1,721,159 research outputs found
Table-Grape Cultivation in Soil-Less Systems: A Review
Full text linkTable grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is considered to be one of the most popular fruit crops in the
world. Italy is the leading table-grape producer in the EU and is the main European exporting country.
However, to stay competitive, new solutions and perspectives, including varietal renovation, are now
needed in addition to the already well-established Italian table-grape production lines consisting
of conventional open-field cultivation and greenhouse cultivation. One of these new perspectives
is represented by the development of table-grape soil-less cultivation systems (TGSC) under greenhouse.
In fact, TGSC systems are alleged to offer many advantages in terms of the advancement of
berry maturity, extreme varietal flexibility, easier manipulation of the vegetative–reproductive cycle,
higher yields of high quality extra-seasonal production, higher sustainability for reduced pesticides
application, and higher use efficiency of water and fertilizers than conventional (soil-grown) cultivation.
They can be also useful for overcoming soil- and rootstock-related problems. In this review,
the opportunities offered by the recently developed table-grape soil-less cultivation systems are
thoroughly examined and updated to the latest experimental and application findings of the sector’s
research activity. A special emphasis is given to the evolution of the applied technical solutions,
varietal choice, and environmental conditions for the aims of table-grape soil-less cultivation
Cholinergic, catecholaminergic and VIP-ergic innervation of the ureter in the duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
No full textPhenotypic traits of berries and seeds of Sicilian grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.)
No full textGrapevine is characterized by high variability in seed and berry morphology and their phenotypic traits are usually used to describe V. vinifera varieties. The goal of this study was to investigate the phenotypic diversity of berry and seed traits and the relationships between berry and seed morphological characteristics of autochthonous accessions of Sicilian germplasm. In two seasons, twenty bunches per cultivar were harvested at technological maturity. Berry weight; berry longitudinal and transversal diameters; seed number/weight per berry; and seed length, thickness, width and beak length were determined, after which the diameter ratio was calculated. Black and white cultivars showed large differences in berry weight; number and weight of seeds per berry; and berry and seed shape (Stummer’s index). Stummer’s index varied due to seed width variation, which was influenced by seed number. Nevertheless, Stummer’s index was used as a tool to discover the relationship between berry and seed shape in white cultivars. Seed and berry morphological characters are useful for describing and separating the Sicilian cultivars, which showed high variability – especially the white varieties. It is possible that less variability observed in seeds of black varieties could be due to artificial selection carried out in the past by humans, to improve the qualitative traits of berries, which could have an indirect influence on seed morphology. A better understanding of the phenotypic diversity of berry and seed traits and the relationship between berry and seed morphological characteristics of the autochthonous cultivar of Sicilian were achieved
Precision Management of Fruit Trees
Full text linkThe aim of the Special Issue “Precision Management of Fruit Trees” was to collect new insights to support the adoption of advanced, efficient, and sustainable management techniques in the fruit production sector. Indeed, this is an opportunity offered by the technological innovations adopted using new-generation sensors and implemented through precise management operations. This Special Issue contains 11 scientific articles contributing to our knowledge on the precision management of fruit trees, indicating the high activity of this sector and possibly leading to the application of new techniques/protocols to overcome global and rapidly changing environmental issues.
Scalisi et al. [1], in their study, aimed to (i) determine the reliability of a portable Bluetooth colour meter for fruit colour measurements; (ii) characterise the changes in quantitative skin colour attributes in a nectarine cultivar in response to time from harvest; and (iii) determine the influence of row orientation and training system on nectarine skin colour. Overall, the device proved reliable for fruit colour detection. The results of this study highlight the potential of one of the measured parameters as a quantitative index to monitor ripening prior to harvest in nectarines.
Remote sensing techniques based on images acquired from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could represent an effective tool to speed up the data acquisition process in phenotyping trials and, consequently, to reduce the time and cost of the field work. Caruso et al. [2] confirmed the ability of a UAV equipped with RGB-NIR cameras to highlight differences in geometrical and spectral canopy characteristics between eight olive cultivars planted at different planting distances in a hedgerow olive orchard.
Tree densities have increased greatly in olive orchards over the last few decades. Ladux et al. [3], in their study, found that the leaf area index (LAI) of neighbouring trees modifies the light quality environment prior to a tree being directly shaded, as well as the morphological responses of olive cultivars to changes in light quality. The results suggested that cultivar differences in response to light quality may be relevant for understanding adaptation to dense orchards and identifying cultivars best suited to them.
Saha et al. [4] found that monitoring plant vegetative growth can provide the basis for precise crop management. In this study, a 2D light detection and ranging (LiDAR) laser scanner, mounted on a linear conveyor, was used to acquire multi-temporal, three-dimensional (3D) data from strawberry plants. The results contributed to building up an approach for estimating plant geometrical features, particularly strawberry canopy volume profile based on LiDAR point cloud for tracking plant growth.
