http://http://dspace.unitus.it:80 The DSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. 2013-05-23T22:23:04Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1653 Title: Accurate and rapic technique for leaf area measurement in medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) Authors: Mendoza-de Gyves, Emilio; Cristofori, Valerio; Fallovo, Carlo; Rouphael, Youssef; Bignami, Cristina Abstract: Accurate measurements of leaf area are important for agronomic and physiological studies. Deter- mining the individual leaf area (A) of medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) involves measurements of leaf parameters, such as length (L) and width (W), or some combinations of these parameters. A two-year investigation was car- ried out in 2005 (on seven genotypes) and in 2006 (on one cultivar) underopen-field conditions to test whether a model could be developed to estimate leaf area across genotypes. Regression analyses of A versus Land Wrevea- led several models could be used for estimating the area of individual medlar leaves. A linear model having LW as the independent variable (A = 1.81 + 0.68 LW) provided the most accurate estimate (R2 = 0.981, MSE = 7) of medlar leaf area. Validation of the model having LWof leaves from another genotype measured in the 2006 expe- riment showed that the correlation between calculated and measured areas was very high. Using the selected model, agronomists and physiologists can accurately and reliably estimate the leaf area of medlarwithout the use of expensive instruments. 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1655 Title: Nut and kernel traits and chemical composition of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars Authors: Cristofori, Valerio; Ferramondo, Simone; Bertazza, Gianpaolo; Bignami, Cristina Abstract: BACKGROUND: Nut and kernel traits and chemical composition of 24 Italian and foreign hazelnut cultivars were analysed in 2002–2004 in order to study the effect of genotype and environment on nut quality. Nuts were sampled in a germplasm collection in the Italian province of Viterbo. RESULTS: Quantitative and qualitative determinations of sugars, organic acids and lipids revealed good nutritional and health potential of the nuts, with several differences among cultivars and years. The total contents of oil and sugars ranged from 563.69 to 656.36 g kg−1 dry weight (DW) and from 39.80 to 59.51 g kg−1 DW respectively. Fatty acid profile and sugar and total phenolic contents varied with the year. Significantly higher palmitic acid concentration (6.18%) was found in the hot summer year 2003; lower saturated fatty acid concentration (8.20%) and higher unsaturated/saturated acid ratio (11.27) were observed in the coolest year (2004). These differences among years were highlighted by discriminant analysis. CONCLUSION: The information relating to secondary components such as sugars, organic acids and phenolics was useful for discriminating among cultivars and years. Owing to the effect of these compounds on sensory attributes perceived by consumers, their concentration and the varietal differences can be considered primary determinants of nut quality and should be valued when planning the cultivar choice for new plantations. Description: L'articolo é disponibile sul sito dell'editore: http://hwww.onlinelibrary.wiley.com 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2174 Title: Fruit quality of Italian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) autochthonous varieties Authors: Cristofori, Valerio; Caruso, Donatella; Latini, Gabriele; Dell'Agli, Mario; Cammilli, Corrado; Rugini, Eddo; Bignami, Cristina; Muleo, Rosario Abstract: Pomegranate is getting an increasing attention for its health-promoting effects. Collection and characterization of plants of local sources has been performed, and five accessions have been propagated and cultivated in a collection field for extra situ investigations. Accessions differ for pomological traits and chemical composition. Three of them, MG1, MG2, and MG3, belong to typology with low-medium acidity and high sugar content, while the other two, Tordimonte A and B, belong to typology with high acidity. In the juice and in the peels’ extract of Tordimonte A accession a high level of punicalin has been found through chromatographic determinations, while the presence of punicalagin was found in the juice of accession MG1. The accessions MG1, MG2, and MG3 seem particularly suitable for direct commercialization of fruits due to the fruit traits and quality (sweet varieties), while Tordimonte A and B could be valuable for juice processing (sour varieties). Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.springerlink.com 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z