Francesca Massetani

Università Politecnica delle Marche | Università degli Studi di Ancona · Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences

In Europe, the production of strawberry for fresh market in forced and protected conditions is increasing. These techniques were initially aimed at enhancing the earliness of Junebearing short day varieties. Nowadays, the objective is to have year-round fruit availability, forcing and preserving strawberry crops against adverse weather conditions....

Vegetative growth of strawberry plants turns to generative growth (flower induction and differentiation) under specific thermo-photoperiods, but agronomic and nutritional factors may establish which kind of growth (vegetative or reproductive) to be strengthened. As a consequence, environmental stressing conditions assume a key function in determini...

BACKGROUND: Flower induction and the reproductive and vegetative behavior of strawberry plants depend on several agronomic and nutritional factors. OBJECTIVE: During propagation in the nursery, several fertigation techniques (nutrient amount and timing), rooting times and pot sizes were used to modify plant architecture. METHODS: Different levels o...

The architectural behaviour of the strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is determined by many factors, including abiotic, agronomic, nutritional and environmental factors or the presence of stress. Our analysis of plant architecture detects and records the fate of all the meristems and scores the developmental stages of flower organs. The application o...

Despite the productivity, achieving long-term sustainability and maintaining plant biodiversity have become the pivotal goals in orchard floor management, especially along tree rows. Thus, the paradigm of eradicating weeds in the tree row using chemical herbicide or repeated soil tillage needs to be substituted with more sustainable alternatives. T...

Considering the limited areas suitable for peach cultivation, the short life cycle of the orchards, as well as aspects regarding appropriate rootstock availability and soil properties due to replant conditions, the sustainable intensification became increasingly necessary on peach production systems. Based on the local environment and labor availab...

Chapter on Walnut cultivation in Arboricutlure (Fruit Science) book: supply chain, botany, biology and ecology, orchard systems, growing techniques, harvesting, main diseases.

In walnut (Juglans regia L.), the distribution and the type of bud complex are important for the application of disbudding techniques aiming to shoot growth manipulation in the different training systems. To ascertain differences in bud topology related to the propagation technique, a study was carried on 1-year-old 'Chandler' trees, micropropagate...

Pubblicazione finale del progetto G.ECO.Valdaso. L’Accordo Agroambientale d’Area e la misura 16.2 del PSR Regione Marche; Metodi di gestione delle erbe infestanti: gestione sostenibile del sottofilare; Tecniche disponibili; Il progetto pilota: tecniche di gestione sostenibile del sottofila: Aspetti fisiologici, Aspetti produttivi e qualitativi, Asp...

Suolo inerbito invece del diserbo chimico per incrementare la biodiversità; La composizione floristica del cotico; biomassa prodotta dall'inerbimento; disponibilità di azoto; produzione di frutti; sostenibilità su più fronti; la sostanza organica e il contenuto di azoto. Il progetto Domino (CoreOrganic) - [This study was conducted in commercial pea...

Oltre a ottenere buone produzioni cresce la necessità di preservare la salute dell'ecosistema. A questo può contribuire il sistema di gestione per il controllo delle malerbe nel sotto-filare

Dal terreno nudo all'inerbimento controllato. Evoluzione delle macchine e delle strategie di gestione del sottofila nel frutteto

The architecture of the plants describes the arrangement and the fate of their meristems and finally of their organs and structures. It can be examined at different levels of detail and expressed as annotations (text and numerical values) or represented in a graphical schematized way. In strawberry, plant architecture has been first observed for re...

Come formare la pianta di olivo. Potatura di allevamento del vaso policonico

Actinidia tree grafting during ex vitro acclimatization. Description of a tree grafting invention related to an industrial method applied during the ex-vitro acclimatization of both the bionts, which reduces the time and complexity of the technique, obtaining large amounts of grafted and acclimatized plants in short time (less than 3 months).

Nowadays, understory vegetation along the tree row is considered a vital source of agroecosystem services and functional biodiversity improvement in the fruit orchard. Hence, current orchard floor management systems encourage practicing a more sustainable approach that supports vegetation cover rather than keeping bare soil herbicide use, or tillag...

