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Francesco Sottile teaches Biodiversity and Quality of the Agri-food System at the University of Palermo and leads the Agri-biodiversity Conservation Center, working with annual and perennial species of temperate and Mediterranean climates. He has carried out many types of research in the field of the conservation of genetic resources in vivo and in vitro, as well as on agroecology and social sciences related to the small scale agricultural systems
This study explores the processability, mechanical, and thermal properties of biocompostable composites based on poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as polymer matrix and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from softwood almond (Prunus dulcis) shells (as-MCC) as filler at two different weight concentration, i.e., 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The materials were processed by melt mixing and a commercial MCC (c-MCC) was used as filler comparison. The fibrillar shape of as-MCC particles was found to change the rheological behavior of PBAT, particularly at the highest concentration. The melt mixing processing allowed obtaining a uniform dispersion of both kinds of fillers, slightly reducing the L/D ratio of as-MCC fibers. The as-MCC particles led to a higher increase of the elastic modulus of PBAT if compared to the c-MCC counterparts. Both the MCC fillers caused a drastic reduction of the elongation at break, although it was higher than 120% also at the highest filler concentrations. DSC analysis revealed that both MCC fillers poorly affected the matrix crystallinity, although as-MCC induced a slight PBAT crystallinity increase from 8.8% up to 10.9% for PBAT/as-MCC 20%. Therefore, this work demonstrates the great potential of MCC particles derived from almond shells as filler for biocompostable composites fabrication.
Luigi Botta; Vincenzo Titone; Maria Mistretta; Francesco La Mantia; Aurora Modica; Maurizio Bruno; Francesco Sottile; Francesco Lopresti. PBAT Based Composites Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Obtained from Softwood Almond Shells. Polymers 2021, 13, 2643 .
AMA StyleLuigi Botta, Vincenzo Titone, Maria Mistretta, Francesco La Mantia, Aurora Modica, Maurizio Bruno, Francesco Sottile, Francesco Lopresti. PBAT Based Composites Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Obtained from Softwood Almond Shells. Polymers. 2021; 13 (16):2643.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuigi Botta; Vincenzo Titone; Maria Mistretta; Francesco La Mantia; Aurora Modica; Maurizio Bruno; Francesco Sottile; Francesco Lopresti. 2021. "PBAT Based Composites Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Obtained from Softwood Almond Shells." Polymers 13, no. 16: 2643.
This work proposes for the first time a model for reusing almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini from Sicily, Southern Italy) skin to formulate a new functional blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) jam. For this purpose, blackberries were analysed fresh and as jam, traditionally prepared with a minimum fruit amount of 80%. Different percentages of almond skin (20, 15, and 10% w/w) were added to jam. The phytochemical profile of enriched jam was investigated by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS analyses. Anthocyanins, hydrolysable tannins, and triterpenoids were identified in a blackberry extract, while proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, and oxylipins were identified in an almond extract. The n-hexane extract of P. dulcis skin, investigated by GC–MS, evidenced linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids as the main abundant compounds. Samples were investigated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene, and FRAP tests. The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects were studied by α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory assays. In order to evaluate the effect of thermal process on enriched jam bioactivity, pasteurisation was applied. An increase in activities for all samples was observed, in particular for jam enriched with 20% w/w of almond skin. Based on obtained data, and supported by sensory analysis, we propose enriched jam as a promising source of compounds useful for preventing diseases associated with oxidative stress.
Monica R. Loizzo; Rosa Tundis; Mariarosaria Leporini; Gilda D’Urso; Rossella Gagliano Candela; Tiziana Falco; Sonia Piacente; Maurizio Bruno; Francesco Sottile. Almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini) Skin Confectionery By-Products: New Opportunity for the Development of a Functional Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) Jam. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 1218 .
AMA StyleMonica R. Loizzo, Rosa Tundis, Mariarosaria Leporini, Gilda D’Urso, Rossella Gagliano Candela, Tiziana Falco, Sonia Piacente, Maurizio Bruno, Francesco Sottile. Almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini) Skin Confectionery By-Products: New Opportunity for the Development of a Functional Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) Jam. Antioxidants. 2021; 10 (8):1218.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonica R. Loizzo; Rosa Tundis; Mariarosaria Leporini; Gilda D’Urso; Rossella Gagliano Candela; Tiziana Falco; Sonia Piacente; Maurizio Bruno; Francesco Sottile. 2021. "Almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini) Skin Confectionery By-Products: New Opportunity for the Development of a Functional Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) Jam." Antioxidants 10, no. 8: 1218.
