Improved Porosity of Insect Proof Screens Enhances Quality Aspects of Zucchini Squash without Compromising the Yield.

Luigi Formisano,Stefania De Pascale,Youssef Rouphael,Antonio Pannico,Christophe El-Nakhel,Giuseppe Starace,Milena Poledica

doi:10.3390/plants9101264

Abstract

In a global climate change environment, assuring optimal growing conditions is a difficult challenge, compromising the food supply for a rapidly rising population. The climatic conditions in the protected environment lead to high temperatures and fast insect development, impacting productivity and vegetables qualitative attributes. Consumers’ interest in healthy food requires sustainable tools to manage biotic and abiotic factors and, from this perspective, anti-insect nets represent an excellent “green” solution. For this purpose, our goal was to compare two different anti-insect nets on microclimate, production, and qualitative traits of Cucurbita pepo L. fresh fruits. The experiment was conducted in three separate polyethylene high tunnels, with 50 mesh anti-insect nets of different porosities being installed on the openings of two tunnels, while the third tunnel was a control without nets. Microclimate measurements, as well as yield, physiological, and phytochemicals variables, were assessed. The 50 mesh net led to a decrease in marketable yield (22.5%), fruit number (18.0%), CO2 net assimilation rate (6.0%), and transpiration rate (29.5%). Total soluble solids, antioxidant activities and total ascorbic acid concentration had an opposite trend. The 50 mesh AirPlus net improved quality aspects of zucchini fruits by increasing total ascorbic acid, total phenols, and antioxidant compounds, with no negative impact on yield.

Highlights

Recent climate changes are severely affecting agriculture and endangering food supply for future generations [1], especially in countries with lower socioeconomic resources and a higher risk of poverty, introducing new challenges for food production
In the screened tunnels, even if a certain biotic pressure was present, the intervention thresholds never exceeded during the entire crop cycle; in contrast in the unscreened tunnel, five insecticide treatments with potassium salts of fatty acids C14-18 were necessary to maintain the biotic charge at levels comparable to the screened tunnels, and neutralize any variability caused by the different grade of insect attacks
The results obtained suggest that the different porosity of tested insect nets modulates the yield and its precocity as well as the quality aspects of zucchini fruits

Summary

Introduction

Recent climate changes are severely affecting agriculture and endangering food supply for future generations [1], especially in countries with lower socioeconomic resources and a higher risk of poverty, introducing new challenges for food production. In a global climate change environment, assuring optimal growing conditions is an arduous challenge, especially in warm Mediterranean areas where high temperatures, water, and insects’ proliferation are limiting factors, reducing productivity and qualitative vegetable traits [5]. The ever-increasing interest of consumers in healthful food has led to a “consumer-oriented”. Quality is no longer relegated exclusively to food appearance and includes its bioactive phytochemical content, combining healthfulness with gastronomic pleasure [6]. The market is tailored to the requests of an increasingly informed and health-conscious consumer, orienting growers towards high quality and eco-sustainable production. It is well established that the climatic conditions in high tunnels may facilitate the rapid development of pests [7], requiring eco-friendly tools for their containment [8] and physical barriers represent an excellent “green” solution

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