Anti-transpirant effects on vine physiology, berry and wine composition of cv. Aglianico (Vitis vinifera L.) Grown in South Italy

In viticulture, global warming requires reconsideration of current production models. At the base of this need there are some emerging phenomena: modification of phenological phases; acceleration of the maturation process of grapes, with significant increases in the concentration of sugar musts; decoupling between technological grape maturity and phenolic maturity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a natural anti-transpirant on grapevine physiology, berry, and wine composition of Aglianico cultivar. For two years, Aglianico vines were treated at veraison with the anti-transpirant Vapor Gard and compared with a control sprayed with only water. A bunch thinning was also applied to both treatments. The effectiveness of Vapor Gard were assessed through measurements of net photosynthesis and transpiration and analyzing the vegetative, productive and qualitative parameters. The results demonstrate that the application of antitranspirant reduced assimilation and transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, berry sugar accumulation, and wine alcohol content. No significant differences between treatments were observed for other berry and wine compositional parameters. This method may be a useful tool to reduce berry sugar content and to produce wines with a lower alcohol content

Electromagnetic field measurements in ULF-ELF-VLF [0.001 Hz─100 KHz] bands

We are reporting the technological and scientific objectives of the MEM project. The MEM project has been activated in the INGV Observatory of L'Aquila to create in Central Italy a network of observatories in order to monitoring the electromagnetic signals in the frequency band [0.001 Hz–100 kHz]. Some examples of the instrumentation developed in the frame of the project are reported. An innovative technique, based on the wide band interferometry is proposed to obtain detailed information concerning the several detected electromagnetic sources. Moreover, data from each station will be elaborated to investigate different sectors as the structure of ground electric conductibility, the electromagnetic phenomena connected with seismic activity, the separation of the electromagnetic fields originated in the Earth's interior and the electromagnetic phenomena originated in the magnetosphere, in the ionosphere and in the Earth-ionosphere cavity

The development of the INGV tectonomagnetic network in the frame of the MEM Project

In the middle of 1989, the INGV (Italian <i>Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia</i>) installed in Central Italy a network of magnetic stations in order to investigate possible relationship of the local magnetic field with earthquakes occurrences. Actually the network consists of four stations, where the total magnetic field intensity data are being collected using proton precession magnetometers. Here we are report on the actual state and the future developments of the network. In the frame of the MEM (Magnetic and Electric fields Monitoring) Project, new stations will be added to the network by the end of 2007. The results of the test campaigns carried out in the sites chosen to widen the network are also discussed. Moreover, the 2006 complete data set of the network is also reported. Concerning the data analysis, a new approach is also discussed that takes into account the inductive effects on the local geomagnetic field by means of the inter-station transfer functions time variations analysis

Checklist della flora vascolare psammofila della Toscana

Checklist of the psammophilous vascular flora of Tuscany. An updated list of the psammophilous vascular flora occurring in coastal areas of Tuscany is presented. The list is based on bibliographic analysis and field studies effected ad hoc in the year 2012-2013. 704 specific and infraspecific taxa are reported (641 native). They belong to 383 genera and 90 families. Most represented families are Poaceae (13%), Asteraceae (12%), Fabaceae (10%), Caryophyllaceae (5%), Apiaceae (4%). 63 units are naturalized exotic species (about 9% of the flora). Aloe arborescens is a casual exotic newly recorded for Tuscany. The Italian endemics are 6, of which three are exclusive of sandy Tuscan coasts (Centaurea aplolepa Moretti subsp. subciliata (DC.) Arcang., Limonium etruscum Arrigoni & Rizzotto, Solidago litoralis Savi). Only 11 taxa were recorded in all or almost all the study areas: Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link subsp. arundinacea H.Lindb, Cakile maritima Scop. subsp. maritima, Calystegia soldanella (L.) Roem. & Schult., Echinophora spinosa L., Eryngium maritimum L., Kali tragus (L.) Scop. s.l., Lagurus ovatus L. subsp. ovatus, Medicago marina L., Pancratium maritimum L., Sporobolus virginicus Kunth

