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Dr. Roberta Bulgari
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy

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0 Horticulture
0 abiotic stress
0 Microgreens
0 Ornamentals
0 Soilless cultivation

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Review
Published: 26 May 2021 in Horticulturae
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The COVID-19 pandemic is causing many victims worldwide and has generated a serious economic crisis. Substantial changes have occurred in the food and ornamental production chains. The aim of the present review has been to summarize some of the main effects that the pandemic is having on horticulture and on the new habits of people. Infections and quarantine measures have prevented the regular flow of certain goods and of connected services. Cases of shortages and/or surpluses, a lack of the availability of labor, and a reduction in demand for some food products and flowers have occurred. New food production approaches have emerged and a reconnection between farmers and consumers has been spreading, thereby facilitating product distribution. Moreover, during the forced isolation, people have had to face periods of stress. The benefits that can be derived from leisure activities related to flowers and ornamental plants, and from access to nature and urban green spaces are increasingly being recognized as relevant. The seriousness of the pandemic will inevitably lead to lasting changes. Therefore, the vulnerability of the pre-COVID-19 distribution chains should be considered and a new food production chain should be drawn up, to increase the resilience of such systems.

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Alice Petrini; Giacomo Cocetta; Carlo Nicoletto; Andrea Ertani; Paolo Sambo; Antonio Ferrante; Silvana Nicola. The Impact of COVID-19 on Horticulture: Critical Issues and Opportunities Derived from an Unexpected Occurrence. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 124 .

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Alice Petrini, Giacomo Cocetta, Carlo Nicoletto, Andrea Ertani, Paolo Sambo, Antonio Ferrante, Silvana Nicola. The Impact of COVID-19 on Horticulture: Critical Issues and Opportunities Derived from an Unexpected Occurrence. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (6):124.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Alice Petrini; Giacomo Cocetta; Carlo Nicoletto; Andrea Ertani; Paolo Sambo; Antonio Ferrante; Silvana Nicola. 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Horticulture: Critical Issues and Opportunities Derived from an Unexpected Occurrence." Horticulturae 7, no. 6: 124.

Journal article
Published: 02 May 2021 in Horticulturae
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The microgreens are innovative products in the horticultural sector. They are appreciated by consumers thanks to their novelty and health-related benefits, having a high antioxidant concentration. This produce can be adopted for indoor production using hydroponic systems. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of three growing media (vermiculite, coconut fiber, and jute fabric) on yield and quality parameters of two basil varieties (Green basil—Ocimum basilicum L., Red basil—Ocimum basilicum var. Purpurecsens) and rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) as microgreens. Microgreens were grown in floating, in a Micro Experimental Growing (MEG®) system equipped with LED lamps, with modulation of both energy and spectra of the light supplied to plants. Results showed high yield, comprised from 2 to 3 kg m−2. Nutritional quality varied among species and higher antioxidant compounds were found in red basil on vermiculite and jute. Coconut fiber allowed the differentiation of crop performance in terms of sucrose and above all nitrate. In particular, our results point out that the choice of the substrate significantly affected the yield, the dry matter percentage and the nitrate concentration of microgreens, while the other qualitative parameters were most influenced by the species.

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Marco Negri; Piero Santoro; Antonio Ferrante. Quality Evaluation of Indoor-Grown Microgreens Cultivated on Three Different Substrates. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 96 .

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Marco Negri, Piero Santoro, Antonio Ferrante. Quality Evaluation of Indoor-Grown Microgreens Cultivated on Three Different Substrates. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (5):96.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Marco Negri; Piero Santoro; Antonio Ferrante. 2021. "Quality Evaluation of Indoor-Grown Microgreens Cultivated on Three Different Substrates." Horticulturae 7, no. 5: 96.

Research article
Published: 19 March 2020 in Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants
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Market is increasingly demanding vegetables with high quality and nutraceutical characteristics. It was demonstrated that leafy vegetables can get benefit from biostimulants, for the reduction of nitrate concentration and the increment of antioxidants, with potential benefit for human health. The research purpose was to investigate on the role of a novel plant-based biostimulant in affecting nitrogen and carbon metabolism in wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.). Foliar spray treatments were performed with extracts obtained from borage (Borago officinalis L.) leaves and flowers. To evaluate the treatments effect, in vivo determinations (chlorophyll a fluorescence and chlorophyll content) were performed. At harvest, nitrate concentration, sucrose, total sugars, chlorophyll, and carotenoids levels were measured in leaves. In order to characterize the mechanism of action also at molecular level, a set of genes encoding for some of the key enzymes implicated in nitrate and carbon metabolism was selected and their expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Interesting results concerned the increment of sucrose, coherent with a high value of Fv/Fm, in addition to a significant reduction of nitrate and ABA than control, and an enhanced NR in vivo activity. Also, genes expression was influenced by extracts, with a more pronounced effect on N related genes.

