Indagini preliminari sulla nematofauna della rizosfera dei pini in alcuni vivai forestali della Sardegna

Preliminary research on the specific composition of nematoda has been carried out in Sardinia in some forest nurseries, where young plants were cither affected by charcoal root rot (caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.), or showed stunted growth and chlorosis. Xiphinema mediterraneum Martelli e Lamberti, X. diversicaudatum (Micol). Thorne and Longidorus caespiticola Hooper have been isolated, among other species, from samples of soil; these three species, already recorded in Sardinia, seem to have never been cited, before now, as host of pine species. X. mediterraneum is the most widespread. Observations carried out on the roots have not allowed us, for the present, to associate the acknowledged parasitic ability or such nematoda species to certain pathological effects, neither to attribute to them a particular interaction with M. phaseolina

Indagini sui fenomeni di moria dei pini in Sardegna con particolare riferimento a <i>Pinus radiata</i> D. Don.

Mortality in Pinus sp. in Sardinia - in particular, P. radiata D. Don - was investigated between 1976 and 1978. Preliminary studies had revealed an association between Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. (the causal agent of charcoal root rot disease) with affected plants. The disease occurred on plants of different ages in 24 of the main P. radiata plantantions and nurseries. In every case, the presence of M. pllaseolina was confirmed. The disease varied in spread and severity from rather low to very high values. It was also recorded on P. pinea L., P. halepensis Mill., P. patula Schl. et Cham., P. pinaster Sol. and P. nigra Arn. ssp. Laricio (Poir.) Palabin Coste. The occurrence of infection, the symptomatological progress of thc disease and microscopic characteristics of affected tissues wcrc invcstigntcd both in the field and in the laboratory. Data concerning the incidence of disease - which first became serious in 1975, showed a low value in 1976 and 1977 and increased again in 1978 - were obtained by field obscrvation and trials in experimental plots. Several strains of Macrophomina phaseolina were isolated from affectcd plants. They were very similar morphologically and in their tempe· rature responses. Regarding microsc1erotia size, thcsc strains can bc included in Haigh's «C-type ». Environmental factors favouring the development of the disease were investigated. Analysis revealed that the occurrence of disease in the field can be attributed both to affected plants having come from nurseries and to direct infection due to presence of Cistus monspeliensis in the planting arca. Seeds of other Pinus species were disease-free. Some planting systems appear to favour the development of the disease in certain climatic conditions. In particular, a combination of high temperature and prolonged periods of water stress increase infection with M. phaseolina

Recovery and sanitary selection of local vines of the Sardinia

A study was made on the recovery genotypes local grapevine with the aim to conserve them and to evaluate their health status and thus to improve the quality of the propagation material. Clone accessions of 61 vines were grafted and placed in a germoplasma field. The varieties that were considered enologically valuable were subjected to sanitary selection. Some vines showed indubitable healthy qualities, and should be immediately evaluated from an economical point view and then certificated. Possible sanitation treatments were also evaluated, with the aim of extending the number clone accessions to be included in experimental trials to access their yield

New findings on phytoplasmas-affected Auchenorrhyncha populations in Sardinian vineyards

Epidemiological research was carried out in two vineyards affected by "Bois noir" (BN). Auchenorrhyncha potential vectors of BN, were monitored periodically between May to November 2004 in a vineyard and between May to June 2005 in the other. Auchenorrhyncha samples were tested to assess phytoplasmas presence using PCR and RFLP. Euscelis lineolatus was positive to 16SrI-C ("Clover phyllody" reference strain) in 2004 while, in 2005, at the preimaginal age, at the 16SrXII-A ("Stolbur" reference strain) phytoplasmas. Exitianus taeniaticeps acquired 16SrI-B ("Maryland aster yellow" reference strain), 16SrV-A ("Elm yellow" reference strain) and 16SrX-C ("Pear decline" reference strain) phytoplasmas in 2004. Resulted news host of phytoplasmas: Psammotettix alienus was positive to 16SrI-B, 16SrV-A, 16SrX-A phytoplasmas ("Apple proliferation" reference strain) in 2004 and to 16SrXII-A in 2005. E. lineolatus and P. alienus for 16SrXII-A E. taeniaticeps for 16SrV-A 16SrX-C and P. alienus for 16SrV-A and 16SrX-A Researches on the effective epidemiological role of E. lineolatus and P. alienus in BN are in progress. \ua92006 IEEE

FOCUS trial: results, potentialities and limits

In January 2019 Lancet has published the paper “Effects of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke (FOCUS): a pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial” (1). The main purpose of this prospective trial was to asses if fluoxetine [a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug] could improve recovery after stroke