Domenico Prisa
Dr. Domenico Prisa is Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Crop Science Production (S.Anna-School of advances studies). Master of Science (MSc), Plant and Microbial Biotechnology (Pisa University). Master in Europrogettazione e project management (Salerno). Member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist and British Cactus and Succulent society
Researcher at the Landscaping Plants and Nursery Research Unit, Pescia (PT), ITALY (CREA-OF), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis. His current projects involve the study of cacti and succulents for ornamental, industrial and medicinal use. The application of microorganisms and biofertilizers in cultivation and plant protection.
Speaker at several national and international conferences in floriculture, sustainable agriculture, innovative substrates and biostimulants, microbiology and beekeeping.
Phone: +39-3391062935
Address: via dei fiori n.8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy
Researcher at the Landscaping Plants and Nursery Research Unit, Pescia (PT), ITALY (CREA-OF), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis. His current projects involve the study of cacti and succulents for ornamental, industrial and medicinal use. The application of microorganisms and biofertilizers in cultivation and plant protection.
Speaker at several national and international conferences in floriculture, sustainable agriculture, innovative substrates and biostimulants, microbiology and beekeeping.
Phone: +39-3391062935
Address: via dei fiori n.8, 51017, Pescia (PT), Italy
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performance (flower and fruit production), and resistance to phytopathogens in three Mammillaria species: Mammillaria
oteroi, Mammillaria collinsii, and Mammillaria schiedeana. For each species, 30 rooted cuttings were assigned to each
treatment group, with three replicates of 10 plants each. Cultivation began in early August 2024, and all plants received a
slow-release fertilizer incorporated into the substrate at the time of transplanting. To ensure standardized growing
conditions, electric currents of 3V, 6V, and 9V were applied to the experimental pots for one hour daily. A control group of
30 plants per species received no electrical treatment. A range of agronomic and phytopathological parameters were
subsequently assessed. Among all species, the 3V treatment produced the most favorable results for plant height, stem
girth, vegetative, and root biomass, and root hair length. In contrast, the 9V treatment significantly enhanced the number
of offshoots, flowers fruits, seed yield, and resistance to fungal pathogens. On average, the 3V treatment led to a 44.0%
increase in stem circumference, a 31.3% increase in plant height, a 26% improvement in vegetative growth, and a 23%
increase in root development compared to untreated controls. The 9V treatment increased flower number by 54%, fruit
number by 63.2%, and seed production by 34.9% relative to controls. Additionally, plant mortality due to Fusarium
oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani was reduced by 80% and 90%, respectively, under the 9V treatment across all species.
These findings demonstrate that electroculture can significantly enhance growth, reproductive output, and pathogen
resistance in Mammillaria spp. Further studies across a broader range of plant taxa are warranted to confirm and generalize
these results.
electromagnetic forces to stimulate horticultural plants was evaluated, in order to assess the improvement of vegetative
growth and roots and an increase in soil microbial biomass. The experiments, which began in June 2024, were conducted
in the CREA-OF greenhouses in Pescia (PT) on lettuce and chicory plants. The experiment showed that treatments with the
penergetic system significantly improved the vegetative and root growth of lettuce and chicory grown in pots in a
greenhouse. Although all treatments contributed to improving plant growth, the effects of the penergetic system were the
most pronounced. In lettuce, vegetative growth increased by 10.29% in the PEN treatment compared to the control, and
by 13.66% for root growth. In contrast, vegetative growth in the PEN was 9.42% compared to the control and 13.38% for
root growth. Treatment with algae also increased growth, although to a lesser extent. Furthermore, there was a 78.64%
reduction in the incidence of B. cinerea (PEN vs. control) and 87.45% (PEN vs. control) for F. oxysporum in lettuce. In chicory,
vegetative growth increased by 11.4% in the PEN treatment compared to the control, and by 15.44% for root growth. There
was also a significant increase in root hair growth in the PEN treatment and a reduction in the incidence of B. cinerea and
F. oxysporum by 75.28% and 93.76% in chicory respectively, again with the penergetic treatment. For sustainable
agriculture, ecological approaches such as biofertilisers are indispensable. As well as improving the health parameters of
plants, biofertilisers improve crop productivity and soil health and protect against environmental stress.
vegetable plant growth and resistance to phytopathologies such as Botrytis cinerea and downy mildew. The experiments
were conducted in May 2024 in CREA-OF greenhouses (Pescia, PT) on Brussels sprout and early Verona broccoli plants. Six
treatment groups were tested: (i) control (water-irrigated, pre-fertilized substrate), (ii) algae, (iii) mixed microorganisms +
Inula viscosa fresh leaves + algae, (iv) mixed microorganisms + Inula viscosa dried leaves + algae, (v) mixed microorganisms
+ herbal tea of dried Inula viscosa leaves + algae, and (vi) mixed microorganisms + macerated Inula viscosa + algae. Data
were collected on November 15, 2024, including measurements of plant height, leaf number, total leaf area, root length,
aerial and root biomass, and shelf life. The efficacy against Botrytis and downy mildew was assessed based on the number
of affected plants. Treatments involving dried Inula viscosa leaves and herbal tea significantly improved both vegetative
and root growth in both plant species. In Brussels sprouts, the INUS treatment increased vegetative growth by 46.36% and
root growth by 32.46% compared to the control. In Verona broccoli, vegetative growth increased by 30.12% and root
growth by 24.22% with the INUS treatment. Other treatments also enhanced plant growth, albeit to a lesser extent.
