Caratteristiche qualitative e risposta bio-agronomica in lenticchia (Lens culinaris Medik): caratterizzazione e valutazione di germoplasma italiano e di genotipi di provenienza estera

Dottorato di ricerca in biotecnologie degli alimenti. 8. ciclo. A.a. 1992-95. Coordinatore B. Mincione. Tutore F. D'AlessandroConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Morphological and Genetic Analysis of Wild Hop (<i>Humulus lupulus</i> L.) Germplasm from Calabria Region in South Italy

Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) constitute a species that grows spontaneously in the region of Calabria (South Italy), but the species’ morphological and genetic characterization have not yet been explored. Thus, we explored some morphological traits related to cones of wild hops from three Calabrian sites: Cosenza (CS), Catanzaro (CZ), and Vibo Valentia (VV). In addition, eight Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) were adopted to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the local germplasm, which were also compared to commercial varieties. Cone length exhibited large variation among the different populations, whereas cone shape was the most discriminant trait according to principal coordinate analysis. Eighty-one alleles were detected with a high mean of alleles per locus (10.12). The SSRs used in the present study were highly informative with a genetic diversity of 0.829 and a PIC value > 0.62, thereby confirming the high genetic variability in Calabria. Finally, genetic structure analysis revealed the existence of two distinct groups regardless of the specimens’ sampling sites. Further studies including other wild hops populations from Calabria will be performed in order to detect specific alleles for new breeding programs

Seeding Density and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Agronomic Responses of Some Hybrid Barley Lines in a Mediterranean Environment

Over two cropping seasons, 2017/18 and 2018/19, an experimental trial was conducted in a typical cereal-growing environment of the Calabrian hills (southern Italy) to study seeding rate (D) and nitrogen fertilization (N) effects on two barley F1 hybrids (Zoo and Jallon) compared to those of a traditional variety (Lutece), assessing the bio-agronomic response. Barley hybrids, gradually introduced into the principal European countries starting in 2010 as winter forage, currently represent a significant part of the EU internal market. Productive performance was evaluated as grain yield for feed and total biomass for silage and/or biogas production. Research results pointed out the greater performance of barley hybrids compared to conventional varieties in terms of both grain and biomass production. On average, barley hybrids vigour mainly manifested itself through a high tillering and a greater number of ears m−2 compared to those of the conventional variety (+24 and +23%, respectively). Furthermore, barley hybrids were characterized by a greater 1000-kernel weight and hectolitre weight than those of the Lutece variety (conventional variety). A significant increase in grain production was observed, increasing density from D150 to D225 rates (+35% and +33%, respectively) which was followed by a decrease in production shifting from D225 to D300 doses. A significant increase in biomass production was as well highlighted for the two hybrids, shifting from D150 to D225 rates (+26% and +27%, respectively). The applied nitrogen dose highlighted a different behaviour between the hybrids and the conventional variety; in particular, the lowest nitrogen dose (N80) negatively influenced the Lutece variety both in terms of grain and biomass production (−9% and −16%, respectively) while the hybrids showed the best agronomic response even at the lowest dose. On average, with the N80 dose, grain yield of Zoo and Jallon was greater than 20% and 16%, while with the N120 dose grain yield was 9% and 7%, respectively. A similar behaviour was found for biomass yield. It should therefore be emphasized that barley hybrids possess high yielding capacities and that such higher grain production can be achieved in a Mediterranean environment by using a lower seed rate (approximately −25%) and a reduced nitrogen dose (approximately −33%) compared with those commonly applied to conventional varieties

Cereal-pea intercrops to improve sustainability in bioethanol production

International audienceThe environmental performance of second-generation biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, such as crop residues, is foreseen to be superior to that of first-generation biofuels such as maize bioethanol. Moreover, using a legume as an intercrop can reduce costly N fertilizers inputs and can increase the N content of the straw mixture. Therefore, we studied cereal-legume intercrops as a source of food grain and straw bioethanol. We grew field pea and four cultivars of durum wheat, triticale, oat, and barley. Crops were grown during 2 years as a sole crop, in additive intercrop with 100 % of the sole crop density for the cereal and 50 % of sole crop density for the legume, and in replacement intercrop with 50 % of the sole crop density for each crop. Tall cereal cultivars were preferred over shorter cereals for an extra production of straw. Results show that growth resources were used up to 23–26 % more efficiently in intercrop than in sole crop for grain and straw production. Tall cereal cultivars suppressed legume yields in intercrops, thus reducing potential intercrop advantages. Pea in intercrop increased straw mixture N by 54 % the first year and by 91 % the second year, versus cereal alone

A Comparative Assessment of Agronomic and Baking Qualities of Modern/Old Varieties and Landraces of Wheat Grown in Calabria (Italy)

The cultivation of wheat has been part of the evolution of human civilisation since ancient times. Wheat breeding has modified some of its characteristics to obtain improved varieties with high production potential that better meet the demands of the bread and pasta industry. Even today, there are still old varieties, landraces, adapted to particular environments. They are still cultivated in some areas because of the interest shown by the market in typical bakery products expressing the cultural heritage of local communities. The aim of this work was to evaluate the bio-agronomic and bakery characteristics of four modern genotypes, one old cultivar and two landraces of wheat typically grown in Calabria (Southern Italy). The experiment was carried out over two years in two different locations, during which the main bio-agronomic and quality traits related to bread making aptitude were detected. A marked difference was found between the landraces and the other genotypes in both agronomic and technological characteristics. Despite the higher protein and gluten content, landraces were found to have a significantly lower gluten index

