Taxa relitti della flora forestale siciliana e problemi di conservazione

This contribution concerns some woody species representative of the forest landscape in Sicily, paying attention both for their current relict status and their risk to become extinct. For each taxon threats, risk categories, assessed or assigned on the basis of IUCN 2001 criteria, and the in situ and ex situ conservation actions are given

Piante e loro anomalie vegetative: schede documentarie. 27-39

The section dedicated to plant vegetative anomalies affecting vas- cular plants has started in the last issue of this journal, (Raimondo & Schicchi, 2010). In that first contribution 26 reports, by Spadaro & al. (2010) and by Cristaudo & al.(2010) respectively, were presented. The first 11 of them concern Anthemis secundiramea, Araucaria heterophylla, Cakile maritima, Conyza bonariensis, Euphorbia linifolia, Laurus nobilis, Ocimum basilicum, Orobanche lavandulacea, Osyris alba, Scrophularia canina subsp. Bicolour, and Ulmus sp.; The other15 reports concern Carlina gummifera, Echium plantagineum, Euphorbia dendroides, E. linifolia, E. myrsinites, Jasminum sambac, Pararchidendron pruinosum, Pereskia grandiflora, Prunus dulcis, Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. bucephalophorus, Spar- tium junceum, Opuntia ficus-indica, Phytolacca dioica, Verbascum Thapsus, and Vitis vinifera. The idea of editors to stimu- late observations on plant vegetative anomalies has been followed and several other cases have been now submitted for publication. In this second contribution 13 reports are presented: the first 11, by R.E. Spallino & M. Tessitori, concern veg- etative anomalies observed on Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Convolvulus arvensis, Vitis vinifera cv. Chardonnay, Erigeron bonariensis, Echium plantagineum, E. vulgare, Genista aetnensis, Chenopodium album, Spartium junceum, Brassica rapa subsp. rapa and Picris echioides; the last 2, by G. Licandro & M.R. Cucco, refer to Aphodelus fistulosus and Hyoseris ra- diata. All reports concern cases observed in Sicily and refer both spontaneous and cultivated plants

Seed cryopreservation of Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl

Fraxinus angustifolia is used for afforestation and for production of both valuable timber and manna, a substance with pharmacological applications. The aim of this research was to establish the optimized condition for cryopreservation of F. angustifolia seeds, in order to protect the germplasm of this species. Germination percentage and mean time of germination of non-treated seeds (control) and liquid nitrogen-treated seeds were established in water or in 10-6 M gibberellic acid (GA3). The seeds could be cryopreserved with 3% of moisture content (MC) and germinated easily in water (70.0 ± 5.0%), while seeds cryopreserved with 6% MC showed a physiological dormancy. This state could be efficiently removed by addition of GA3, which increased germination to 76.0 ± 2.4%. Liquid nitrogen did not impair embryo viability, allowing a successful cryopreservation of seeds. The results are particularly useful for both germplasm conservation programs and in narrow leaved ash nurseries.Keywords: Fraxinus angustifolia, germination, germplasm conservation, seed cryopreservationAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(16), pp. 1930-193

Geophytes and evolution in the Sicilian Archipelago

Geophytes occurring in the Sicilian archipelago are examined with respect to their distribution and evolution, and also taking into account correlations with the inner parts of this territory and other regions in the central Mediterranean

BioCultural Landscapes per la rigenerazione innovativa dei territori di montagna

Simplification of agricultural systems, farmland abandonment, uncontrolled urbanization, together with global scale drivers, determine fast and unpredictable phenomena of hydrogeological instability, biodiversity decline and identity loss. Men should hence promote socio-economic resilience and place identity, using biocultural landscapes as a resource. These landscapes are the outcome of the historical relationship between man and nature, resulting from complex interactions between biodiversity (at all levels, including species richness, ecosystem and biotope diversity) and cultural diversity, including material and immaterial aspects (architectural heritage, traditions, customs, local traditional agricultural practices, dialectal culture). Traditional water use is one of the main defining factors of traditional agricultural landscapes, characterized by significantly multiplied and enhanced functions and by the highest degree of biocultural diversity. The integrity of traditional agricultural landscapes is an indicator of environmental sustainability, socio-economic growth and habitat resilience. Land management and planning should promote the multi-functionality of biocultural landscapes through new interdisciplinary frameworks and innovative strategies, aimed at landscape conservation, enhancement and creative management