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Giacomo Cocetta; Alice Trivellini; Antonio Ferrante. Borage extracts affect wild rocket quality and influence nitrate and carbon metabolism. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 2020, 26, 649 -660.

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Giacomo Cocetta, Alice Trivellini, Antonio Ferrante. Borage extracts affect wild rocket quality and influence nitrate and carbon metabolism. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants. 2020; 26 (4):649-660.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Giacomo Cocetta; Alice Trivellini; Antonio Ferrante. 2020. "Borage extracts affect wild rocket quality and influence nitrate and carbon metabolism." Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 26, no. 4: 649-660.

Journal article
Published: 12 October 2019 in Foods
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Wild plants may play an important role in human nutrition and health and, among them, many are the leafy species. We hypothesized that the wild greens could be profitably grown as microgreens and baby greens, specialty products whose market is increasing. We compared three wild leafy species (Sanguisorba minor Scop., Sinapis arvensis L., and Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg.) harvested at the microgreen and baby green stages. Seedlings were grown hydroponically in a half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution under controlled climatic conditions. At harvest, the yield was assessed, and chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenolic index, nitrate, and mineral elements were measured in the two types of product. The potential contribution to human mineral intake was calculated, and the possible risk due to the presence of metals potentially detrimental for health was estimated. Results showed that micro/baby greens of the studied wild plants achieved competitive yields and could contribute to the dietary intake of macroelements, microelements, and non-nutrient bioactive compounds. On the other hand, the wild greens showed high amounts of nitrate and traces of some metals potentially detrimental for health, suggesting the need for caution in the use of wild species for producing microgreens and baby leaves.

ACS Style

Anna Lenzi; Alessandro Orlandini; Roberta Bulgari; Antonio Ferrante; Piero Bruschi. Antioxidant and Mineral Composition of Three Wild Leafy Species: A Comparison Between Microgreens and Baby Greens. Foods 2019, 8, 487 .

AMA Style

Anna Lenzi, Alessandro Orlandini, Roberta Bulgari, Antonio Ferrante, Piero Bruschi. Antioxidant and Mineral Composition of Three Wild Leafy Species: A Comparison Between Microgreens and Baby Greens. Foods. 2019; 8 (10):487.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anna Lenzi; Alessandro Orlandini; Roberta Bulgari; Antonio Ferrante; Piero Bruschi. 2019. "Antioxidant and Mineral Composition of Three Wild Leafy Species: A Comparison Between Microgreens and Baby Greens." Foods 8, no. 10: 487.

Review article
Published: 04 October 2019 in Frontiers in Plant Science
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The quality of horticultural products is the result of the interaction of different factors, including grower’s crop management ability, genotype, and environment. Sub-optimal environmental conditions during plant growth can induce abiotic stresses and reduce the crop performance with yield reduction and quality losses. However, abiotic stresses can induce several physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses in plants, aiming to cope with the stressful conditions. It is well known that these abiotic stresses are also elicitors of the biosynthesis of many metabolites in plants, including a wide range of bioactive compounds, which firstly serve as functional molecules for crop adaptation, but they have also a great interest for their beneficial effects on human health. Nowadays, the consumer is oriented to low-energy foods with low fat content, but at the same time, growing attention is paid to the presence of bioactive molecules, which are recognized as health-related compounds and concur to the nutraceutical value of plant-derived foods. In this context, fruit and vegetables play an important role as sources of bioactive ingredients in the diet. At the cultivation level, the understanding of crop responses to abiotic stresses and how they act in the biosynthesis/accumulation of these bioactive compounds is crucial. In fact, controlled abiotic stresses can be used as tools for improving the nutraceutical value of fruit and vegetables. This review focuses on the quality of vegetables and fruits as affected by preharvest abiotic stressors, with particular attention to the effect on the nutraceutical aspects.

ACS Style

Stefania Toscano; Alice Trivellini; Giacomo Cocetta; Roberta Bulgari; Alessandra Francini; Daniela Romano; Antonio Ferrante. Effect of Preharvest Abiotic Stresses on the Accumulation of Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Produce. Frontiers in Plant Science 2019, 10, 1212 .

