Papers by Riccardo Lo Bianco
Horticulturae, 2025
Soil and water pollution caused by excessive use of fertilizers and resource scarcity are critica... more Soil and water pollution caused by excessive use of fertilizers and resource scarcity are critical issues in modern horticulture. Although laboratory tests are reliable, they take time and use chemical reagents that must be disposed of and complex protocols. Monitoring plant nutrient status through technologies that allow continuous and rapid assessment is crucial for precise resource management. Several proximal and remote sensors that use different physico-chemical principles to monitor plant nutrient status are available nowadays. However, these technologies still have important operative and structural limitations that must be overcome. The aim of this review is to summarize the current status and latest developments in proximal and remote sensors capable of monitoring plant and soil nutrients, focusing on sensor types, principles, applications, and their strengths and weaknesses. Electrochemical proximal sensors allow continuous monitoring of nutrients in the plant sap or in the soil solution but work on a single spot basis. Instruments based on optical sensors allow immediate measurements and quick analysis, but do not work on a continuous basis. On the other hand, remote sensors, such as drone-mounted cameras and satellite systems, are based on large-area imaging and can be used to estimate crop nutrient status by processing images at different wavelengths. Finally, combining proximal and remote techniques may be needed to achieve very accurate monitoring of plant and nutrient status.
Horticulturae, May 16, 2024
Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, making the efficient ma... more Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, making the efficient management of water resources essential for sustainable crop production. The assessment of plant water status is crucial for understanding plant physiological responses to water stress and optimizing water management practices in agriculture. Proximal and remote sensing techniques have emerged as powerful tools for the non-destructive, efficient, and spatially extensive monitoring of plant water status. This review aims to examine the recent advancements in proximal and remote sensing methodologies utilized for assessing the water status, consumption, and irrigation needs of fruit tree crops. Several proximal sensing tools have proved useful in the continuous estimation of tree water status but have strong limitations in terms of spatial variability. On the contrary, remote sensing technologies, although less precise in terms of water status estimates, can easily cover from medium to large areas with drone or satellite images. The integration of proximal and remote sensing would definitely improve plant water status assessment, resulting in higher accuracy by integrating temporal and spatial scales. This paper consists of three parts: the first part covers current plant-based proximal sensing tools, the second part covers remote sensing techniques, and the third part includes an update on the on the combined use of the two methodologies.
Frontiers in artificial intelligence, Apr 25, 2024
Food and nutrition are a steadfast essential to all living organisms. With specific reference to ... more Food and nutrition are a steadfast essential to all living organisms. With specific reference to humans, the sufficient and efficient supply of food is a challenge as the world population continues to grow. Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be identified as a plausible technology in this 5th industrial revolution in bringing us closer to achieving zero hunger by 2030-Goal 2 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). This goal cannot be achieved unless the digital divide among developed and underdeveloped countries is addressed. Nevertheless, developing and underdeveloped regions fall behind in economic resources; however, they harbor untapped potential to effectively address the impending demands posed by the soaring world population. Therefore, this study explores the in-depth potential of AI in the agriculture sector for developing and under-developed countries. Similarly, it aims to emphasize the proven efficiency and spin-off applications of AI in the advancement of agriculture. Currently, AI is being utilized in various spheres of agriculture, including but not limited to crop surveillance, irrigation management, disease identification, fertilization practices, task automation, image manipulation, data processing, yield forecasting, supply chain optimization, implementation of decision support system (DSS), weed control, and the enhancement of resource utilization. Whereas AI supports food safety and security by ensuring higher crop yields that are acquired by harnessing the potential of multi-temporal remote sensing (RS) techniques to accurately discern diverse crop phenotypes, monitor land cover dynamics,
CABI eBooks, Nov 26, 2023
Frontiers in Plant Science, Dec 19, 2023
Acta horticulturae, Feb 1, 2007
V-shape systems represent an efficient and popular option to increase yields and fruit quality. H... more V-shape systems represent an efficient and popular option to increase yields and fruit quality. Here we present a detailed study on canopy and root system growth and conformation, yields, fruit quality and dry matter partitioning of 'Conference' (C) and 'Williams' (W) pear trees trained to V-shape system. Digital images were used to determine total stem and root length, mean diameter and surface area; canopy and root system spread area, shape index and volume, canopy height and root depth. Dry weights were used to calculate dry matter partitioning. Stems of W trees were longer and thinner than those of C, which resulted in similar stem dry weights for the two cultivars, whereas root dry weight of W was greater than C due to greater diameter. W canopies were also taller, wider, and occupied a larger volume than C canopies, but similar for length density (length/volume) and roundness of spread area. C root systems were shallower, wider, and similar to W root systems for volume, length density and roundness of spread area. W trees also had larger leaf area and leaf/root surface ratio than C trees. W trees produced higher yields than C trees, but exhibited the same fruit weight per unit leaf area. C fruit flesh was firmer than W fruit flesh, suggesting a different degree of ripeness between the two cultivars. Despite adjustment for the degree of ripeness, W fruit was bigger, but less sweet and more acidic than C fruit. C trees partitioned a greater proportion of dry matter to stems, a similar proportion to roots, and a smaller proportion to leaves and fruit than W trees. In the early stages of orchard life, W trees represent a generally more efficient option for pear cultivation using V-shape systems.
