Leaf water relation traits in typical Sicilian varieties of Vitis vinifera L.

In Italy, grapevines are extensively cultivated, with Sicily representing one of the most significant wine regions. The high number of autochthonous grapevine varieties represents an important source of genetic diversity, and the many Sicilian varieties have anatomical and physiological traits that allow them to resist to different levels of drought stress. We investigated the water relation parameters of four cultivars of Vitis vinifera L. (Catarratto, Corinto, Nero d'Avola and Zibibbo) and characterized their leaf hydraulics. Measurements were conducted during summer on plants growing in the experimental field of the IBBR-CNR near Palermo. Daily patterns of leaf water potential (Yleaf) an…

Effect of 2,4-D and 4-CPPU on somatic embryogenesis from stigma and style transverse thin cell layers of Citrus

Callus induction, somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained in lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm. cv `Femminello'] and sweet orange [C. sinensis (L.) Osb. cv `Washington Navel GS'] from cultures of stigma and style transverse thin cell layer explants [(t)TCLs]. Explants were cultured on 16 different media, based on the nutrients and vitamins of Murashige and Tucker medium (MT) supplemented with different combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-Nprime-phenylurea (4-CPPU). Sucrose (146 mM) was used as the sole carbon source. Somatic embryos arose from callus at the surface of stigma and style (t)TCLs 3–5 months after culture initiation of…

The Viticulture of Lampedusa, a heritage which is disappearing before being known.

The study is focused on the viticulture of the island of Lampedusa, located in the strait of Sicily 113 km from the African coast and 205 km from the Sicilian coasts. It is a study that has no previous recorded documentations. The research was conducted on the island to a various number of vineyard farmers in order to describe cultivation techniques and the grape germplasm utilized. Viticulture is present on several tens of hectares but in recent years is vanishing quickly and currently survives thanks to a small number of old farmers who still practice agriculture. Moreover, the strong competition for land use strongly linked to tourism, makes the survival of farming in general even more p…

Conservazione della biodiversità e tutela dei valori eco sistemici nelle piccole isole circumsiciliane.

Potassium deficiency and drought stress in grapevine cultivars

Potassium availability affects drought responses in plants through several metabolic roles, among which stomatal regulation, cell growth and xylem hydraulics. Vitis vinifera L. is a highly valuable crop and several genotypes have been selected during its millennial cultivation. Varieties show differences in their adaptability to stress conditions, making them more or less suitable to certain climatic and edaphic conditions. The varieties cultivated in Sicily are characterized by high variability. We investigated the response of two Sicilian cultivars (Nero d'Avola and Catarratto) to potassium deficiency and drought stress. Two-year-old grafted plants were grown in agriperlite, with or witho…