L'attrezzatura più idonea per la potatura; strumenti meno efficaci; Non dimenticare mai la sicurezza; Attrezzatura per la raccolta; Strumenti indispensabili; Raccolta a mano e con i pettini; Aumentare l'efficienza

Questo manuale è rivolto a tutti coloro che cercano informazioni di base sulla biologia dell’olivo e su come gestire in modo semplice e razionale un oliveto ad uso familiare, per ottenere produzioni sane e di qualità. Nel testo sono descritte le principali caratteristiche dell’olivo, le scelte tecniche per la realizzazione di un nuovo oliveto, le...

This review is designed to address various alternative weed-control practices and their possibilities in the fruit orchard in terms of sustainability. Correct weed management and maintenance of adequate orchard biodiversity are crucial for sustainable orchard soil management. The key is to practice an alternative weed-management approach (single or...

La sostanza organica; Fertilizzazione dell'oliveto; Concimazione organica; Concimazione minerale; Applicazione fogliare; Nuovi prodotti

Sistemi di gestione disponibili; Gestione sostenibile del sottofila; Biomassa prodotta dall'inerbimento; Produzione di frutti (melo)

The research for sustainable crop production is mandatory to face climate change and reduction of genetic biodiversity and soil fertility in farming systems and to increase food security, food safety and ecosystem services. Evolutionary history of crop species, effects of crop domestication and adaptation to different environments on crop populatio...

In walnut, studies on tree growth show that the morphology and growth pattern of a shoot are related to its position in the plant architecture and to plant age. More precisely, the orphological features of a shoot may vary according to morphogenetical gradients linked with shoot architectural position and developmental stage of the tree. After bud...

Fortune plum trees were grafted in 2005 on 17 different rootstocks at 4.3 x 2.0 m and trained as free central axis. The first 4 years of growth and production were reported in the previous ISHS meeting in California. Hereafter the authors report the last 3 years of full production. The experimental layout was randomized blocks with 4 trees per root...

Different ‘Mirobolan’ types are still largely used for Prunus sp. propagation. The rootstock resistance has great practical importance in order to limit the spread of Plum pox virus (PPV), given that root suckers represent gateways for the virus. Minoiu and Vlădianu (2001) had developed a mutant of ‘Mirobolan’, named ‘BN 4 Kr’ at the Bistriţa Fruit...

To ascertain differences in bud topology related to the propagation technique, a study was carried on 1-yr-old cv Chandler walnut trees, micropropagated or grafted on seedlings (J. regia), in two orchards located in Emilia Romagna (Italy). Bud complexes were classified, and their number, position along the axis and length of shoots were also measur...

Evolution of fruit tree orchards; definition and objectives of pruning; architecture of the tree; apple pruning and training systems; Crop load and fruit quality of ‘fortune’ plum

Analisi architetturale delle piante di fragola; Valutazione delle piante ingrossate

Suolo inerbito invece del diserbo chimico per incrementare la biodiversità; La composizione floristica del cotico; biomassa prodotta dall'inerbimento; produzione di frutti

Time of flowering in self-incompatible cultivars should extensively overlap for an effective cross-pollination in olive orchards. This factor becomes pivotal with increasing tree density in wide mono-cultivar blocks. The study considered different positions of the inflorescences in the canopy and along the mixed shoot, in order to check the presenc...

La crescita di piante di noce Chandler micropropagate e innestate su franco (J. Regia) è stata studiata in impianti irrigui nella regione Emilia Romagna con sesto d’impianto a 7x5m (286 alberi per ettaro). Le piante micropropagate hanno mostrato una crescita rapida e vigorosa, paragonabile a quella derivante dal raccorciamento degli astoni innestat...

La guida alle operazioni nel frutteto: come, quando e perché intervenire. Una chioma equilibrata facilita gli interventi colturali (raccolta, trattamenti, successive potature) e, soprattutto, garantisce una maggiore esposizione delle foglie alla luce permettendo alla pianta di compiere facilmente il processo di fotosintesi clorofilliana dando frut...

