AGRIMED – R&D

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment participates in AGRIMED within the framework of Actions 1.1.2, “Support for a Limited Number of Strategic Research Supply Chains,” and 1.1.3b, “Support for the Validation and Networking of Collaborative Structures that Foster Knowledge Exchange within the Research System,” established by D.D. n. 307 of 18 March 2025. The University of Catania (UNICT) contributes through its experimental agricultural farm to establish a demonstration field for the evaluation of a subgroup of the segregating population derived from the cross ‘Interdonato’ lemon x ‘Femminello Siracusano 2Kr’ lemon. This population was developed to investigate the genetic determinants of tolerance to mal secco, a severe vascular fungal disease that has affected Sicilian lemon cultivation for decades. The demonstration field will be established in an environment conducive to assessing the actual disease tolerance of accessions previously selected on the basis of experimental data. In addition, preliminary evaluations will be conducted on fruit productivity and quality traits, including fruit size, shape, color, juice content, and seed presence or absence, as well as other agronomically relevant characteristics such as spinescence and tolerance to additional biotic stresses. At the UNICT experimental agricultural farm, an infrastructure dedicated to the cultivation, conservation, characterization, selection, and propagation of genotypes of scientific interest will also be developed, with particular emphasis on the genetic material involved in this breeding program. Specifically, an existing greenhouse will be upgraded to meet the requirements of experimental activities through the modernization of its technological equipment and facilities.