Gianluigi Bacchetta

Università degli studi di Cagliari | UNICA · Department of Life and Environmental Sciences

The domestic grape germination eco-physiology is a little studied aspect since reproduction occurs predominantly agamically, despite the sexual reproduction remains the main form for the selection of new cultivars. In this study, two international cultivars grown all over the world-Chardonnay and Syrah-were chosen as models of the domestic grape fo...

Santolina is a clear example of a genus lying in an alpha-taxonomic status, with species accepted only based on qualitative morphological descriptions. In particular, taxonomic issues still need to be resolved for Santolina populations from southern France and north-eastern Spain, so that we carried out an integrative taxonomic study involving morp...

European wild carnations (Dianthus) are represented by a high number of taxa organized in unresolved taxonomies. Particularly, taxa belonging to the Dianthus virgineus L. complex in the Central Mediterranean have been delimited mainly with qualitative morphological data and still await quantitative investigations, which are vital to understand boun...

Nasco and Bovale grape pomace extracts, alone or in association, were loaded in nanoemulsions tailored for cosmetic application, using Kolliphor®RH40 (kolliphor) as the synthetic surfactant, Olivem®1000 (olivem) as the natural one, and lecithin as the cosurfactant. Pink transparent or milky dispersions, as a function of the used extract and surfact...

Taxus baccata is a relic declining species, especially at the southern margins of its natural distribution, such as the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian biogeographic regions. On the Island of Sardinia, it is still present in many mountain sites. This study identified 232 locations where yews grow. The species is indifferent to substrates, but pref...

Sardinia and Corsica are two Mediterranean islands where the genus Armeria is represented by 11 taxa, 10 out of which are endemic. An integrative approach, using molecular phylogeny, karyology, seed and plant morphometry was used to resolve the complex taxonomy and systematics in this group. We found that several taxa are no longer supported by new...

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and exclusions to the Italian administrative regions. New combinations in the genera Pilosella and Roemeria are proposed. Furthermore, the name Papaver siculum is lectotypified. Nomenclatural and distri...

Among the main problems that compromise the development of forest species are water and salt stresses, especially in the early stages of development, when seedlings are more sensitive. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphophysiological and biochemical changes in Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings subjected to abiotic str...

The effect of key ecological and anthropic factors on the recruitment of the common yew (Taxus baccata L.) in Sardinia (Italy) has been analyzed. After bibliographic and cartographic research, followed by field surveys, we found 232 sites where yew grows in Sardinia (as opposed to 69 previously reported in the literature). Among them, we selected 4...

The Roman site of Torre dos Namorados (Fundão, Beiras region, central Portugal) is a rare find, identified as a Roman vicus (village), with evidence of making wine and olive oil. During the archaeological campaigns of 2006–2007, a rectangular Roman lacus musti (must, grape juice, settling vat) was found, built with tegulae (tiles) and bricks and co...

Phytoremediation and the use of suitable amendments are well-known technologies for the mitigation of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contaminations in terrestrial ecosystems. Our study is aimed at combining these two approaches to maximize their favorable effects. To this purpose, Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum, a Mediterranean shrub grow...

The objective was to verify if the primary root emission can be recommended as a vigor test for soybean seeds. For this, five lots of varieties ANTA 82, NA7337 and BRS1074IPRO were evaluated by first count, germination, emergence, emergence speed index and tetrazolium tests. In the root protrusion test at 20, 25 and 30 ºC, two evaluation criteria w...

The 'metalliferous ring' of Iglesiente was for centuries the most important mining district of Italy. After a marked decline in mining activities, alternative management strategies were proposed to face issues mainly related to unemployment and environmental pollution. We focused on the coastal section of the mining district, in order to evaluate t...

A comparative analysis of the riparian vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa in Italy and Tyrrhenian islands, based on literature data and unpublished relevés, is presented. A total of 456 phy-tosociological relevés were processed. For the definition of plant communities and alliances, hierarchical clustering was performed by using Bray-Curtis co...

MedIsWet (Conservation of the island wetlands of the Mediterranean Basin) is a MAVA funded project which aims at investigating all seasonal or permanent island wetlands both natural and artificial, with a minimum extent of 0.1 hectares. More than 16,000 wetlands from almost all the Mediterranean, including islands from France, Italy, Malta, Croatia...

The conservation of endemic and endangered plant species is of great interest to the scientific and research community. In this frame, seed banks play a crucial role when biodiversity preservation and climate change are considered. The study of seed viability and germination during storage conditions provides basic and useful information to ensure...

The present report illustrates the first germination data of Limonium merxmuelleri subsp. merxmuelleri, a pioneer species of mine waste materials of Iglesiente region (South-West Sardinia). After harvesting, seeds were subjected to germination tests at the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR). The results show a high germination capability and germina...

The Italian seed bank network (RIBES) aims to improve the quality and safety of the germplasm reserves of native plant species in Italy to ensure the long-term conservation of endangered and/or endemic flora. The strategy includes traditional methods to secure seed conservation. A comprehensive priority list for seed collection is being defined, it...

