Forage mixture productivity and silage quality from a grass/legume intercrop in a semiarid Mediterranean environment

In semiarid environments of the Mediterranean region, intercropping is a sustainable agricultural system of long standing. In this area, the pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most commonly grown legume crops. Little information is available on the quality of silages to be obtained from forage mixtures of pea intercropped with cereals or annual grasses. In this study, two experiments were conducted over the course of two growing seasons in Sicily (Italy) with the aim to determine the biomass production of forage crop mixtures and assess, only in the second experiment, the silage quality of grass and legumes. Four cereals and one annual grass species were grown in pure stand and in mixture with pea, and their main agronomic traits were determined. The land equivalent ratio (LER), competitive ratio, and aggressivity index were also calculated. A number of parameters were considered to assess the quality of silage obtained from fermented biomasses derived from pea–ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. var. Westerwoldicum) intercropping. In the first experiment, the best performance between the intercrops was recorded for the pea–wheat mixture. The total LER calculated for fodder yields was always greater than 1, indicating crop yield advantages ranging from 2.0% to 47.0%. In the second experiment, the pea–ryegrass mixture appeared to respond well, depending on plant arrangement and seeding ratio factors: the ratios 50:50 and 100:50 showed the greatest crop yield advantages, of 12.0% and 11.0%, respectively. All silages revealed a very good suitability of a pea–ryegrass intercropping system with high-quality silage production in the Southern Mediterranean region

Cropping System Stability Drives SOC Sequestration and Increases Saturation Deficit in Hot Arid Durum Wheat Cropping Systems

Stability analysis has been extensively employed in evaluating the genotype x environment interaction, but it can also be conveniently applied to cropping systems. This study applied stability analysis to a long-term experiment (1998–2016) conducted in an experimental farm in southern Italy. The experiment involved two standard semi-arid cropping systems (WW—durum wheat monocropping and WP—durum wheat–field pea rotation), with two nitrogen fertilization levels (60 kg ha−1—N60 and 120 kg ha−1—N120), along with an unfertilized control (N0). Soil organic carbon (SOC) was estimated in all treatments at the end of the experiment to investigate the potential for SOC sequestration and soil C saturation by analyzing the stability of all investigated cropping conditions in relation to SOC sequestration. The study also investigated the relationship between C input and SOC sequestration. SOC sequestration per year was higher in WW than in WP, confirming that including legumes in the rotation did not enhance the SOC content. Similarly, the positive impact of nitrogen application on biomass yield did not affect SOC accumulation. The stability analysis revealed that over the long term, WW exhibited greater stability than WP, suggesting that, in semi-arid environments, a more stable cropping system can enhance soil carbon sequestration, with nitrogen fertilization exerting a scarce influence. Segmented regression analysis identified two distinct patterns of SOC accumulation based on C input, separated by a definite threshold of C input (breakpoint) quantified at 14.7 Mg ha−1. It was found that the steady-state C level, achieved after the accumulation of this C input, was reached much faster in WW than in WP, in which it could only be inferred at 23 years. In conclusion, this study underscores the role of cropping system stability in driving SOC sequestration. Furthermore, it emphasizes the potential of stability analysis in assisting stakeholders in refining their strategies for different cropping conditions in dry and rainy environments

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Resilience of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) to salinity, heat and drought stresses: A mini-review

Over recent years, the cultivation of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) has spread widely in the Mediterranean, also affecting the southern regions of Spain and Italy with a typical semi-arid climate. Several and recent studies have investigated the responses of this species to the main abiotic stresses, which is an aspect of absolute relevance to the knowledge of the adaptive capacity of hops to the growing conditions of a new cultivation environment. Moreover, given the fact that hops' phytochemical composition is determined primarily by genetic and environmental factors, and that the species is perennial, the lack of knowledge on the effects of abiotic stress could be reflected in subsequent years, which means multi-year economic risks. This review work therefore aims to showcase, based on an in-depth investigation of the available literature, the response of hop to the main abiotic stresses, and the effect of these on productive and qualitative crop performances. The data presented will be useful to the understanding of constraints and to the identification of useful coping strategies to the cultivation of hops in semi-arid Mediterranean environments

