Detection and exploitation of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) genetic variation for seed γ-conglutin content

The seed γ-conglutin protein fraction of white lupin has particular pharmacological interest, but its industrial production is hindered by low content in the seed. This study provides an unprecedented assessment of genotypic and environmental variation for seed content and production of γ-conglutin, exploring also the ability of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict seed γ-conglutin content. Significant (P < 0.01) genetic variation for seed γ-conglutin content emerged among ten genotypes (cultivars or breeding lines) across three environments (range: 1.59-2.02 %) and five genotypes in other two environments (range: 1.47-1.80 %). Genotype variation was found also for seed protein content and γ-conglutin proportion on total protein, the latter trait having higher impact than the former on genotype variation for seed γ-conglutin content. The production of γ-conglutin per unit area was affected also by genotype yielding ability beside genotype seed γ-conglutin content. No genotype × environment interaction was detected for any γ-conglutin trait. NIRS-based prediction based on cross-validations was only moderately accurate for seed γ-conglutin content (R2 = 0.66), while being accurate for seed protein content (R2 = 0.95). In conclusion, breeding for higher seed γ-conglutin content is feasible using data from very few test sites and, to some extent, NIRS-based predictions

Performances of legume-grass mixtures under different cutting managements in mediterranean environments

Annual forage crops have great importance for sustaining animal production in southern Italy. Knowledge of the performance of legume-grass associations under management similar to systems encountered in farm practice is essential for their effective exploitation of the available environmental resources. The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the effects of five cutting managements on the productivity and botanical composition of ten annual fodder crop mixtures in two Mediterranean environments. Ten ternary combinations of one grass (Avena sativa L., oat and Lolium multiflorum Lam., Italian ryegrass), one clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L., berseem; Trifolium incarnatum L., crimson and Trifolium squarrosum L., squarrosum) or burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) were compared in a field trial (split-plot design, 3 replicates) in two locations (Cagliari and Foggia, Italy) during the 2000-2001 growing season. The cutting treatments included a winter grazing simulation (G), a cutting only regime at early (EF) or late flowering (F) of legumes and a combination of treatments (GEF and GF). Plant density (no. m-2) prior to cutting, dry matter yield (g m-2) and botanical composition (%) were evaluated. Considerable differences were observed in the harvestable dry matter yields of mixtures among cutting treatments in both localities, with treatment F showing the higher values (787.1 and 415.7 g m-2 for Cagliari and Foggia, respectively). The forage species were able to compete and establish good growth during their initial phase in both localities. However, the botanical composition between the two sites differed considerably after the winter period. Particularly, at Foggia, grass dominance was a permanent feature of all treatments, and all the mixtures contained about 84% of grass. Italian ryegrass was the most representative species under all treatments in both sites. Mixtures with Italian ryegrass, crimson or berseem clovers and vetch showed higher adaptability to cutting treatments particularly at Cagliari. Our results showed that the forage species associations studied can be grown successfully under simulated grazing treatment during the winter season and under the double land-use system (integrated grazing and cutting) adopted at Cagliari. These treatments provide a reasonably economical means of assessing mixtures under diverse farming conditions. However, as a fraction of the plant population in swards of this experiment diminished over time, particularly at one site, the optimum of species present in these forage species associations have yet to be determined

Grain yield and porphology of dwarf vs tall white lupin in Mediterranean environments

There is lack of information on the preferable plant architecture of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) for Mediterranean environments. The objective of this study was to compare tall vs dwarf near-isogenic lines from two gene pools for grain yield and plant morphology. The four lines were assessed in a Mediterranean-climate site of Sardiniafor two seasons under two sowing densities (25.4 and 35.5 seeds/m2). On average, one gene pool (#15) exhibited a semi-determinate growth habit on the basis of its high seed proportion on the main stem relative to the other, indeterminate gene pool #16 (54.9 % vs 45.5; P 0.05). Although preliminary, our results for Mediterranean environments highlight the genotype-specific usefulness of dwarfism and suggest that this trait might be beneficial in germplasm with indeterminate growth habit

Yield and nitrogen fixation potential from white lupine grown in rainfed Mediterranean environments

ABSTRACT There is renewed interest in white lupine (Lupinus albus L.), which is appreciated for its high protein content, full range of essential amino acids and as N source to rainfed cropping systems. Unfortunately, information on its N2 fixation ability is limited. This study aimed to: (i) quantify the N2 fixation ability of white lupine crop at the plot field scale in three different environments of Sardinia (Italy) under Mediterranean climate; (ii) determine the allocation of the plant-fixed N into different organs; and (iii) establish the relationship between fixed N and DM within plant organs. In a 2-year experiment, N2 fixation was estimated using the 15N isotopic dilution method. The productive performances and ability of white lupine to fix N2 widely differed in the three environments; peak values exceeded 300 kg ha−1 of fixed N. There were significant differences in the quantity of fixed N found in each plant organ at physiological maturity with 5, 20, 19 and 57 % of fixed N partitioned to roots, shoots, pod valves and grain, respectively. After grain harvesting, the net N balance ranged from negative values to 160 kg N ha−1. The relationship between fixed N and DM yield indicated 60, 34, 8 and 6 kg of fixed N per t of grain, pod valves, shoots and root, respectively, showing that fixed N preferentially accumulated in seeds at physiological maturity. Due to its high potential for N2 fixation and N benefit, white lupine represents a valuable crop option under rainfed Mediterranean conditions