This job comes from a need of HORT of Ancona, a company born as a spin-off of Università Politecnica delle Marche, and which now provides agronomic services, to look for an innovative method to layout the path of a corn labyrinth on the field, a recreational-educational activity of which HORT is a specialist, as it is about to inaugurate the sixth...

Per regolare la fruttificazione del susino attraverso la potatura in modo efficiente e con positivi riscontri qualitativi sui frutti, è necessario conoscere le tipologie di rami e branchette presenti. La caratterizzazione dei tipi di ramo a frutto nel susino cino-giapponese cv Fortune è stata condotta per un biennio su piante adulte. I rilievi dei...

Sui rami sottoposti a potatura lunga è frequente il decadimento di pezzatura e qualità del frutto nella posizione distale. Con il raccorciamento dei rami in potatura primaverile si rimuove la parte di ramo destinata a produrre frutti di minore qualità e si può ipotizzare di ridurre il tempo necessario per il diradamento dei frutti e ottenere pezzat...

Strawberry plant architecture shows some constant features related to its sympodial growth. Variability of plant architecture is related to the distribution and position of the vegetative and reproductive structures along its short axis (rosette plant) and is determined by many factors, including abiotic, agronomic, nutritional and environmental fa...

The increase of plant density in new olive orchard systems requires a deeper investigation about plant architecture to understand growth, branching pattern and yield and to select most suitable cultivars. The spatial arrangement of vegetative and reproductive structures helps to explain the fruiting attitude of the plant at different levels: the wh...

Rethinking urban spaces and green areas according to the needs of citizens is pivotal to make the cities more liveable. A participatory planning project, called “Il verde che vorrei/The green we want" was developed during the school year 2013-2014 in Monsano municipality (Italy; population: 3405) involving citizens, students and teachers to design...

Strawberry soilless culture is traditionally done in peat substrate, but the use of other substrates is rising. The optimal use of the substrate is also connected to physical factors that can affect its capacity for water retention and suitability for root growth. Renewable substrate derived from by-product of coconut transformation were evaluated...

The white strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) has great potential as an alternative product with excellent organoleptic quality. However, this species bears only one inflorescence per year, so productivity is very low (4-6 t·ha1). In red strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), the morphology, plant architecture model and flower physiology are well known, wh...

This research was carried out to assess the effect of long days and high temperature in the nursery on the spring fruit production of a soilless heated crop. After non-inductive conditions until September 10th in 2009 and September 6th in 2011, trayplants of the "Gariguette" cultivar were placed until chilling (a) under outside natural Mediterranea...

Background: Peat represented the predominant constituent of growing media for soilless production in the last decades. However, due to the high cost of extraction and future availability and sustainability, a worldwide search for alternative substrates has been developed, focusing on secondary processing compounds or recycling wastes. In order to e...

Influenza di fattori esterni e colturali; architettura della pianta e dell'infiorescenza; caratterizzazione dei tipi di pianta; programmazione dell'architettura delle piante. Le informazioni sulla qualità delle piante da vivaio fornisce ai fragolicoltori la possibilità di stimarne il potenziale produttivo e il reale valore agronomico. L’architettur...

Book on the Italian autochthonous fruit tree germplasm. - Chapter on history and development of fruit growing in Marche Region.

The description of the morphological, chronological and topographical development of the root system provides details on plant plasticity and adaptability in response to stress condition. Information on plant tolerance strategies is especially needed for species adopted during interventions of re-naturalization in strongly disturbed environments. T...

The use of compost from urban waste can represent a sustainable way to replace mineral fertilizers for corn (Zea mays L.) cultivation. A one-year experiment was conducted in an irrigated low-land farm in a NVZ (Nitrogen Vulnerable Zone) of Marche Region (central Italy). The aim of the research was to compare the effect of compost from urban waste,...

This book provides a broad, well-structured review of strawberries and their cultivation under current environmental conditions. Methods of strawberry cultivation have undergone many improvements, and this book covers aspects from plant propagation, architecture, genetic resources, breeding, abiotic stresses and climate change to evolving diseases...

