A growth scale for the phasic development of common buckwheat

Growth scales give a standardized definition of crop development and increase the understanding among researchers and growers. In this research we defined a growth scale for the phasic development of common buckwheat that was mainly based on a sequence of easily recognizable changes occurring on the first and the terminal clusters of inflorescences formed on the main stem. Observations were carried out on plants grown in two years throughout spring. In an attempt to uniform the duration of phasic development across sowing dates, the length of phases and sub-phases was calculated in days and in thermal time using nine combinations of cardinal temperatures. A sequence of stages and various patterns of coordinated development were maintained throughout all sowings and years. Specifically, (1) the first inflorescence became visible after three true leaves had fully expanded on the main stem; (2) flowering reached the terminal inflorescence cluster before full-sized green fruits became visible in the first inflorescence, and (3) fruit ripening in the whole plant ended within two weeks of the end of ripening in the oldest inflorescence. Plant size was increased with the delay of sowing, and the length of the growth cycle was by approximately 400°Cd longer when plants experienced a day length longer than 15?h. This changed the correspondence between flowering and ripening stages, so that full flowering was associated with the development of green fruits in the first inflorescence when the cycle was short, but with their development in the terminal cluster when it was long. Trends in grain yield did not correspond to those in plant size and phase length. We are confident that this growth scale will be a valuable tool for following the progress of buckwheat development and to predict growth patterns and harvest time in response to temperature and photoperiod.     

Evaluation of a phenological model for strategic decisions for hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) biomass production across European sites

The optimal combination of yield and quality of hemp fibres from field grown crops is around flowering. Therefore prediction of flowering time would support in planning production and optimization of the cultivar choice for different agro-ecological zones. In the current paper the validation of a recently published model (Amaducci et al., 2008a) is carried out for four varieties across a wide range of sites and thus of air temperature-photoperiod combinations. The model was evaluated by comparing its output to field observations of the duration between emergence and 50% flowering. The model output and observed times from emergence to 50% of flowering generally corresponded well, but some discrepancies were apparent. The biggest discrepancies between estimates and actual data were observed at extreme latitudes. The level of accuracy of the model predictions is satisfactory for strategic decision regarding sowing and harvesting time and cultivar choice, but tactical decisions (e.g. time of harvest based on flowering time) cannot be accurately supported.     

Effect of soluble dietary fibre addition on rheological and breadmaking properties of wheat doughs

The aim of this experimental work was to evaluate the effect of inulin addition on the rheological properties of common wheat doughs and bread quality. Three commercial fructan products of different number average degree of polymerisation (DPn) were used (DPn = 10 for inulin ST; DPn = 23 for inulin HP and HP-gel). Inulin contents from 2.5 to 7.5% on dry matter (wheat flour plus inulin) were used. Dough rheological properties were investigated using farinograph and dynamic rheological measurements. Upon addition of dietary fibre (DF), significant increase in mixing time and stability, and decrease in water absorption were recorded. Inulin ST exerted greater effect on water absorption than HP products.     

Effects of bioenergy production on environmental sustainability: a preliminary study based on expert opinions in Italy and Turkey

In future decades, initiatives on biomass-based energy development in Europe should reduce fossil fuel dependence and help to combat climate change as required by the conference of the parties 21. In this context, forest biomass can play a key role within the bioenergy sector due to its high growth potential. The use of forest biomass for energy has positive and negative effects on other ecosystem services, on stand characteristics, and on forest management practices. The aim of this study is to analyse the effects of forest bioenergy production on six ecosystem services (biodiversity, recreation, landscape aesthetics, carbon sequestration, soil erosion protection, water quality). These effects have been assessed by 80 experts in two countries (Italy and Turkey), considering two different forest management practices (clear-cutting of coppices and woody residue removal after felling in high forests). The results show that coppice clear-cutting has negative effects on almost all ecosystem services according to the experts’ opinions. The highest negative effects are on landscape aesthetics and soil protection. The effects of woody residue removal on biodiversity, carbon sequestration, soil erosion protection, and water quality are considered negative by the experts, while the effects on recreation activities and landscape aesthetics are considered positive. The highest negative effects of this forest management scenario are on soil protection and biodiversity. The experts’ opinions about the effects of forest management practices on ecosystem services can provide information to understand the environmental sustainability of bioenergy development in future years.     

Development and evaluation of a standard area diagram set for the severity of phomopsis leaf blight on eggplant

A standard area diagram set (SADs) with eight severity values ranging from 0.5 to 32% was evaluated as a tool to improve the accuracy of the estimates of Phomopsis leaf blight severity on eggplant by ten inexperienced raters. A first assessment in a 50-leaf dataset of digital images was performed unaided (UN, no SAD). Two further aided (A) assessments, conducted two (A1) and four weeks after the first (A2) unaided one were performed. The precision of the estimates, as indicated by the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), improved significantly when using the aid (A1: r = 0.96 and A2: r = 0.96) compared to unaided (UN: r = 0.79). However, the generalized bias (C _b) was not significantly affected because the unaided estimates were already quite accurate (C _b = 0.93). The overall concordance (ρ _c) was significantly improved due to the large gains in precision when using the SADs. The raters’ estimates were more uniform (ρ _c > 0.9) when using the aid, with progressive gains in the reliability of the estimates among them, indicated by the concordance correlation coefficient statistics. The SADs proposed in this study will be useful in severity estimation during field work involving multiple raters, especially as use of the SADs results in less variable estimates, improving accuracy and reliability among raters.     

Efficacy of moxidectin injectable and pour-on formulations in a pilot control program against bovine hypodermosis in Southern Italy

Bovine hypodermosis is a myiasis caused by Hypoderma bovis and Hypoderma lineatum (Diptera, Oestridae) larvae, which has a severe economic impact on the livestock industry. Though myiasis is widespread throughout Italy, no nationwide eradication program has ever been planned, unlike in other European Countries. With a view to setting up a national control program, a pilot study was carried out in Southern Italy on 9939 cattle bred in an area with a high prevalence of cattle hypodermosis, using moxidectin 0.5% pour-on (Cydectin, Fort Dodge) and 1% injectable (Cydectin, Fort Dodge) formulations. At the recommended dosage, moxidectin displayed efficacy levels of 99.9% in the pour-on and 100% in the injectable formulation, whereas the microdose (1 mg per head regardless of body weight) was less effective (65.7%). This trial contributed to a significant reduction in infestation rates in the study area and represented the first step through which a national program for eradicating warble fly infestation in Italy.