0000000000823649
AUTHOR
L. Sabatino
Morphological and agronomical characterisation of Sicilian bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley
Local plant populations represent a valuable source of genetic variability. Lagenaria siceraria [Mol.] Standl. is a monoecious species of Cucurbitaceae grown in India and parts of the Mediterranean for its immature fruit and young leaves used as vegetables. The species is a high-value crop in Sicily where several landraces are grown in open field and in plastic greenhouse. The aim of this study was to characterise five Sicilian L. siceraria landraces (G1-G5), from a morphological and agronomical point of view. Genetic resource characterisation was carried out as a foundation for future conservation and breeding works. Fourteen qualitative and quantitative characters were assessed by using t…
Grafting suitability of Sicilian eggplant ecotypes onto Solanum torvum: Fruit composition, production and phenology
The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in tropical and temperate regions around the world and is suitable for propagation through grafting. In many parts of the world, grafting is a routine technique used in continuous cropping systems, because in the horticulture field is a sustainable technique that allows cultivators to overcome abiotic or biotic stress. The objective of this research was to evaluate the suitability at the grafting of four Sicilian eggplant ecotypes grown in open field in Sicily, Italy. Vegetables in general are a great source of minerals in the human diet and the eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) provides significant quantities of v…
Effects of plant type and calcium cyanamide dosage on yield, nutritional and nutraceutical traits of strawberry in Sicily
In the Mediterranean area, strawberry is usually set up by using bare-rooted plants, fresh plug plants or cold-stored plants, achieving different fruit ripening earliness and crop performance. Strawberry plants can be combined with various cultivation practices to improve strawberry fruit production and quality. Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) is well-acknowledged as a fertilizer used in the horticulture sector. Its use can enhance the soil fertility, prevent soil acidification, and improve crop production and fruit quality. This work evaluated the effects of different pre-transplant CaCN2 dosages on bare-rooted plants, fresh plug plants or cold-stored plants. Coldstored plants with 400 kg ha(-1)…