Giuseppe Barbera

Past and present role of the Indian-fig prickly-pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller, Cactaceae) in the agriculture of sicily

Of prickly-pear cacti occurring in Sicily, the most widespread and economically important isOpuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. In Sicily it has, since its introduction, played an important role in the exploitation of marginal areas. The Sicilian experience is described with reference to the historical outlines and the present intensive production of late fruit. Information on historical and actual uses of the plant and its products (flowers, cladodes, fruits) is given.AbstractEntre los nopales que se pueden encontrar en Sicilia la mas difundida es laOpuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. Esta especie desde hace su introduccìon ha sido la mas disfrutada en las explotaciones de las zonas marginales. En este trabajo los Autores refiren sobre la historia y sobre la actual situacion productiva, finalisada a la producion de higos de retallo. Se refire tambien sobre su uso y sus productos (flores, cladodios, frutos).

Physical, morphological and chemical changes during fruit development and ripening in three cultivars of prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller

Late ripening fruits of prickly pear cvs Gialla, Rossa and Bianca took 80-90 days from flowering to harvestable maturity. A decrease in fruit growth rate occurred from 30 to about 60 d after flowering, during the period of seeds development and hardening. The fruit continued to grow both on a fresh and dry weight basis until maturity. The greatest development of the core occurred from 50 d after flowering. During the same period there were consistent changes in biochemical activity: the total sugar content and the total soluble sugars (TSS) sharply increased whilst the fruit firmness and the total tritratable acids (TTA) decreased. Fruits reached the optimum maturity stage when TSS reached a “steady state” over 13% Brix; this stage corresponds to the period of peel colour breakage. From 90 d after flowering onwards the fruits became tender and unsuitable for processing and storage. At that stage the peel was fully coloured.

Research strategies for the improvement of cactuspear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit quality and production

Abstract Cactus pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica L.) is cultivated worldwide for fruit production either in the subsistence agriculture of dryland areas or as a cash crop. However, little horticultural research has been devoted to this species so far. Research needs related to reproductive biology as well as productivity and orchard management are outlined. A better knowledge of the environmental influence on reproductive biology and fruit quality, the control of fluctuations in plant cropping, as well as the reduction of seed number and size, are the major challenges for future research. Cactus pear will transcend the ethnical markets only if adequate marketing strategies can be promoted and fruit quality enhanced and standardized.

Seed content and fruit characteristics in cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.)

Abstract A positive correlation between seed content (number and weight) and fruit weight has been determined for summer and late fruits of the two major Italian cultivars of Opuntia ficus-indica , ‘Gialla’ and ‘Rossa’. In late ripening fruits, the number of aborted seeds was not related to fruit and core weight. The bigger size of the late fruits is related to a higher seed number.

An Inventory Approach to the Assessment of Main Traditional Landscapes in Sicily (Central Mediterranean Basin)

Abstract EU policy for the conservation of cultural landscapes is of particular importance for a region such as Sicily (Italy) which is the site of many Mediterranean traditional cultural landscapes as well as new landscapes created by contemporary agriculture. Such variety of landscape, however, is not supported or confirmed by specialised inventories that identify and classify the typical Main Traditional Landscape (MTL). On the basis of these considerations, the objective of the present paper is to draw up a preliminary inventory and present a brief characterisation of MTLs in Sicily, in line with the multidisciplinary experiences and approaches implemented at European and national levels. In defining the typological units, the terminology used to identify Sicilian MTLs was modified by experiences developed on the mainland, with entries such as: bocage/semi-bocage, coltura promiscua, Mediterranean open field, mountain landscape, huerta and terrace landscape. Using different spatialised data layers, including those concerned with the main historical processes of land use and land use change, a total of eight MTLs have been detected, mapped, and concisely described. The distribution and importance of terracing systems within the different MTLs is highlighted as one of the most relevant traditional elements in the rural scenario.

The effect of different amounts of cladode removal on reflowering of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller)

SummaryThe removal of the spring flush of flowers and cladodes at bloom promotes reflowering in cactus pear. Studies were conducted to investigate the influence of different amounts of spring flush cladode removal (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%) on cactus pear reflowering. A positive linear correlation between the severity of spring flush cladode removal and the degree of reflowering was found. Primary (spring flush) and secondary (second flush) cladodes showed the same fertility in the year after formation. Two year old cladodes showed a significantly lower fertility and have only a marginal effect on plant yield.

