News about Andrea Giovannini

Prediction and control of Drosophila suzukii: the SIMKEF model

Crop protection

29 Oct 2024

The SIMKEF model, which aims to predict and control the insect using models based on temperature data, combines various climatic and biological parameters to estimate the (daily) probability of occurrence of the pest.

Expansion of sweet cherry cultivation in China: identifying suitable areas with a model

Planting systems

28 Oct 2024

A recent study, based on the use of the MaxEnt model, has enabled Chinese researchers to predict potentially suitable areas for the cultivation of this species in China, identifying key environmental factors that influence its distribution. The MaxEnt model proved effective.

Monitoring wetness on sweet cherry surfaces: new techniques to reduce cracking

Tech management

22 Oct 2024

Cracking is not necessarily linked to water absorption but rather to the duration of wetness presence on the fruit surface. Temperature models obtained through LiDAR 4D revealed that sweet cherry tree canopy density has a marginal impact on wetness formation.

Impact of GA3 application on sweet cherry fruit development

Quality

21 Oct 2024

An English study tested the application of gibberellic acid on sweet cherry trees for fruit development. GA3 is known for its ability to induce parthenocarpy, the formation of seedless fruits, in various plant species. However, effectiveness varies depending on the species.

The role of supercooling in sweet cherry flower buds to avoid frost damage

Tech management

17 Oct 2024

Experiments were conducted on sweet cherry flower buds using differential thermal analysis (DTA), a technique that monitors the release of heat due to ice melting. Researchers observed the formation of ice within the bud structure, identifying barriers that prevent its spread.

Regulating fruit load to improve sweet cherry quality under plastic covers

Tech management

14 Oct 2024

A Chilean study examined four levels of fruit load over two consecutive seasons. The results showed that reducing the fruit load, especially in the 60% and 40% treatments, significantly improved cherries weight, size, and firmness. However, the yield was unaffected.

New opportunities for improving fruit firmness through the genome sequencing of Chinese cherry

Breeding

10 Oct 2024

By comparing the Chinese cherry genome with those of other Prunus species it was observed that the two species diverged around 18.34 million years ago. However, Prunus pseudocerasus has much softer fruits compared to sweet cherry.

Paecilomyces maximus: a new threat to cherry trees in Turkey

Crop protection

08 Oct 2024

To precisely identify the pathogen responsible, the researchers took samples of infected wood from various trees. The samples were superficially disinfected and grown on an agar medium (the PDA) to observe the growth of the fungus.

Biodiesel production from sour cherry kernel oil

Processed

01 Oct 2024

Attraverso un'analisi cinetica della reazione di metanolisi, i ricercatori sono riusciti a modellare il processo utilizzando due modelli: uno basato su una reazione pseudo-primo ordine e l'altro sul comportamento auto-catalitico del meccanismo di reazione (CRM-AB).

A new biodegradable film for sweet cherry packaging

Post-harvest​

26 Sep 2024

A group of Chinese researchers has developed a biodegradable composite film made from gelatin, pectin, and cellulose nanofibers (CNF), enriched with an antibacterial agent called polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride (PHMB).