This book provides a broad, well-structured review of strawberries and their cultivation under current environmental conditions. Methods of strawberry cultivation have undergone many improvements, and this book covers aspects from plant propagation, architecture, genetic resources, breeding, abiotic stresses and climate change to evolving diseases...

Particle size and level of compression affect substrate physical characteristics with possible consequences on the plants growth cultivated in container. The effect of compacted soil on plant development are well known, but there are few details on the action of the compression of the growing media in pots. The research objective was to evaluate th...

In order to evaluate the suitability of alternative substrate for transplant vegetable production, a coir fiber (30%) and coir pith (70%) mix was compared to peat. Substrate pH, electric conductivity and water retention were measured and a growing test of lettuce and basil using tray plants containers (vol. 0.03 l) was arranged. Seedlings growth wa...

The appearance of fruit malformation was investigated in the strawberry cultivar Capri at different temperatures (23, 25 and 26 °C) and relative humidity (70%, 85% and 87%) in greenhouse cultivation using frigo (traditional, cold-stored) plants. In a second trial, the crop load was reduced by thinning different flower structures (at the crown apex,...

Farm multifunctionality represents nowadays one of the pivotal factors to add value to crop productions and enhance the development of agricultural sector in the urbanizing regions. Projects aim to make customers move closer to food production areas and didactical, recreational and social activities are interesting ways to diversify the services pr...

In order to reduce environmental impact, modern soilless vegetable crop production should be based on sustainable techniques application and use of by-products as alternative growing media to peat. In this contest, coir can represent a valid substrate for transplant productions, but its characteristics and the plant response during cultivation are...

Peat represented the predominant constituent of growing media for soilless productions in the last decades. However, due to the high cost of extraction and future questionable availability and sustainability, a worldwide search for alternative substrates has been developed, focusing on secondary processing compounds or recycling wastes. In order to...

Training is dramatically changing from strictly geometrical shaped trees to more natural growth, depending on tree vigour and productivity, mechanization and labour intensity. The most spreading training systems (Catalonian vase, delayed vase and free central axis) in new orchards are characterized by early bearing with a shortened not-fruiting ini...

This study examines the effect of various natural shoot inclination (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) on size and some fruit quality traits in peach. That parameters were also examined in shoots having their inclination artificially modified one month before harvest. Effect of fruit position along the shoot was also assessed. Natural shoot inclination affected...

Compost from urban organic wastes and agro-industrial by-products represent a potential source for growing media preparation in nursery productions. Unfortunately, qualitative characteristics of the compost do not always meet the requirements for plant growth. The effect of an industrial compost (pH: 8.8; EC: 2.7 mS cm-1) was evaluated for basil (O...

A green cover is pivotal to prevent soil erosion, but the competition for water and nutrients should be avoided between weeds and trees during the early stages after planting. This study compared seven mulching materials applied along the row of a young high-density olive orchard (1,250 trees/ha) in order to evaluate effects on weed growth, physica...

Growth plasticity in fruit crops is modified by several factors, including environmental conditions and field management practices. Knowledge of the plant physiology allows manipulating the growth at different levels, from the canopy management, including the training and pruning techniques, to the application of exogenous treatments. The rootstock...

This 3-years (2012-2014) study investigated the effect of natural shoot inclination and fruit position along the shoot on size and some fruit quality traits in peach yield. The experiment was conducted in a mature peach cv Nectaross and Royal Glory/GF677 orchard (584 trees/ha) trained as free palmette. Fruits were observed in 3 positions (proximal,...

The pruning of ten-year-old Golden Delicious trees grafted on M106 and trained as central axis was suddenly changed to taille longue (long pruning). After one year of transition, during which some of the primary branches were cut below one meter from the ground and because the branches were too dense, the equilibrium between vegetation and fruit pr...

In temperate environments, characterized by a winter rainy season and a dry summer, roots of perennial fruit crops in a clay soil tend to concentrate in the shallowest layer and diminish exponentially with soil depth. The top 10 cm of the soil profile also have the highest concentration of herbaceous roots. Soil management techniques influence inte...