Rural development policies today include significant directions towards ecological transition and sustainability. Biodiversity plays a fundamental role, especially in fragile environments. The North African oases, for example, are socio-ecological structures with delicate balances in terms of natural resources, where the activation of participatory conservation approaches appears today to be very useful, aiming at long-lasting results. This type of approach was applied in the oasis of El Hamma, in Tunisia. The socio-ecological analysis was carried out through semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders of the oasis. The results were used to activate focus groups and to identify, in a participatory way, a conservation strategy for the species and the varieties at risk of erosion or disappearing. From this research, a wide spread of non-traditional date palm and vegetables emerged in a very diverse social context. These products were recognized as highly significant in terms of traditional knowledge by all stakeholders. Therefore, a Maison des semences and a public conservation center for perennial species were created, representing the first step of a participatory conservation model. Seeds of 11 traditional annual species, 10 date palm varieties and, in perspective, many other fruit species and vegetable varieties have been introduced into conservation.
Cristiana Peano; Stefania Caron; Mohamed Mahfoudhi; Khouloud Zammel; Houda Zaidi; Francesco Sottile. A Participatory Agrobiodiversity Conservation Approach in the Oases: Community Actions for the Promotion of Sustainable Development in Fragile Areas. Diversity 2021, 13, 253 .
AMA StyleCristiana Peano, Stefania Caron, Mohamed Mahfoudhi, Khouloud Zammel, Houda Zaidi, Francesco Sottile. A Participatory Agrobiodiversity Conservation Approach in the Oases: Community Actions for the Promotion of Sustainable Development in Fragile Areas. Diversity. 2021; 13 (6):253.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristiana Peano; Stefania Caron; Mohamed Mahfoudhi; Khouloud Zammel; Houda Zaidi; Francesco Sottile. 2021. "A Participatory Agrobiodiversity Conservation Approach in the Oases: Community Actions for the Promotion of Sustainable Development in Fragile Areas." Diversity 13, no. 6: 253.
Almond cultivation in Sicily is experiencing a phase of great interest which is mainly concentrated in the development of specialized orchards, with irrigation and by adopting cultivars with high qualitative and quantitative performances. These are mostly Mediterranean genotypes with high fat content and hard or semi-hard shell, extremely different from the varieties of Californian diffusion. The development of the sector comprises the primary production of almonds but also a series of secondary products which often represent a burden for the company. From these considerations several researches have been developed with the aim of giving a value to these by-products through circular economy paths. One of the by-products widely produced, besides the shell, is the skin which covers the seed and is produced during the peeling phase. It is well-known that tegument is an important component of almond because it contains important bioactive substances (phenols and aromas) which are usually dispersed during peeling. This paper examined three different Italian cultivars widely spread in Sicily, two of Apulian origin, (Genco and Tuono), and one locally cultivated variety (Vinci a tutti). These three cultivars occupy an increasingly large area and are very popular with consumers and industry. The production of secondary products, therefore, evidences significant quantities and the possibility to give them an added value becomes a need for the sector. Therefore, the content of phenols and proanthocyanins in the skin at harvest and during storage was analyzed, adopting two different separation methods, with and without water. During the analysis it was possible to observe the different behavior of the three cultivars due to genetic and industrial factors. Skin separated without using hot water showed a higher total phenolic presence with average increases of about 20%, and with even higher increases, between 28 and 32%, for proanthocyanins. Vinci a tutti evidenced the highest total phenolic content after 8 months of storing while roasting has revealed to be a more effective skin separation approach.
Chiara Caltagirone; Cristiana Peano; Francesco Sottile. Post-harvest Industrial Processes of Almond (Prunus dulcis L. Mill) in Sicily Influence the Nutraceutical Properties of By-Products at Harvest and During Storage. Frontiers in Nutrition 2021, 8, 1 .