Adempimento agli impegni del “Pacchetto igiene” in quattro allevamenti italiani

Il DM 22/12/2009 che disciplina il regime di condizionalità ai sensi del regolamento (CE) n. 73/2009 e delle riduzioni ed esclusioni per inadempienze dei beneficiari dei pagamenti diretti e dei programmi di sviluppo rurale, fa riferimento, nel campo di condizionalità ”Sanità pubblica, salute degli animali e delle piante”, ai seguenti atti: Atto B9 -Direttiva 91/414/CEE concernente l’immissione in commercio dei prodotti fitosanitari; Atto B10 - Direttiva 96/22/CE concernente il divieto d'utilizzazione di talune sostanze ad azione ormonica, tireostatica e delle sostanze Beta-agoniste nelle produzioni animali e abrogazione delle direttive 81/602/ CEE, 88/146/CEE e 88/299/CEE; Atto B11 -Regolamento (CE) 178/2002 del Parlamento europeo e del consiglio che stabilisce i principi e i requisiti generali della legislazione alimentare, istituisce l’autorità europea per la sicurezza alimentare e fissa le procedure nel campo della sicurezza alimentare. Articoli 14, 15, 17 (paragrafo 1)*, 18, 19 e 20.

Evaluation of environmental and economic effectiveness of the Cross Compliance 4.3 Standard ‘Maintenance of olive groves and vineyards in good vegetative conditions’

This paper reports the first observations made in three farms of the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) relating to the environmental monitoring of the Standard 4.3 'Maintenance of olive groves and vineyards in good vegetative conditions' and analysis of differential of competitiveness for both crops

Environmental effectiveness of the cross compliance Standard 4.6 ‘Minimum livestock stocking rates and/or appropriate regimens’

The paper presents the main results of the monitoring on the effectiveness of the cross compliance Standard 4.6 ‘Minimum livestock stocking rates and/or appropriate regimes’ carried out in two case studies within the project MO.NA.CO: sheep grazing in medium-rich pastures in southern Apennines and in the plain of Sardinia, Italy. The monitoring involved aspects related to soil, flora, livestock and economics (competitiveness differential). The study showed, although in the short term, that the minimum stocking rate 0.2 LU/ha/year was not effective and, conversely, the effectiveness of the maximum level of stocking rate (4 LU/ha) for the maintenance of the habitat. The generalization in applying minimum and maximum rate, not taking into account the climatic conditions, forage resources or farming system (including the species of grazing animal) may lead to a serious nullification of the conditions of the Standard. The authors recommend to identify homogeneous areas and eligible specific stocking rates from all Italian regions, also considering the animal species

Environmental effectiveness of GAEC cross-compliance Standard 4.1 (b, c) ‘Protection of permanent pasture land’ and economic evaluation of the competitiveness gap for farmers

The paper presents the main results of the monitoring on the effectiveness of the cross-compliance Standard 4.1 ‘Permanent pasture protection: lett. b, c’ carried out in two case studies within the project MO.NA.CO. Soil, botanical, productive and economic (competitiveness gap) parameters have been monitored. In the short term, the Standard 4.1 showed its effectiveness on soil quality, biomass productivity and competitiveness gap in both case studies. Botanical parameters showed differing results, therefore their generalization is not applicable to the heterogeneity of the pasture land Italian system. Shallow soil tillage could be suggested, every 40-50 years, when an appropriate soil organic matter content and the absence of runoff phenomena occur

Environmental effectiveness of GAEC cross-compliance Standard 3.1 ‘Ploughing in good soil moisture conditions’ and economic evaluation of the competitiveness gap for farmers

Within the MO.NA.CO. Project the environmental effectiveness of GAEC cross-compliance Standard 3.1 ‘Ploughing in good soil moisture conditions’ was evaluated, as well as the economic evaluation of the competitiveness gap for farmers which conform or do not conform to cross-compliance. The monitoring has been carried out at nine experimental farms with different pedoclimatic characteristics, where some indicators of soil structure degradation have been evaluated, such as bulk density, packing density and surface roughness of the seedbed, and the crop productive and qualitative parameters. In each monitoring farm two experimental plots have been set up: factual with soil tillage at proper water content (tilth), counterfactual with soil tillage at inadequate water content (no tilth). The monitoring did not exhibit univocal results for the different parameters, thus the effectiveness of the Standard 3.1 is ‘contrasting’ (class of merit B), and there was an evident practical problem to till the soil at optimum water content, even in controlled experimental condition. Bulk density was significantly lower in the factual treatment although in soils with very different textures (sandy-loam and clayey). Packing density (PD) showed a high susceptibility to compaction in soils with low PD and medium texture. The tortuosity index, indicating the roughness of the seedbed, was lower and generally significantly different in the factual treatment. Results showed that the ploughing done in excessive soil moisture conditions is more expensive due to the increased force of traction of the tractor, which causes an increase in slip of the tractor wheels, with a speed reduction and increase in the working times and fuel consumption. Moreover, the crop yield is also reduced considerably according to the cultivated species