1,721,071 research outputs found
Resilience of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) to salinity, heat and drought stresses: A mini-review
Full text linkOver recent years, the cultivation of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) has spread widely in the Mediterranean, also affecting the southern regions of Spain and Italy with a typical semi-arid climate. Several and recent studies have investigated the responses of this species to the main abiotic stresses, which is an aspect of absolute relevance to the knowledge of the adaptive capacity of hops to the growing conditions of a new cultivation environment. Moreover, given the fact that hops’ phytochemical composition is determined primarily by genetic and environmental factors, and that the species is perennial, the lack of knowledge on the effects of abiotic stress could be reflected in subsequent years, which means multi-year economic risks. This review work therefore aims to showcase, based on an in-depth investigation of the available literature, the response of hop to the main abiotic stresses, and the effect of these on productive and qualitative crop performances. The data presented will be useful to the understanding of constraints and to the identification of useful coping strategies to the cultivation of hops in semi-arid Mediterranean environments
An integrated approach to the study of Hypericum occurring in Sicily
Full text linkAn integrated approach to the study of taxa of the genus Hypericum occurring in Sicily is proposed. The results of
morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses are combined to better assess the relationships between the species investigated and
test the suitability of DNA barcoding technique in the discrimination of these taxa. For the name Hypericum aegypticum subsp. webbii
(Spach) N. Robson a lectotype is designated. For Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra a lectotype and a supporting epitype are designated.
The presence of Hypericum perforatum L. subsp. perforatum is excluded from Sicily and the previous reports have to be referred to H.
perforatum subsp. veronense (Schrank) Ces. Hypericum perfoliatum L. and H. pubescens Boiss. are close morphologically and chemically,
as well as based on the results from rcbL marker, although belonging to different sections. Biochemical analyses confirmed the relevant
amounts in bioactive metabolites of the studied taxa. Hypericum perfoliatum L. is proposed as a valid alternative to H. perforatum L. for
cultivation with phytotherapic purposes
Cultivation Trials of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) with Different Row Arrangements
No full textDill (Anethum graveolens L.) is an annual plant from Umbelliferae. Although in cookery also
sprouts and tender leaves are used, the drug from Dill is represented by the scented fruits (“seeds”),
largely used for flavouring conserved foods and liqueurs, but also by herbal and cosmetic industry.
In this work, we present the results of a trial performed in Sicily, putting under comparison four row
arrangements: CR30 (continuous rows 30 cm apart); CR60 (continuous rows 60 cm apart), CR90
(continuous rows 90 cm apart) and TR (twin rows with a distance of 30 cm inside and 60 cm
between twin rows). Being constant the plant population on row (12 plants m-1), the plant density
per unit area changed consequently to 40, 20, 13.3 and 26.6 plants m-2, respectively. Seeds yield,
ranging from more than 2 to less than 0.8 t ha-1, seemed to vary according to plant population, but in
the different treatments many differences showed up in yield components and plant geometry
Cultivation trials of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in semi-arid environments
Full text linkThe recent developments in the market and craft beer industry in Italy have led to an increasing demand for local raw materials, such as barley malt and hops. Few works have been addressed to evaluate suitability and productivity of hop in semi-arid Italian environments. With this purpose, two experiments were carried out in 2018 and 2019, testing the suitability to cultivation of three commonly used hop varieties (Cascade, Chinook and Nuggett) in two typical semi-arid environments in Sicily. Phenological stages were also evaluated, and GDDs accumulated in vegetative and reproductive stages were calculated according to 9 different methods, dealing with three Tbase temperatures (0 °C, 5 °C and 10 °C) and with different adjustments of daily thermal sums for Tmax values >30 °C. The obtained hop cones were used to prepare small batches of beer (fresh hop American Pale Ale), further submitted to sensory analysis through a panel test.
The results have shown a high variability of yields and biometrical characteristics of the tested hop varieties according to the cropping management. However, a definite advantage showed up for the earliest maturing variety (Chinook), that allowed cones yield of 41 g per plant (d.m.) and biomass yield of 143 g per plant (d.m.). The sensory analyses assessed the excellent organoleptic characteristics of the obtained hop, as well as of the beer produced. Hop demonstrates to be a promising crop for semi-arid Mediterranean environments, although many aspects of cropping technique are still to be pointed out
Cropping System Stability Drives SOC Sequestration and Increases Saturation Deficit in Hot Arid Durum Wheat Cropping Systems
Full text linkStability analysis has been extensively employed in evaluating the genotype x environment interaction, but it can also be conveniently applied to cropping systems. This study applied stability analysis to a long-term experiment (1998–2016) conducted in an experimental farm in southern Italy. The experiment involved two standard semi-arid cropping systems (WW—durum wheat monocropping and WP—durum wheat–field pea rotation), with two nitrogen fertilization levels (60 kg ha−1—N60 and 120 kg ha−1—N120), along with an unfertilized control (N0). Soil organic carbon (SOC) was estimated in all treatments at the end of the experiment to investigate the potential for SOC sequestration and soil C saturation by analyzing the stability of all investigated cropping conditions in relation to SOC sequestration. The study also investigated the relationship between C input and SOC sequestration. SOC sequestration per year was higher in WW than in WP, confirming that including legumes in the rotation did not enhance the SOC content. Similarly, the positive impact of nitrogen application on biomass yield did not affect SOC accumulation. The stability analysis revealed that over the long term, WW exhibited greater stability than WP, suggesting that, in semi-arid environments, a more stable cropping system can enhance soil carbon sequestration, with nitrogen fertilization exerting a scarce influence. Segmented regression analysis identified two distinct patterns of SOC accumulation based on C input, separated by a definite threshold of C input (breakpoint) quantified at 14.7 Mg ha−1. It was found that the steady-state C level, achieved after the accumulation of this C input, was reached much faster in WW than in WP, in which it could only be inferred at 23 years. In conclusion, this study underscores the role of cropping system stability in driving SOC sequestration. Furthermore, it emphasizes the potential of stability analysis in assisting stakeholders in refining their strategies for different cropping conditions in dry and rainy environments
Sustainable Weed, Disease and Pest Management in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
No full textAs for all other crops, in MAPs as well, weeds, diseases and pests are important yield-reducing factors, which may severely curtain biomass production and, that is maybe more important, may affect several qualitative aspects of production. Research about this topic is generally lacking, for two main reasons: the first is that MAPs are generally grown on rather limited areas, and the incidence of specific pests and diseases rarely takes a relevance outside rather narrow boundaries. The second reason is that the economical importance of MAPs is much lower than that ascribed to the “major” crops, which the bigger efforts of research are addressed to. In the changing scenario of latter years, however, MAPs are taking an increasing relevance, and there is the necessity to draw proper guidelines for their cultivation technique, also including the advisable strategies for their sustainable protection
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
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
- …