Caratterizzazione del rumore magnetico di fondo nel nuovo osservatorio di Varese Ligure

The accuracy of geomagnetic field measurement at a given point on the Earth's surface is limited by the ambient magnetic noise level which is usually determined by the superposition of signals generated from different sources. The noise that dominates in all physical systems, particularly in spectral regions at lowest frequencies is the flicker noise [Vladimirov and Kleimenova 1962]. The analysis of the background noise that exists on the site is essential to design a new magnetic Observatory. Noise measurements allow then to evaluate the magnetic pollution status of the area and constitute a basic cognitive tool for the building of a new magnetic Observatory. Only by comparing signals of natural origin and the noise is possible to characterize the site. The purpose of this note is the separation of local and regional magnetic noise from signals of external origin. In the near field zone gradients are very high, the contribution of these sources depends much on the source-observer distance

Variation in the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) moderates the influence of early maternal care on fearful attachment

There is evidence that both early experience and genetic variation play a role in influencing sensitivity to social rejection. In this study, we aimed at ascertaining if the A118G polymorphism of the k-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) moderates the impact of early maternal care on fearful attachment, a personality trait strongly related to rejection sensitivity. In 112 psychiatric patients, early maternal care and fearful attachment were measured using the Parental Bonding Inventory and the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), respectively. The pattern emerging from the RQ data was a crossover interaction between genotype and maternal caregiving. Participants expressing the minor 118 G allele had similar and relatively high scores on fearful attachment regardless of the quality of maternal care. By contrast, early experience made a major difference for participants carrying the A/A genotype. Those who recalled higher levels of maternal care reported the lowest levels of fearful attachment whereas those who recalled lower levels of maternal care scored highest on fearful attachment. Our data fit well with the differential susceptibility model which stipulates that plasticity genes would make some individuals more responsive than others to the negative consequences of adversity and to the benefits of environmental support and enrichment

Somatic embryogenesis of Vitis vinifera L. (cv. Sugraone) from stigma and style culture

Somatic embryo and plant regeneration were induced from stigma and style culture of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sugraone). To obtain somatic embryogenesis, explants were cultured on Nitsch and Nitsch basal medium (NN) supplemented with 88 mM sucrose and various combinations of the auxin β-naphthoxyacetic acid (NOA, 0-10 μM) and the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BA, 0-9 μM). Growth regulators (BA and NOA) in the culture medium were essential for induction of somatic embryogenesis since explants incubated on hormone-free medium never regenerated somatic embryos. Usually, the regenerated somatic embryos become visible as small white globular structures on the surface of the callus 3-4 months after culture initiation. The best embryogenic response (27 %) was obtained when stigma and style explants were cultured on NN medium supplemented with 5 μM NOA and 9 μM BA. Somatic embryos developed into plantlets when transferred to a hormone-free semisolid NN medium. 35 % of primary somatic embryos showed secondary embryogenesis

The study of the electromagnetic anomalies linked with the Earth's crustal activity in the frequency band [0.001 Hz?100 kHz]

International audienceThe technological and the scientific objectives of the MEM (Magnetic and Electric fields Monitoring) project concerning to the study of the electromagnetic signals linked with the Earth's crustal activity are reported. The MEM project has been activated in Central Italy to create a network of observatories so as to monitoring the electromagnetic signals, both natural and artificial, in the frequency band [0.001 Hz?100 kHz]. Some examples of the developed instrumentation and the know-how transfer to the industry are reported. We also report some results obtained in the first MEM station installed in the area of the INGV (Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) Observatory of L'Aquila. Using the single station magnetotelluric approach we have obtained some valuables information about the underground resistivity structure in the area of the measurement station. Concerning to the study of the magnetic signals linked with the tectonic activity we have reported an example of the long term behaviour of the magnetic induction vectors characteristics in the lower frequency band [0.001?0.5] Hz, showing their normal behaviour when no large crustal changes due to geodynamical processes are present