AMA StyleChiara Caltagirone, Cristiana Peano, Francesco Sottile. Post-harvest Industrial Processes of Almond (Prunus dulcis L. Mill) in Sicily Influence the Nutraceutical Properties of By-Products at Harvest and During Storage. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2021; 8 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChiara Caltagirone; Cristiana Peano; Francesco Sottile. 2021. "Post-harvest Industrial Processes of Almond (Prunus dulcis L. Mill) in Sicily Influence the Nutraceutical Properties of By-Products at Harvest and During Storage." Frontiers in Nutrition 8, no. : 1.
Previous research has suggested that activities such as community gardens could offer a wide range of health benefits. The aim of the article is to systematically review the available literature to analyse the magnitude of the phenomenon, the geographical distribution, and the main characteristics in terms of health outcomes and target populations. The search addresses the question whether the activity in community gardens improves health and well-being outcomes of individuals. From the total amount of 7226, 84 selected articles showed that:(1) up to 50% are published by U.S. universities or institutions; (2) up to 44% of the studies considered “community gardens” as the main activity of the research focus; (3) one-third of the studies included adults; (4) almost 25% of the studies used “general health” as the main outcome when investigating the benefits of community gardens; (5) the percentage of studies that achieved their outcomes was heterogeneous among the different health dimensions. In conclusion, while a certain degree of heterogeneity in the used definition and outcome still exist, community gardens may be a viable strategy for well-being promotion in terms of psychological, social, and physical health and may be considered as an innovative urban strategy to promote urban public health.
Anna Gregis; Chiara Ghisalberti; Savino Sciascia; Francesco Sottile; Cristiana Peano. Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 1943 .
AMA StyleAnna Gregis, Chiara Ghisalberti, Savino Sciascia, Francesco Sottile, Cristiana Peano. Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (4):1943.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Gregis; Chiara Ghisalberti; Savino Sciascia; Francesco Sottile; Cristiana Peano. 2021. "Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 4: 1943.
Globally, almond production is experiencing a growing trend thanks to a strong interest in the health, gastronomic, and industrial properties that are linked to the fruits and their derivatives. After a constant and marked decline in the second half of the last century, the Mediterranean Basin is thoroughly reassessing this crop, which provides significant results with a modern orchard management. The opportunity determined by the transition from traditional to modern systems have increased the interest in evaluating the different environmental impacts of the two cultivation models that still coexist today. In this work, through the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and an economic assessment approach with an in-depth analysis related to the cultivation cycle and the use of resources, the role played by each factor involved in production was determined. Overall, the Greenhouses Gases (GHG) emissions in modern farms are higher (Global Warming Potential (GWP) 0.224 kg CO2 eq.) than those in traditional farms (GWP 0.182 kg CO2 eq.). Regarding the economic assessment, it appears relevant that the modern almond model in the full production phase guarantees significantly higher margins (+84%).The perception of the importance attributed to evaluating economic and environmental aspects by different stakeholders shows relevant differences in the approach coming from growers, dealers, and governmental institutions allows the investigators to positively underline the current innovation in almond orchard systems considering the balance between fruit production and the conservation of environmental resources.
Francesco Sottile; Stefano Massaglia; Cristiana Peano. Ecological and Economic Indicators for the Evaluation of Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) Orchard Renewal in Sicily. Agriculture 2020, 10, 301 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Sottile, Stefano Massaglia, Cristiana Peano. Ecological and Economic Indicators for the Evaluation of Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) Orchard Renewal in Sicily. Agriculture. 2020; 10 (7):301.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Sottile; Stefano Massaglia; Cristiana Peano. 2020. "Ecological and Economic Indicators for the Evaluation of Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) Orchard Renewal in Sicily." Agriculture 10, no. 7: 301.
Lignocellulosic fibers and microcellulose have been obtained by simple alkaline treatment from softwood almond shells. In particular, the Prunus dulcis Miller (D.A.) Webb. was considered as a agro industrial waste largely available in southern Italy. The materials before and after purification have been characterized by 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy methodology. A proper data analysis provided the relative composition of lignin and holocellulose at each purification step and the results were compared with thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR. To value the possibility of using this material in a circular economy framework, the fibrous cellulosic material was used to manufacture a handmade cardboard. The tensile performances on the prepared cardboard proved its suitability for packaging purposes as a sustainable material. These fibers along with the obtained microcellulose can represent a new use for the almond shells that are mainly used as firewood.