Storage response of cactus pear fruit to CaCl(2) preharvest spray and postharvest heat treatment

SummaryCactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. cv. Gialla) were treated ten weeks after full bloom with 2% CaCl2 solution and heated at 38°C for 24 h under saturated humidity after harvest. The two treatments were also combined before storage at 6°C for 42 d plus three additional days at 20°C to simulate retail conditions. Control fruit were untreated with CaCl2 and unheated. CaCl2 treatment delayed the appearance of the typical colour of ripe fruit, decreased the rate of fruit weight loss during simulated marketing and significantly inhibited pathogen development by the end of cold storage and subsequent simulated marketing period (SMP) but significantly promoted the appearance of chilling injury (CI) during SMP. Prestorage heat treatment (HT) reduced rot development during cold storage and after, reduced chilling injury incidence during storage and reduced the decline in overall appearance. The combined treatments (CaCl2 + HT) did not exhibit advantages in mould decay control as compared with HT a...

The Halaesa landscape (III B.C.) as ancient example of the complex and bio-diverse traditional Mediterranean polycultural landscape

ABSTRACT Southern Europe and the whole Mediterranean area are distinguished by landscape types whose characters result from countless, long and complex cultural and historical processes that developed in an equally complex and varied environment. The Mediterranean rural landscape would keep these same distinctive characteristics until the crisis of the mixed crops, and the phenomena of urbanisation in the1960s/70s. This paper identifies the characteristics of the Mediterranean polycultural and polyspecific (coltura promiscua) landscape, characterised by the presence of trees (both wild and cultivated), starting from a historical overview of the central Mediterranean. The analysed case-study of the Halaesa landscape (Sicily), as one of the first historical detailed descriptions of a complex Mediterranean cultural landscape, is the result of a polycultural agro-silvo-pastoral system which guarantees complexity and richness (in terms of structural and biological diversity), as well as with reference to others environmental, cultural and economic multi-functionality. The analysis of these polycultural landscapes reveals a rich spatial configuration and the patchiness of the land mosaic. The presence of historical features, of traditional crops and land use, of traditional land management, and the conservation of the rural architecture and other material cultural heritage related to agricultural activity, as well as the non-material cultural heritage, are particularly important aspects considered by international and European organisations towards their valorisation and conservation. The pressure on these landscapes and their rapid transformation into more modern forms call out for a better knowledge of the more complex forms of traditional land use and their relative rural landscapes.

Effect of cladode shading on growth and ripening of fruits of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Miller)

SummaryFruiting cladodes of O. ficus-indica were covered with shade nets at different stages of the fruit development period to study the effect of the time and duration of shade on fruit growth, ripening time and harvest quality. Shading the fruiting cladodes 0, 15 and 30 d after full bloom (DAB) for a period of 15, 30, 45, 60 or 75 d significantly reduced fruit growth and ultimate harvest size. The longer the shading period the greater was the reduction of harvest fruit size. The greatest reduction of fruit growth (30%) occurred when the fruiting cladodes were shaded from bloom to harvest. Differences in growth rate beween fruits on shaded or sunlit cladodes begun to appear at 30 DAB and increased during the final swell of fruit development. The reduction of fruit growth lasted even after the removal of the shade fabric. Cladode shade resulted in a consistent delay of fruit ripening when the shading period exceeded 15 d. Soluble solids and firmness of the fruit were not significantly affected by cladode...

The Traditional Mediterranean Polycultural Landscape as Cultural Heritage: Its Origin and Historical Importance, Its Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Complexity and the Necessity for Its Identification and Inventory

Today, the Mediterranean is characterized by landscape patterns whose compositions result from countless, long and complex cultural and historical processes. However, the pressure on these landscapes and their rapid transformation into more modern forms call out for a better knowledge of the more complex forms of traditional land use and relative landscapes. In this context, an identification and clarification of the role of such mixed and complex forms of agro-forestry systems and landscapes, named “giardino Mediterraneo” (“Mediterranean garden”) is necessary. This term is often applied to and associated with numerous different agricultural and agro-forestry systems as well as to numerous different kinds of rural landscapes, due to the complex and intricate historical process that has led to their identification and cultural evolution over time. This study identifies the characteristics of the polycultural and polyspecific Mediterranean garden’s landscape, characterized by the presence of trees (both wild and cultivated), starting from a historical overview of Sicily. The analysed Halaesa landscape (Sicily) case study, as one of the first historical detailed description of a complex Mediterranean cultural landscape, is the result of a polycultural agro-silvo-pastoral system which guarantees complexity and richness (in terms of structural and biological diversity), as well as with reference to others environmental, cultural and economic multifunctionality. However, a comparison with the typological systems currently used for the cataloguing and mapping of traditional Mediterranean landscapes at different scales shows the transversal importance of polycultural Mediterranean garden landscapes, and demonstrates how much a better definition and characterization of them is needed.