AMA Style

Stefania Toscano, Alice Trivellini, Giacomo Cocetta, Roberta Bulgari, Alessandra Francini, Daniela Romano, Antonio Ferrante. Effect of Preharvest Abiotic Stresses on the Accumulation of Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Produce. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019; 10 ():1212.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefania Toscano; Alice Trivellini; Giacomo Cocetta; Roberta Bulgari; Alessandra Francini; Daniela Romano; Antonio Ferrante. 2019. "Effect of Preharvest Abiotic Stresses on the Accumulation of Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Produce." Frontiers in Plant Science 10, no. : 1212.

Review
Published: 12 June 2019 in Agronomy
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Abiotic stresses strongly affect plant growth, development, and quality of production; final crop yield can be really compromised if stress occurs in plants’ most sensitive phenological phases. Additionally, the increase of crop stress tolerance through genetic improvements requires long breeding programmes and different cultivation environments for crop performance validation. Biostimulants have been proposed as agronomic tools to counteract abiotic stress. Indeed, these products containing bioactive molecules have a beneficial effect on plants and improve their capability to face adverse environmental conditions, acting on primary or secondary metabolism. Many companies are investing in new biostimulant products development and in the identification of the most effective bioactive molecules contained in different kinds of extracts, able to elicit specific plant responses against abiotic stresses. Most of these compounds are unknown and their characterization in term of composition is almost impossible; therefore, they could be classified on the basis of their role in plants. Biostimulants have been generally applied to high-value crops like fruits and vegetables; thus, in this review, we examine and summarise literature on their use on vegetable crops, focusing on their application to counteract the most common environmental stresses.

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Giulia Franzoni; Antonio Ferrante. Biostimulants Application in Horticultural Crops under Abiotic Stress Conditions. Agronomy 2019, 9, 306 .

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Giulia Franzoni, Antonio Ferrante. Biostimulants Application in Horticultural Crops under Abiotic Stress Conditions. Agronomy. 2019; 9 (6):306.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Giulia Franzoni; Antonio Ferrante. 2019. "Biostimulants Application in Horticultural Crops under Abiotic Stress Conditions." Agronomy 9, no. 6: 306.

Journal article
Published: 26 February 2019 in Scientific Reports
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Melons are prized for their characteristic aroma, however, pre-harvest growth, stage of ripening at harvest, post-harvest processing and storage conditions lead to quality changes in fresh-cut fruit. We considered changes in metabolites and gene expression over 14 days storage to assess underlying mechanisms and identify potential quality markers. Overall, 99 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected and VOC profiles discriminated between two melon seasons, cut-size, storage temperatures and storage time, although season affected their discriminatory power. Abundance of two VOCs fell rapidly and was not associated with cut size, indicating their use as markers for early changes post-processing. Non-acetate to acetate ester ratio differed between the seasons and correlated with changes in alcohol acyl-transferase (CmAAT1) gene expression. Furthermore, CmAAT1 expression clustered with two ester VOCs that may be potential new products of this enzyme. Season also strongly affected post-harvest sugar content, most likely attributable to meteorological differences during growth. Storage temperature and cut size affected expression of transcription factors ERF71, ERF106, and TINY, whose expression generally rose during storage, probably related to increased stress. Thus, although time × temperature of storage are key factors, pre-harvest conditions and fruit processing impact significantly gene expression and aroma loss post-harvest.

ACS Style

NaTasha D. Spadafora; Giacomo Cocetta; Marina Cavaiuolo; Roberta Bulgari; Rakhee Dhorajiwala; Antonio Ferrante; Anna Spinardi; Hilary J. Rogers; Carsten Muller. A complex interaction between pre-harvest and post-harvest factors determines fresh-cut melon quality and aroma. Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 1 -15.

AMA Style

NaTasha D. Spadafora, Giacomo Cocetta, Marina Cavaiuolo, Roberta Bulgari, Rakhee Dhorajiwala, Antonio Ferrante, Anna Spinardi, Hilary J. Rogers, Carsten Muller. A complex interaction between pre-harvest and post-harvest factors determines fresh-cut melon quality and aroma. Scientific Reports. 2019; 9 (1):1-15.

Chicago/Turabian Style

NaTasha D. Spadafora; Giacomo Cocetta; Marina Cavaiuolo; Roberta Bulgari; Rakhee Dhorajiwala; Antonio Ferrante; Anna Spinardi; Hilary J. Rogers; Carsten Muller. 2019. "A complex interaction between pre-harvest and post-harvest factors determines fresh-cut melon quality and aroma." Scientific Reports 9, no. 1: 1-15.

