Gianluigi Bacchetta

“The New Red List of the Italian Flora” includes all the Italian policy species and other species of known conservation concerns for a total of 400 taxa, 65% of which are threatened with extinction. The Red List is based on a huge georeferenced data-set useful for conservation purposes.

The identification of archaeological charred grape seeds is a difficult task due to the alteration of the morphological seeds shape. In archaeobotanical studies, for the correct discrimination between Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris and Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera grape seeds it is very important to understand the history and origin of the domesticated grapevine. In this work, different carbonisation experiments were carried out using a hearth to reproduce the same burning conditions that occurred in archaeological contexts. In addition, several carbonisation trials on modern wild and cultivated grape seeds were performed using a muffle furnace. For comparison with archaeological materials, modern grape seed samples were obtained using seven different temperatures of carbonisation ranging between 180 and 340ºC for 120 min. Analysing the grape seed size and shape by computer vision techniques , and applying the stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA) method, discrimination of the wild from the cultivated charred grape seeds was possible. An overall correct classification of 93.3% was achieved. Applying the same statistical procedure to compare modern charred with archaeological grape seeds, found in Sardinia and dating back to the Early Bronze Age (2017–1751 2σ cal. BC), allowed 75.0% of the cases to be identified as wild grape. The proposed method proved to be a useful and effective procedure in identifying, with high accuracy, the charred grape seeds found in archaeological sites. Moreover, it may be considered valid support for advances in the knowledge and comprehension of viticulture adoption and the grape domestication process. The same methodology may also be successful when applied to other plant remains, and provide important information about the history of domesticated plants.

Morphological seed heterogeneity, defined as the production of different types of seeds by a single individual, appears in many different species of angiosperms and it is also reported for the genus Brassica. B. insularis is a member of the B. oleracea L. group which occurs only in Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily (Pantelleria) and Tunisia (La Galite) and is inserted in the Annex II of Habitats
Directive 92/43/EEC. Seeds of B. insularis, collected in 2010 from three Sardinian populations [Planu Sartu and Masua (SW Sardinia) and Isola dei Cavoli (SE Sardinia)], were analyzed through an image analysis system. In addition, germination tests were conducted on seeds from each population, in the light (12/12), at a range of constant temperatures (5-25°C) and at an alternating temperature regime (25/10°C). The morphocolorimetric analysis, clearly identified seeds from
different populations (in 97.6% of the cases) and discriminated three chromatic categories (black, orange and brown) for seeds belonging to the “Isola dei Cavoli” population, with a percentage of correct identification of 90%, while seeds of the two other populations were morphologically homogenous. Germination ranged from 45% to 60% for “Planu Sartu” and “Isola dei Cavoli”
populations, respectively and temperature had not a significant effect. Seed moisture content (%) did not vary significantly among chromatic categories, highlighting as heterogeneity was not related to different stages of seed maturation. Germination was highly influenced both from colour and temperature, and high germination percentages (ranging from 50% to 80% for black and orange seeds, respectively) were detected at 5°C. These results showed the significant variability in morphology and germination among B. insularis seeds from different provenances, indicating the presence of morphological and physiological seed heterogeneity in this species.

During the first year of the project “Origin, characterization and conservation of autochthonous grapevines of Sardinia”, funded by “Regione Autonoma della Sardegna”, interesting preliminary results were obtained.
The main aim of the project is to use some of seed biometric features, measured with computer-aided image analysis techniques, to characterize the studied Vitis vinifera L. cultivars. The recorded data were used to implement statistical classifiers able to discriminate among the cultivars, and comparing them with archaeological seed lots founded in Sardinia, in order to improve the knowledge about the origins of viticulture in Sardinia. During the first year, some sample bunches from old grapevines of different ages were collected in the North-Central Sardinian territory. In particular, they are from Bono (NU), Oliena (NU), Atzara (NU) and Pattada (SS). Seeds were extracted from the bunches and cleaned. Digital images of samples, consisting of 100 seeds (when available) for each seed lot, were randomly disposed on a flatbed scanner, acquired and processed for the morpho-colorimetric analysis. A total of 137 phenotypical descriptors and the mean seed weight was measured in each seed. The data were statistical analyzed, applying the stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis method (SPSS Inc. 2006). Studying plants from 10 to 80 years old, the analysis showed that the seeds of the cultivar “Muristellu”, reduced their dimensions, increasing their luminosity and minimum diameter, during the time.
Moreover, the system allowed to correctly identify the compared seed lots with percentages of ca. 96%.
Analysing the seed lots of the cultivar “Arvesiniadu”, collected from plants from 20 to 120 years old, it was possible to underline a high level of similarity. Nevertheless, the studied seed lots showed a significant variation in seed colour intensity and seed roundness, both directly proportional with the age of the grapevines. These preliminary results prove that the age of the plant can affect the seed aspect. This is probably due to the modified agronomical practices during the last century and in particular in the recent decades. Anyway, these achievements could be useful in order to better understand the origin of viticulture in Sardinia.
This contribute has been carried out thanks to the research project “Origine, caratterizzazione e
conservazione dei vitigni autoctoni della Sardegna” developed at the enterprise “Azienda Gostolai S.A.S. di
G.A. Arcadu and C., Oliena (NU)”, by a research grant financed from the resources of P.O.R. SARDEGNA
F.S.E. 2007–2013 – Obiettivo competitività regionale e occupazione, Asse IV Capitale umano, Linee di
Attività l.1.1. e l.3.1.

Silene mollissima (L.) Pers. aggregate is included in the Siphonomorpha Otth. section of the genus Silene L. and currently comprises 11 endemic species of the Western Mediterranean Basin. Five of these species have a distribution which is centered in the Tyrrhenian area. The three species investigated were S. velutina Pourr. ex Loisel., S. ichnusae Brullo, De Marco & De Marco and S. badaroi Bestr., all occurring in coastal habitats. Inter- and intra-specific variability in the responses to light, constant (5-25°C) and alternating temperatures (25/10°C), NaCl (0-600mM), KNO3 (20 mM) under salinity and recovery of seed germination was evaluated for all the species. Seeds of the three taxa were non-dormant and light significantly improved their germination, which showed high percentages (> 80%) at the low temperatures (5-15°C) and under the alternating temperature regime (25/10°C) decreasing significantly at the highest temperature (25°C). S.
velutina and S. ichnusae seeds germinated up to 300 mM NaCl, while S. badaroi until 100 mM. For all the species, salt did not affect seed viability and recovery did not decrease whit increasing salinity and temperature, except for S. badaroi. Inter-population variability both in salt tolerance and recovery was detected for S. velutina. The adding of KNO3 did not affect germination and its recovery under salt conditions. Our results highlighted that these species have their optimum of germination during autumn-winter when, under the Mediterranean climate, water availability is highest and soil salinity levels are minimal, but they are also able to germinate until spring.