Aurora Modica; Sergio Rosselli; Giorgia Catinella; Francesco Sottile; C. Anna Catania; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Luigi Botta; Alberto Spinella; Maurizio Bruno. Solid state 13C-NMR methodology for the cellulose composition studies of the shells of Prunus dulcis and their derived cellulosic materials. Carbohydrate Polymers 2020, 240, 116290 .
AMA StyleAurora Modica, Sergio Rosselli, Giorgia Catinella, Francesco Sottile, C. Anna Catania, Giuseppe Cavallaro, Giuseppe Lazzara, Luigi Botta, Alberto Spinella, Maurizio Bruno. Solid state 13C-NMR methodology for the cellulose composition studies of the shells of Prunus dulcis and their derived cellulosic materials. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2020; 240 ():116290.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAurora Modica; Sergio Rosselli; Giorgia Catinella; Francesco Sottile; C. Anna Catania; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Luigi Botta; Alberto Spinella; Maurizio Bruno. 2020. "Solid state 13C-NMR methodology for the cellulose composition studies of the shells of Prunus dulcis and their derived cellulosic materials." Carbohydrate Polymers 240, no. : 116290.
A growing awareness that highly intensified agricultural systems have made a substantial worldwide contribution to the worsening of the resilience capacity of natural ecosystems has, over the last twenty years, brought general attention to agroecological management models. This aspect is even more evident in industrial agriculture, which is based on the use of multiple chemical products derived from non-natural synthesis. In more developed countries, a new idea of ecology linked to agricultural production has been increasingly developed and, for this reason, there has been a greater diffusion of differentiated agricultural models taking into consideration the environmental impact of production choices and policies addressed to the conservation of natural resources. In urban agricultural production, it is even more important to adopt resilient production models that, in addition to developing responsible production paths and allowing a positive connection with the needs of consumers, guarantees reasonable and positive behaviors respecting the environment in which most of the urban population lives; in other words, the implementation of goal 12 of the sustainable development goals (SDG #12 Responsible Production and Consumption) of the United Nations. In this work, we report some case studies inspired by the activities carried out by the Slow Food Association in Africa and demonstrate the importance of agroecological models in small-scale agricultural systems, related to the development of school and community gardens in small urban areas of different African countries, as a tool for integrating agricultural activities aimed at social resilience and the conservation of ecosystems.
Cristiana Peano; Stefano Massaglia; Chiara Ghisalberti; Francesco Sottile. Pathways for the Amplification of Agroecology in African Sustainable Urban Agriculture. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2718 .
AMA StyleCristiana Peano, Stefano Massaglia, Chiara Ghisalberti, Francesco Sottile. Pathways for the Amplification of Agroecology in African Sustainable Urban Agriculture. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):2718.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristiana Peano; Stefano Massaglia; Chiara Ghisalberti; Francesco Sottile. 2020. "Pathways for the Amplification of Agroecology in African Sustainable Urban Agriculture." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 2718.
The in vitro rooting of three caper (Capparis spinosa L.) selected biotypes, grown in a commercial orchard on the Sicilian island of Salina (38°33′49” N), was performed using—as base material for rooting experiments—shoot explants proceeding from two different in vitro culture systems: solid medium and liquid culture in a PlantForm bioreactor (TIS). The regenerated shoots of each accession were submitted to different auxin treatments (NAA, IBA, IAA - 1 or 2 mg L−1; NAA+IBA 0.75 and 0.25 mg L−1, respectively), supplemented with sucrose or fructose (mg L−1). The highest rooting rate in terms of root percentage (67%) was reached with the explants of the selected accession ‘Sal 39’ proceeding from liquid culture in PlantForm and induced in the MS medium with sucrose, as a carbon source, supplemented with NAA 0.75 mg L−1 + IBA 0.25 mg L−1, after six days in a climatic growth chamber at 25 ± 1 °C in the dark and then placed under a cool white fluorescent lamp, with a PPFD of 35 μmol m−1 s−1 and a photoperiod of 16 h. On the other hand, poor rooting rate was generally achieved under all the tested experimental conditions with the other biotypes, ‘Sal 37’ and ‘Sal 35’, demonstrating the strong role exerted by the previously adopted proliferation method and by the genotype for successful caper in vitro rooting.