Adapting American Hop (<i>Humulus lupulus</i> L.) Varieties to Mediterranean Sustainable Agriculture: A Trellis Height Exploration

In recent years, Italy’s craft beer industry has seen remarkable growth, fostering the local production of key ingredients, notably hops. However, a research gap exists in exploring open-field hop productivity in typical Mediterranean climates using low-trellis systems. This study addressed this gap by evaluating the productive performances of “Cascade” and “Chinook” hop varieties on “V” trellis systems at different heights (2.60, 3.60, and 4.60 m above ground) in inner Sicily’s Mediterranean climate and soil conditions. The results highlighted the significant impact of trellis height on various parameters, with Cascade displaying exceptional adaptability to low-trellis farming. Key factors like stem and leaf weight emerged as crucial drivers of cone yield, emphasizing their significance in hop cultivation. The distinct responses of Cascade and Chinook varieties to varying trellis heights underscored the need for tailored approaches, offering valuable insights for optimizing hop cultivation practices in semi-arid climates

Trihydroxy-cinnamoyl derivatives targeted at the integrase inhibit the HIV-1 multiplication in cell-based assays

Rom

Asparagus officinalis (L.): yield and field performance of 10 genotypes cultivated in a semi-arid environment

Asparagus officinalis (L.) (Asparagaceae) is widely cultivated throughout the world, mostly as a traditional food item but, in recent times, also due to its acknowledged many benefits for human health. In Mediterranean environments, this crop proved able to achieve high spear yields, which in many cases may be marketed earlier than competing products, with a significant advantage for local growers. Although the cropping technique of A. officinalis has already been deepened, there is still scarce knowledge about the year-to-year productive stability of the main commercial cultivars in the pedoclimatic conditions of the southern regions of Italy, potentially suitable to the cultivation of this species. This research aimed to provide local farmers with useful information to facilitate the introduction of this species in their farming systems, also giving information about the major factors affecting yield outcomes in these environments. A 3-year cultivation trial was therefore carried out, comparing the productive performances of 10 genotypes of A. officinalis (‘UC157’, ‘Purple’, ‘Italo’, ‘Darbella’, ‘Giove’, ‘Placoseps’, ‘Grande’, ‘Jaleo’, ‘NJ953’ and ‘Atlas’). For experimental purposes, a randomized complete block design was adopted. The results showed that the farming suitability of A. officinalis in the Mediterranean environment is highly variable among cultivars

Different kinetics of inhibition of the HIV-1 integrase activities by different classes of derivatives.

Giardini Naxos-Taormin

Distribution and major morphological traits of wild asparagus (A. acutifolius L. and A. albus L.) in Sicily

Asparagus acutifolius L. and Asparagus albus L. are among the most widespread wild species throughout the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, they find especially favourable growth conditions in the central and southern regions of the peninsula and in the major islands, where they have been used since ancient times for food and medicinal purposes. In view of the high potential interest of wild asparagus for cropping and marketing purposes, numerous botanical surveys were carried out in different Sicilian sites, to determine the presence of these species in natural stands. Small samples of seeds and/or propagation material were taken for each ecotype, further inserted in a collection field for evaluation and ex situ conservation. The main morphological and physiological traits were collected, including number of stems per crown, canopy height, transverse and longitudinal canopy diameter, flowering and fruiting period, and 1000 seed weight. The obtained data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that morphological characteristics are a suitable tool to discriminate between wild asparagus populations for the evaluation of genetic diversity within a semi-arid Mediterranean area such as Sicily

3,4,5-Trioxycinnamoyl Moiety: a Potent Pharmacophore for anti-HIV-1 Integrase Activity either in Enzyme or in Cell-Based Assays.

Giardini Naxos-Taormin