Chiara Ferracini

Prof. Dr. Chiara Ferracini

University of Torino, Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

22Years (2005-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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6 March 2021 in Insects
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Monica VercelliMonica Vercelli
Monica Vercelli
SNSilvia Novelli
Silvia Novelli
PFPaola Ferrazzi
Paola Ferrazzi
GLGiada Lentini
Giada Lentini
CFChiara Ferracini
Chiara Ferracini
(1) Background: Bees are the primary animal pollinators in most ecosystems, and honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are important providers of pollination ecosystem services and products. Climate change is one of the major threats for honey bees. (2) Objectives and methods: Qualitative research using focus group discussions was carried out in northwestern Italy, to investigate the beekeepers’ perceptions of climate change effects, the relevant management adaptations, and the main issues affecting the sector. (3) Results: Beekeepers reported several consequences related to severe weather events (weakening or loss of colonies; scarcity of nectar, pollen, and honeydew; decrease or lack of honey and other bee products; greater infestation by varroa; decline in pollination), making it necessary to provide supplemental sugar feeding, intensive transhumance, more effective and sustainable techniques for varroa control, and increased production of nuclei. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was completed, displaying the factors able to strengthen or weaken the resilience of the beekeeping sector to climate change. (4) Conclusions: Thanks to their strong motivation and collaborative attitude, beekeepers succeed in adopting farm and bee hive adaptation strategies that are able to limit the climatic adverse effects. However, these findings highlight how the institutional and financial support for the beekeeping sector should be strengthened and better targeted.

1 August 2012 in Journal of Economic Entomology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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CFChiara Ferracini
Chiara Ferracini
BIBarbara Letizia Ingegno
Barbara Letizia Ingegno
PNPaolo Navone
Paolo Navone
EFEster Ferrari
Ester Ferrari
MMMarco Mosti
Marco Mosti
AAAlberto Alma
Alberto Alma
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a serious threat to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crops in South America. In Europe, after its first de

13 January 2019 in Biocontrol Science and Technology
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Journal Article
Closed access
CFChiara Ferracini
Chiara Ferracini
VBVanda H. P. Bueno
Vanda H. P. Bueno
MDMaria Luisa Dindo
Maria Luisa Dindo
BIBarbara L. Ingegno
Barbara L. Ingegno
MLMaría G. Luna
María G. Luna
LTLuciana Tavella
Luciana Tavella
The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) represents a global threat to commercial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production, both in open field and greenhouse. Native to South America, it spread over the Mediterranean Basin, Europe, Africa and part of Asia in only 12 years, and currently it is reported in over 80 countries. Biological control is one of the options for its control and a large number of natural enemies has been reported in association with the pest, both in the areas of origin and of introduction. The egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum, in South America, and the mirid predators Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis, in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, are used as commercial biocontrol agents. Even if several natural enemies might be promising candidates for biocontrol, their potential role in quantitative pest reduction has been seldom established under practical tomato production conditions. Since climatic suitability indices predict a high probability for continued invasion by T. absoluta, mainly in China and the USA, there is an urgent need for new control options. In order to minimise the use of broad spectrum insecticides, biocontrol techniques should be considered. As tomato is produced seasonally, augmentative biocontrol seems to be the most effective control option, but pest reduction might be optimised by adding conservation biocontrol, and by combining biocontrol within IPM programmes. Here, an overview of predators and parasitoids of T. absoluta in South American and Euro-Mediterranean regions, and their biological control efficacy under laboratory, semi-field and field conditions is provided.

4 April 2012 in Insect Conservation and Diversity
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Journal Article
Closed access
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AQAmbra Quacchia
Ambra Quacchia
CFChiara Ferracini
Chiara Ferracini
JNJames A. Nicholls
James A. Nicholls
EPEnzo Piazza
Enzo Piazza
MSMatteo A. Saladini
Matteo A. Saladini
AAAlberto Alma
Alberto Alma

1 November 2013 in Biological Control
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
BIB.L. Ingegno
B.L. Ingegno
CFChiara Ferracini
Chiara Ferracini
DGD. Gallinotti
D. Gallinotti
AAA. Alma
A. Alma
LTL. Tavella
L. Tavella

23 May 2018 in Journal of Pest Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
CFChiara Ferracini
Chiara Ferracini
EFEster Ferrari
Ester Ferrari
MPMarianna Pontini
Marianna Pontini
MSMatteo A. Saladini
Matteo A. Saladini
AAAlberto Alma
Alberto Alma