Valeria Gianguzzi; Ettore Barone; And Francesco Sottile. In Vitro Rooting of Capparis spinosa L. as Affected by Genotype and by the Proliferation Method Adopted During the Multiplication Phase. Plants 2020, 9, 398 .
AMA StyleValeria Gianguzzi, Ettore Barone, And Francesco Sottile. In Vitro Rooting of Capparis spinosa L. as Affected by Genotype and by the Proliferation Method Adopted During the Multiplication Phase. Plants. 2020; 9 (3):398.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValeria Gianguzzi; Ettore Barone; And Francesco Sottile. 2020. "In Vitro Rooting of Capparis spinosa L. as Affected by Genotype and by the Proliferation Method Adopted During the Multiplication Phase." Plants 9, no. 3: 398.
The industrial production of citrus plants for ornamental use (ornacitrus) began in Italy at the end of the 1960s due to the need for many citrus nurseries to adapt their activities in a time of crisis for citriculture. Nowadays, the ornamental citrus nursery sector is a well-established industry in many European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Greece, and southern Italy. In Italy, nursery production of ornamental citrus plants has become prominent due to the gradual shutdown of many commercial citrus orchards. Currently, Italy maintains its leadership with more than 5.5 million ornacitrus plants produced annually. Ornamental citrus production regards mainly different cultivars of Citrus and Fortunella species, with lemon as the lead species. In this paper, the contribution of breeding and cultural techniques to the innovation of the sector is reported and discussed. This review aims to give an updated scientific and technical description of a sector with large competitive potential that remains still largely unexplored, pointing out its strengths and weaknesses.
Francesco Sottile; Maria Beatrice Del Signore; Ettore Barone. Ornacitrus: Citrus plants (Citrus spp.) as ornamentals. Folia Horticulturae 2019, 31, 239 -251.
AMA StyleFrancesco Sottile, Maria Beatrice Del Signore, Ettore Barone. Ornacitrus: Citrus plants (Citrus spp.) as ornamentals. Folia Horticulturae. 2019; 31 (2):239-251.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Sottile; Maria Beatrice Del Signore; Ettore Barone. 2019. "Ornacitrus: Citrus plants (Citrus spp.) as ornamentals." Folia Horticulturae 31, no. 2: 239-251.
This research explored the preferences and buying habits of a sample of 620 consumers of fresh-cut, ready-to-eat salads. A best–worst scaling approach was used to measure the level of preference stated by individuals regarding 12 attributes for quality (intrinsic, extrinsic and credence) of fresh-cut salads. The experiment was carried out through direct interviews at several large-scale retail outlets in the Turin metropolitan area (north-west of Italy). Out of the total number of questioned consumers, 35% said they did not consume fresh-cut salads. On the contrary, the rest of the involved sample expressed the highest degree of preference towards the freshness/appearance attribute, followed by the expiration date and the brand. On the contrary, attributes such as price, organic certification and food safety did not emerge as discriminating factors in consumer choices. Additionally, five clusters of consumers were identified, whose preferences are related both to purchasing styles and socio-demographic variables. In conclusion, this research has highlighted the positive attitude of consumers towards quality products backed by a brand, providing ideas for companies to improve within this sector and implement strategies to answer the needs of a new segment of consumers, by determining market opportunities that aim to strengthen local brands.
Stefano Massaglia; Valentina Maria Merlino; Danielle Borra; Aurora Bargetto; Francesco Sottile; Cristiana Peano. Consumer Attitudes and Preference Exploration towards Fresh-Cut Salads Using Best–Worst Scaling and Latent Class Analysis. Foods 2019, 8, 568 .
AMA StyleStefano Massaglia, Valentina Maria Merlino, Danielle Borra, Aurora Bargetto, Francesco Sottile, Cristiana Peano. Consumer Attitudes and Preference Exploration towards Fresh-Cut Salads Using Best–Worst Scaling and Latent Class Analysis. Foods. 2019; 8 (11):568.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Massaglia; Valentina Maria Merlino; Danielle Borra; Aurora Bargetto; Francesco Sottile; Cristiana Peano. 2019. "Consumer Attitudes and Preference Exploration towards Fresh-Cut Salads Using Best–Worst Scaling and Latent Class Analysis." Foods 8, no. 11: 568.
