Tito Vezio Zapparoli
Encyclopedia
Tito Vezio Zapparoli was an Italian agronomist
and plant breeder
.
After graduating in agriculture
, he studied the agronomic and morphological
characteristics of traditional varieties of maize
.
In October 1920 the Stazione sperimentale di maiscoltura (Maize experimental station) in Curno
was established, where he was appointed director after working with the agronomist Ottavio Munerati, the director of the "Beet experimental station" in Rovigo
, and a master of the applied agronomic research methodology.
Zapparoli fostered genetic studies, breeding, and agronomic research, improving the varieties of maize cropped in northern and central Italy. He selected isogenic
lines from the best performing populations of maize, and used the output of such to establish synthetic varieties and to produce inter-varieties crosses. He also developed the agronomic technique of matching the exigencies of the improved varieties. Zapparoli was known as the "Maize Man" by farmers and colleagues, for his wide and deep understanding of crop issues and for his personal good mood, humbleness, practical skills and probity.
He selected, multiplied, and spread the improved varieties: Marano (from the municipality of Marano Vicentino
, where it was selected), Rostrato, Nostrano dell'Isola, and Scagliolo, selected from the offspring of the crosses performed by progressive farmers in the 19th century, He collaborated with the Federazione italiana dei consorzi agrari (Italian Federation of Agricultural) for the production, field testing and distribution of the improved varieties of maize.
After his death he was succeeded as director of the "Maize experimental station" by Luigi Fenaroli
, who devoted his care to the Italian introduction of hybrid maize technology.
Zapparoli's work is described in 37 publications of the Stazione sperimentale di maiscoltura, printed from 1921 to 1943. Italian farmers established the Fondazione Tito V. Zapparoli, in order to perpetuate his memory. The Foundation is in charge of the conservation and multiplication of genetic materials for the production of high yielding maize varieties and hybrids.
Agronomist
An agronomist is a scientist who specializes in agronomy, which is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. An agronomist is an expert in agricultural and allied sciences, with the exception veterinary sciences.Agronomists deal with interactions between plants, soils, and...
and plant breeder
Plant breeding
Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular...
.
After graduating in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, he studied the agronomic and morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
characteristics of traditional varieties of maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
.
In October 1920 the Stazione sperimentale di maiscoltura (Maize experimental station) in Curno
Curno
Curno is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 40 km northeast of Milan and about 6 km southwest of Bergamo...
was established, where he was appointed director after working with the agronomist Ottavio Munerati, the director of the "Beet experimental station" in Rovigo
Rovigo
Rovigo is a town and comune in the Veneto region of North-Eastern Italy, the capital of the eponymous province. -Geography:...
, and a master of the applied agronomic research methodology.
Zapparoli fostered genetic studies, breeding, and agronomic research, improving the varieties of maize cropped in northern and central Italy. He selected isogenic
Zygosity
Zygosity refers to the similarity of alleles for a trait in an organism. If both alleles are the same, the organism is homozygous for the trait. If both alleles are different, the organism is heterozygous for that trait...
lines from the best performing populations of maize, and used the output of such to establish synthetic varieties and to produce inter-varieties crosses. He also developed the agronomic technique of matching the exigencies of the improved varieties. Zapparoli was known as the "Maize Man" by farmers and colleagues, for his wide and deep understanding of crop issues and for his personal good mood, humbleness, practical skills and probity.
He selected, multiplied, and spread the improved varieties: Marano (from the municipality of Marano Vicentino
Marano Vicentino
Marano Vicentino is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. It is south of Viale Europa.-Sources:*...
, where it was selected), Rostrato, Nostrano dell'Isola, and Scagliolo, selected from the offspring of the crosses performed by progressive farmers in the 19th century, He collaborated with the Federazione italiana dei consorzi agrari (Italian Federation of Agricultural) for the production, field testing and distribution of the improved varieties of maize.
After his death he was succeeded as director of the "Maize experimental station" by Luigi Fenaroli
Luigi Fenaroli
Luigi Fenaroli was an Italian botanist and agronomist.Luigi Fenaroli graduated in agriculture at the Higher School of Agronomy at the University of Milan in 1921. He performed several naturalistic expeditions, on behalf of the Reale società geografica italiana...
, who devoted his care to the Italian introduction of hybrid maize technology.
Zapparoli's work is described in 37 publications of the Stazione sperimentale di maiscoltura, printed from 1921 to 1943. Italian farmers established the Fondazione Tito V. Zapparoli, in order to perpetuate his memory. The Foundation is in charge of the conservation and multiplication of genetic materials for the production of high yielding maize varieties and hybrids.