Search results for "Agricultural Science"
showing 10 items of 901 documents
Berry Size and Qualitative Characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Syrah
2016
The effect of variation in berry size on berry composition was studied in irrigated Syrah/R99 grapevines, located in a temperate area of South Africa. Berries from 45 clusters, sampled from both sides of the canopy (east and west), were weighed to create four categories: 1. less or equal to 1.5 g; 2. between 1.51 g and 2.00 g; 3. between 2.01 g and 2.50 g; 4. more than 2.50 g. Berry physical characteristics were determined and total anthocyanins and seed flavonoids were analysed by spectrophotometry and anthocyanin profiles by HPLC. The ratio of skin weight:berry weight did not change with increasing berry size, but the ratio of seed weight:berry weight increased. For total anthocyanins, va…
Cherry Tomato Drying: Sun versus Convective Oven
2021
Solar drying and convective oven drying of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) were compared. The changes in the chemical parameters of tomatoes and principal drying parameters were recorded during the drying process. Drying curves were fitted to several mathematical models, and the effects of air temperature during drying were evaluated by multiple regression analyses, comparing to previously reported models. Models for drying conditions indicated a final water content of 30% (semidry products) and 15% (dry products) was achieved, comparing sun-drying and convective oven drying at three different temperatures. After 26–28 h of sun drying, the tomato tissue had reached a moisture content…
Tropical Fruits as an Opportunity for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas: The Case of Mango in Small-Sized Sicilian Farms
2018
Over the last decades, in many rural areas in Southern Europe, farmers have abandoned agricultural activity, especially on small-sized farms, leading to an exodus from rural areas towards urbanized ones. In this context, in the early 1980s, some Sicilian farmers introduced mango on their small-sized farms, as certain areas of Sicily are well suited to tropical and subtropical crops, but also to meet increasing consumer interest for these fruits, as they are perceived as functional foods. This paper aimed to evaluate the economic sustainability of mango and to determine whether its introduction could be considered as an alternative to traditional crops. In particular, an economic-financial a…
Dual-purpose wheat technology: a tool for ensuring food security and livestock sustainability in cereal-based cropping pattern
2020
Wheat cultivation under a dual-purpose (DP) system holds great potential to provide additional fodder for livestock with marginal grain reduction. This study explores the potential of wheat as a DP...
Combining molecular microbial ecology with ecophysiology and plant genetics for a better understanding of plant-microbial communities' interactions i…
2013
18 pages; International audience
Using foresight exercise to design adaptation policy to climate change: The case of the French wine industry
2018
Foresight studies are regularly conducted at sectoral or geographical scales, in order to help policy makers and economic actors to define their strategy of adaptation to climate change (CC). Some studies are rather “quick exercises”, in which a panel of experts is consulted to define the expected impacts of CC and to identify adaptation leviers for future policy. In other cases, a true foresight methodology is developed, leading to the building of scenarios based on : i) a systemic and participatory approach, ii) the definition of key variables, iii) the choice of assumptions and the coherent relations between these assumptions, the narrative description of scenarios. This participatory di…
Consumer acceptance and primary drivers of liking for small fruits
2018
Small fruit grow naturally in northern Italy, but also in the Sicilian region (southern Italy) there are some areas with the essential climatic conditions for the development of this crop. Nevertheless, according to official statistics, the quantities of fresh small fruits placed on the Italian market are lower than in other European countries. The objective of this study was to assess consumer acceptance for sensory attributes and other intrinsic and extrinsic quality parameters of fresh small fruit, in order to know the primary drivers of liking and have a first understanding of reasons for the poor domestic consumption. Six focus groups with sensory test were carried out to assess consum…
Instrumental and sensory evaluation of seven apple (Malus domestica borkh.) cultivars under organic cultivation in Sicily
2017
Article In this trial we examined the quality of 7 clones belonging to more diffused apple polyclonal varietal groups, using chemical/physical and sensory analyses during two consecutive years. Galaxy, and their ameliorative clones Gala Annaglò® and Dalitoga (Gala clones) that ripen in summer, Erovan* Early Red One® and Scarlet Spur*-Evasni® (Red Delicious clone), Corail Pinova and its ameliorative clone RoHo 3615 * Evelina® that ripen in autumn were studied. Gala Annaglò® is interesting for the fruit size and peel color, Dalitoga for the early ripening and Galaxy for the crunchiness and consistency. All the Gala clones reached very high total solid soluble content confirmed by the panel ju…
Use of sewage sludge compost and Trichoderma asperellum isolates to supress Fusarium wilt of tomato
2002
It has been reported that plant growth media amended with composted bark suppress Fusarium wilts whereas media amended with composted municipal sludge aggravate this disease. However, in this study, a compost prepared from vegetable and animal market wastes, sewage sludge and yard wastes showed a high ability to suppress Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 1. The ability of this compost to suppress Fusarium wilt of tomato was compared with that of a peat mix (peat:vermiculite, 1:1 v/v) and a naturally suppressive soil from Chateaurenard, France. The compost and the soil from Chateaurenard were highly suppressive, whereas the peat mix was highly condu…
Cause and duration of mustard incorporation effects on soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi
2009
International audience; Two fungal plant pathogens, Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2 and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini, were studied in relation to general responses of soil fungi and bacteria following incorporation of Brassica juncea. Our aim was to understand to what extent the changes in the biological and physicochemical characteristics of the soil could explain the effects on the studied pathogens and diseases, and to determine the temporal nature of the responses. Short-term effects of mustard incorporation (up to 4 months) were investigated in a microcosm experiment, and compared with a treatment where composted plant material was incorporated. In a field experiment, the responses were fol…