Rocky coastal vegetation of the class Crithmo-Staticetea in the south-east of Italy

In the south-east of Italy, rocky coasts are almost entirely concentrated in the Apulia region. Several phytosociological papers have already dealt with the rocky coastal vegetation of the class Crithmo-Staticetea in some parts of the Apulian coast. However, there is still no overall revision carried out by using modern statistical treatments of phytosociological data. This paper aims to revise the syntaxonomy and nomenclature of the class Crithmo-Staticetea in the south-east of Italy. The revision is based on a data set of 225 relevés consisting of new and original phytosociological relevés (66) and others already published. The data matrix was classified with the use of flexible beta clustering. Indicator species analysis was employed to identify the indicator species of the main clusters of relevés. Results were interpreted from a syntaxonomic point of view. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination was performed in order to visualize the floristic relationships among associations. Rocky coastal vegetation of the Crithmo-Staticetea class in the south-east of Italy is represented by two orders, Crithmo maritimi-Staticetalia and Helichrysetalia italici. The first one includes two alliances, Crithmo-Staticion and Limonion anfracti-cancellati, with four associations and one, respectively. However, since they rely on very few character species, the floristic and syntaxonomic relationships between these two alliances need to be deepened by further investigations, involving a larger data set and investigation area. The second order, Helichrysetalia italici, includes two associations, well differentiated by their ecology, structure and floristic composition. For this reason, they were classified within two different alliances, Anthyllidion barbae-jovis and Helichrysion litorei. The Helichrysion litorei is here validated

Quantification of Botrytis cinerea in Grapevine Bunch Trash by Real-Time PCR

Quantification of colonization of grape bunch trash by Botrytis cinerea is crucial for Botrytis bunch rot (BBR) control. A previously developed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method was adapted to quantify B. cinerea DNA in grape bunch trash, and a colonization coefficient (CC) was calculated as the ratio between the DNA concentrations of B. cinerea and of Vitis vinifera. CC values increased linearly with the number of conidia of B. cinerea or the quantity of mycelium of B. cinerea added to the bunch trash increased. CC values also increased linearly in bunch trash samples containing increasing percentages of B. cinerea-colonized bunch trash; in the latter samples, CC values were correlated with subsequent assessments of B. cinerea colonization of trash (as determined by plating on agar) and sporulation on the trash (as determined by spore counts after incubation in humid chambers). The qPCR assay was also validated using trash collected from bunches treated or not treated with fungicides in three vineyards in two seasons. CC values reflected the reduction in sporulation and in latent infections of mature berries caused by fungicide application. The qPCR assay enables rapid, specific, sensitive, and reliable quantification of the degree of colonization of bunch trash by B. cinerea, which makes it a useful tool for studies of the epidemiology and management of BBR

In vitro fermentation of ten cultivars of barley silage.

The fermentation characteristics of whole-crop barley silages from ten different cultivars were evaluated by the in vitro gas production technique. The organic matter degradability of barley silage (62.9% in average) was comparable to those reported in our previous trials for oat (59.7%) and sorghum silages (65.5%); while the maximum gas production rate (5.38 ml/h in average) was slightly lower respect to oat (6.71 ml/h) and sorghum silage (6.74 ml/h). The mean nutritive value (4.00 MJ/kg DM) calculated on the basis of both chemical composition and in vitro fermentation data was comparable to that (4.16 MJ/kg DM) obtained in our previous research performed on corn silage, from crop sowed in the same area

Estandarización de procesos en el grifo Gar Oil E.I.R.L. según el modelo de gestión por procesos, Cusco 2017.