Notably, the dried leaf treatment extended shelf life by 7.45% in Brussels sprouts and 6.88% in Verona broccoli.
Furthermore, the INUS treatment reduced Botrytis incidence by 83% and downy mildew by 88.25% in Brussels sprouts. In
Verona broccoli, reductions were 79.14% and 91.25%, respectively. This study highlights the potential of Inula viscosa as
an innovative biostimulant for sustainable agriculture. Its effectiveness in promoting plant growth and controlling
phytopathologies underscores its value in the development of biofertilizer products for organic farming systems.
development of various plant species. Its effects vary depending on the plant species, application methods, and dosages
used. Numerous studies under nonstress conditions have explored the impacts of different vermicompost combinations
and doses. The process of vermicomposting has emerged as a method of choice for converting waste into useful manure,
with evidence of increase in crop productivity. However, synthesizing findings from these studies is challenging due to the
diversity of experimental designs and plant species involved. The main advantages of vermicompost, considering all
applications covered in this paper, comprise (i) easy acquisition, (ii) low costs, (iii) structural, chemical, and biological
characteristics responsible for exceptional adsorptive capacities as well as pollutant degradation, and (iv) the promotion
of biocontrol. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which vermicompost influences plant growth and
agronomic traits under both stress and nonstress conditions. Additionally, it highlights the potential of vermicompost to
mitigate stress-induced adverse effects on plants. Relevant studies were identified and analyzed using comprehensive
database searches with targeted keywords. The review also explores the interactions between vermicompost, soil
properties, and plant physiological responses, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms. Although vermicompost has
demonstrated its efficacy as an organic fertilizer that benefits most plant species, knowledge gaps persist regarding the
interconnected mechanisms involving earthworm gut microbes, soil microbes, plant growth regulators, humic acid, and
soil enzyme activities. Addressing these gaps can advance our understanding of vermicompost's multifaceted role in
sustainable agriculture
da vermicompost di scarti orticoli”,
nasce dalla volontà di alcune aziende agricole, operanti nel settore
orticolo, di creare un sistema semplice, economico e facilmente replicabile per la produzione, in completa autonomia, di un compost dalle
elevate e specifiche proprietà, con
effetti benefici sia sulla fertilità del
suolo che sul valore nutraceutico
degli alimenti ottenuti.
I risultati della ricerca sono il frutto
di una cooperazione interdisciplinare di un gruppo di cinque partner,
con differenti ruoli e competenze:
il capofila del progetto l’Azienda
Agricola Ortobiattivo di Firenze; il
partner aziendale, l’Azienda Agricola Colzi Paolo di Prato; tre partner
scientifici dell’Università di Firenze,
quali il Dipartimento di Scienze e
Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari,
Ambientali e Forestali (DAGRI), il
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC) e l’Orto
botanico, nell’ambito del Sistema
Museale di Ateneo (SMA).
Il progetto è finanziato dai fondi
PSR Feasr Regione Toscana 2014-
2022, nell’ambito della sottomisura
16.2 “Sostegno a progetti pilota e
allo sviluppo di nuovi prodotti, pratiche, processi e tecnologie”.
Materials and Methods: Seedlings of Acanthocalycium (2 years old) Ferrarii, A. Glaucum and A. Violaceum were immediately planted in pots after purchase, in substrate containing (sand 20%, pumice 20% and peat 60%; pH 7; electrical conductivity 0.7 dS/m; total porosity 80% (v/v). A randomised complete block design was applied for the experiments: the pots were randomly divided into two series, one series was inoculated with the bacteria and the other non-inoculated was used as a control. Each month, plant growth was assessed according to (1) plant height, (2) vegetative and root weight, (3) number of flowers per plant (4) flower duration. In addition, the occurrence of possible diseases, in particular Fusarium sp. and Verticillium sp., was assessed. Total flavonoids, total phenols and antioxidant activity were also analysed.
Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of Arthrobacter sp. can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth of Acanthocalycium sp. cacti. In addition, there was a significant improvement in the number and floral longevity as well as in the phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant content of the fruits of the inoculated plants compared to the untreated control. The experiment also showed that mortality due to the pathogens Fusarium sp. and Verticillium sp. was significantly reduced in the treated plant. In agreement with these authors, we found that PGPB treatments increased agronomic parameters and improved Fusarium and Verticillium resistance. In general, the application of biostimulants can increase the synthesis of bioactive compounds in plants by increasing resistance to phytopathologies. Inoculation with Arthrobacter sp. led to a significant reduction in the number of dead plants with respect to the diseases analysed. As a result of the stimulating action demonstrated in Acanthocalycium, bioproducts suitable for nutraceutical purposes may be developed in the future. Therefore, new microbe-assisted technologies can help plants to resist stress conditions, improving their tolerance and productivity.
Conclusions: Due to its ‘multifunctionality’, the genus Acanthocalycium is considered as one of the species of the future, for ornamental use and medicinal aspects, and new results may help reveal its potential in the context of the bio-economy and circular economy. As natural resources and cultural practices are crucial in defining the quality of flowers when destined for food/nutraceutical applications, the inoculation of Acanthocalycium with Arthrobacter sp. can be envisaged to provide better plant growth under conditions of environmental stress, or as a soil fertiliser, but also to improve the synthesis of natural products used for therapeutic applications.