Conveners: Giuseppe Ferrara- Stefano La Malfa
Mayor of Bari
Dean of the University of Bari
Head of the DiSSPA
Olaniyi A. Fawole
Barbara De Ruggeri

“Global status of pomegranate production: Challenges and opportunities”

“Husk Scald in pomegranates is a stress-induced senescence event: triggered by water loss, exacerbated by low RH, and attenuated by low oxygen”

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Quality, flavor, and ripening indices of ‘Neta’ fruit: a new early-season pomegranate variety

• Ron Porat
• Orly Elimelech
• 
Irit Bar-Yaakov
• Kamel Hatib
• Doron Holland
• Tamar Azoulay-Shemer

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Machine Learning-based classification of pomegranate cultivars using their multidimensional quality traits

• Olaniyi Fawole
• Yardjouma Silue
• Tobi Fadiji

4:00 pm – 4:15

First Descriptions of 20 Prickly Pear Genotypes Selected from the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye

• Cenap Yilmaz
• Cengiz Türkay
• Hasim Kelebek
• Serkan Selli

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Morphological and sensorial characterization of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) from two European collections

• Ferdinando Cossio
• Julian Bartual
• 
M Jose Navarro-Canovas

5:00 pm – 5:15 pm

In Vitro Biotechnology for Propagation and Conservation of Minor Mediterranean Fruit Species: Current Status and Future Perspectives

• Waed Tarraf
• Raffaella Petruccelli
• 
Carla Benelli

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm

Fruit and juice quality of twenty pomegranate accessions from the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository

• John Chater
• Giuseppe Lana
• 
Claire Heinitz

5:30 pm – 6:15 pm

Sponsor presentations

• LOME
• UNITEC
• OLERE

“Pomegranate Research for Capacity Building: Insights from a Value Chain-Based Approach in South Africa”

10:00 am – 10:15 am

Pomegranate skin development and fruit cracking incidence – omics and sensing approaches

• Idit Ginzberg
• Yulia Kaplan
• Ekaterina Manasherova
• Adi Faigenboim
• Michael Morozov
• Yoav Yoktan
• Naama Alon
• Hagai Cohen
• 
Avi Sadka
• Victor Alchanati

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Chemical and biological evaluation of two commercial pomegranate juices after different industrial processing

• Simone Carradori

10.30 am – 10.45 am

Effects of Melatonin, Carnation Oil and SO2 on Postharvest Storage of Pomegranate under Modified Atmosphere Conditions

• Ibrahim Kahramanoglu
• Osman Konut
• 
Serhat Usanmaz

10:45 am – 11:00 am

Comparative analysis of morphological, textural and cuticular traits in three pomegranate cultivars: implications for fruit cracking susceptibility

• Mario Di Guardo
• Paolo La Spada
• Manuela Milia
• 
Edoardo Liotta
• Alessandra Gentile
• Stefano La Malfa

11:00 am – 11:15 am

Effects of environmental conditions and ripeness of the fruit at harvest on the physicochemical quality and internal skin browning of cold-stored ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate

• Maria B. Perez-Gago
• Lluís Palou
• Verónica Taberner
• Julia Morales
• 
 Ana Quiñones
• 
José Enrique Lluch
• María José Navarro-Canovas
• Julián Bartual

11:15 am – 11:30 am

Pomegranate fermentation with Hanseniaspora valbyensis: a new approach to valorize and enhance nutritional and sensory quality

• Rosangela Limongelli
• Carlo Porfido
• Carmen Aurora
• Apa
 Giuseppe
• Celano
 Concetta
• Eliana Gattullo
• Roberto Terzano
• Maria De Angelis
• Fabio Minervini

12:00 pm – 12:15 pm

Antifungal edible coatings to reduce postharvest decay and preserve quality of ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates

• Lluís Palou
• Maria Victoria Alvarez
• Verònica Taberner
• María B. Pérez-Gago

12:15 pm – 12:30 pm

Cytospora punicae causes post-harvest decay in pomegranate fruit during long-term storage

• Elrita Venter
• Cheryl, L. Lennox
• Julia Meitz-Hopkins

12:30 pm – 12:45 pm

Modified atmosphere packaging combined with hot water dips and fungicides to reduce decay and alleviate postharvest disorders of pomegranate

• Salvatore D’Aquino
• Stefano La Malfa
• Maria Giovanna Molinu
• Alberto Continella
• Alessandra Gentile
• Amedeo Palma

12:45 pm – 1:00 pm

Performance of pomegranate cultivars at different elevations in the southwestern United States

• Ursula K. Schuch
• Glenn Wright

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Non-destructive Methods for the Prediction of the Number and Weight of Pomegranate Arils

• Ersin Caglar
• Ibrahim Kahramanoglu

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Baby Kiwi or Kiwiño (Actinidia arguta): A Kiwi in One Bite – Consumer Impressions and Shelf Life

• Cristina Besada
• Marina Castillo
• 
Carlos Albert
• Jose Malagón

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Susceptibility of pomegranate cultivars to the key pathogen Coniella granati

• Donato Gerin
• Angelo Agnusdei
• Vito Montilon
• Angela Bolzonello
• Rita Musetti
• Silvio Tundo
• Francesco Faretra
• Stefania Pollastro

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

Eco-Friendly Control of Postharvest Gray Mold in Pomegranates Using Satureja montana Essential Oil

• Azad Omrani Sabbaghi
• Masoud Ahmadzadeh
• Armita Ms. Firoozi
• 
Alberto Sardo
• Fahimeh Salehi