Acta horticulturae, Jun 1, 2021
Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology, 2003
... INIST Diffusion. 2, Allée du Parc de Brabois F-54514 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex France Phone:... more ... INIST Diffusion. 2, Allée du Parc de Brabois F-54514 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex France Phone: +33 (0)3 83 50 46 64 Fax: +33 (0)3 83 50 46 66. ... Auteur(s) / Author(s). LO BIANCO R. ; POLICARPO M. ; SCARIANO L. ; Résumé / Abstract. ...
Acta horticulturae, Nov 1, 2017
In this study, some of the relevant biometric and physiological changes that Olive Leaf Yellowing... more In this study, some of the relevant biometric and physiological changes that Olive Leaf Yellowing associated Virus (OLYaV) may cause in olive were investigated. The trial was carried out on 32 two-year-old virus-free trees of cv. Frantoio grafted on olive seedlings and grown in 32-l pots. One half of the trees was inoculated with OLYaV in fall 2007. At 6, 18, and 24 months after inoculation, tree height, basal trunk diameter and total leaf number were determined, and leaf area per tree was estimated from a 50-leaf subsample. Twigs of various order were also counted and measured. At the end of the experiment, dry matter partitioning, leaf gas exchange and water potential were also measured. Total twig length and number, trunk diameter and leaf area were significantly reduced by OLYaV, whereas no effect was detected on tree height. Water potential was lower in virus free trees due to a greater leaf area; gas exchange rates were proportional to water status. Trees affected by OLYaV partitioned more dry matter to roots and less to the main stem compared to virus-free trees. The observed growth reductions cannot be explained by differences in water relations or assimilation, but may relate to the sink's ability to attract and/or use assimilates.
Acta horticulturae, Sep 1, 2019
Conventional irrigation management is often inefficient in responding to seasonal changes of tree... more Conventional irrigation management is often inefficient in responding to seasonal changes of tree water needs. The use of leaf- and fruit-based sensors might provide helpful insights on tree water status, although they have been poorly investigated so far. Fruit gauges and leaf patch clamp pressure (LPCP) probes were tested during stage I of nectarine fruit growth to evaluate if leaf turgor pressure and fruit size may serve as indicators of water deficit. This experiment was carried out in the 2017/18 season. Four irrigation levels were applied to \u2018September Bright\u2019 nectarine trees (100, 40, 20 and 0% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc) and data were collected during stage I of fruit growth. Tree size, fruit doubling, leaf chlorophyll concentration, stomatal conductance (gs), stem water potential (\u3a8stem), fruit diameter and canopy light interception were measured. Fruit gauges and LPCP probes were mounted on trees for a week interval in the second half of fruit growth stage I. Sensor outputs were expressed as fruit diameter and attenuated pressure of leaf patches (pp). Fruit diameter was reduced in deficit irrigated trees. As expected, gs and \u3a8stem responded to irrigation inputs. Continuous fruit diameter and pp were found to be both sensitive to water deficit, although they require different analytical approaches for data interpretation. Results of this study suggest that nectarine fruit growth and leaf turgor pressure can be used independently as continuous indicators of plant water status
Acta horticulturae, Dec 1, 2016
