Environmental conditions and growing techniques may influence the characteristics of eggplant fruits and their content in phenolic compounds. Grafting is a non chemical alternative for overcoming the effects of intensive and continuous cropping that can modify plant and fruit characteristics. The rootstocks preferred for eggplant are hybrids of tomato or tomato KVFN. Also species taxonomically close, as Solanum torvum, have been used and showed good vigour, compatibility and resistance to wilt disease. Information on yield and quality of grafted eggplants onto this rootstock is conflicting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate yield and quality of eggplant cultivars (Birgah, Black Bell, Black Moon and Longo) grafted or ungrafted onto Solanum torvum. Plants were grown from October 2009 to May 2010 in an unheated plastic greenhouse on solarized soil. Grafted plants had lower mortality, while yield and quality of fruits were mostly influenced by cultivars. The differences recorded for growth and yield of the tested cultivars might be due to different growth characteristics, graft affinity and compatibility. Longo and Black Moon were not influenced by grafting, while grafted plants of Birgah and Black Bell had a higher unmarketable production. Grafting onto Solanum torvum changed the color of fruits that were darker and with a less vivid color. Browning of inner tissue was not influenced by grafting. Total phenolic content was greater in the ungrafted plants

Packaging is strictly connected to environmental issues as it is a product characterised by high material consumption rate; it is often transported over long distances and has a short life. Providing environmental analysis is, therefore, urgent to identify energy and resources efficient solutions. The paper, taking advantage of a real case study, presents a life cycle-based comparative analysis among three different food packaging systems. The paper compares the life cycle of tin steel, polypropylene and glass-based packaging of an Italian preserves producer. The analysis leads to the conclusion that, for the baseline scenario, polypropylene packaging represents the greenest solution, whereas glass packaging is the worst choice. The paper presents a scenario analysis varying both the method used for accounting for recycling as well as the recycling rates of the packaging materials. Changes in overall results with parameters analysis changing are calculated and highlighted throughout the paper. The impact of a reuse policy of the glass-based solution is also analysed; a model for disposable glass packaging is proposed and the obtained results are compared with the single use polypropylene and tin steel-based packaging. In order to analyse the impact of different End of Life scenarios on the present case study, collecting as well as recycling rates of some European countries have been used. The results revealed a significant fluctuation both in energy consumption and in CO₂ emission as the nation changes. Summing up, a methodology for packaging environmental impact analysis is applied to a real case study, some crucial aspects of the methodology have been analysed in depth in order to give a contribution in packaging environmental impact analysis.