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The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (IAMB.) located in the southeastern Italy. The aim of this research was to evaluate macronutrient (NPK) status of cauliflower grown in three inert substrates (perlite, gravel and pozzolana). Nutrient losses were very low due to a good management practice and control of fertiliser application. The highest NPK nutrients application efficiency was obtained in phosphorus, 97.2%. Among nutrients, potassium was lost in the highest percentage (11.6%). Obtained losses did not cause high pollution of the soil and ground water.

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What is already known on this subject? • Drought is a major limitation for crop productivity worldwide and in future periods of water stress are more likely to occur. Molecular responses to drought stress are very complex, but our understanding has rapidly progressed with the identification of thousands of genes involved in acclimatization and adaptation. What are the new findings? • Genome expression analyses from blackcurrant 'Ben Gairn' after five days of drought stress. Volcano filtering identified 2,115 differentially expressed microarray probes; 429 were up-regulated, with 263 showing homology to unique Arabidopsis thaliana (At) accessions, and 1,686 were down-regulated, with 675 unique At numbers. What is the expected impact on horticulture? • Putative candidate genes involved in drought stress tolerance of blackcurrant were identified, but require further, more detailed, studies to confirm their role. The results provide relevant information for focusing future studies with the aim to develop drought tolerant cultivars for sustainable production.

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