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The characterization of territorial markers is essential for understanding the typicity and resilience of crops cultivated on coastal sandy soils. Coastal agriculture has relevance in Northern Italy, where the coast of the Po Valley-Veneto basin is intensively cultivated and includes some PGI crops. However, such environments represent marginal land for agriculture, often subject to unique climatic and pedological conditions, making them prone to drought and salinization. The plant's ability to cope with potentially harsh conditions depends on the plant's physiology and results in recognizable markers in the plant biomass. To establish the coastal crop's distinct qualities and adaptability, the integration of geochemical-isotopic and chlorophyll fluorimetric techniques is proposed as a robust method for the definition of markers of territoriality. The geochemical-isotopic approach enables a comprehensive analysis of elemental and isotopic signatures in plants that reflect soil composition and plant uptake processes. This allows for tracing the origins and environmental conditions associated with specific crops. The fluorimetric analysis provides insights into the plant's photosynthetic efficiency on which the plant growth depends, therefore providing a context for the interpretation of geochemical-isotopic results.
The present contribution exemplifies the potential of the methods for the characterization of some coastal crops in the Emilia-Romagna Region. Thanks to regional founding (EUROPASS[1], EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND P L U S - The ESF+ 2021-2027[2]) a multidisciplinary approach combining soil analysis with red chicory and green asparagus characterization in the Eastern area of the Emilia-Romagna region is in progress. The aim is to establish a framework for assessing crop typicity and resilience, focusing on the interaction between soil properties and plant responses. Using analytical methods, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS-QQQ), and mass spectrometry of isotopes (EA-IRMS), we are identifying geochemical and isotopic markers, such as δ13C and δ15N, that link soil composition and plant metabolism. Additionally, chlorophyll fluorescence induction underscores the influence of soil diversity on plant physiology.
The integration of these analytical techniques allows for more precise identification of territorial markers, offering a potential tool for the certification and enhancement of crop quality in coastal sandy regions. The results will contribute to the broader understanding of how soil-plant interactions influence agricultural sustainability and resilience, ultimately supporting the development of targeted agronomic practices for coastal sandy soil ecosystems. The method has potential in a variety of other contexts, where, e.g., territorial authenticity cannot be ascertained by molecular tools. An example is a collaborative project between the University of Ferrara and the University of Calabria, in collaboration with CREA, recently approved for grant by the Ministry of University[3]. The project will explore ungrafted indigenous Italian grapevines, some of which are uniquely cultivated in the Emilia-Romagna coast (Vini delle sabbie).
Reference:
[1] https://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/europass
[2] https://formazionelavoro.regione.emilia-romagna.it/sito-fse
[3] PRIN2022 - Soil, water, sun: Exploring Ungrafted Indigenous Italian Vitis vinifera L. varieties as a resilient resource against the effects of global climate change (EU-Vitis)