Original research article
Published: 07 January 2019 in Frontiers in Plant Science
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The enhancement of plant tolerance toward abiotic stresses is increasingly being supported by the application of biostimulants. Salinity represents a serious problem in the Mediterranean region. To verify the effects deriving from the application of biostimulants, trials on Romaine lettuce plants under salt exposure were performed, in greenhouse. Plants were subjected to three NaCl solutions with 0.8, 1.3, and 1.8 dS/m of electrical conductivity. The volume of the solution was 200 mL/plant and delivered every 3 days. Biostimulant treatments started after crop establishment and were: control (water) and two doses (0.1 or 0.2 mL/plant) of the commercial biostimulant Retrosal® (Valagro S.p.A), containing calcium, zinc, and specific active ingredients. Four Retrosal® treatments were applied, every 7 days, directly to the substrate. Non-destructive analyses were conducted to assess the effects on leaf photosynthetic efficiency. At harvest, plants fresh weight (FW) and dry weight were determined, as well as the concentration of chlorophylls, carotenoids, total sugars, nitrate, proline, and abscisic acid (ABA). The biostimulant tested increased significantly the FW of lettuce (+65% in the highest dose) compared to controls. Results indicate that treatments positively affected the chlorophyll content measured in vivo (+45% in the highest dose) and that a general positive effect was observable on net photosynthesis rate. Retrosal® seems to improve the gas exchanges under our experimental conditions. The total sugars levels were not affected by treatments. Biostimulant allowed maintaining nitrate concentration similar to the untreated and unstressed controls. The increasing levels of water salinity caused a raise in proline concentration in control plants (+85%); biostimulant treatments at 0.2 mL/plant dose kept lower the proline levels. All plants treated with the biostimulant showed lower value of ABA (-34%) compared to controls. Results revealed that Retrosal® is able to stimulate plant growth independently from the salinity exposure. However, treated plants reached faster the commercial maturity stage. The fresh biomass of control at the end of experiment, after 30 days, ranged from 15 to 42 g/head, while in biostimulant treated plants ranged from 45 to 94 g/head. The product applied at maximum dose seems to be the most effective in our experimental conditions.

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Alice Trivellini; Antonio Ferrante. Effects of Two Doses of Organic Extract-Based Biostimulant on Greenhouse Lettuce Grown Under Increasing NaCl Concentrations. Frontiers in Plant Science 2019, 9, 1 .

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Alice Trivellini, Antonio Ferrante. Effects of Two Doses of Organic Extract-Based Biostimulant on Greenhouse Lettuce Grown Under Increasing NaCl Concentrations. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019; 9 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Alice Trivellini; Antonio Ferrante. 2019. "Effects of Two Doses of Organic Extract-Based Biostimulant on Greenhouse Lettuce Grown Under Increasing NaCl Concentrations." Frontiers in Plant Science 9, no. : 1.

Original research article
Published: 07 June 2017 in Frontiers in Plant Science
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Biostimulants are substances able to improve water and nutrient use efficiency and counteract stress factors by enhancing primary and secondary metabolism. Premise of the work was to exploit raw extracts from leaves (LE) or flowers (FE) of Borago officinalis L., to enhance yield and quality of Lactuca sativa ‘Longifolia’, and to set up a protocol to assess their effects. To this aim, an integrated study on agronomic, physiological and biochemical aspects, including also a phenomic approach, has been adopted. Extracts were diluted to 1 or 10 mL L-1, sprayed onto lettuce plants at the middle of the growing cycle and one day before harvest. Control plants were treated with water. Non-destructive analyses were conducted to assess the effect of extracts on biomass with an innovative imaging technique, and on leaf photosynthetic efficiency (chlorophyll a fluorescence and leaf gas exchanges). At harvest, the levels of ethylene, photosynthetic pigments, nitrate and primary (sucrose and total sugars) and secondary (total phenols and flavonoids) metabolites, including the activity and levels of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were assessed. Moreover, a preliminary study of the effects during postharvest was performed. Borage extracts enhanced the primary metabolism by increasing leaf pigments and photosynthetic activity. Plant fresh weight increased upon treatments with 10 mL L-1 doses, as correctly estimated by multi-view angles images. Chlorophyll a fluorescence data showed that FEs were able to increase the number of active reaction centers per cross section; a similar trend was observed for the performance index. Ethylene was 3-fold lower in FEs treatments. Nitrate and sugar levels did not change in response to the different treatments. Total flavonoids and phenols, as well as the total protein levels, the in vitro PAL specific activity, and the levels of PAL-like polypeptides were increased by all borage extracts, with particular regards to FEs. FEs also proved efficient in preventing degradation and inducing an increase in photosynthetic pigments during storage. In conclusion, borage extracts, with particular regard to the flower ones, appear to indeed exert biostimulant effects on lettuce; future work will be required to further investigate on their efficacy in different condition and/or species

