover, to determinate the effect of the pre-germinative treatments, germination was conducted at three different temperatures: 5, 10 and 20°C. Results pointed out that, regarding the osmo-priming treatments, the use of PEG has given the best results, in terms of T50 (seeds 50% germination time), MGT (Mean Germination Time), compared to soaking and KNO3. In addition, also the percentage of germination was enhanced by the application of the PEG exceeding 98%. Regarding the T50 of the seeds, the best results were obtained with the soaking treatments. Germination was also influenced by the temperature, resulting that seed treated at 4°C and germinating at 10°C (that is as known the best germinating temperature for tassel hyacinth) have reached the best results; on the other hand, the germination for the seeds kept at 20°C was quite completely inhibited
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), the king of spices: An overview
No full textSaffron is obtained from the dried red stigmas of Crocus sativus L., an autumnal herbaceous flowering plant
belonging to the Iridaceae family. It is largely cultivated in Iran, India, Afghanistan, Greece, Morocco, Spain and
Italy. Saffron global production is estimated at 418 t y−1 on 121,338 ha. It is known as the most expensive spice
in the world and as beneficial for human health due to three main bioactive compounds: crocin, picrocrocin and
safranal. The demand for saffron is increasing worldwide for its interesting role in cuisine, medicine and cosmetics.
Due to the reduction of its production, recent investigations have been conducted to study how to
improve stigma yield, quality and antioxidant activity by selecting of corm geographical origin and climatic
conditions, using biostimulants such as mycorrhizal fungi as well as choosing irrigation regimes, drying methods
and storage processes. New research activities have been focused on the medicinal properties of this spice, such
as its neuroprotection in the context of ocular disease, free radical scavenging and detoxifying capacities. This
work offers an overview of the historical, economic, genetic, botanical, agronomic and qualitative traits of
saffron as well as the properties, traditional and recent uses of the spice as well as its by-products such as tepals,
stamens, styles, corms and leaves
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