Marco Castellacci

Dr. Marco Castellacci

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 April 2026 in Horticulturae
Verified
Journal Article
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MCMarco Castellacci
Marco Castellacci
ACAndrea Cavallini
Andrea Cavallini
MCMargarita López- Corrales
Margarita López- Corrales
GBghada baraket
ghada baraket
AAArzu AYAR
Arzu AYAR
TGTommaso Giordani
Tommaso Giordani
The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the Mediterranean region and represents an important genetic resource for both traditional and emerging production systems. Despite its agronomic and economic relevance, modern fig breeding remains limited, and large-scale phenotypic evaluations across Mediterranean germplasms are still scarce. The objective of this study was to assess phenotypic diversity and identify key agronomic traits relevant for fig breeding. A total of 257 female fig genotypes conserved in germplasm banks located in Spain, Turkey, and Tunisia were used. Over two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022), a total of 27 morphological, phenological, and pomological traits were assessed according to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptors for fig (TG265/1), with 23 phenotypic traits retained for statistical analyses. Linear mixed models were used to estimate marginal means and to partition genetic and environmental variance, while multivariate analyses and trait correlations were employed to explore the structure of phenotypic diversity. The germplasm exhibits remarkable variation in productive type, reproductive behaviour, harvesting date, and fruit quality traits. Harvesting date spans nearly three months. Fruit weight ranges from 11.7 to 134.5 g, total soluble solids from 9 to 39 °Brix, and maturation index values reached high levels, indicating pronounced sweetness during fruit ripening. Most genotypes showed high skin scratch resistance, absence of cracking at maturity, and medium or small ostiole size, highlighting the presence of ideotypes specifically suited for fresh market production. Heritability estimates indicate strong genetic control of key traits, such as fruit weight, fruit size, and total soluble solids, highlighting their suitability for selection in breeding programs. Stakeholder prioritisation further confirmed the relevance of fruit size, sweetness, firmness, and ostiole characteristics, helping to identify best genotypes for breeding and agronomic purposes. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of Mediterranean fig germplasm as a reservoir of valuable agronomic and commercial traits and provides a robust phenotypic framework to support future breeding, conservation, and cultivar selection strategies.

29 September 2026 in Trees, Forests and People
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MMMariagiulia Mariani
Mariagiulia Mariani
LTLorenzo Gabriele Tramacere
Lorenzo Gabriele Tramacere
TGTommaso Giordani
Tommaso Giordani
MCMarco Castellacci
Marco Castellacci
Daniele AntichiDaniele Antichi
Daniele Antichi
GBGianluca Brunori
Gianluca Brunori