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Silvia Morgutti; Giacomo Cocetta; Noemi Negrini; Stefano Farris; Aldo Calcante; Anna Spinardi; Enrico Ferrari; Ilaria Mignani; Roberto Oberti; Antonio Ferrante. Evaluation of Borage Extracts As Potential Biostimulant Using a Phenomic, Agronomic, Physiological, and Biochemical Approach. Frontiers in Plant Science 2017, 8, 1 .

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Silvia Morgutti, Giacomo Cocetta, Noemi Negrini, Stefano Farris, Aldo Calcante, Anna Spinardi, Enrico Ferrari, Ilaria Mignani, Roberto Oberti, Antonio Ferrante. Evaluation of Borage Extracts As Potential Biostimulant Using a Phenomic, Agronomic, Physiological, and Biochemical Approach. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2017; 8 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Silvia Morgutti; Giacomo Cocetta; Noemi Negrini; Stefano Farris; Aldo Calcante; Anna Spinardi; Enrico Ferrari; Ilaria Mignani; Roberto Oberti; Antonio Ferrante. 2017. "Evaluation of Borage Extracts As Potential Biostimulant Using a Phenomic, Agronomic, Physiological, and Biochemical Approach." Frontiers in Plant Science 8, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 25 January 2017 in The European Physical Journal Plus
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In recent years, there is a growing interest for vegetables production in indoor or disadvantaged climatic zones by using greenhouses. The main problem of crop growing indoor or in environment with limited light availability is the correct choice of light source and the quality of lighting spectrum. In greenhouse and indoor cultivations, plant density is higher than in the open field and plants have to compete for light and nutrients. Nowadays, advanced systems for indoor horticulture use light emitting diodes (LED) for improving crop growth, enhancing the plant productivity and favouring the best nutritional quality formation. In closed environments, as indoor growing modules, the lighting system represents the only source of light and its features are fundamental for obtaining the best lighting performances for plant and the most efficient solution. LED lighting engines are more efficient compared to the lighting sources used traditionally in horticulture and allow light spectrum and intensity modulations to enhance the light use efficiency for plants. The lighting distribution and the digital controls are fundamental for tailoring the spectral distribution on each plant in specific moments of its growth and play an important role for optimizing growth and produce high-quality vegetables. LED lights can increase plant growth and yield, but also nutraceutical quality, since some light intensities increase pigments biosynthesis and enhance the antioxidants content of leaves or fruits: in this regards the selection of LED primary light sources in relation to the peaks of the absorbance curve of the plants is important.

ACS Style

Giacomo Cocetta; Daria Casciani; Roberta Bulgari; Fulvio Musante; Anna Kołton; Maurizio Rossi; Antonio Ferrante. Light use efficiency for vegetables production in protected and indoor environments. The European Physical Journal Plus 2017, 132, 43 .

AMA Style

Giacomo Cocetta, Daria Casciani, Roberta Bulgari, Fulvio Musante, Anna Kołton, Maurizio Rossi, Antonio Ferrante. Light use efficiency for vegetables production in protected and indoor environments. The European Physical Journal Plus. 2017; 132 (1):43.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giacomo Cocetta; Daria Casciani; Roberta Bulgari; Fulvio Musante; Anna Kołton; Maurizio Rossi; Antonio Ferrante. 2017. "Light use efficiency for vegetables production in protected and indoor environments." The European Physical Journal Plus 132, no. 1: 43.

Research articles
Published: 24 November 2016 in New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science
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Microgreens are gaining interest for claimed high nutraceutical properties, but data on their chemical composition are so far limited. Although often grown hydroponically, their mineral requirements are still unknown. This study aimed to provide an insight into yield, mineral uptake, and quality of basil, Swiss chard, and rocket microgreens grown in a hydroponic system. With reference to data reported in literature for the same species hydroponically grown but harvested at adult stage, these microgreens yielded about half, with lower dry matter percentage, but higher shoot/root ratio. They showed high concentrations of some minerals, but their nutrient uptake was limited due to low yield. Nitrates content was lower if compared with that usually measured in baby leaf or adult vegetables of the same species, as well as the concentration of chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenols, and sugars. Therefore, microgreens seem to be interesting and innovative low-nitrate-salad crops requiring low fertiliser inputs. Nevertheless, an improvement in yield as well as in the content of nutraceutical compounds would be desirable.

