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…

Alternatives to Methyl Bromide in strawberry cultivation

Evaluation of the quality and antioxidant capacity of woodland strawberry biotypes in Sicily

In Sicily, the woodland strawberry grows wild in forest glades in the Madonie and Nebrodi mountains and on Mount Etna. In this region, the main cultivated clone is Fragolina di Ribera, named after the towns where the crop originally developed. The cultivated woodland strawberry is different from its wild counterparts not only in vegetative vigour and size, but also in organoleptic quality. Fragolina di Ribera has always been described with sensory analysis as one of the best Sicilian berry. This study was carried out in Sicily and compared two June-bearing Fragaria vesca: Fragolina di Ribera and Fragolina di Maletto, and an everbearing variety Regina delle Valli, in order to determine the p…

Physicochemical characteristics and phenotypic diversity of sicilian winter pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) populations

Six pumpkin genotypes (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6) were evaluated for their morphological, agronomical and physico-chemical properties under ecological conditions of Sicily (Italy). Considering the agronomical, morphological and physicochemical data including fiber, humidity, pH, total acidity, soluble solids, carotenoids, phenolic and ascorbic acid content, it was possible to differentiate among genotypes. The morphological analysis showed that the pumpkin genotypes did not have a homogenous morphology and present a large physico-chemical characteristic variability. Furthermore, high contents of carotenoids and dietary fiber, soluble solids, phenolic and ascorbic acid were observed with the…

Cyclodextrins: Heterocyclic molecules able to perform chiral recognition (part i)

Morphological and agronomical characterization of eggplant genetic resources from the Sicily area

The eggplant is a vegetable crop widely grown throughout Sicily both in greenhouse and open field. This study was carried out by the Department of Agri-Environmental Systems at the University of Palermo in the Spring/Summer of 2011 in open fields. The aim of the study was to characterize 6 eggplant ecotypes (G1-G6) and three eggplant varieties (Birgah, Black bell and Viola di Firenze) from a morphological, phenological and production point of view, gathered from Sicily and the smaller islands. The genotypes G1 and G3 were found to be more productive than the varieties used in the test field. Ecotype G1 produced fruits which were dark violet and highly glossy, and produced the lowest percent…

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…

Effect of cold storage on the quality of minimally processed cauliflower

Cauliflower has been described as a vegetable with a high nutritional value due to its important content of vitamins, antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic compounds. Cauliflower inflorescences are harvested while they are totally immature, which implies severe changes in nutrient, water and hormonal status. Harvesting and the following processing can cause a severe stress determining the appearance of accelerated senescence symptoms. The effects of processing and cold storage of minimally processed green cauliflower were investigated. Florets were treated with antioxidants before storage in PE bags at 4°C for 21 days. During storage, weight loss, colour, firmness, soluble solids content and p…

Effects of substrate solarization on tomato soilless cultivation