F. Saccardo’s research while affiliated with University of Tuscia and other places

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorous ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an economically important, tissue-boring pest of date palm in many parts of the world. The aim of the work was to investigate the effects of two plant oil-based products (BRK6 and BRK9) on the mortality of RPW (Exp. 1) and morpho-physiological characteristics of palm (Exp. 2). Laboratory experiments showed that the two mixture of oils BRK6 and BRK9 showed larvicide and adulticide properties. These properties were more pronounced on BRK9 than BRK6. The lethal concentration for 50% of individuals (LC50) calculated by probit, of BRK6 was 0.22% (for the 90% of individuals LC90 = 0.34) while for BRK9 the calculated LC50 was 0.10% (LC90 = 0.66). These data show that a smaller amount of BRK9 oil was required to induce the 50% of mortality of RPW larvae. As regards to the adults, BRK9 and BRK6 were effective only at the highest concentration (2 and 5%, respectively). Finally, injection of BRK9 into the palm trunk showed to promote chlorophyll content and photosynthesis of leaves thanks to a good translocation of zinc. © 2016, World Food Ltd. and WFL Publishers. All Rights Reserved.

In the last years some advancements in Globe Artichoke breeding technologies are being reached by the development of hybrid seed derived from two parent cultivars. These F1 hybrids are usually created under controlled pollination, isolating plants either by distance or by tends. The divergence between the parental lines promotes improved growth and yield characteristics in the F1 offspring through the phenomenon of heterosis as well advantages like homogeneity, higher performances than traditional varieties, lower incidence of pathogens and insects, conversion into annual crop, etc. As part of the F1 hybrid program established between the University of Tuscia (Italy) and the Big Heart Seed Company (USA), more than 150 crosscombinations have been performed during 2010 growing season and the resulted progenies were characterized in field for agronomic traits in 2011. Ten of the best hybrids (uniform and good shape), derived from crosses between seven male sterile clones and five fertile homogeneous parents, were evaluated for agro-morphological traits (UPOV descriptors) of both parents and progenies. Selected hybrids are under evaluation to test their reproducibility and possibility of success in the global seed market before proceeding with their registration. The different market requests in terms of artichoke typologies and quality characteristics, which vary between the fresh market (green, purple, spiny, ovate, round heads) and the processing industry market characterized for green ovate typologies allow the production/registration of a wide range of hybrids covering the different market requests.

This article presents the results of the first morphological and genetic description of landraces from Campania Region (Italy). The artichoke material which is still grown by farmers includes a large number of landraces vegetatively propagated. The goal of the research was to identify homogeneous populations representing the main local cultivars of this Italian region, characterize them in order to improve their quality obtain virus-free material, and rationalize the use of agricultural techniques. Eight local cultivars: 'Bianco di Pertosa', 'Capuanella', 'Capuanella Nera', 'Castellammare', 'Montoro', 'Pascaiola', 'Pietrelcina' and 'Tondo di Paestum' were recovered and characterized morpho-physiologically by UPOV guidelines and molecularly by SSR and ISSR markers. Morphological results show a significant polymorphism between landraces for all head and plant attitude traits. On the other hand, there is a low genetic heterogeneity maybe due to a low number of molecular markers used. To improve the quality of artichoke cultivation together with its uniformity, the following procedures must be assessed: (i) viruseradication, (ii) improve the landraces uniformity distinctness in order to register new genotypes into the National Catalogue of Varieties.

Cynara cardunculus L. (2n=34) is a traditional vegetable crop of the Mediterranean basin including two cultivated varieties: Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L (globe artichoke), grown for its fleshy capitula, and C. cardunculus var. altilis DC (cardoon) grown for its succulent young leaves. Unlike other species belonging to the family of Asteraceae (i.e., sunflower, lettuce and chicory), the genome organization and the chromosome morphology both of globe artichoke and cardoon has not been sufficiently explored. To our knowledge, no karyotype analysis for this species is available so far. Different factors make very difficult the definition of chromosome morphology such as: the plant rigid cell wall, the presence of cellular debris, the thick cytoplasmic remains and the small size of the 34 chromosomes of Cynara cardunculus. In order to develop an effective chromosome preparation method for globe artichoke karyotyping here we evaluated different chromosome preparation systems and we observed the effect of some spindle inhibitors on globe artichoke cell cycle. The first Cynara cardunculus L var. scolymus L. karyotype is presented.