Antonio Motisi

This work present a new methodology based on time series and CORINE Land Cover products for identifying the main land processes acting on the territory. Seasonality parameters derived from NDVI obtained from Terra satellite were computed using TIMESAT software. These seasonality parameters include amplitude of the season, base value, length of season, maximum value, left and right derivative and small and large integrated values. In general, among all these seasonality parameters, the maximum value of the season and its large integrated value resulted the most appropriate parameters for identifying land processes. However, thus processes occurring within the same CORINE levell, were not well identified. Therefore, the proposed methodology has been proved as a useful approach for identifying the main land processes occurring in the surface. The integration with multispectral/hyperspectral and thermal imagery could help to improve surface classification.

Landscape ecology provides a wide spectrum of useful techniques for quantitative analysis of the land-mosaic patterns, on the basis of areal, linear and punctual parameters. According to the scale of analysis, data collection can be costly and time-consuming; this is especially true in areas with a very heterogeneous land-mosaic patterns and landscape-types for environmental variability and cultural reasons. Aims of this work are: 1) to assess the land-mosaic complexity of the traditional agricultural and agro-forestry landscapes (PAfT) of Sicily; 2) to highlight interfaces and structural gradients between main forest areas and closed PAfTs. These aims have the main purpose to pinpoint agricultural areas more closely linked to forest stands, both for spatial and for agro-ecological aspects, useful for the forest planning efforts to increase the regional forest resources and the ecological network. In this way, this work uses the database of the \u201cAGRIT Agro-Ambiente\u201d (AAA) Project (of the AGRIT 2010-11 program) realized, on the basis of robust survey methodologies, by the MIPAAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies). This Project, in its first experimental phase, interested the entire island of Sicily by a wide data survey (a total of 7949 sample units \u2013 squares 250m wide) involving the entire land. This database carries information on land use (details according to the \u201cRefresh\u201d SIAN-AGEA legend), linear and punctual agro-ecological parameters, collected both by photo-interpretation and a wide field surveys. Moreover, information, such as the presence of soil erosion and landslides, useful to evaluate agro-ecological processes in action, were also collected. Landscape ecology indexes were derived to analyze the landscape configuration, composition and complexity. Results show as the solid AAA-database is useful to give a real representation of the Sicilian PAfTs and to supply a quantitative and stable characterization of the most important landscape parameters. For instance, PAfTs of the \u201ccoltura promiscua\u201d and of the \u201csemi-open fields\u201d, spatially closed to the most important forest and semi-natural areas of Sicily, show the highest values regarding the land-mosaic configuration and complexity. Vice versa, the agricultural landscape of the \u201copen-field\u201d display strong ecological instability (widespread presence of soil erosion and landslides) and a low presence of linear and punctual elements (hedgerows and line breaks, dry-stone walls, isolated trees, centuries-old trees, etc\u2026). With the aim to increase environmental complexity and resilience, forest planning and silviculture could have particular importance in these landscape contexts in next future. In this way, the AGRIT approach (in experimental phase in few Italian region at the moment) can represent a robust data source for powerful applicative tools for achronic and synchronic analysis, at a landscape/wide scale of survey where few data are currently available

