I paesaggi agrari tradizionali dell’albero: il significato moderno di forme d’uso del suolo del passato

Italy represents one of the most suitable environment for fruit trees and vines and since the origin of their domestication and introduction in extremely varying environments, depending on the species adaptability and local culture, a complex mosaic of landscapes has been originated by Nature, farmers or gardeners. In the study of the landscape it must be considered that the relationship between fruit trees or vines and landscapes represents a precious aspect of the Italian culture and has been studied by History, represented in Art and Literature, analyzed by science like Architecture and Agronomy, but at first has been created by Agriculture. Owing to the evolution of the relationship land and farmers, the development of agricultural practices, the change of marked requirements and objectives, different agricultural landscapes have been created, each having an unique meaning and functions. Nonetheless, the physiognomy of tree cropping systems has changed rapidly starting from half of the past century because of the introduction of new genetic resources, the change in the meaning of the product’s quality, the industrialization of the agronomic technique. These recent developments have turned out in loss of landscape diversity, biodiversity erosion, environment resources depletion. The actual physiognomy of the Italian countryside, from the plan to the most represented mountain areas, is characterized by modern and traditional agricultural landscapes, not even distinguished, frequently overlaid. They represent the “forms” of the today’s arboriculture visible in the historic and contemporary gardens, in the remnants of the coltura promiscua, in the polycultural growing systems, as well as in the specialized orchards. The contemporary landscape of fruit trees and vines witnesses its history, characters and functions particularly in terms of biological and environmental diversity maintenance. This review is focused on the traditional fruit tree and vine’s landscapes still well rooted in the Italian agricultural landscape, but differently conserved, managed and perceived. The aim of the historical excursus is to go through their development phases and to underline the changing functions. A survey of the multifunctionality recognisable in the traditional agricultural landscape, in particular their role in the preservation of environmental resources, agro-ecosystems functionality, landscape diversity and cultural memory justifies the interest in the preservation and valorisation of these productive landscapes and of the traditional agricultural techniques, thank to which they are maintained. The preserving strategies adopted in the European countries as well as the modern study approaches based on multidisciplinary methodologies are also analysed

The on-farm conservation of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) landraces assures the habitat diversity in the viticultural agro-ecosystem

A sustainable maintenance of grapevine biodiversity at risk of genetic erosion should involve farmers in the conservation process. Many local varieties of high biological significance are residually cultivated in traditional and marginal agricultural areas or in rural contests endangered by different factor of biodiversity erosion. The landrace-based orchards in the innate areas, i.e. the in situ conservation on farm, represent hotspots of biodiversity, while preserving at the same time natural resources like soil fertility, air and landscape quality owing to the optimal relationship genotype-environment that allows environmentally friendly agronomical practices. The study aims at highlighting the importance of grapevine on-farm conservation with special attention to the ecological and environmental implications derived from the maintenance of habitat diversity and complexity in the viticultural agro-ecosystem. To the aim, data on landscape pattern, configuration and composition at large and detailed scale were measured according to the methodology of landscape ecology in a landrace-based viticultural area in central Italy, and the landrace-based vineyard’s patch structure, as well the surrounding vineyard landscape, were analysed for shape, complexity, heterogeneity of the margins. The results prove the ecosystem services provided by the landrace-based vineyards in their innate growing area. These services can be attributable to the conservation of a high natural capital within the vineyard agro-ecosystem. The re-functionalization of these productive spaces, particularly when relictual or abandoned, and the involvement of farmers in the conservation strategy by strengthening the perception of the multifunctional value of their productive contests could provide a valuable example of strategy for the on farm conservation of local germplasm, together with the preservation of environmental benefits

Sustainable use of genetic resources: the characterization of an Italian local grapevine variety (‚Grechetto rosso') and its own landscape

Biodiversity and landscape are two tightly liked environmental traits, so that the loss in traditional agricultural landscapes imply the erosion of precious  local germplasm. The on-farm conservation of local cultivars assure the preservation of optimized environment-genotype interactions, unique multifunctional agro-ecosystems and landscapes. Therefore, the safeguard of endangered genetic resources has to consider genotyping, phenotyping, but also the characterization  of the related landscapes. The objective of this study was to provide the characterization of a local Italian grapevine, i.e. 'Grechetto rosso' through an integrated approach based on conventional ampelographic and molecular determinations and on the characterization of the landscape in the innate environment. 'Grechetto rosso' has affinity with 'Sangiovese', of which keeps the main ampelographic characters. Nonetheless, its diversity is prevalently expressed in berry characters, like the occasional presence of a not uniformly pigmented pulp, week epicuticular waxes and a red-coloured skin. This berry characters appeared to be related to the micro-environmental variables, i.e. the occurrence of cold-temperate nights during the ripening period and a rather temperate climate of the innate area. The 'Grechetto rosso' wine-grape-growing area is characterized by high naturality, and the 47 % of the 'Grechetto rosso' vineyards are still mixed with olive groves (traditional arrangement), while the remaining surface is represented by either specialized (46 %) or neglect (residual/relict) (7 %) vineyards. 'Grechetto Rosso' vineyards are distributed even in steep and extremely steep slope areas. The resulting description represents an example of useful information for promoting a sustainable use of grapevine genetic resources based on the in situ conservation on farm