Carella et al. [5] studied the physiological and productive behaviour of different olive cultivars grown under a high-density hedgerow system and compared their fruiting and branch architecture features to determine the possibility to use ‘Calatina’ olive trees for intensive plantings, as a local alternative to the international reference ‘Arbequina’. The study indicated that ‘Calatina’ is more efficient in terms of yield and harvesting than ‘Arbequina’. This qualifies ‘Calatina’ as a superior, yield-efficient olive cultivar suitable for intensive hedgerow plantings to be harvested with straddle or side-by-side trunk shaker machines.
Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė et al. [6] used ‘Rubin’ apple trees grafted on dwarfing P60 rootstocks to determine the impact of canopy training treatments as a stress factor on metabolic response to obtain key information on how to improve physiological behaviour and the management of growth and development of apple trees. The results indicated that all applied canopy training treatments significantly increased the total phenol and total starch contents in apple tree leaves.
Scalisi et al. [7] in their work aimed to derive a new fruit skin colour attribute—namely, a Colour Development Index (CDI), ranging from 0 to 1, that intuitively increases as fruit becomes redder—to assess colour development in peach and nectarine fruit skin. The study found that the CDI can serve as a standardised and objective skin colour index for peaches and nectarines.
Čirjak et al. [8] summarize the automatic methods (image analysis systems, smart traps, sensors, decision support systems, etc.) used to monitor the major pest in apple production (Cydia pomonella L.) and other important apple pests and fruit flies to improve sustainable pest management under frequently changing climatic conditions.
Pisciotta et al. [9] released a review underlying the opportunities offered by the recently developed table-grape soil-less cultivation systems; this is an up-to-date examination of the latest experimental and applied findings of the sector’s research activities. A special emphasis is given to the evolution of the applied technical solutions, varietal choice, and environmental conditions for the aims of table-grape soil-less cultivation.
Borgogno-Mondino et al. [10] evaluated a promising alternative offered by Copernicus Sentinel 2 data (S2) to midday stem water potential for monitoring the water status of pomegranate plants and for addressing irrigation management. Despite limited ground observations, the results showed the promising capability of spectral indices (NDVI, NDRE, and NDWI) and S2 bands in estimating Ψstem readings.
Boini et al. [11], in their study, used shading nets to lower irrigation requirements and make apple growing more sustainable. The encouraging results showed a comparable yield and fruit quality saving 50% of irrigation water under a classic anti-hail system compared to the control treatment
Un’Europa a più velocità: differenziali di performance nella Strategia Europa 2020
Full text linkIl presente lavoro analizza l’andamento dei singoli Stati Membri rispetto ai principali indicatori di Europa 2020, con lo scopo di evidenziare l’eventuale esistenza di difformità nella loro performance. L’analisi, pur condotta per singoli paesi, propone una loro aggregazione per aree geografiche, tale da tener conto dei diversi modelli sociali individuati da Sapir (2006). Lo scopo è quello di verificare se i modelli sociali presentano differenziali di performance nel perseguire la Strategia, anche alla luce della perdurante crisi economica internazionale. L’approccio che tiene conto dell’aggregazione per modelli sociali è motivato dal fatto che Europa 2020, come la precedente strategia, è un elemento molto importante di stimolo alla riforma dei modelli sociali, in grado di assicurarne la sostenibilità nel tempo; inoltre, essa sollecita gli Stati Membri ad attivare politiche di inclusione sociale insieme a quelle di miglioramento dell’occupazione, della produttività e della sostenibilità. Verificare come i diversi modelli sociali europei si dimostrano capaci di realizzare tali obiettivi è quindi un elemento importante per valutare indirettamente, seppur grossolanamente, l’efficacia di tali modelli
Precision Management of Fruit Trees
No full textHorticulturae is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published monthly online by MDP
Cholinergic, catecholaminergic and VIP-ergic innervation of the ureter in the duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
No full text
Poverty and Social Exclusion in the European Union: South-Eastern Territorial Patterns
Full text linkDespite the ambitious goals of promoting inclusive growth in the Europe 2020 strategy, the number of people at risk of poverty in European Union is still growing. The paper moves from the hypothesis that poverty may show distinctive social patterns, which couple with a given spatial dimension and therefore can be defined as a spatially heterogeneous phenomenon at both national and sub-national level. Using the available data from Eurostat on income and living conditions (EUSILC) at NUTS2 level, the paper highlights the different territorial patterns in shaping the risk of exclusion across the EU regions. Focusing on the regions of the Southern and Eastern peripheral EU Member States (MSs), the paper outlines the differences emerging from the results achieved by the EU MSs in applying the Europe 2020 Strategy. Moreover, it deepens the analysis of the poverty drivers at the regional level. The paper shows that the peripheral countries of EU are more vulnerable to poverty but different patterns emerge when comparing Mediterranean and Eastern countries, especially with regard to the material deprivation and the drivers influencing poverty and risk of exclusion
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