I Prodotti agroalimentari e floricoli tipici tra conservazione e innovazione

Recent EU and National policies for agriculture and rural development are mainly focused to foster the production of high quality products as a result of the increasing demand of food safety, typical foods and traditional processing methods. Another word very often used to describe foods in these days is “typicality” which pools together the concepts of “food connected with a specific place”, “historical memory and tradition” and “culture”. The importance for the EU and the National administrations of the above mentioned kind of food is demonstrated, among other things, by the high number of the PDO, PGI and TSG certificated products in Italy. In this period of global markets and economical crisis farmers are realizing how “typical products” can be an opportunity to maintain their market share and to improve the economy of local areas. At the same time, new tools and strategy are needed to reach these goals. A lack of knowledge has being recognized also on how new technologies and results coming from recent research can help in exploiting traditional product and in maintaining the biodiversity. Taking into account the great variety and richness of typical products, landscapes and biodiversity, this report will describe and analyze the relationships among typicality, innovation and research in horticulture. At the beginning “typicality” and “innovation” will be defined also through some statistical features, which ranks Italy at the first place in terms of number of typical labelled products, then will be highlighted how typical products of high quality and connected with the tradition and culture of specific production areas are in a strict relationship with the value of agro-biodiversity. Several different examples will be used to explain different successful methods and/or strategies used to exploit and foster typical Italian vegetables, fruits and flowers. Finally, as a conclusion, since it is thought that innovation should be compatible with typical products without interfere and modify the link between product and area of production the role of research will be defined and quantified

Studi sui danni da raffreddamento dell'arancio «Valencia late» in relazione allo stadio di maturazione dei frutti e alle temperature di conservazione

The Authors refert on «Valencia late» orange susceptibility to chilling injury in relation to picking period and storage temperature. Four fortnightly pickings have been carried out and two temperatures, 3° and 6°C, have been adopted. The results show a close relation between chilling injury and period of picking, particularly if the fruit are stored at 3°C. The fruits of the first and, in minor extent, those of the forth picking have been more resistant to the disorders than the second and third ones. At 6°C the percentage of affected fruits have been low with exception of the second picking. Therefore it appears that the optimal temperature, for «Valencia late» orange long-term storage, is 6°C which may vary depending upon fruit maturation stage

Test morfoqualitativi e chimici applicabili ai frutti di agrumi frigoconservati

A preliminary bibliographical research provided the methods to be followed for a morpho-qualitative control of refrigerated citrus fruit. The different methods were then checked in order to determine the procedures through which the qualitative aspects and their changes in refrigerated citrus fruit are best shown. The methods which can be suggested to those in charge for this type of control are then described

La Nutrizione minerale del mirto

An open field research and a pot-grown plant trial have been planned in order to evaluate the influence of mineral nutrition, i.e. nitrogen fertilization, on the agronomic and qualitative response of myrtle variety selections. In a randomized field located in the DESA experimental station in Oristano, Sardinia (Italy) during February 2004 three different levels (0g, 50g and 100g) of NH4NO3 at 26% were applied on 15 plants of three myrtle cultivars named BOS1, BOS 2 and CPT 5. At harvest time plant size (height and diameter) and yield were recorded and on 100 leaves the macro and micro elements (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn) content was measured. On 100 ripe fruits, berry and seed weights were determined and the amount of SST, total acids, pH, polyphenols and anthocyans were also recorded. Nitrogen fertilization induced increase in fruit number and yield and reduced fruit size in different extent among the selections. On fruit quality (total acids, SST) the influence of the genetic factor was higher than fertilization. In the pot-grown plant trial the response of three-year old self rooted myrtle plants of the CPT 5 variety selection to an eight nitrogen fertilization levels applications (0g, 4g, 8g, 12g, 16g, 20g, 24g, 28g,) was evaluate measuring the percentage of plant survival, the leaf number and the macro and microelements content. The nitrogen fertilization (until 12g) positively influenced plant growth while higher levels of nitrogen caused toxic effect

Frigoconservazione degli agrumi: prime esperienze in Sardegna sulla conservazione delle cultivar di arancio «Washington navel», «Tarocco» e «Valencia late»

A two-year research on cold storage of «Washington navel» «Tarocco », «Valencia late». oranges conducted in Sardinia showed considerable differences among cultivars tested. Changes in the main morpho-qualitative fruit characteristics during a two-month storage at 6° C and 85% relative humidity were studied. Among the cultivars compared, «Valencia late» orange was found the most resistant to storage conditions. Fungicide treatment with Imazalil, in wax at 1500 ppm, proved to be the bes t for controlling rot development, while TBZ (3000 ppm) was not very eftective; but the combination of OPP and TBZ in wax provided adeguate control. Weight losses during storage was also evaluated and related to wax treatment

Applicazione di marcatori molecolari per la caratterizzazione di genotipi di <i>Myrtus communis</i> l.