The effect of key ecological and anthropic factors on recruitment of the common yew ( Taxus baccata ) in Sardinia (Italy) has been analysed. After a bibliographic and cartographic research, followed by field surveys, we found 232 sites where T. baccata grows in Sardinia (opposed to 69 previously reported in literature). Among them, we selected 40 s...

The genus Santolina (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) includes 26 species of aromatic evergreen shrubs endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin. Santolina is widely used as ornamental plant, in xerigardening, and in ethnobotany. The Santolina chamaecyparissus complex, including about half of the known species diversity, has been properly investigated on...

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material 1

The study aimed at evaluating the geochemical fractions of Zn, Pb, Cd and their bioavailability in soil in-depth and around the root of Pinus halepensis grown on heavily contaminated mine tailing in south-western Sardinia, Italy. The contaminated substrates were partly investigated in a previous study and are composed of pyrite, dolomite, calcite,...

The implementation of the concepts of the circular economy raises the qualitative and quantitative level of residue valorisation, as a higher integration of waste-derived resources in the market logics and regulations is required. In this framework, grape pomace is one of the most promising agro-industrial side-streams as it contains organic acids,...

Genista etnensis is a remarkable and well-known tree endemic to Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica (Mediterranean Basin). Nevertheless, its morphological variability and its native status throughout its range need to be further investigated. In this study, we aim to clarify some aspects of this infraspecific variability by molecular means. Sequences of...

A traditional karyomorphological approach was carried out in order to investigate the cytotaxonomic relationships among the species of the Santolina chamaecyparissus complex. All the 14 species included in this species complex were analysed for a total of 39 populations. Metaphase plates were obtained by squashing root tips stained with Feulgen tec...

Grape pomace is the main solid residue of wine industry, mainly composed of seeds, skins and stalks, all containing high amounts of valuable phytochemicals. Considering its high potential, in this review, an outlook on different resources and products, which can be obtained by the recovery of grape pomace is provided. Special attention has been dev...

In this study the essential oils obtained from four different plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family were extracted by means of hydrodistillation and their composition and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. About 66 components were identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and among all, thymol (67.7%), oleic ac...

Recent archaeological investigations in the lagunas di Santa Giusta and Mistras, waterlogged sites in central-west Sardinia, Italy, have enabled the recovery of archaeobotanical remains, exceptional in terms of quantity and preservation, dated to the Archaic and Punic periods in the 7th–3rd century bc . Among the finds was a significant amount of O...

In the framework of the project Interreg Italia-Francia Marittimo "ALIEM", two species of Acacia s.l. were selected to study some of their invasive traits in the Mediterranean Basin. We focused on seed germination ecophysiology of the phanerophytes Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl., native to Western Australia and Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi...

Mediterranean forests produce many goods and services, such as wood, but also various non-wood products (mushrooms, honey, cork, resins, aromatic and medicinal plants, pine nuts). The State of Mediterranean Forests 2018, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Plan Bleu, reminds us of the importance of the...

Arsenate, As(V), and arsenite, As(III), are the most available arsenicals present in the soil solutions, in particular in mine polluted substrates, and cause several symptoms of toxicity in plants (like inhibition of seed germination and reduction of seedling development). For these reasons, seeds germination studies are essential for the design of...

Grape pomace represents 60%, by weight, of the solid side-streams of the wine-making process. The quantities produced, seasonality, and the presence of polyphenols pose economic and environmental issues that require proper management approaches based on the principles of sustainability and circular economy. The present work focuses on the combined...

Within-species variation is a key component of biodiversity and linking it to climatic gradients may significantly improve our understanding of ecological processes. High variability can be expected in plant traits, but it is unclear to which extent it varies across populations under different climatic conditions. Here, we investigated seed trait v...

Dans le cadre du projet de coopération « MEDLENTISK, Partenariat pour un échange de bonnes pratiques sur l’huile fixe de lentisque, un produit forestier non-ligneux emblématique en Méditerranée« , co-financé par le Programme ERASMUS+, l’AIFM et ses partenaires méditerranéens ont publié un ouvrage à l’intention des personnes désireuses d’en apprendr...

Three subspecies of Armeria arenaria are reported from Italy, two of which are considered endemic to the Apennines. The taxonomic value of these two taxa (A. arenaria subsp. marginata and A. arenaria subsp. apennina) is unclear. Moreover, the relationships between A. arenaria subsp. praecox and Northern Italian populations—currently ascribed to A....

The plant species Pinus halepensis grows spontaneously on heavily polluted mine tailings dumps of Campo Pisano (Sardinia, southwestern Italy). The area is characterized mainly by Zn, Pb, and Cd. Sampling campaign was done, related to soils and plant materials (roots, barks, wood, and needles), aimed at evaluating the main mineralogical characterist...