The role of mediterranean fruit tree orchards and vineyards in maintaining the traditional agricultural landscape

The Mediterranean area represents one of the most suitable and diversified environments for horticultural crops, being this propriety well expressed in the commonly accepted definition of “Mediterranean cultivated garden”. In Italy, fruit crops have been in the past introduced and expanded in different environments depending on the species and adaptability to the physiographic characteristics of the regions. The climate and the diversity of environmental contexts, the specificity of soils, the plasticity of the cultivated genotypes, have allowed a tight and typical relationship among land and farmers. Since the past centuries olive and fruit orchards, vineyards and Citrus plantations have represented the typicity of the Italian rural landscape. The physiognomy of tree cropping systems has been changed rapidly starting from half of the past century owing to the introduction of new genetic resources, the change in the concepts of quality, the modernization and intensification of the agronomical techniques, resulting in loss of environmental and biological diversity. Nonetheless, some historic fruit orchards and vineyards have survived. The research is focused: a) on the recognition and mapping of the traditional landscapes of fruit crops in two representative Mediterranean regions; b) on the identification of their typological traits; c) on the definition of their environmental and technical sustainability based on an interdisciplinary methodology. Through a multi-criterial analysis it was possible to recognize and measure the sustainability of these cropping models and their ecological function, turning into preservation of environmental resources, environmental quality and quality of life. The study also underlined the crucial role of the traditional agricultural landscapes in the maintenance of local identity, history and economy. By representing a cultural heritage, traditional agricultural landscapes and traditional farming might justify preservation and valorisation actions

Worrying about 'vertical landscapes'. Terraced olive groves and ecosystem services in marginal land in central Italy

Terraced Mediterranean areas are distinctive man-made landscapes with historical and cultural relevance. Terraced land abandonment driven by physical and economic constraints had important ecological consequences. This study focuses on a marginal agricultural district in southern Latium, central Italy, where terracing dated back to the Roman period and olive groves are the main agricultural use. A diachronic assessment of land-use transformations was carried out to identify landscape dynamics and drivers of change around terraced land. Terraced landscape systems (TLS), derived from spatial aggregation of neighboring terraced patches, have been analyzed for landscape transformations considering slope as the main stratification variable. Structural and functional characteristics of TLS were analyzed using a landscape ecology approach. Soil bio-chemical indicators were finally assessed to study the impact of terraced olive agro-ecosystems on soil-related ecosystems services. The empirical findings outlined that TLS in central Italy are sensitive to urbanization and land abandonment. Cultivated terraces prevailed up to gentle-medium slope land, uncultivated and wooded areas dominated terraces on steep slopes. In this context, poly-cultural olive groves proved to be a cropping system particularly resilient to global change, irrespective of land slope. Terraced systems and extensive poly-cultural olive groves play a role in preserving ecosystem integrity, landscape quality, soil functionality and, therefore, environmental sustainability

Assessing impacts of climate change on phenology and quality traits of Vitis vinifera L. The contribution of local knowledge

Developing adaptation strategies in Vitis vinifera, a crop sensitive to climate change, is crucial for resilience of traditional viticultural systems, especially in climate-vulnerable areas like the Mediterranean basin. A progressive warming is demonstrated to alter the geographical distribution of grapevine, reducing land capability for typical grapes and vine productions in most Southern European districts traditionally specialized in tree crops. Grapevine growth and reproduction under climate change require a continuous monitoring to adapt agronomic practices and strategies to global change. The present study illustrates an empirical approach grounded on a set of bio-physical indicators assessing the genotype-related response to climate variation. This approach was tested in Umbria, central Italy, to verify the response of some major international and local grapevine varieties to climate variation during a relatively long time interval (1995-2015). Long-term data for ripening time and berry quality collected in the study area were correlated to representative bioclimatic indices including Winkler, Huglin, and Cool night indicators. Results of this study highlighted the increase of air temperature (reflecting the inherent growth in thermal availability for maturation) and the alteration of precipitation patterns toward more intense precipitation. Climate variability exerted distinctive impacts on grapevine phenology depending on the related genotype. Empirical findings underline the usefulness of a permanent field monitoring of the relationship between selected climate variables and grape ripening with the aim to develop adaptive viticultural practices at farm\u2019s scale

Agro-forest management and soil degradation in Mediterranean environments. Towards a strategy for sustainable land use in vineyard and Olive Cropland

Landscape fragmentation typical of the Mediterranean region is the result of long-term settlement history and continuous socioeconomic interactions among countries. In complex agro-ecosystems of the Mediterranean basin, formulation of practical guidelines aimed at counteract soil and land degradation, water depletion, rural area depopulation, and the loss of agricultural knowledge is imperative. Based on a multidisciplinary, integrated approach, the present contribution discusses the role of traditional agricultural systems in ecosystem services provision, considering together economic sustainability and the medium-term ecological benefits. A permanent monitoring of rural areas specialized in traditional crop production such as olive and vine may support optimal selection of cultivars finely adapted to a warm climate. A competitive agricultural system may consider human well-being, social equity, and conservation of natural resources, to ensure a high level of services for current and future generations. Recovery and conservation of agricultural resources provide positive externalities and social benefits at both local and regional levels. Understanding the multiple use and functions of tree crop landscapes will contribute to improve food security, land quality, and the provision of related ecosystem services