The application of molecular markers technology to evaluate the genetic diversity within the species Myrtus communis L. has been aimed to analyse 38 selected genotypes, collected from different natural populations growing in Sardinia and prospected as improved varieties for myrtle cultivation. The results obtained showed the high efficiency in evidencing polymorphisms of ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat) molecular marker, thus proving to be useful in the evaluation of genetic relationship among the selections. The application of cpSSR (Chloroplast Simple Sequence Repeat) marker gave less reliable results, since data obtained were not suitable for the genotypes fingerprinting

The genetic diversity of Sardinian myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) populations

Background: The myrtle ( Myrtus communis ) is a common shrub widespread in the Mediterranean Basin. Its fruit and leaves exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties, and are used for their content of essential oils and for their medicinal properties, but most commonly as an ingredient in locally made liquor. The uncontrolled exploitation of natural stands has reduced both the species\' geographical coverage and the size of individual populations. The selection of genotypes for controlled cultivation requires a characterization of the genetic diversity present both within and between populations. Results: Genotypic variation was evaluated using ISSR profiling and genetic diversity characterized using standard population genetics approaches. Two major clusters were identified: one capturing all the candidate cultivars selected from various Sardinian localities, and the other wild individuals collected from Asinara, Corsica and Surigheddu. A moderate level of gene flow between the Sardinian and Corsican populations was identified. Discriminant analysis of principal components revealed a level of separation among the wild populations, confirming the population structure identified by the clustering methods. Conclusions: The wild accessions were well differentiated from the candidate cultivars. The level of genetic variability was high. The genetic data were compatible with the notion that myrtle has a mixed pollination system, including both out-pollination by insects and self-pollination. The candidate cultivars are suggested to represent an appropriate basis for directed breeding

Analysis of diversity in the fruit tree genetic resources from a Mediterranean island

A large number of genotypes of different fruit tree species have been described in Sardinia, where the plant species have evolved by adaptation to the Mediterranean environment. In this work results are summarized of a long-term survey carried out in the island by the authors since the early 1980s. Ten fruit tree species have been surveyed and collections of the traditional varieties were established. Some are major staple crops such as olive and grape, others such as almond, cherry, plum, fig, apple and pear are nowadays less cultivated, and still others have been more recently introduced like apricot and cactus pear. Data on the level of inter and intra-species diversity are given, as illustrated by representative morphological traits. The results of isozymes and RAPD-PCR analysis on the species Ficus carica genotypes are included, to assess genetic relationship among accessions. Observations on composition, as well as on state of conservation of selected traditional varieties are reported, and the main causes of genetic erosion are listed

Discriminant analysis of morphological descriptors to differentiate the opuntia genotypes

In the present paper statistical procedures are considered to monitor the discriminating ability of descriptor variables, designed to characterize Opuntia spp. accessions, with the aim of identifying the most discriminating traits and provide a list of morphological characters of highest priority within the descriptors. Data from a set of 71 accessions of Opuntia spp. collected in 3 years of experimentation at the germplasm collection set up in Italy by the University of Sassari were analyzed. Accessions were characterized using 38 morphological descriptors evaluated in plant, cladodes and fruit, included in the FAO 'Descriptors for Cactus pear (Opuntia spp.)'. A discriminating analysis using a stepwise method was carried out to analyze the classificatory quantitative descriptors. For the qualitative descriptors, statistical comparisons were done by means of the chi-square (?2) test. According to the analysis performed, only few descriptors have shown an effective discriminating capacity. Three quantitative fruit descriptors (recepticular scar diameter, seed number and pulp weight) and seven qualitative descriptors (cladodes shape, spines, fruits number, fruits size, recepticular scar position, peel and pulp colour) have been identified as differential parameters in Opuntia ficus-indica and O. amyclaea. However, a considerable number of descriptors among the 38 examined are relevant for the purpose of describing accessions and identifying traits connected to specific uses. Morphological characterization is needed to provide users valuable information on individual accessions, relationship among traits, and the structure of collections

Characterization of seedlings obtained from open pollinated 'Gialla' cactus pear (<i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i>)

A population of approximately 700 cactus pear seedlings of different ages obtained from ripe seeds of open pollinated 'Gialla' (selection GSH), was studied in Sardinia, Italy. A dataset of morphological characters of seedlings and mother plant according to the Cactus Pear Descriptor List was completed. Most seedlings showed high vigor as compared to mother plants. Both populations showed elliptic cladodes. Thirteen individuals bearing fruits with less than 200 seeds/fruit were found among seedlings. Large differences between populations were found in regard to ripening season. Selection allowed identification of seedlings with interesting horticultural traits; early ripening, large fruits, and high percentage of aborted seeds. The selected seedlings will be further evaluated as basic genetic material to develop new varieties specific for the Mediterranean area