Search results for "orticoltura"

Polyethylene and Biodegradable Starch-Based Mulching Films Positively Affect Winter Melon Production in Sicily

2014

Plastic mulching is widely used in many regions of the world for growing melons. The winter melon is largely grown in the hilly countryside of the Mediterranean island of Sicily (Italy) where mulching plastic films enhance early and total yields. However, removing and disposal of polyethylene plastic mulches after use represent a major disadvantage and an environmental concern. The objective of this trial was to compare the effects of polyethylene (PE) (transparent and black) and biodegradable (black) mulching films on yield, fruit size and quality of melon grown in the open field. The trial was conducted in the north-western coast of Sicily in the province of Trapani, 250-m elevation. Melo…

Propagation techniques for three Mediterranean native shrubs with potentential as ornamental outdoor plants

2006

Grande are three Mediterranean shrubs with interesting ornamental features. The exploitation of wild plants for ornamental purposes implies knowledge on the factors influencing the propagation methods. To study the influence of temperature on germination, seeds of Teucrium flavum, Prasium majus and Micromeria fruticulosa were germinated in incubators at constant temperatures of 14, 20, 24 and 28°C. Highest germination, 45 % and 86%, occurred at 20°C in Teucrium flavum and Prasium majus, respectively. Micromeria fruticulosa seeds subjected at 24 or 28°C had a germination percentage significantly higher than at 20 or 14°C. To study the influence of auxin treatments on vegetative propagation, …

Adaptation of the tropical hybrid Euphorbia×lomi Rauh to the exposure to the Mediterranean temperature extremes

2014

Abstract Poysean ( Euphorbia × lomi Rauh) has been introduced in the Mediterranean countries as an ornamental plant for indoor uses. When used outdoor, few information is available about its ability to withstand the Mediterranean temperature extremes. An experiment in an open stand was performed to evaluate poysean tolerance to the winter and summer temperatures of the thermo Mediterranean climate and its ornamental value for urban greening. Two genotypes of poysean (Nguen Muang, NM; and Soi Budsanin, SB) with similar bracts and flower colours were grown at either 2 or 3 plants per pot during 23 months. Number of flower racemes and leaves per plant and plant height were recorded monthly. Ov…

EFFECT OF CULTIVAR AND CROWN SIZE ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY FRESH BARE ROOT PLANTS IN SICILY

2012

In the southern regions of Mediterranean areas the plantations with fresh plants (winter planting system) have almost completely replaced those with cold stored plants (summer planting system). Particularly, fresh bare root plants produced in high elevation nurseries located in Spain and Poland and, in experimental phase, in the southern of Italy (in the mountains of Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata) are the most used. Such type of plant usually has a crown diameter from 6 to 14 mm, but the smallest plants should be (<8 mm) discarded in phase of selection and packing. Objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the different crown diameter on the earliness, productivity and qual…

Effect of Cutting Size and Basal Heat on Rooting of Micromeria fruticulosa Stem Cuttings

2017

Micromeria fruticulosa (Bertol.) Grande is a small pulviniform shrub, belonging to the Labiates, and characterized by twisted stems and pink-purple flowers. Endemic to Campania and Sicily (Italy), M. fruticulosa grows from sea level to 600 m altitude. This specie might be considered an excellent native plant for landscape purposes in Mediterranean areas because of its long flowering period, extending from November to June, and its tolerance to heat and drought. The exploitation of wild plants for ornamental purposes implies knowledge on the factors influencing the propagation methods. Root development of stem cuttings of M. fruticulosa was investigated in relation to basal heat and cutting …

Effects of Increasing Doses of Nitrogen Fertilization on Winter Melon Production in the Western Coast of Sicily

2010

The winter melon is largely grown in the open field in the Mediterranean island of Sicily on about 6000 hectares. Nitrogen fertilization is a key aspect of a winter melon cultural system as it can dramatically improve fruit production and play a crucial role on fruit quality attributes such as fruit size, colour and uniformity. An experiment was performed to determine the influence of increasing doses of nitrogen fertilization on fruit yield and quality of winter melon. The trial was conducted in the north-western coast of Sicily near Buseto Palizzolo in the province of Trapani, 250-m elevation. Plug type transplants cv. Helios were planted in the first week of May. A transparent polyethyle…

Effetti delle eopche d'impianto sulla produttività del melone invernale "Ecotipo Purceddu"

2008

Auxin application and cutting length affect rooting in Cuphea hyssopifolia stem cuttings

2017

The effect of cutting length and indole-3-buyric acid (IBA) application on adventitious root formation stem cuttings was studied in Cuphea hyssopifolia. Softwood terminal cuttings of a clone grown in Sicily were trimmed to three lengths (2, 4 or 6 cm) and inserted to a 1-cm depth in bottom heated plastic trays containing a humidified peat-vermiculite mixture 1:2 (v/v). To verify the cutting response to different auxin concentrations, cuttings were dipped to a 1.0 cm depth in a 500ppm or 1000 ppm IBA solutions for 10 seconds. Cutting percent survival was 100%. Regardless of cutting length, the highest rooting percentage was obtained with IBA at 1000 ppm (avg. 86.7%), whereas rooting signific…

Produzione di semi sintetici di Capparis spinosa (L.). Innovazione e tradizione

2011

The caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) is a rupiculous species. It is widespread on rocky areas and it grows on different soil associations. Caper can be propagated from fresh seeds, gathered from ripe fruit, or by stem cuttings both methods with unsatisfying results, due to the low germination percentage and to the season-dependent answer of the cutting technique. The aim of the present research has been to evaluate the attitude, for caper in vitro propagules , to be encapsulated. Micro cuttings from in vitro plantlets, were dissected and put on two different Murashige and Skoog liquid media enriched with 4% sodium alginate and 1,4% di CaCl2 separately, for the encapsulation. The synthetic s…

Effect of cold storage on the quality of minimally processed cauliflower

2015

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…