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Improving pomegranate resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides: Identification of sources of resistance, dissection of mode of inheritance, and development of genomic resources

• Zhanao Deng
• Alexander Schaller
• Gary Vallad
• John Chater
• Zhenyu Jia

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm

A new horizon for pomegranates: red coloration and in-mouth properties of Mollar merged in a new hybrid

• Cristina Besada
• Julián Bartual
• Miriam Castellano
• María José Navarro

4:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Developing ‘Peppy Le Pom’ as a model for pomegranate genetic and genomic research: Characterization of its short juvenility, genome, and flowering time genes

• Zhanao Deng
• Alexander Schaller
• John Chater
• Zhenyu Jia

4:15 pm – 4:30 pm

Genetic structure and GWAS in an international pomegranate collection including Sardinian germplasm

• Domenico Rau
• Mario Santona
• Ferdinando Cossio
• Luciano De Pau
• Dr. Daniela Satta
• Germano Schiru
• Gianni Tacconi
• Chiara M. Posadinu
• Davide Fois
• Andrea Porceddu

4:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Exploiting the genetic variation in fig trees to identify molecular markers linked to abiotic stress responses

• Tommaso Giordani
• Marco Castellacci
• Andrea Cavallini
• Lucia Natali
• Gabriele Usai
• Alberto Vangelisti
• Flavia Mascagni
• Samuel Simoni
• Margarita Lopez-Corrales
• Maria Guadalupe Domínguez
• Ghada Baraket
• Sahar Haffar
• Ayzin Kuden
• Songul Comlekcioglu
• José Inaki Hormaza

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm

Canopy position and fruit quality attributes affect aril browning disorder in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

• Julian Bartual
• M.J. Navarro-Canovas
• J. Enrique Lluch

5:30 pm – 5:45 pm

Climatic and canopy factors influencing transpiration of young and full-bearing pomegranate orchards under semi-arid conditions

• Muthianzhele Ravuluma
• Raesibe Kgaphola
• Phumudzo Tharaga
• Sebinasi Dzikiti
• Theresa Volschenk
• Sue Walker

The Bari Walking Tour offers a journey through the city’s past and present. In Bari Vecchia, you’ll explore cobbled alleys, the Basilica di San Nicola, the Cathedral of San Sabino, and the Norman-Swabian Castle. The tour then shifts to modern Bari, with a stroll along Via Sparano, a stop at the Petruzzelli Theatre, and a walk on the seafront, one of Italy’s longest. The blend of ancient history and contemporary vitality makes this tour an unforgettable experience.

Optimizing Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Quality and Utilization of Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum L.)

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm

Bio-agronomical evaluation of a new hermaphroditic carob cultivar in the Balearic Islands

• Francesco Maldera
• Alessandra Gallotta
• Francesco Nicolì
• Salvatore Camposeo
• Jeroni Paul
• Llorenç Tortella
• Jaume Miquel
• Maria del Carme Garau

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Comparison of chilling requirements among pomegranate cultivars

• Giuseppe Ferrara
• Agostino Chiriacò
• Simona Pitardi
• Alessandro Pesole
• Andrea Mazzeo
• Marino Palasciano

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Malum Punicum recte seritur – Pomegranate in Pliny the Elder’s Historia Naturalis and Columella’s Rerum rusticarum

• Maciej Helbig

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Gellan gum-based hydrogel loaded with pomegranate peel extract for cartilage tissue regeneration

• Francesco Busto
• Alessandro C. Scalia
• Piergiorgio Gentile
• Sofia Toniolo
• Stefania Cometa
• Andrea Cochis
• Elvira De Giglio

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

Recovery, Characterization and Valorization of Apulian Minor Fruit Species and Varieties

• Cinzia Montemurro
• Francesco Loperfido
• Giuseppe Ferrara
• Valentina Fanelli
• Francesco Caponio
• Andrea Turco
• Donato Perrelli
• Giuseppe Maggi
• Pierfederico La Notte

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Comparison of Punica granatum L. leaf area index determined using in situ and remote sensing techniques

• Raesibe Ms. Kgaphola
• Theresa Volschenk
• Phumudzo Tharaga
• Sebinasi Dzikiti
• Muthianzhele Ravuluma

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm

The effect of weather on the quality, productivity, and growth of pomegranates in the Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape in South Africa

• Phumudzo Charle Tharaga
• Muthianzhele Ravuluma
• Raesibe Kgaphola

4:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Fruit extracts from immature pomegranates, a valuable byproduct and resource: an overview of our past, ongoing, and future studies on this unexpected source of biologically significative compounds

• Laura Siracusa
• Luana Pulvirenti
• Lucia Parafati
• Giulia Modica
• Carmelo Drago
• Alberto Continella
• Cristina Restuccia

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Elche and Bari Pomegranate Collections: Conserving Local Varieties and International Germplasm for Future Challenges

• Julian Bartual
• Ana Lozano
• Agata Gadaleta
• Ilaria Marcotuli
• Giuseppe Ferrara
• Elena Zuriaga

5:00 pm – 5:15 pm

Some promising fig cultivars in Puglia region for brebas production

• Giuseppe Ferrara
• Andrea Mazzeo

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm

Detection and control of Alternaria black spot of tomatoes in the Western Cape of South Africa

• Julia Meitz-Hopkins
• Chanel Daniel-Swartland
• Felicity Vries
• Cheryl L. Lennox

(click here for more details here)

BUS Route: Bari → Polignano a Mare → Ostuni → Martina Franca → Alberobello → Bari

Schedule: 09:00 AM – 07:00 PM

Bilingual guide (Italian/English)

Focus: Agriculture, landscape, cultural heritage