1,721,024 research outputs found
Particle Film Technology: approach for a biorational control of Cacopsylla pyri (Rhynchota Psyllidae) in Northern Italy
No full textTwo trials were carried out to investigate the efficacy of a kaolin-based product (Surround WP) a white non-abrasive, finegrained alluminum-silicate mineral in controlling pear psylla Cacopsylla pyri (L.) oviposition. The trial was carried out in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna Region on cv. Abbè Fétel during late winter in 2001-2002 year; the reference product was mineral oil. The timing of product application was before or at the onset of egg laying during overwintering. The results show a very good efficacy of
kaolin in comparison to the mineral oil and untreated control. No eggs were found on the treated plants and no phytotoxic effects were observed. No nymphs were observed inside the flowers in the kaolin-treated plots
ISAFRUIT - Increasing fruit consumption through a trans-disciplinary approach delivering high quality produce from environmentally friendly, sustainable production methods T5.4.1.1
No full textAn Integrated European Project, focussing on increasing fruit consumption at the European level, lasting 54 months, starting on Jan. 1st, 2006.
This is a 21 million plus project, receiving 13.8 million euro from the EU.
The project comprises 8 Pillars:
Pillar 1: Consumer preferences (Coordinator: K. Zimmermann)
Pillar 2: Human Health studies (Coordinator: L. Dragsted)
Pillar 3: Fruit Processing (Coordinator: W. Plocharski)
Pillar 4: Post-harvest (Coordinator: A. van Schaick)
Pillar 5: Pre-harvest fruit quality (Coordinator: L. Bertschinger)
Pillar 6: Genetics of fruit quality (Coordinator: Y. Lespinasse)
Pillar 7: ISAFRUIT Knowledge management (Coordinator: L. Corelli Grappadelli
Pillar 8: ISAFRUIT Management (Coordinator: O. Callesen
Source and sink limitations in vascular flows in peach fruit
No full textThe daily patterns of vascular and transpiration flows to and from peach fruit were compared between heavily-thinned (LCL) and unthinned (HCL) trees, in order to assess when these flows were limited by resource availability (source-limited) or by the genetic potential of the fruit (sink-limited) during the day. Minute variations in fruit growth and in phloem, xylem, and transpiration flows were determined at cell division (stage I) and at cell expansion (stage III) during fruit development on several fruit per treatment, using highly sensitive fruit gauges. During cell expansion, the thinning treatments were also compared for their effects on fruit water potential. At stage I, no difference between treatments was found in any of the flows, suggesting that fresh matter (FM) import from phloem and xylem is sink-limited during early fruit development.At stage III, HCL fruit were smaller and had higher specific transpiration rates during the day. Xylem flow did not show any source limitations due to high crop load. However, it was “sink-strengthened ” in the afternoon, in HCL, as these fruit reached lower water potentials during the day. Phloem flow to HCL fruit was source-limited during the afternoon, and at night, due to fruit-to-fruit competition. However, HCL fruit appeared to take advantage of their lower water potential at midday, when they showed higher rates of phloem flow. Although daily growth in HCL fruit undergoes periods of source limitation, this study showed how, at certain times of day, fruit may be more active sinks in attracting resources in high cropping conditions than at low crop loads. Water, carbohydrates, and mineral elementsrepresent the main resources required for frui
Isafruit, progetto europeo per favorire e migliorare il consumo di frutta
No full textNei giorni 20-22 giugno scorso
si è tenuta presso la Facoltà di
Agraria dell’Università di Bologna
la 2a General Assembly del
Progetto integrato europeo Isafruit,
con il concreto sostegno della Facoltà
di Agraria, della Regione Emilia
Romagna e delle principali organizzazioni
di produttori frutticoli italiani.
Questo progetto è, tra quelli
dedicati esclusivamente alla frutta, il
maggiore sia per entità del budget
totale, sia per entità del finanziamento
Ue, nonché per il numero di
partner partecipanti
Gestione dell’energia radiante nelle piante da frutto: utilizzazione, foto-protezione e foto-danno. Quali implicazioni per la produttività?
No full textThe energetic basis of orchard productivity lies in the interaction between the tree and sunlight. The light intercepted by a plant is linearly related to the amount of dry matter it produces. This concept drew the evolution of the new, intensive orchard planting systems, although this dependence seems to be more subordinate to planting system rather than light intensity. At whole plant level not always the increase of irradiance determines productivity improvement. One of the reasons can be the plant intrinsic un-efficiency in using energy. Generally in full light only the 5–10% of the total incoming photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) is allocated to net photosynthesis. Therefore preserving or improving this efficiency becomes pivotal for scientist and fruit growers. Net photosynthesis increases with light until the saturation point and additional PPFD doesn’t improve carboxylation. In several parts of the world, under clear sky the PPFD reaches commonly 2000 μmol photons m-2 s-1 or above, and about 50% of the incoming light is enough for reaching the saturating point in most plant species. On the other hand, about half of the available light may be in excess. Even tough a conspicuous energy amount is reflected or transmitted, plants can not avoid to absorb photons in excess. The chlorophyll over-excitation promotes the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increasing the photoinhibition (photo-damage) risks. The dangerous consequences of photoinhibition forced plants to evolve a complex and multilevel machine able to dissipate the energy excess quenching heat (Non Photochemical Quenching), moving electrons (water-water cycle, cyclic transport around PSI, glutathione-ascorbate cycle and photorespiration) and scavenging the generated ROS. The price plants must pay for this equipment is the use of CO2 and reducing power with a consequent decrease of the photosynthetic efficiency, both because some photons are not used for carboxylation and an effective CO2 and reducing power loss occurs. The wide photo-protective apparatus, although is not able to cope with the excessive incoming energy, therefore photo-damage occurs. Each event increasing the photon pressure and/or decreasing the efficiency of the described photo-protective mechanisms (i.e. thermal stress, water and nutritional deficiency) can emphasize the photoinhibition. Likely in nature a small amount of not damaged photo-systems is found because of the effective, efficient and energy consuming recovery system. Since the damaged PSII is quickly repaired with energy expense, it would be interesting to investigate how much PSII recovery costs to plant productivity.
This review purposes to improve the knowledge about the several strategies accomplished for managing the incoming energy and the light excess implication on photo-damage in plants. Furthermore the chlorophyll fluorescence measure technique is described. This is the most useful method, particularly because it can be used in vivo as well and it is possible to quantify and discriminate the contribution of pathways in which the incoming photon pressure is engaged. Finally some cases of light excess linked with abiotic stresses and particular physiological condition on fruit species are reported
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