The most important problem in world citrus production is the bacterial disease Huanglongbing (HLB... more The most important problem in world citrus production is the bacterial disease Huanglongbing (HLB; greening) which is caused by a phloem-limited bacterium that is vectored by a phloem-feeding psyllid. The earliest visible symptoms of HLB in leaves are an asymmetrical chlorosis referred to as "blotchy mottle", thought to be from starch accumulation from a phloem dysfunction and a decline in root health. We tested the hypothesis that such visible symptoms are not unique to HLB by stemgirdling two year-old seedling trees of 'Cleopatra' mandarin and 'Swingle' citrumelo rootstocks in the greenhouse. Girdling induced a 4-fold greater starch concentration in leaves on well-watered trees while starch in woody roots of girdled trees decreased up to 19 fold relative to non-girdled trees. Drought stress cycles induced some starch accumulation in non-girdled roots but there were no effects of drought stress on root starch in girdled trees. Girdling reduced leaf transpiration in well-watered trees. Leaves on girdled trees clearly had HLB-like visible blotchy mottle symptoms but no visible symptoms developed on non-girdled trees. The up to 40% increase in leaf starch increased leaf dr wt per leaf area (DW/LA) and consequently reduced many leaf nutrients on a leaf DW basis. Most of these differences disappeared when expressed on a LA basis except for the girdle-induced decreases of leaf phosphorous and sulphur. Leaf boron (B) was inversely related to leaf starch when both were expressed on a LA basis. In the absence of HLB, girdling increased leaf starch, decreased root starch, and duplicated the asymmetric blotchy mottled visual leaf symptoms that have been associated with HLB-infected trees.
Acta horticulturae, Nov 1, 2018
In Italy, the evaluation of rootstocks is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and carried ou... more In Italy, the evaluation of rootstocks is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and carried out in a network of trials along the country. This study evaluated growth and yield performance of the 'Big Top' nectarine and the 'Rome Star' peach grafted on six rootstocks of different origin and vigor, namely GF677 (the most widespread in Italy), Garnem, Adesoto, RootPac ® 20, RootPac ® 40, and RootPac ® 90, in three different locations, Castelvetrano (Sicily), Forlì and Cesena (Emilia-Romagna). Yield, number of fruits, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), average fruit weight, flesh firmness, soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) were determined at the third leaf (2015). In all sites, trees on GF677, Garnem, and RootPac ® 90 were the most vigorous, and trees on RootPac ® 40 (-40 to-51% of GF677 TCSA) and RootPac ® 20 (-48 to-60% of GF677 TCSA) the least vigorous. In Castelvetrano, trees on Adesoto and RootPac ® 20 matured fruit slightly earlier than trees on other rootstocks; trees on RootPac ® 40 were the most productive and yield efficient, followed closely by trees on Adesoto and RootPac ® 20, the latter exhibiting the highest SSC; yield differences were mainly due to differences in fruit weight rather than in fruit number. In Emilia-Romagna, yield was directly related to tree vigor, with trees on GF677 being the most productive. In this case, yield differences were mainly due to differences in the number of fruits. Yield efficiency was also higher in the most vigorous trees, with the only exception of RootPac ® 40, which combined a size-controlling effect with high yield efficiency and large fruit size. While GF677 confirmed a good yield performance, RootPac ® 40 seems promising for highdensity plantings, as it associates high yield efficiency and reduced tree vigor.