Investigation on the pollen morphology of traditional cultivars of Prunus species in Sicily

In this study pollen grains of 13 cultivars and 3 rootstocks belonging to 5 species (P. armeniaca, P. domestica, P. dulcis, P. persica, P. avium) of the genus Prunus collected from North-East Sicily were examined for the micromorphological characterization through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The length of polar axis (P) and the equatorial diameter (E) of grain, P/E ratio, the length of colpi (C), diameter of perforations (DP) and the number of perforations in 25 μm2 (PN), the width of muri (WM), the distance between muri (DM) and their number in 25 μm2 (MN), the width of grooves (WG) were measured and their variation was compared among studied taxa. Moreover multivariate statistical analysis was carried out to distinguish morphometric information from measured parameters. All pollen grains are trizonocolpate, isopolar, medium-large sized and their shape varies from prolate to perprolate. Regarding outline pollen grains are subtriangular in polar view and elliptic in equatorial view. Exine sculpturing is striate with perforations on grain surface. The arrangement of ridges appears roughly parallel but too sloped (sometimes curved) compared to polar axis, or branched and oriented in different directions, or perfectly parallel or more irregular with bifurcated ridges often sinuous. The analyses showed a great variability (particularly in P. domestica cultivars) related in some cases to the diversity in the morphological features of the leaves and the fruits of the investigated entities

Preliminary study on trace metal content in manna extracted from Fraxinus angustifolia cultivars in Madonie (Sicily, Italy)

The manna is a product obtained from the elaborate sap solidification that comes out from the incisions made on the stem of some species of the genus Fraxinus L. In this study, we have analyzed 12 samples of manna to determine the chemical composition. Twenty elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, U, V, Zn) were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. The results show that the most abundant elements are Fe > Rb > Al > Cu > Ba > Zn > Sr with median concentrations in the range of 0.9 – 10mg kg-1. The remaining elements exhibit median concentrations in the range of 0.0003 -0.5 mg kg-1. The manna also can be considered as good sources of essential elements for subjects with diseases related to diabetes. Moreover, the manna could be recommended for a daily diet

The wild taxa utilized as vegetables in Sicily (Italy): A traditional component of the Mediterranean diet

Background: Wild vegetables in the Mediterranean Basin are still often consumed as a part of the diet and, in particular, there is a great tradition regarding their use in Sicily. In this study, an ethnobotanical field investigation was carried out to (a) identify the wild native taxa traditionally gathered and consumed as vegetables in Sicily, comparing the collected ethnobotanical data with those of other countries that have nominated the Mediterranean diet for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and (b) highlight new culinary uses of these plants. Methods: Interviews were carried out in 187 towns and villages in Sicily between 2005 and 2015. A total of 980 people over the age of 50 were interviewed (mainly farmers, shepherds, and experts on local traditions). Plants recorded were usually collected in collaboration with the informants to confirm the correct identification of the plants. The frequencies of citation were calculated. Results: Two hundred fifty-three taxa (specific and intraspecific) belonging to 39 families, and 128 genera were recorded (26 were cited for the first time). The most represented families were Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Apiaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Malvaceae, and Polygonaceae. Only 14 taxa were cited by 75% of the people interviewed. The aerial parts of wild plants, including leaves, tender shoots, and basal rosettes, are the main portions collected, while the subterranean parts are used to a lesser extent. For some vegetables, more parts are utilized. Most of the reported vegetables are consumed cooked. In addition to the widely known vegetables (Borago officinalis, Beta spp., Cichorium spp., Brassica spp., Carduus spp., etc.), the so-called ancient vegetables are included (Onopordum illyricum, Centaurea calcitrapa, Nasturtium officinale, Scolymus spp., Smyrnium rotundifolium), and some unique uses were described. Comparing the Sicilian findings to those from other countries, a very high number of vegetable taxa were detected, 72 of which are eaten only in Sicily, while 12 are consumed in all the Mediterranean countries examined. Conclusions: The research shows a high level of Sicilian knowledge about using wild plants as a traditional food source. Wild vegetables are healthy and authentic ingredients for local and ancient recipes, which are fundamental to the revitalization of quality food strictly connected to traditional agroecosystems