Abstract

Kaolin-based particle film technology (Pft) employs a multi-functional,environmentally friendly material that provides effective insect control, mitigates heatstress, and contributes to production of high-quality fruit and vegetables. Thesecharacteristics make kaolin suitable also for organic farming, especially in arid andsemi-arid environments.The presence of mineral particles on leaves and fruit surfaces interferes withphysiological processes, mainly with heat and radiation balance and gas exchange.Several experimental findings show that the Pft, as well to limit the damage from someinsects, changes the radiative and thermal regime of the different organs of the plantthat may result in a significant reduction in stress from high temperatures, mainlysunburn, as widely proven on apple, pear, pomegranate and tomato.The Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR, for several years is carrying outresearch to test the effects of kaolin on the control of the heat stress and some insectsof fruit trees and vegetables. In addition, is evaluating the effects on gas exchange,water and salt stress. In the latter area, was assessed the gas exchange,evapotranspiration and water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato, orange and bean. Inaddition, we studied the effects on transplanting stress of seedling of tomato, pepper,eggplant and zucchini. In this paper we report some significant results that highlight thepositive effect of kaolin on the reduction of evapotranspiration, water use, water andsaline stress, and improvement of WUE.The water and salinity stress has caused the reduction of the leaf water potential,stomatal conductance, leaf net photosynthesis and transpiration and the increase ofleaf and canopy temperature of tomato plants. The kaolin has resulted in animprovement of the water status of the plant, the reduction in stomatal conductance,net photosynthesis and transpiration under well watered or low salinity conditions.Instead, under drought or salt stress, the kaolin was effective to limiting the reductionsin net photosynthesis and to reduce leaf and canopy temperature, resulting respectivelyin a 15 and 20% in WUE increase. The leaf and canopy temperature was slightlyaffected by kaolin, in different ways in different water/salt stress treatments. Inparticular, while in non stressed plant it was 0.2-0.8 °C higher in the kaolin-treatedplants, the situation was reversed in stressed plants. In fact, in the latter situation, thekaolin has determined 0.2-1.5 °C reduction in canopy temperature, especially at noontime. The variations of the canopy temperature show that the kaolin influences thethermal balance of vegetation mainly for the dual effect of reflection of the incomingradiation and partial occlusion of the stomata.Kaolin has reduced by 13% the crop evapotranspiration of bean and has resulted in a6% increase in the yield-WUE. In well watered orange tree kaolin led to a reduction

Autore Pugliese

• Boari Francesca , Cantore Vito

Tutti gli autori

• F. Boari; M. Todorovic; A. Donadio; M.I. Schiattone; V. Cantore

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2014

ISSN

Non Disponibile

ISBN

2-85352-536-8

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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