La elaboración de la tesis tuvo como objetivo la propuesta de estandarización de los procesos de la empresa GAR OIL dedicada a la venta de combustibles para el sector automotriz de la ciudad del Cusco, el cual busca lograr que los procesos se encuentren documentados para buscar repetitividad y reproducibilidad en la ejecución de los mismos, tomando como base la gestión por procesos. La estructura es la siguiente: En el capítulo primero se desarrolló el problema y el método de investigación, detallando el problema, los objetivos, la justificación, el método usado y el diseño contextual. El segundo capítulo se centró en el desarrollo temático, donde se revisó antecedentes al trabajo de tesis, se detalló las bases teóricas de la gestión por procesos, así como los conceptos necesarios usados como plataforma para lograr estandarizar los procesos en base a este modelo de gestión. En tercer capítulo se centra en la descripción del negocio necesario a modo de diagnóstico para la empresa como información general de la empresa, dentro de este capítulo se describe un punto muy relevante como planteamiento estratégico que incluye la misión, visión y organigrama. En el capítulo cuatro, se realizó la identificación y secuencia de procesos, elaborando y definiendo la cadena de valor, es decir el proceso que genera valor a la empresa, así como el mapa de procesos. Para luego proceder a la descripción de los procesos que fueron priorizados, según criterios de evaluación cómo impacta en la empresa, todo ello desarrollado en el quinto capítulo. Por último, en el sexto capítulo de la tesis, se elaboró los procedimientos según los requisitos que se plantean en los conceptos de gestión por procesos que van desde la definición del responsable del proceso hasta las referencias que puede tener cada proceso.The elaboration of the thesis had as its objective the proposal of the standardization of the processes of the company GAR OIL dedicated to the sale of fuels for the automotive sector of the city of Cusco, Reproducibility in the execution of the same, based on the management by processes. The structure is as follows: In the first chapter the problem and research method was developed, detailing the problem, the objectives, the justification, the method used and the contextual design. The second chapter focused on the thematic development, where the thesis work history was reviewed, the theoretical bases of the management by the processes were detailed as well as the concepts used as platform to achieve the standardization of the processes in the base of this management model. In the third chapter focuses on the business description requires a diagnostic method for the company as general information of the company, within this chapter will describe a very relevant point as a strategic approach that includes the mission, vision and organizational chart. In chapter four, the process was identified and sequenced, elaborating and defining the value chain, that is, the process that generates value to the company as well as the process map. Then proceed to describe the processes that were prioritized, according to criteria of evaluation and impact in the company, everything developed in the fifth chapter. Finally, in the sixth chapter of the thesis, the procedures were elaborated according to the requirements that are posed in the concepts of process management that goes from the definition of the person in charge of the process to the reference that each process can have.Tesi

Copy number variation at the HvCBF4–HvCBF2 genomic segment is a major component of frost resistance in barley

A family of CBF transcription factors plays a major role in reconfiguring the plant transcriptome in response to low-freezing temperature in temperate cereals. In barley, more than 13 HvCBF genes map coincident with the major QTL FR-H2 suggesting them as candidates to explain the function of the locus. Variation in copy number (CNV) of specific HvCBFs was assayed in a panel of 41 barley genotypes using RT-qPCR. Taking advantage of an accurate phenotyping that combined Fv/Fm and field survival, resistance-associated variants within FR-H2 were identified. Genotypes with an increased copy number of HvCBF4 and HvCBF2 (at least ten and eight copies, respectively) showed greater frost resistance. A CAPS marker able to distinguish the CBF2A, CBF2B and CBF2A/B forms was developed and showed that all the higher-ranking genotypes in term of resistance harbour only CBF2A, while other resistant winter genotypes harbour also CBF2B, although at a lower CNV. In addition to the major involvement of the HvCBF4-HvCBF2 genomic segment in the proximal cluster of CBF elements, a negative role of HvCBF3 in the distal cluster was identified. Multiple linear regression models taking into account allelic variation at FR-H1/VRN-H1 explained 0.434 and 0.550 (both at p < 0.001) of the phenotypic variation for Fv/Fm and field survival respectively, while no interaction effect between CNV at the HvCBFs and FR-H1/VRN-H1 was found. Altogether our data suggest a major involvement of the CBF genes located in the proximal cluster, with no apparent involvement of the central cluster contrary to what was reported for wheat

