Discovery of molecular markers for early detection of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus attacks in Phoenix canariensis.

Bud and heart rot of fox tail Agave (Agave attenuata) caused by Phytophthora asparagi

Attacks of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus on natural specimens of dwarf fan palm Chamaerops humilis in Sicily.

The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus was recently introduced into Europe where it has destroyed many Phoenix canariensis palms. This weevil attacks different species of palms in different countries, mainly cultivated date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) in Egypt and cultivated Canary palms (Phoenix canariensis) in Europe. In Europe, sporadic attacks of the weevil to native dwarf fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) have been reported. The current paper reports attacks of R. ferrugineus on dwarf fan palms in natural environments of Sicily. This insect represents an important threat to dwarf palms and to the complex ecosystem where they live.

Phylogenetic analysis of the Sicilian Hieracium taxa (Asteraceae) using "DNA barcoding": preliminary data

Genetic and morphologic diversity of European fan palm (Chamaerops humilisL.) populations from different environments from Sicily

Chamaerops humilis is decreasing in abundance in Mediterranean Europe, which has induced the European community to call for its protection in Special Areas of Conservation. However, information about its genetic and morphological variability, which is crucial to the development of any conservation strategies, is insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the genetic and morphological variability of C. humilis in Sicily, which was selected as a model because of the high number of dense populations. The relationships between morphological traits and climatic variables were studied to highlight patterns of adaptation to the environment, along with the genetic similarity among the pop…

Effectiveness of "DNA BARCODING" approach for the molecular identification of the endangered Sicilian flora