Multi-Response Optimization of the Malting Process of an Italian Landrace of Rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.) Using Response Surface Methodology and Desirability Function Coupled with Genetic Algorithm

Rye is used in some applications in the food and beverage industry and for the preparation of functional foods. It is an interesting raw material in malting and brewing due to its characteristic contribution to the beer’s color, turbidity, foam and aroma. The aim of this work was to optimize the micro-malting process of a rye landrace. The response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to study the influence of three malting parameters (germination time, germination temperature and degree of steeping) on the quality traits of malted rye. Long germination times at high temperatures resulted in an increase in the extract and Kolbach index. The model for the apparent attenuation limit showed a particular pattern, whereby time and temperature inversely influenced the response. The lowest viscosities were determined in the worts produced from highly modified malts. Optimization of the variables under study was achieved by means of a desirability function and a genetic algorithm. The two methodologies provided similar results. The best combination of parameters to optimize the malting process on the rye landrace under study was achieved at 6 days, 12 °C and 44 g/100 g

Agronomic Evaluation and Genetic Characterization of Different Accessions in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Lentil is an important winter-sown legume for semi-arid and temperate areas, food consumption of seed is considerable in several countries of Mediterranean Basin. In Central and Southern Italy different lentil landraces are cultivated within specific marginal areas and commercialized with a recognizable geographical indication of origin. Considering the extensive germplasm and the economic importance of lentil in several rural areas, detailed knowledge of existing genetic variation from different regions is the first important step both for conservation and exploitation of genetic resources, allowing to develop breeding programs. In field experiments over three cropping seasons (2002-2005), 25 lentil accessions from Plant Genetic Institute of National Research Council (Bari), representing part of a large germplasm collection from different areas, were carried out at the University of Reggio Calabria in order to characterize the agronomic performances in a semi-arid environment and to study genetic variability. For this purpose, 10 AFLP primer combinations and 6 SSR markers were used. The agronomic results highlighted the influence of different climatic conditions on phenological, biometrical and yielding traits. A considerable production level of lentil (2,55 t ha-1) and a low yield variability in the three years was observed, showing the high adaptability of the germplasm tested to semi-arid environment. The earliness and the plant height appeared as the most important traits negatively correlated to grain yield; in particular the earliness was confirmed as suitable mechanism of escape from abiotic stress. Genetic characterization showed that a few number of microsatellites and primer combinations are able to provide significant insights on genetic diversity combining the 25 accessions in 3 large clusters that mainly mirror their geographic origin. Principal Component Analysis that consider genetic as well as morphological and agronomic data allowed the discrimination of groups with higher similarity and the Laird variety was far from all the other accessions. The macrosperma accession MG 106401 from Algeria results the closest to Laird because of their late-flowering. The fingerprinting of these elite genotypes and the evaluated suitability of agronomic traits could usefully represent strategic tools for new targeted lentil breeding programs in Mediterranean area

Forage Potential of Cereal/Legume Intercrops: Agronomic Performances, Yield, Quality Forage and LER in Two Harvesting Times in a Mediterranean Environment

The crop yield and quality of seven annual forages (four grasses and three legumes) in sole crop and in mixtures (ratio 50:50) for oat (Avena sativa L.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) were evaluated in a two-year field experiment adopting two harvesting times, green fodder and silage. The main bio-agronomic traits, dry matter forage yield (DMY) and quantity of crude protein (CP) were determined in both sole crop and intercrop. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was used for evaluating biological efficiency and competitive ability of the intercrops. Our results showed that the total calculated LER for fodder and protein yields was always greater than one and corresponded to crop yield advantages of 16.0% and 11.5%, respectively. Our data also highlighted the low competitive ability of the ryegrass in intercrop, which achieved the lowest yield among all the mixtures. Conversely, the same grass showed the best green fodder quality, due to the high incidence of the legume, equal (on average) to 46%. Triticale and barley, harvested for silage (hard dough stage), provided the best quantitative and qualitative results both in sole crop and intercropped with common vetch and pea, determined mainly by the cereal grain

Agronomic Performances and Seed Yield Components of Lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i> Medikus) Germplasm in a Semi-Arid Environment

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is widely known among grain legumes for its high nutritional quality, playing an important role in enhancing Mediterranean farming systems as a sustainable crop. Field experiments comparing 121 lentil accessions (microsperma and macrosperma types from different countries) were conducted in a semi-arid environment of south Italy over two growing seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018). Their agronomic performance was determined, focusing on phenological, morphological, productive, and qualitative variability. Changes in rainfall and temperatures affected the agronomic traits, especially yield components. In both years, the average grain yield (GY) (2.31 and 2.22 t ha−1, respectively) was above the threshold of 2 t ha−1. Consistent yield exceeding the field average in both growing seasons revealed the superiority of accessions from Egypt, Cyprus, Algeria, Nepal, and Tunisia. Moreover, microsperma yielded more (+0.31 and +0.41 t ha−1 in the first and second year, respectively) than macrosperma accessions. Flowering (DASF—days after sowing to flowering) and thousand seed weight (TSW) appeared to be the most important traits related to grain yield. Flowering earliness seems to act as a mechanism for overcoming abiotic stresses. The analysis of yield components revealed a different productive determinism within the two subspecies. As also highlighted by the Principal Component Analysis, microsperma accessions presented on average a significantly higher number of pods per plant (PP) and seeds per pod (SP), despite the considerable variability among countries of origin. The results showed phenological and morphological variability among genotypes, which should be taken into account in view of future selection programs focused on obtaining lentil ideotypes suitable for the Mediterranean environment