Parentage Atlas of Italian Grapevine Varieties as Inferred From SNP Genotyping

The Italian grape germplasm is characterized by a high level of richness in terms of varieties number, with nearly 600 wine grape varieties listed in the Italian National Register of Grapevine Varieties and with a plethora of autochthonous grapes. In the present study an extended SNP genotyping has been carried out on Italian germplasm of cultivated Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa and Vitis hybrids. Several hundred Italian varieties maintained in the repositories of scientific Institutions and about one thousand additional varieties derived from previous studies on European, Southern Italy, Magna Graecia and Georgian germplasm were considered. The large genotyping data obtained were used to check the presence of homonyms and synonyms, determine parental relationships, and identify the main ancestors of traditional Italian cultivars and closely-related accessions. The parentage among a set of 1,232 unique varieties has been assessed. A total of 92 new parent-offspring (PO) pairs and 14 new PO trios were identified. The resulted parentage network suggested that the traditional Italian grapevine germplasm originates largely from a few central varieties geographically distributed into several areas of genetic influence: “Strinto porcino” and its offspring “Sangiovese”, “Mantonico bianco” and “Aglianico” mainly as founder varieties of South-Western Italy (IT-SW); Italian Adriatic Coast (IT-AC); and Central Italy with most varieties being offsprings of “Visparola”, “Garganega” and “Bombino bianco”; “Termarina (Sciaccarello)” “Orsolina” and “Uva Tosca” as the main varieties of North-Western Italy (IT-NW) and Central Italy. The pedigree reconstruction by full-sib and second-degree relationships highlighted the key role of some cultivars, and, in particular, the centrality of “Visparola” in the origin of Italian germplasm appeared clear. An hypothetical migration of this variety within the Italian Peninsula from South to North along the eastern side, as well as of “Sangiovese” from South to Central Italy along the Western side might be supposed. Moreover, it was also highlighted that, among the main founders of muscat varieties, “Moscato bianco” and “Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)” have spread over the whole Italy, with a high contribution by the former to germplasm of the North-Western of the peninsula

Field experiments with Avena genetic resources – an european project (AVEQ)

In a cooperative project with fifteen partners from nine European countries, in 2008, genebank material and current commercial varieties (323 cultivated and 17 wild accessions) were evaluated for traits related to quality in human consumption, mycotoxins and cold tolerance. The work is done in 10 work packages: 1) Project management and coordination; 2) Selection and multiplication of a project working collection; 3) Field experiments and sampling seeds for quality analysis; 4) Field experiments with artificial Fusarium inoculation; 5) Fusarium and mycotoxin analysis; 6) Analysis for protein – including Avenins, fat and minerals; 7) Analysis for dietary fibre and ß-glucan; 8) Analysis for antioxidants, including Avenanthramides; 9) Analysis for cold tolerance; 10) Project documentation and internet portal. In Work package 3, “Field experiments and sampling seeds for quality analysis” were involved seven countries distributed all over Europe (Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Italy, Poland, Romania and Sweden). The activities from WP3 were coordinated by Romanian partner. Field experiments were laid out as augmented block designs with 11 standards (Argentina, Auteuil, Belinda, Evora, Genziana, Jaak, Krezus, Mina, Mures and Saul) in five replications. Plot size ranged, from 2.0m2 to 3.0m2 . The descriptors observed by all partners were: days to heading, days to maturity, crop height, lodging at immature stage, lodging at mature stage, panicle shape, occurrence of diseases, lemma colour, yield, seed weight and test weight, Harvest results (yield, seed weight, test weight, moisture) were put on line into a project information system (http://eadb.bafz.de/aveqprod/). All data will be made available with the end of the project in the European Avena Database (http://eadb.bafz.de) Acknowledgements: This project is funded by the European Commission, DG AGRI within the framework of council regulation 870/2004 and co-funded by Peter Kölln KGaA, Elmshorn, Germany, Emco spol. s. r. o., Prague, Czech Republic, and Gemeinschaft zur Förderung der privaten deutschen Pflanzenzüchtung e.V. (GFP), Bonn, Germany