Negli ultimi decenni, per massimizzare l\u2019efficienza d\u2019uso della risorsa idrica in agricoltura, si \ue8 cercato di migliorare le performance degli impianti di distribuzione oltre che implementare strategie di gestione che prevedano l\u2019applicazione di condizioni di deficit idrico (DI) durante specifiche fasi del ciclo fenologico delle colture. Per l\u2019applicazione di tali strategie \ue8 necessaria la conoscenza specifica del sistema suolo-pianta-atmosfera, in modo da evitare effetti negativi sullo sviluppo vegetativo e di conseguenza sulle produzioni. Obiettivo del lavoro \ue8 stato quello di valutare gli effetti di differenti modalit\ue0 di distribuzione dell\u2019acqua irrigua e volumi di adacquamento sullo stato idrico e sullo sviluppo vegetativo di piante di mandarino (Citrus reticulata Blanco, cv. \u2018Tardivo di Ciaculli\u2019). La sperimentazione \ue8 stata condotta in un agrumeto dell\u2019et\ue0 di circa 30 anni in territorio di Villabate, in provincia di Palermo (38\ub04\u201953.4"N, 13\ub025'8.2"E) nel quale, nel luglio 2017, \ue8 stato installato un impianto di subirrigazione costituito da due ali gocciolanti per filare interrate alla profondit\ue0 di 30 cm, con gocciolatori ad interdistanza di 0,5 m, che erogano la portata di 2,3 l/h alla pressione di 150 kPa. Su una ulteriore porzione di agrumeto \ue8 stato invece mantenuto operativo il tradizionale sistema irriguo aziendale del tipo \u201ca baffo\u201d (TI), costituito da due spruzzatori per pianta con portata media di 140 l/h. La porzione irrigata mediante subirrigazione \ue8 stata suddivisa in otto parcelle, met\ue0 delle quali mantenute in assenza di deficit idrico (FI); nell\u2019altra met\ue0 invece sono state applicate condizioni di deficit (DI) nella fase II del ciclo fenologico (1 Luglio-20 Agosto). \uc9 stata installata una stazione climatica (Spectrum Technologies, Inc.) ed otto sonde \u201cdrill & dropTM\u201d (Sentek Pty Ltd) per la misura dei contenuti idrici e delle temperature del suolo a diverse profondit\ue0. Nel corso della stagione irrigua lo stato idrico delle piante \ue8 stato monitorato nelle diverse tesi mediante camera di Scholander, con misure di potenziale idrico effettuate prima dell\u2019alba (\uf079pd) e nelle ore centrali della giornata (\uf079stem). Alla fine di agosto \ue8 stato effettuato il monitoraggio della vegetazione estiva mediante campionamento eseguito su quattro piante per ciascun trattamento irriguo. Le misure di stato idrico e quelle relative alla crescita vegetativa sono state effettuate a partire dal 2018, in modo da permettere alle piante di adattarsi al nuovo sistema irriguo installato nel corso dell\u2019anno precedente. I dati acquisiti hanno permesso di osservare differenze non significative in termini di sviluppo vegetativo estivo tra le tesi FI e TI a fronte di volumi irrigui forniti in FI quantificati nel 12,6% in meno rispetto al trattamento TI. D\u2019altra parte, l\u2019applicazione di condizioni di deficit hanno permesso, rispetto a TI, un risparmio idrico del 45,7% a fronte del quale \ue8 stata per\uf2 osservata una sensibile riduzione dello sviluppo vegetativo estivo. Le indagini sono tuttora in corso, anche al fine di valutare gli eventuali effetti del ridotto sviluppo vegetativo osservato sul trattamento DI sulle future produzion

Se han estudiado los e fec tos del vigor del patrón sobre la conductividad hidráulica del xi lema del cultivar en árboles en maceta de la nectarina 'Armking' injertada sobre los patron es GF677 (v igoroso) y MrS 2/5 (enanizante) . Se midieron los gradientes de l potencial hídrico de hojas s in transpirar a tres niveles del tronco, empezando a 10 cm por encima del punto de injerto. La tasa de transpiración se esti mó por pesada. Se tomaron dos conjuntos de medid as sobre el mismo árbol , a dos niveles diferentes de tasas de transpiración, obten idos imponiendo un ni vel diferente de demanda evaporativa. Las medidas se tom aron después que la transpirac ión alcanzase un estado consta nte (20 minutos después de cua lquier pe1iurbación ambiental). Los árboles injertados sobre el patrón enanizante (MrS 2/5) mostraron un potenci al hídrico menor a cualquier nivel del tronco y una conducti vidad hidráulica menor a lo largo del tronco, alrededor de la mitad de los va lores observado...