ACS Style

Roberta Bulgari; Ada Baldi; Antonio Ferrante; Anna Lenzi. Yield and quality of basil, Swiss chard, and rocket microgreens grown in a hydroponic system. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 2016, 45, 119 -129.

AMA Style

Roberta Bulgari, Ada Baldi, Antonio Ferrante, Anna Lenzi. Yield and quality of basil, Swiss chard, and rocket microgreens grown in a hydroponic system. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science. 2016; 45 (2):119-129.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roberta Bulgari; Ada Baldi; Antonio Ferrante; Anna Lenzi. 2016. "Yield and quality of basil, Swiss chard, and rocket microgreens grown in a hydroponic system." New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 45, no. 2: 119-129.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2016 in Science of The Total Environment
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The Euro-Mediterranean area is the seat of a relevant greenhouse activity, meeting the needs of important markets. A quantitative assessment of greenhouse energy consumption and of its variability in space and time is an important decision support tool for both greenhouse-sector policies and farmers. A mathematical model of greenhouse energy balance was developed and parameterized for a state-of-the-art greenhouse to evaluate the heating requirements for vegetables growing. Tomato was adopted as reference crop, due to its high energy requirement for fruit setting and ripening and its economic relevance. In order to gain a proper description of the Euro-Mediterranean area, 56 greenhouse areas located within the ranges 28°N-72°N and 11°W-55°E were analyzed over the period 1973-2014. Moreover, the two 1973-1987 and 1988-2014 sub-periods were separately studied to describe climate change effects on energy consumption. Results account for the spatial variability of energy needs for tomato growing, highlighting the strong influence of latitude on the magnitude of heat requirements. The comparison between the two selected sub-periods shows a decrease of energy demand in the current warm phase, more relevant for high latitudes. Finally, suggestions to reduce energy consumptions are provided.

ACS Style

Luigi Mariani; Gabriele Cola; Roberta Bulgari; Antonio Ferrante; Livia Martinetti. Space and time variability of heating requirements for greenhouse tomato production in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Science of The Total Environment 2016, 562, 834 -844.

AMA Style

Luigi Mariani, Gabriele Cola, Roberta Bulgari, Antonio Ferrante, Livia Martinetti. Space and time variability of heating requirements for greenhouse tomato production in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Science of The Total Environment. 2016; 562 ():834-844.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luigi Mariani; Gabriele Cola; Roberta Bulgari; Antonio Ferrante; Livia Martinetti. 2016. "Space and time variability of heating requirements for greenhouse tomato production in the Euro-Mediterranean area." Science of The Total Environment 562, no. : 834-844.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2015 in Food Chemistry
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Ready-to-eat fresh cut produce are exposed to pre- and postharvest abiotic stresses during the production chain. Our work aimed to identify stress responsive genes as new molecular markers of quality that can be widely applied to leaves and fruits and easily determined at any stage of the production chain. Stress responsive genes associated with quality losses were isolated in rocket and melon fresh-cut produce and their expression levels analyzed by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) at different time points after harvest at 20 °C and 4 °C. qRT-PCR results were supported by correlation analysis with physiological and biochemical determinations evaluated at the same conditions such as chlorophyll a fluorescence indices, total, reducing sugars, sucrose, ethylene, ascorbic acid, lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species. In both species the putative molecular markers increased their expression soon after harvest suggesting a possible use as novel and objective quality markers of fresh-cut produces.

ACS Style

Marina Cavaiuolo; Giacomo Cocetta; Roberta Bulgari; Anna Spinardi; Antonio Ferrante. Identification of innovative potential quality markers in rocket and melon fresh-cut produce. Food Chemistry 2015, 188, 225 -233.

AMA Style

Marina Cavaiuolo, Giacomo Cocetta, Roberta Bulgari, Anna Spinardi, Antonio Ferrante. Identification of innovative potential quality markers in rocket and melon fresh-cut produce. Food Chemistry. 2015; 188 ():225-233.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marina Cavaiuolo; Giacomo Cocetta; Roberta Bulgari; Anna Spinardi; Antonio Ferrante. 2015. "Identification of innovative potential quality markers in rocket and melon fresh-cut produce." Food Chemistry 188, no. : 225-233.