A sustainable future for the community is one of the objectives established by the European Union Agenda 2030. Furthermore, sustainable consumption has been identified as one of the possible trajectories for sustainable development. It is for this reason that food production, distribution and consumption ways cannot be overlooked for sustainability achievement, as well as the consumer’s related perception. In this research the Best–Worst scaling methodology was adopted to explore the priorities declared by a sample of 801 consumers among 12 different sustainability definitions selected from the scientific literature. The choice experiment was carried out through face-to-face interviews during two food and wine events closely related to the sustainability theme in the food sector. The respondents considered as sustainability priority definition the “preservation of natural resources”, followed by “decent working conditions” and “accessibility for everyone to healthy and safe food”. Moreover, 5 consumer’s clusters were identified according to the priorities assigned to the different sustainability definitions, as well as to individuals socio-demographic characteristics. The description of the priorities assigned by the clusters to the different sustainability definitions have also been described as guidelines for consumer attitudes towards the different sustainability dimensions (environmental, social, economic and governance).
Cristiana Peano; Valentina Maria Merlino; Francesco Sottile; Danielle Borra; Stefano Massaglia. Sustainability for Food Consumers: Which Perception? Sustainability 2019, 11, 5955 .
AMA StyleCristiana Peano, Valentina Maria Merlino, Francesco Sottile, Danielle Borra, Stefano Massaglia. Sustainability for Food Consumers: Which Perception? Sustainability. 2019; 11 (21):5955.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristiana Peano; Valentina Maria Merlino; Francesco Sottile; Danielle Borra; Stefano Massaglia. 2019. "Sustainability for Food Consumers: Which Perception?" Sustainability 11, no. 21: 5955.
Ettore Barone; Francesco Sottile; Italy Università Di Palermo. Advances in cultivation of almonds: effects of genotypes, environment and cultural techniques. Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1 2019, 293 -316.
AMA StyleEttore Barone, Francesco Sottile, Italy Università Di Palermo. Advances in cultivation of almonds: effects of genotypes, environment and cultural techniques. Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1. 2019; ():293-316.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEttore Barone; Francesco Sottile; Italy Università Di Palermo. 2019. "Advances in cultivation of almonds: effects of genotypes, environment and cultural techniques." Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1 , no. : 293-316.
This study assesses consumer preferences during fruit and vegetable (FV) sales, considering the sociodemographic variables of individuals together with their choice of point of purchase. A choice experiment was conducted in two metropolitan areas in Northwest Italy. A total of 1170 consumers were interviewed at different FV purchase points (mass retail chains and open-air markets) using a paper questionnaire. The relative importance assigned by consumers to 12 fruit and vegetable product attributes, including both intrinsic and extrinsic quality cues, was assessed by using the best–worst scaling (BWS) methodology. The BWS results showed that “origin”, “seasonality”, and “freshness” were the most preferred attributes that Italian consumers took into account for purchases, while no importance was given to “organic certification”, “variety”, or “brand”. Additionally, a latent class analysis was employed to divide the total sample into five different clusters of consumers, characterized by the same preferences related to FV attributes. Each group of individuals is described on the basis of sociodemographic variables and by the declared fruit and vegetable point of purchase. This research demonstrates that age, average annual income, and families with children are all discriminating factors that influence consumer preference and behavior, in addition to affecting which point of purchase the consumer prefers to acquire FV products from.
Stefano Massaglia; Danielle Borra; Cristiana Peano; Francesco Sottile; Valentina Maria Merlino. Consumer Preference Heterogeneity Evaluation in Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing Decisions Using the Best–Worst Approach. Foods 2019, 8, 266 .
AMA StyleStefano Massaglia, Danielle Borra, Cristiana Peano, Francesco Sottile, Valentina Maria Merlino. Consumer Preference Heterogeneity Evaluation in Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing Decisions Using the Best–Worst Approach. Foods. 2019; 8 (7):266.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Massaglia; Danielle Borra; Cristiana Peano; Francesco Sottile; Valentina Maria Merlino. 2019. "Consumer Preference Heterogeneity Evaluation in Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing Decisions Using the Best–Worst Approach." Foods 8, no. 7: 266.
