Search results for "Tree"

INVESTIGATION ON THE GENETIC BASIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS IN FRUIT TREE CROPS

2021

Plant stress can be divided into two major categories: abiotic stress and biotic stress. Abiotic stress happens when plants are exposed to the environment either physically or chemically. There is an emergency in developing crop varieties that are tolerant to abiotic stresses to ensure food security and safety in the coming years. Multiple abiotic stress like drought, heat, frost at flowering and nutrient deficiency can cause an erratic fruiting behavior or following extreme events, the death of the plants. Plants require an optimal level of nutrients and essential minerals for their growth and development that are mainly acquired from soil by their roots. Nutrient deficiency is an environm…

IMPOVERISHMENT OF SICILIAN (ITALY) HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS BY AN ALIEN INSECT SPECIES: THE CASE OF THE RED PALM WEEVIL.

2012

Alien invasive species (IAS) have a disastrous impact on the biodiversity, cultural heritage and economy of a geographic area. The case of the Red Palm Weevil (RPW), an IAS that attacks the non-native palm species Phoenix canariensis, but also native species Chaemerops humilis, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, is reported. These palm trees have played an important role in Sicilian history and cultural heritage since the period of the Arab invasion. The accidental introduction of the RPW has remarkably changed the Sicilian panorama. In this study the chronology and the severity of the effects of RPW on palms so far detected, is reported. In only 7 years the RPW has drastically chang…

Phytoseiid mites associated with forest trees in two "Natura 2000" locations: S.Adrian woods (Sicily) and Fraktò virgin forest (Greece).

2009

FIRST REPORT OF STEMPHYLIUM sp. ON OLIVE TREES IN SICILY.

2011

In the last five years, we have observed a new decline of Olea europaea in north-western and southern Sicily (insular Italy). The syndrome consists in more or less extensive leaf chlorosis, sometimes with irregular necrotic marginal or apical spots. Apical defoliation of twigs showing cortical necrosis and withering has often been observed. Isolations, carried out in 2007/08, yilded a complex of fungal genera associated with the syndrome. Among these, Stemphylium sp., a well-known foliar pathogen of other plants, was constantly isolated from all the alterations observed. In December 2010, single spore colonies of this fungus were used for artificial inoculations on healthy 3-year-old olive …

The essential oil compositions of three Sicilian accessions of Viscum album L. growing on three different host trees

2022

Viscum album L., (Common Mistletoe), is a hemiparasitic shrub that lives on a wide range of woody plant species, known since Neolithic period for its ritual and for pharmacological properties. Up to now, no investigation has been reported on the chemical composition of the essential oils of V. album aerial parts in relation with the diverse host trees. Consequently, the essential oils compositions of three Sicilian accession of V. album, growing on Quercus suber L., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Olea europaea L. var. europaea cv. 'Santagatese', respectively, were evaluated by GC-MS. The three populations showed quite different profiles indicating that the nature of the host considerably infl…

Araucaria columnaris (Araucariaceae) casual alien in Sicily

2021

The first case of spontaneous regeneration of Araucaria columnaris in Europe is reported. Data are given on the taxon and on the Sicilian site where A. columnaris - native to New Caledonia (Australia) - tends to spread autonomously.

Schede 27/36. In: Schicchi, R, Raimondo, FM. Schede per il censimento degli alberi monumentali di Sicilia 27-36.

2012

Sicilian monumental trees reports. 27-36. – The reports 27-36 concerning unpublished monumental trees surveyed in Sicily are here presented. They are: the Almond tree of Rifesi Santuary [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb var. dul- cis]; the Ash tree (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl subsp. angustifolia) in Alefina land and Tusa country; the Olive trees (Olea euro- paea L. subsp. europaea var. europaea) in the following lands: Murro, Fontecà and Serra Bruno; the largest Apple tree of Crescimanno (Malus crescimannoi Raimondo) and the Hawthorn tree (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) of Piano Menta; the Willow tree of Mangalaviti Homes (Salix alba L. subsp. vitellina ) and the Common Yew of Tassita Wood (Tax…

Impoverishment of Sicilian (Italy) historical and cultural assets by an alien insect species:the case study of the Real Palm Weevil

2012

Microorganisms and insects have a disastrous impact on the biodiversity, cultural heritage and economy of a geographic area. However, in recent decades, the negative effects of invasive alien species (IAS), including both animal and plant or microorganisms occurring outside their natural distribution range, are generally not well known. Invasive alien species are most often found in or near urban areas, as well as throughout the settled landscape. According to the World Conservation Union, IUCN 2012, IAS represent the second most significant threat to biodiversity after resource depletion of habitats, becoming predators, competitors, parasites, hybridizers and diseases for native plants and…

Schede per il censimento degli alberi monumentali di Sicilia. 37-43

2013

The reports 37-50 concerning unpublished monumental trees sur- veyed in Sicily are here presented. They are: the Cherry tree of Ciccio Faranda, the Almond tree of Corte del Sole [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb var. dulcis], the Olive trees (Olea europaea L. var. europaea) in the following lands: Innari, Maviti, Misilmeri and Favorita Park; the Common pear (Pyrus communis L.) of the Pistacchiera.

The cork oak in the Mountains of Palermo (Italy): ecological insights from the south-eastern edge of its distribution range

2020

Abstract: The uneven presence of the cork oak (Quercus suber L.) within its distribution range is not only determined by its climatic requirements but also by specific edaphic needs. Although most of the natural populations thrive in acidic soils deriving from metamorphic or volcanic rock outcrops, some cork oak populations are found growing in soils deriving from calcareous bedrock, which are considered less suitable. We carried out a multidisciplinary investigation at the south eastern edge of the Q. suber distribution range (Mountains of Palermo, NW Sicily), including soil, floristic, and vegetation surveys, aimed at: (i) assessing the native or introduced origin of some peculiar cork oa…