Riassunto Il presente lavoro è stato condotto su suolo prelevato all’interno di un oliveto con l’obiettivo di valutare il tasso di respirazione attribuibile alla componente eterotrofa (microbica) in funzione dei fattori temperatura ed umidità. Il tasso di respirazione è stato monitorato su suolo incubato a cinque livelli di temperatura, 10-15-20-25-30 °C e a quattro livelli del contenuto idrico volumetrico del suolo (θ) 12,6-18,9-25,2-31,5 % (v/v). I valori di respirazione hanno presentato un range di valori variabili tra 78,20 e 14,81 μg CO2 g -1 soil d rispettivamente a 30°C e 10°C e a 12,6 e 31,5 %. I valori di Q10, ovvero la risposta della respirazione in relazione agli incrementi di temperatura di 10°C sono invece oscillati tra 1,71 e 1,50. L’azione congiunta dei due fattori, analizzata attraverso un modello di regressione multipla ha fatto rilevare un alto grado di adattamento dei dati (R= 0,98).

Estimates of root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) were obtained on intact peach (Prunus persica × P. davidiana `Nemaguard') and sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) rootstock over a broad range of transpiration rates. Within a species, Lp was lower when estimated using the Ohm's law analog than the reciprocal of the slope of the linear regression between transpiration (E) and stem xylem water potential (Ψ). Nonzero y-intercepts in linear regressions of Ψ vs. E resulted in the lack of agreement between Lp estimates. Removal of the root system caused xylem Ψ to rapidly approach zero in both species when E ≈ 0, suggesting that factors responsible for nonzero y intercepts resided within roots. Lp was 2.2 and 3.5 times lower for sour orange than peach when calculated by the Ohm's law and regression methods, respectively.

ABSTRACT Sicily has extensive germplasm of diploid sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) that has not been well studied. In this investigation, 39 cherry accessions, selected from collections and farms, were analysed using molecular markers and characterised for various morphological and other agronomic characters such as flesh colour, fruit size, quality and, in some cases, ripening periods.Thirteen Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) primer pairs, as well as two primer pairs for the incompatibility (S) locus, which amplified across the first intron of the S-RNase gene and across the intron of the SFB gene, were used in three multiplexed reactions to analyse the accessions.The number of alleles per SSR locus ranged from four to 11 (mean 7.2). Twelve S-alleles were found. Allele S4, which has been reported to be common in sweet cherry, was absent from the Sicilian germplasm and alleles S16 and S22 were frequent, although previously reported largely in wild populations.The accessions were assigned to their incompatibility groups.A UPGMA dendrogram was constructed and revealed possible synonyms. The set of SSR primers amplified unique fingerprints for 27 accessions, while twelve fell into six non-distinguishable groups. This approach could be used for comparing cultivars and wild accessions from other regions, and for establishing a database of this important species for breeding and conservation purposes. Several accessions useful for breeding are reported.

Abstract In this study, spatially distributed estimates of regional actual evapotranspiration (ET) were obtained using a revised procedure of the so called “triangle method” to parameterize the Priestley–Taylor ϕ coefficient. In the procedure herein proposed, named Time-Domain Triangle Method (TDTM), the triangular feature space was parameterized considering pairs of T s –VI values obtained by exploring, for each pixel, only their temporal dynamics. This new method was developed using time series products provided by MODIS and MSG-SEVIRI sensors. Moreover the proposed procedure does not depend on ancillary data, and it is only based on remotely sensed vegetation indices and day–night time land surface temperature differences. Two different test areas located in Sicily were selected for testing and validating the approach. Satellite ET rates were validated versus directly measured fluxes of mass (ET) obtained by eddy covariance (EC) towers during the observation period 2010–2012. The proposed approach predicts daily ET rates with an acceptable level of accuracy for practical purposes; therefore, the TDTM can be considered as a simple and effective tool to easily estimate, at regional scale, spatial and temporal changes of this key-variable related to water resource management, agriculture, ecology and climate change.