Temporal changes in the distribution range of plant communities and habitats should be considered for optimal conservation. However, this information is often lacking. In this research, we investigated the changes in the spatial distribution pattern of the plant communities characterised by the presence of three dominant Mediterranean pines conside...

According to circular economy, wine-making by-products represent a fascinating biomass, which can be used for the sustainable exploitation of polyphenols and the development of new nanotechnological health-promoting products. In this study, polyphenols contained in the grape pomace were extracted by maceration with ethanol in an easy and low dissip...

Mediterranean dune systems have undergone a large reduction in the last decades. The main factors involved in this process are urbanisation promoting an alteration of dune morphology and changes in plant communities. The most representative coastal dune systems of Sardinia have been selected as a study case and analysed to evaluate their environmen...

The reclamation of highly degraded abandoned mine tailings subjected to the pollutants dispersion in the surrounding areas is a crucial socioeconomic issue. The use of autochthonous plant species locally adapted with complementary ecological functions of the contaminated site and well-adjusted to the low soil functions without interfering with the...

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1.

Carignan is a black grape cultivar widely planted throughout the western Mediterranean Basin. The grape faces significant viticultural hazards such as soil salinization, which affects about 6% of the world’s total land area. The search for salt tolerance genotypes to be introduced in crossbreeding programs and obtaining new cultivars is a key facto...

The discovery of several waterlogged plant remains in a Middle Ages context (1330–1360 AD) in Sassari (NS, Sardinia, Italy) enabled the characterisation of archaeological plum fruit stones and watermelon and grape seeds through computer image analysis. Digital seed/endocarp images were acquired by a flatbed scanner and processed and analysed by app...

Interspecific biotic interaction is believed to be a fundamental phenomenon in ecology. However, despite the increasing efforts, interaction mechanisms are still not clearly understood. We compiled a database of 323 birds and 844 vascular plants in 30 wetlands from Sardinia. This was complemented with seed dispersal features and plant structures (s...

The description of seed shape by comparison with geometric models allows shape quantification, providing the means for an accurate comparison between different species or populations. Geometric models described for the lateral and dorsal views of the seeds of Silene species are applied to the quantification of the shape in the seeds belonging to tw...

Silene neglecta has been misunderstood and confused with S. nocturna, although several morphological characters (petal shape, calyx indumentum, hairiness of stamen filaments, seed size, seed-coat surface and shape) allow separation of the species. Moreover, S. mutabilis (which has been considered conspecific with S. neglecta) and S. martinolii (an...

Herbaria may represent remarkable sources of viable diaspores for recovering lost genetic variation and extinct plant species, but the application of rewilding extinct species using these collections has not been explored in detail. De-extinction in plants may be achieved by germinating viable diaspores or culturing tissues preserved in herbarium s...

Santolina is a plant genus of dwarf aromatic shrubs that includes about 26 species native to the western Mediterranean Basin. In Corsica and Sardinia, two of the main islands of the Mediterranean, Santolina corsica (tetraploid) and S. insularis (hexaploid) are reported. Along with the cultivated pentaploid S. chamaecyparissus, these species form a...

The vascular flora of Sardinia has been investigated for more than 250 years, with particular attention to the endemic component due to their phylogeographic and conservation interest. However, continuous changes in the floristic composition through natural processes, anthropogenic drivers or modified taxonomical attributions require constant updat...

The vascular flora of Sardinia has been investigated for more than 250 years, with particular attention to the endemic component, due to their phylogeographic and conservation interest. However, continuous changes in the floristic composition through natural processes, anthropogenic drivers or modified taxonomical attributions require constant upda...

Sardinia is subject to many fire events each year. A visibility analysis of old-growth woods from the network of fire lookouts was performed; the visibility of fires from lookouts and the level of old-growthness of woods were then implemented to the common information of wildfire hazard maps to obtain a vulnerability map. The results show that 78%...

Image analysis is an essential field for several topics in the life sciences, such as biology or botany. In particular, the analysis of seeds (e.g. fossil research) can provide important information on their evolution, the history of agriculture, plant domestication, and diets knowledge in ancient times. This work presents software that performs im...

The ‘Habitats’ Directive (HD 92/43/EEC) is one of the primary legal tools aiming at conserving nature in Europe. Due to the complex iter to revise it, the habitats listed in the Annex I have been seldom updated after the HD adoption. Basing on already available information and expert knowledge, this paper presents a preliminary list of relevant hab...

The present work gathers new germination assays of two Teucrium species from Sardinia. The studied taxa are: Teucrium massiliense and T. flavum subsp. glaucum. Seeds were collected at the time of natural seed dispersal in two different localities of Sardinia (Italy). The germination tests were carried out at the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR). O...

The nomenclature of 14 taxa from Central and Southern Europe within the Dianthus virgineus group is discussed. Dianthus aggericola Jord., D. collivagus Jord., D. consimilis Jord., D. orophilus Jord., D. saxicola Jord., D. juratensis Jord. are here lectotypified by specimens from the Jordan herbarium in LY, while D. godronianus Jord. by a specimen i...

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1.