Cellulosic fibres have been obtained by green procedures from the cladodes of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill., constituting a large agro industrial waste in our territory. The materials have been analysed for its relative composition, applying, IR and TG methodologies and it was characterised by the absence of lignin. The fibrous material allowed the manufacture of a handmade paper obtaining an ecological material suitable for packaging purposes. The authors evidenced that the simple protocol based on hot water treatment was able to decrease the amount of hemicellulose in the final material.
Francesco Sottile; Aurora Modica; Sergio Rosselli; C. Anna Catania; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Maurizio Bruno. Hand-made paper obtained by green procedure of cladode waste of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. from Sicily. Natural Product Research 2019, 35, 359 -368.
AMA StyleFrancesco Sottile, Aurora Modica, Sergio Rosselli, C. Anna Catania, Giuseppe Cavallaro, Giuseppe Lazzara, Maurizio Bruno. Hand-made paper obtained by green procedure of cladode waste of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. from Sicily. Natural Product Research. 2019; 35 (3):359-368.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Sottile; Aurora Modica; Sergio Rosselli; C. Anna Catania; Giuseppe Cavallaro; Giuseppe Lazzara; Maurizio Bruno. 2019. "Hand-made paper obtained by green procedure of cladode waste of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. from Sicily." Natural Product Research 35, no. 3: 359-368.
Three caper (Capparis spinosa L.) biotypes grown on the Sicilian island of Salina (38°33'49″ N) were micropropagated to evaluate two different in vitro culture systems: one using the traditional solid medium, and the other based on liquid culture in a PlantForm bioreactor. PlantForm is a temporary immersion system (TIS), a new propagation method in which the shoots undergo temporary immersion in a liquid medium in order to avoid the accumulation of gas through forced ventilation. This study proposes a protocol to improve the efficiency of in vitro propagation of caper plants, while also reducing production costs, because of the elimination of the gelling agent, and manual labor, requiring limited subcultures and posing minimal contamination risks. Our results show that the caper shoots propagated in bioreactors demonstrated good adaptability and better growth rates than those grown in the conventional system. Statistically significant differences were observed between plants grown in the PlantForm liquid culture and those grown in solid medium regarding the number and length of shoots, which were further promoted by the addition of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The relative growth and real proliferation rate of the caper explants were higher when using meta-Topolin than when using 6-benzylaminopurine as a PGR. Overall, the TIS improved in vitro caper culture by promoting the proliferation, length, and vigor of the shoots.
Valeria Gianguzzi; Paolo Inglese; Ettore Barone; Francesco Sottile. In Vitro Regeneration of Capparis spinosa L. by Using a Temporary Immersion System. Plants 2019, 8, 177 .
AMA StyleValeria Gianguzzi, Paolo Inglese, Ettore Barone, Francesco Sottile. In Vitro Regeneration of Capparis spinosa L. by Using a Temporary Immersion System. Plants. 2019; 8 (6):177.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValeria Gianguzzi; Paolo Inglese; Ettore Barone; Francesco Sottile. 2019. "In Vitro Regeneration of Capparis spinosa L. by Using a Temporary Immersion System." Plants 8, no. 6: 177.
Francesco Sottile; S. Mubalieva; Nicole Roberta Giuggioli; Cristiana Peano. Pomological and quality traits of mulberry (Morus spp.) germplasm from Gorno Badakhshan in the Western Pamir. Fruits 2017, 72, 123 -130.
AMA StyleFrancesco Sottile, S. Mubalieva, Nicole Roberta Giuggioli, Cristiana Peano. Pomological and quality traits of mulberry (Morus spp.) germplasm from Gorno Badakhshan in the Western Pamir. Fruits. 2017; 72 (3):123-130.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Sottile; S. Mubalieva; Nicole Roberta Giuggioli; Cristiana Peano. 2017. "Pomological and quality traits of mulberry (Morus spp.) germplasm from Gorno Badakhshan in the Western Pamir." Fruits 72, no. 3: 123-130.