... with crop load (Crane et al., 1973; Takeda et al., 1980; Wolpert and Ferguson, 1990). Recently, it has been demonstrated that presence of the fruits affects inflorescence bud drop and dry-matter partitioning between reproductive and vegetative organs of the trees (Barone et al ...

This work aims to analyze the traditional agricultural technique of the Giardino Pantesco, typical of the isle of Pantelleria (Sicily, Italy). With this particular technique a single citrus tree is encircled by a drywall of volcanic rocks allowing it to grow even in the island\u2019s unfavorable meteorological conditions. This technique has been analyzed by placing one instrumental array inside the Giardino and one outside and by measuring different environmental variables. The aim of the work is therefore to understand what is the drywall\u2019s effect on the tree by analyzing the time series produced by the sensors, using cross-correlation techniques and reducing the series\u2019 autocorrelation, so that the time series are not biased by variables\u2019 memory. The outcome of the analysis shows that the wall acts in different ways depending on the variable in consideration and tends to buffer environmental extremes which can potentially harm the citrus tree

ABSTRACT La funzionalità delle colture legnose arboree da frutto sull’assorbimento della CO2 atmosferica, e l’ammontare dello stoccaggio del carbonio che queste mettono in atto è stato scarsamente studiato rispetto a quanto sia stato analizzato negli ecosistemi forestali. Gli studi estensivi sull’efficienza degli impianti arborei ad agire come sink di carbonio atmosferico sono stati in parte sfavoriti dalle loro estensioni, generalmente troppo limitate per poter applicare le tecniche micrometeorologiche classicamente utilizzate in ambito forestale. Inoltre, l’ottica di considerare le colture agrarie non soltanto come forme produttive ma anche come risorse ambientali non è ancora un’ottica prevalente. La superficie italiana destinata a colture legnose (frutteti, vigneti, oliveti ecc.) è di circa 2.5 milioni di ha, che corrispondono al 25% della superficie boschiva italiana: il contributo di queste colture alla riduzione della CO2 in atmosfera potrebbe essere non trascurabile. Negli ultimi cinque anni si sono svolti studi su diverse specie frutticole per determinare, tra le altre cose, la loro capacità di fissazione del carbonio.

CARUSO T, CARTABELLOTTA D, MOTISI A, CAMPISI G, OCCORSO G., BIVONA G, et al. (2007). CULTIVAR DI OLIVO SICILIANE. Identificazione validazione, caratterizzazione morfologica e molecolare e qualità degli oli. Contiene manuale per la caratterizzazione primaria di ...

... (Depositato il 17 Ottobre 2006) [Attualmente in visione]; Rosselli, G. e Mariotti, P. e Castellari, T. e Milinacci, N. e Giaccherini, C. e ... (Depositato il 17 Ottobre 2006); Liverani, Alessandro e Giovannini, Daniela e Brandi, Federica e Merli, Matteo e Pellegrino, Silvio e Berra, Lorenzo . ...

... Tipologia: Proceedings. Citazione: MARRA FP, BUFFA R, CAMPISI G, COSTA F, DI VAIO C, LA FARINA M, et al. (2006). ... Autori: MARRA FP; BUFFA R; CAMPISI G; COSTA F; DI VAIO C; LA FARINA M; LA MANTIA M; MAFRICA R; MOTISI A; ZAPPIA R; CARUSO T. ...

ABSTRACT With the purpose of regulating the crop load, several low biuret urea concentrations (4, 8, 12% and 12,16 and 20%) in two following years were sprayed during full bloom on 'Armking' and 'Springred' nectarines and 'Springcrest' peach. One month after the treatment a complementary hand thinning was carried out in order to adjust the fruit load. The degree of thinning was floral-stage-dependent and the best results were obtained at 12% dosage. Trees sprayed with concentrations higher than 12% showed toxic symptoms whereas those treated with solutions containing less than 12% of urea did not differ in crop load from the control plants.