The Journal of Agricultural Science, Jun 2, 2011
The effects of partial rootzone drying (PRD) and rootstock vigour on dry matter accumulation and ... more The effects of partial rootzone drying (PRD) and rootstock vigour on dry matter accumulation and partitioning among leaves, shoots, fruits, frame and roots of apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh. cvar Pink Lady) were investigated in 2005 near Caltavuturo, in Sicily. In a first field trial, trees on MM.106 rootstock were subjected to: conventional irrigation (CI), maintaining soil moisture above 0•80 of field capacity; PRD irrigation, where alternating sides of the rootzone received 0•50 of the CI irrigation water; and continuous deficit irrigation (DI), where 0•50 of the CI water was equally applied to both sides of the rootzone. In a second trial, trees on M.9 or MM.106 were subjected to CI and PRD irrigation. In trial 1, dry matter accumulation was markedly reduced by DI irrigation and to a lesser extent by PRD; PRD trees partitioned 20% less to leaves, 31% less to fruits and 24% more to woody components than CI trees; DI trees partitioned 14% less to current shoots and 18% more to fruits than CI and had the highest fruit:leaf ratio. In trial 2, there was no interaction between rootstock and irrigation treatments. MM.106 induced greater leaf, shoot, frame and root dry weights (DWs) than M.9, resulting in more vegetative growth and larger trees. PRD reduced leaf, shoot, frame and fruit DWs, while root DWs were similar to CI, and thus PRD trees were 18% smaller than CI trees. Neither rootstock nor irrigation affected dry matter partitioning among organs or root:canopy ratio, whereas PRD trees or trees on MM.106 showed better water use efficiency than CI and M.9, respectively. The results show that PRD trees did not activate drought tolerance strategies in terms of dry matter allocation that could improve acquisition of water resources, regardless of rootstock. PRD irrigation increased above-ground dry matter partitioning towards woody components at the expense of leaves and fruits.
The handbook provides various descriptions and reading passages containing technical terms useful... more The handbook provides various descriptions and reading passages containing technical terms useful to study, investigate and work in the field of agricultural sciences and technologies. It is specifically designed for students and operators in agriculture who are not native English speakers. The text provides clear and easy descriptions of objects, mechanisms or biological entities used or found in some important agricultural activities. When a direct description or definition is not given in the text, specific hand drawings are provided and become the perfect aid for understanding the technical terms or concepts. Several technical terms specific to the different areas of agriculture (botany, plant physiology, the environment, irrigation, engineering, farming systems, insects and pathogens, etc.) are reported in boldface to facilitate the reader\u2019s focus. The book was meant to be a dynamic tool, to be continuously updated by volunteer contributions from all colleagues and professionals in the various areas of agricultural sciences and technologies. Indeed, in this second edition, an entire chapter on processing wheat into pasta and several pictures on various other topics have been added
Acta horticulturae, Dec 1, 2014
A three-year trial was carried out to evaluate the vegetative and productive performance of five ... more A three-year trial was carried out to evaluate the vegetative and productive performance of five peach rootstocks of varied vigor. The study was conducted in southwestern Sicily using 45 V-trained trees of 'Tropic Snow' peach planted in 2005 and grafted on GF677 and four low-vigor rootstocks selected at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa, namely IS5/8 (Polluce), IS5/19 (Castore), IS5/23, IS5/29. Trunk circumference, winter and summer pruning weight, number and mass of fruit were recorded from 2010 to 2012. All IS selections reduced trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and pruning weight compared to GF677 with IS5/23 inducing the highest reduction of TCSA by 2012. Yield efficiency was increased by all IS selections but IS5/29, with IS5/23 the most efficient. Trees on IS5/23 exhibited 15-25% reductions of crop load and yield, whereas only IS5/29 induced fruit size similar to GF677. Overall, all low-vigor rootstocks performed well, and in particular IS5/29 exhibited a good compromise between growth reduction and yield while maintaining good fruit size. The most dwarfing IS5/23 may represent a valid alternative to GF677 for very intensive peach plantings in dry Mediterranean areas.