Soil management techniques play an important role in limiting root competition and improving soil structure, biodiversity and nutrient richness, aiming for optimal root growth and activity. In a high-density apple orchard (Malus ×domestica), four different soil management techniques were applied both in the tree row and the drive alley: turfgrass (...

I risultati di una serie di ricerche forniscono alcune indicazioni utili per la gestione delle piante poiché permettono di valutare in fase di potatura quali rami privilegiare e con quale inclinazione. Anche il numero di frutti da lasciare deve variare in funzione dell’inclinazione del ramo. Lo scopo è quello di guadagnare in pezzatura e qualità de...

Negli ultimi anni in Italia si è assistito ad un aumento dell’interesse per la coltivazione del lampone in ambienti mediterranei motivato anche dalla possibilità di realizzare produzioni fuori stagione mediante l’allevamento in serra e la coltivazione fuori suolo. In taluni ambienti siciliani, tuttavia, l’elevata salinità dell’acqua di irrigazione...

Many rootstocks with different vigor and behaviors are now available for plum. To test rootstock effects on fruit quality and tree vegetative-productive equilibrium, ‘Garnem’, ‘Felinem’, ‘GF 677’, ‘Cadaman’, ‘Myrabolan 29C’, ‘Barrier 1’, ‘GF 655/2’, ‘S. Julien Ibr. 2’, ‘Marianna GF 8/1’, ‘Marianna 2624’, ‘Adara’, ‘Ishtara’, ‘Adesoto’, ‘Tetra’, ‘GF4...

The long pruning technique with plum trees allows for high fruit yields but requires attentive regulation of crop loads. The objective of the present work was to identify the crop load that allows for high yields without a decline in fruit quality. The experiment was conducted on ‘Fortune’ plum grafted on ‘Myrabolan 29C’ rootstock. The orchard tree...

This research was carried out to assess the relationship between the architecture of strawberry plants before chilling and winter-spring fruit production in a soilless forced culture system. On 11 September 2008, trayplants of the cultivar Gariguette were placed in a heated glasshouse and either exposed to long-day photoperiodic conditions or short...

The long pruning technique allows the achievement of elevated yields but requires an attentive regulation of the crop load. The objective of the present work was to identify the crop load which allows to obtain a high yield without a qualitative decline of the fruit. The experiment was conducted on the plum ’Fortune’ /Mirabolano 29C. The orchard ha...

Many new rootstocks are today available widening the range of plum vigour level. To test their effects on plum fruit quality and vegetive-productive equilibrium 19 rootstocks were evaluated in center Italy: Garnem, Felinem, GF 677, Cadaman, Mirabolan 29C, Barrier 1, GF 655/2, S. Giuliano ibr.2, Marianna GF 8/1, Marianna 2624, Adara, Ishtara, Adesot...

The research was aimed to describe the shoot growth, flower differentiation and flower bud positioning (architecture) of raspberry (primocane fruiting - 'Erika', 'Dolomia', 'Lagorai', 'L03' and floricane fruiting - 'Tulameen', 'Violet'), blackberry (floricane fruiting - 'Chester', 'Loch Ness', 'Tupì') and currant (white, 'Viktoria', and red, 'Junif...

Spring and summer pruning are based on the possibility to manipulate the physiological control of axillary sylleptic growth and carbon allocation in the shoot through alteration of the apical dominance and light distribution in the canopy. The practical result in modern orchards is a higher flower bud differentiation for apricot and an easier train...

Summer shoot head back has been applied on apple bourse-shoots at the end of their maximum growth rate. The observation of the remaining buds provided information about the timing and stages of their reaction to the pruning. Pruning stimulated sylleptic shoots development mainly near the cut. Shoot organs formation preceded their outgrowth. During...

Apricot varieties show different architectures in their tree habit and fruiting branches. The most common groups are: A - with a very vigorous and spreading habit, and a tendency to fruit on spurs, brindles and sylleptic shoots; B - with a generally less vigorous and semi-spreading habit, and with the capacity to fruit on spurs and more vigorous sh...