Quality Traits of Some Cauliflower Cultivars Grown in the “Valle dell’Ofanto” Area (Italy) as Affected by Post-Harvest Storage

Some quality characteristics of the “Valle dell’Ofanto” cauliflower, that has been recently appointed the certification of collective brand, were investigated at Gaudiano (41°03’N; 15°42’E, Southern Italy, Basilicata Region). Six white head cauli-flower cultivars, characterized by a different length of the crop cycle (2 early, 2 medium and 2 late), were studied. The above cultivars were transplanted in open field at the middle of August 2004 and harvested from the middle of October 2004 to the end of March 2005. At harvest time, yield traits and head sizes of cauliflowers were measured. Among the qualitative traits, color, weight loss, total soluble solids, nitrate and vitamin C content were assessed on the fresh florets and after a storage period lasting 15 days at 0°C and 95% R.H. The “Valle dell’Ofanto” cauliflower was charac¬terized by a high content in sugars and vitamin C, even if significant differences in some qualitative parameters (e.g., vitamin C and nitrate content) were affected by cultivars and crop cycle length. On the other hand, the storage at controlled tempera¬ture and R.H. did not substantially change the qualitative characteristics of the heads, but caused only a slight increase of dry matter and soluble solids levels, especially in those cultivars more susceptible to weight loss

Discrete Convex Functions on Graphs and Their Algorithmic Applications

The present article is an exposition of a theory of discrete convex functions on certain graph structures, developed by the author in recent years. This theory is a spin-off of discrete convex analysis by Murota, and is motivated by combinatorial dualities in multiflow problems and the complexity classification of facility location problems on graphs. We outline the theory and algorithmic applications in combinatorial optimization problems

Produzione, qualit\ue0 ed efficienza d\u2019uso dell\u2019acqua nel pomodoro da industria in relazione alle variabili irrigue

Una corretta gestione della pratica irrigua assume .importanza strategica sia nell'ottica del risparmio idrico, data la limitata disponibilit\ue0 e rinnovabilit\ue0 dell'acqua, sia nella competizione per tale risorsa tra settore agricolo, industriale e civile. La coltura di pomodoro risulta sensibile alla carenza idrica particolarmente durante la fase fioritura-allegagione, quando la limitata disponibilit\ue0 di acqua nel terreno pu\uf2 comportare riduzioni di produzione, di qualit\ue0 e scalarit\ue0 nella maturazione. Per contro, abbondanti apporti irrigui pur favorendo la produzione, possono agevolare l'instaurarsi di fitopatie e peggiorare la qualit\ue0 delle bacche con l'allungamento del processo di maturazione, con la riduzione del loro residuo secco ed \ue7>ttico e-dell'acidit\ue0 del succo; inoltre, determinano inutili sprechi di acqua, dilavamento di elementi nutritivi con riduzione dell'efficienza della fertilizzazione. Leggeri stress idrici durante la fase di maturazione migliorano le caratteristiche qualitative del pomodoro aumentandone il residuo ottico dei frutti, il residuo secco e l'uniformit\ue0 della colorazione (fyiitchell et al., 1991) con un aumento della concentrazione delle sostanze antiossidanti. Considerata l'importanza strategica della tecnica irrigua nella coltivazione del pomodoro da industria, particolarmente nei comprensori orticoli dell'Italia meridionale dove la risorsa idrica \ue8 sempre pi\uf9 limitata e preziosa, si \ue8 voluto dare un contributo allo studio dei fabbisogni irrigui della coltura, fornendo informazioni sulla corretta programmazione irrigua attraverso il dimensionamento delle variabili irrigue, turno e volume d'adacquament

Quality Traits of some Cauliflower Cultivars Grown in the \u201cValle dell\u2019Ofanto\u201d Area (Italy) as Affected by Post-Harvest Storage

Some quality characteristics of the \u201cValle dell\u2019Ofanto\u201d cauliflower, that hasbeen recently appointed the certification of collective brand, were investigated atGaudiano (41\ub003\u2019N; 15\ub042\u2019E, Southern Italy, Basilicata Region). Six white head cauliflowercultivars, characterized by a different length of the crop cycle (2 early, 2medium and 2 late), were studied. The above cultivars were transplanted in open fieldat the middle of August 2004 and harvested from the middle of October 2004 to theend of March 2005. At harvest time, yield traits and head sizes of cauliflowers weremeasured. Among the qualitative traits, color, weight loss, total soluble solids, nitrateand vitamin C content were assessed on the fresh florets and after a storage periodlasting 15 days at 0\ub0C and 95% R.H. The \u201cValle dell\u2019Ofanto\u201d cauliflower was characterizedby a high content in sugars and vitamin C, even if significant differences insome qualitative parameters (e.g., vitamin C and nitrate content) were affected bycultivars and crop cycle length. On the other hand, the storage at controlled temperatureand R.H. did not substantially change the qualitative characteristics of the heads,but caused only a slight increase of dry matter and soluble solids levels, especially inthose cultivars more susceptible to weight loss