Hortscience, Jun 1, 1998
Activities of major sorbitol and sucrose metabolizing enzymes and carbohydrate contents were foll... more Activities of major sorbitol and sucrose metabolizing enzymes and carbohydrate contents were followed during the growth season of `Encore&#39; peach fruits and developing shoot tips. In fruit flesh, sucrose synthase (SS) was present during stage I of growth, when cells are actively dividing, and NAD+-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) during stage III, when cells enlarge actively. Acid invertase (AI) revealed the best correlation with relative growth rate (RGR) of fruits during the entire season. Activities of all carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes were not detectable in fruit flesh during seed filling and pit hardening, when RGR of fruits was the slowest. The highest content of sucrose was in concert with low levels of sucrose metabolizing enzyme activities toward the end of fruit development. In shoot tips, SDH had low activity at the beginning and end of the season when vegetative growth was slowest and a 2:1 sorbitol: sucrose ratio was present. Mid-growing season was, on the other hand, characterized by an increase in SDH activity and a 1:1 sorbitol: sucrose ratio. In `Nemaguard&#39; seedlings, only SDH activity showed a positive correlation with shoot growth. Also, in root tips of `Nemaguard&#39; seedlings SDH exhibited its highest activity, even higher than AI activity in the same roots. We concluded that in peach sucrose may represent the major carbon form used for fruit growth, while sorbitol seems to play a predominant role in vegetative growth.
Acta Horticulturae, 2021
Little is known about the best diurnal irrigation timing for maximum fruit growth in stone fruit,... more Little is known about the best diurnal irrigation timing for maximum fruit growth in stone fruit, despite fruit size being the most important focus for growers to achieve maximum marketable yield. This study investigated the effects of morning and afternoon irrigation on nectarine fruit growth in stage I (cell division) and stage III (cell expansion). In the 2017/18 season, \\u2018September Bright\\u2019 trees were subjected to morning (Iam) and afternoon (Ipm) irrigations. Fruit diameter was monitored continuously (15-min intervals) using fruit gauges and converted into fruit weight, relative growth rate (RGR) and fruit growth efficiency (FGE), with the latter representing RGR per unit of crop water supply (irrigation + rainfall). Irrigation timing affected FGE in opposite fashions during stage I and III. In stage I, maximum FGE occurred in days of Iam, whereas in stage III in days of Ipm. The different observations in the two stages were strongly influenced by the effect of crop evapotranspiration on FGE but were likely dependent on other factors such as stage-specific vascular activity, sugar and starch content and fruit advancement in phenology phases. Overall, this study suggests that optimal irrigation management needs to consider irrigation timing at sub-daily scales in conjunction with stage-specific irrigation strategies
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Papers by Riccardo Lo Bianco
In this study, the productive evaluation of peach trees grafted on six rootstocks of different vigor from three different locations, Castelvetrano (Sicily), Forlì (Emilia-Romagna) and Cesena (Emilia-Romagna) is reported. In Castelvetrano and Cesena, rootstocks GF677 (Prunus persica x P. dulcis) and Garnem (P. dulcis x P. persica), Adesoto (P. insititia), Rootpac-20 (P. besseyi x P. cerasifera), Rootpac-40 [(P. persica x P. persica) x (P. dulcis x P. persica)], and Rootpac-90 [(P. persica x P. davidiana) x (P. dulcis x P. persica)] were grafted with the nectarine cultivar Big Top. In Forlì, the same rootstocks were grafted with the peach cultivar Rome Star. Yield, number of fruits, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), average fruit weight, flesh firmness, soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) were determined at the third leaf (2015).
In all experimental sites, in both ‘Big Top’ and ‘Rome Star’, GF 677, Garnem and RP90 induced the highest vigor, while RP40 and RP20 the least. In Emilia-Romagna, yield efficiency was highest in the most vigorous trees, with the only exception of RP40, which combined a size-controlling effect with high yield efficiency and large fruit size. RP40 induced biggest fruit size in all experimental sites and also led to the highest yield and yield efficiency in Sicily. In addition, Adesoto advanced fruit maturation in Sicily.
Productive and qualitative data will be collected and analyzed in the following years in order to validate the results of 2015
The inversion of the Pp daily curve and the increase of the AGR daily range was observed as the Ψstem went down to an average value between -2 and -2,5 MPa for both the genotypes studied. The two continuous monitoring systems highlighted a very different response to water stress of the two genotypes. The relationship between AGR and Pp is inverted in conditions of severe water stress. Moreover, AGR and Pp nocturnal variance change according to tree water stress and appear to be related. The ratio between the coefficients of variation of AGR and Pp appears to be a sensitive, genotype-indipendent indicator for the assessment of a water deficit threshold. In conclusion, both ZIM-probes and fruit gauges may be considered promising tools to detect water stress in olive in real-time.