It is with deep sadness that I entrust to these brief lines the memory of my dear colleague Nicola Dallabetta, who passed away on 24 June last.
For many years he worked at the Agricultural Institute of San Michele all'Adige, now the E. Mach Foundation, and had recently embarked on a new adventure through collaboration with Agromillora. Despite this professional change, his contacts and collaboration with his colleagues at the Foundation remained the same as before, maintaining his friendship and his desire to experiment with new things such as the recently started trials on apple and cherry rootstocks.
Those who knew him through work appreciated his technical expertise, his closeness to the world of production, and his professionalism, but also his interpersonal skills during study trips with colleagues from other research institutes.
I cherish the memory of the friendship and work we did together, and send my thoughts to his wife Elizabeth and daughters Rachel and Rebecca.
Farewell, Nicola.
Tommaso Pantezzi
Fondazione E.Mach
05 May 2025
A new Chinese study reveals how anthocyanins determine sweet cherry color, opening new prospects to improve quality, nutrition, competitiveness in global and local markets, with potential applications in Europe, Italy, and future breeding innovations worldwide.
01 Jul 2025
Researchers from Clemson University and Spain’s CITA discovered the genetic basis of sweetness and acidity in sweet cherries. With QTL mapping and haplotype analysis, breeders can now develop better-tasting, more stable varieties tailored to consumer preferences in Europe.
22 May 2026
Cherry orchard covers in Chile no longer protect only against rain: they now regulate microclimate, reduce cracking, improve export quality and fruit condition, supporting more stable economic returns in modern orchards exposed to growing climate risk and market pressure.
21 May 2026
A study in China clarifies how ethylene and PavSPL7 regulate sweet cherry softening. This transcription factor limits cell wall degradation, improving fruit firmness, postharvest quality and potential shelf life for more efficient cherry supply chains worldwide.