School gardens are, increasingly, an integral part of projects aiming to promote nutritional education and environmental sustainability in many countries throughout the world. In the late 1950s, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) had already developed projects to improve the dietary intake and behavior through school and community gardens. However, notwithstanding decades of experience, real proof of how these programs contribute to improving sustainability has not been well-documented, and reported findings have mostly been anecdotal. Therefore, it is important to begin a process of collecting and monitoring data to quantify the results and possibly improve their efficiency. This study’s primary goal is to propose an interpretive structure—the “Sustainable Agri-Food Evaluation Methodology-Garden” (SAEMETH-G), that is able to quantifiably guide the sustainability evaluation of various school garden organizational forms. As a case study, the methodology was applied to 15 school gardens located in three regions of Kenya, Africa. This application of SAEMETH-G as an assessment tool based on user-friendly indicators demonstrates that it is possible to carry out sustainability evaluations of school gardens through a participatory and interdisciplinary approach. Thus, the hypothesis that the original SAEMETH operative framework could be tested in gardens has also been confirmed. SAEMETH-G is a promising tool that has the potential to help us understand school gardens’ sustainability better and to use that knowledge in their further development all over the world.
Francesco Sottile; Daniela Fiorito; Nadia Tecco; Vincenzo Girgenti; Cristiana Peano. An Interpretive Framework for Assessing and Monitoring the Sustainability of School Gardens. Sustainability 2016, 8, 801 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Sottile, Daniela Fiorito, Nadia Tecco, Vincenzo Girgenti, Cristiana Peano. An Interpretive Framework for Assessing and Monitoring the Sustainability of School Gardens. Sustainability. 2016; 8 (8):801.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Sottile; Daniela Fiorito; Nadia Tecco; Vincenzo Girgenti; Cristiana Peano. 2016. "An Interpretive Framework for Assessing and Monitoring the Sustainability of School Gardens." Sustainability 8, no. 8: 801.
The influence of active modified atmosphere packaging MAP (10.0 kPa of O2 and 5 kPa of CO2) on palletized system was evaluated to extend the marketability of fresh plums cv. Angeleno. Fruits were wrapped with a polyethylene film in pallet bag units at 1C and 90% relative humidity for up to 60 days. The gas values of the pallet bags, the fruit weight losses and their qualitative and nutraceutical characteristics were periodically monitored to evaluate the goodness of storage. The results showed as the pallet bag have maintained the market life of Angeleno plums to up to 60 days, preserving the most important qualitative traits of fruits. After 20, 40 and 60 days the MAP treatment maintained the pulp harder than control fruits respectively of 0.87, 0.75 and 0.46 kg/cm2 and the SUAC index (quotient of the sum of sugars and sum of acids) was unaffected by the gas composition.Pratical ApplicationsThe storage in pallet under different MAP conditions could be a promising technique for plums and specifically allows different items with different technical requirements to be stored in the same cold-storage room. Furthermore, the storage units could also be conveniently used for the fruit transport along the entire supply chain to reach markets far from production areas.
Cristiana Peano; Nicole Roberta Giuggioli; Vincenzo Girgenti; Amedeo Palma; Salvatore D'aquino; Francesco Sottile. Effect of Palletized Map Storage on the Quality and Nutritional Compounds of the Japanese Plum cv. Angeleno (Prunus salicina Lindl.). Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 2016, 41, e12786 .
AMA StyleCristiana Peano, Nicole Roberta Giuggioli, Vincenzo Girgenti, Amedeo Palma, Salvatore D'aquino, Francesco Sottile. Effect of Palletized Map Storage on the Quality and Nutritional Compounds of the Japanese Plum cv. Angeleno (Prunus salicina Lindl.). Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 2016; 41 (2):e12786.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristiana Peano; Nicole Roberta Giuggioli; Vincenzo Girgenti; Amedeo Palma; Salvatore D'aquino; Francesco Sottile. 2016. "Effect of Palletized Map Storage on the Quality and Nutritional Compounds of the Japanese Plum cv. Angeleno (Prunus salicina Lindl.)." Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 41, no. 2: e12786.
S. Gianni; Francesco Sottile. In vitro storage of plum germplasm by slow growth. Horticultural Science 2016, 42, 61 -69.
AMA StyleS. Gianni, Francesco Sottile. In vitro storage of plum germplasm by slow growth. Horticultural Science. 2016; 42 (2):61-69.
Chicago/Turabian StyleS. Gianni; Francesco Sottile. 2016. "In vitro storage of plum germplasm by slow growth." Horticultural Science 42, no. 2: 61-69.