Influence of plant structure, cultural pratices and environmental conditions on the development of the bacterial canker of kiwifruits

Italy has a preeminent rank in kiwifruit industry, being the first exporter and the second largest producer after China. However, in the last years kiwifruit yields and the total cultivated area considerably decreased, due to the pandemic spread of the bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). Several climatic conditions and cultural practices affect the development of the bacterial canker. This research work focused on the impact of agricultural practices and microclimate conditions on the incidence and epidemiology of Psa in the orchard. Therefore, the effect of fertilization, irrigation, use of bio-regulators, rootstock, training system and pruning were examined. The effect of different tunnel systems was analyzed as well, to study the plant-pathogen interaction. Considering the importance of insects as vectors in other pathosystems, the role of Metcalfa pruinosa in the spread of the bacterial canker was investigated in controlled conditions. In addition, quality and storage properties of fruits from infected plants were assessed. The study of all these aspects of the agronomic practices is useful to define a strategy to limit the bacterial diffusion in the orchard. Overall, excess nitrogen fertilization, water stress, stagnant water supplies, pruning before summer and the high number of Metcalfa pruinosa increased the Psa incidence. In contrast, tunnel covers may be useful for the control of the disease, with special attention to the kind of material.

Greening the city: an ecosystem-based framework to support planning towards urban sustainability and resilience

Cities are small-scale complex socio-ecological systems, that host around 60% of world population. Ecosystem Services (ES) provided by urban ecosystems offer multiple benefits necessary to cope with present and future urban challenges. These ES include microclimate regulation, runoff control, as well as opportunities for mental and physical recreation, affecting citizen’s health and wellbeing. Creating a balance between urban development, land take containment, climate adaptation and availability of Urban Green Areas and their related benefits, can improve the quality of the lives of the inhabitants, the economic performance of the city and the social justice and cohesion aspects. This work starts analysing current literature around the topic of Ecosystem Services (ES), Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) and Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and their integration within current European and International sustainability policies. Then, the thesis focuses on the role of ES, GBI and NBS towards urban sustainability and resilience setting the basis to build the core methodological and conceptual approach of this work. The developed ES-based conceptual approach provides guidance on how to map and assess ES, to better inform policy making and to give the proper value to ES within urban context. The proposed interdisciplinary approach navigates the topic of mapping and assessing ES benefits in terms of regulatory services, with a focus on climate mitigation and adaptation, and cultural services, to enhance wellbeing and justice in urban areas. Last, this thesis proposes a trans-disciplinary and participatory approach to build resilience over time around all relevant urban ES. The two case studies that will be presented in this dissertation, the city of Bologna and the city of Barcelona, have been used to implement, tailor and test the proposed conceptual framework, raising valuable inputs for planning, policies and science.

Lo studio del microclima indoor per la conservazione preventiva del Patrimonio storico artistico e culturale

La conservazione preventiva degli edifici storici e dei beni custoditi al loro interno rappresenta una sfida ad oggi condivisa a livello internazionale. Tale conservazione dipende da numerose variabili, tra le quali il microclima indoor gioca un ruolo decisivo. Il fine di questa tesi è verificare come lo studio del microclima indoor, supportato dalla simulazione virtuale e dalla conoscenza storica delle evoluzioni dell’edificio stesso (legate a modifiche impiantistiche; architettoniche; d’uso; ecc., nel corso degli anni), costituiscano una base conoscitiva fondamentale, da cui architetti e restauratori possono partire per definire strategie specifiche, volte alla conservazione preventiva del Patrimonio. Per fare questo, l’autore presenta le indagini svolte per tre casi-studio: la Sala 33 della Reggia di Venaria Reale, in provincia di Torino, Italia; la Biblioteca Generale Storica dell’Università di Salamanca, in Spagna; il Portico della Gloria, nartece della Cattedrale di Santiago de Compostela, in Spagna. La metodologia definita e adottata per l’analisi e l’interpretazione dei dati di ciascun caso-studio ha previsto la comprensione e la messa in relazione tra: scelte costruttive; vicende evolutive delle singole architetture; fattori che ne determinano il microclima, letti (o ipotizzati) nelle relative modifiche diacroniche; degrado delle architetture e dei beni che sono custoditi in esse. Infine, uno degli esiti più innovativi della ricerca è stata la definizione di due indici di rischio: sono stati infatti definiti due nuovi indici (Heritage Microclimate Risk -HMR- e Predicted Risk of Damage -PRD-) legati al microclima degli edifici che ospitano beni e manufatti che costituiscono il patrimonio storico artistico e culturale. Tali indici sono stati definiti tenendo conto di tutte le variabili da cui il microclima dipende e dei fattori che ne determinano l’evolversi nel tempo e nello spazio.

Modelling, simulations and monitoring for sustainable plant and animal production systems through precision technique

Protected crop production is a modern and innovative approach to cultivating plants in a controlled environment to optimize growth, yield, and quality. This method involves using structures such as greenhouses or tunnels to create a sheltered environment. These productive solutions are characterized by a careful regulation of variables like temperature, humidity, light, and ventilation, which collectively contribute to creating an optimal microclimate for plant growth. Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are used to maintain optimal conditions for plant growth, regardless of external weather fluctuations. Protected crop production plays a crucial role in addressing challenges posed by climate variability, population growth, and food security. Similarly, animal husbandry involves providing adequate nutrition, housing, medical care and environmental conditions to ensure animal welfare. Then, sustainability is a critical consideration in all forms of agriculture, including protected crop and animal production. Sustainability in animal production refers to the practice of producing animal products in a way that minimizes negative impacts on the environment, promotes animal welfare, and ensures the long-term viability of the industry. Then, the research activities performed during the PhD can be inserted exactly in the field of Precision Agriculture and Livestock farming. Here the focus is on the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) approach and environmental assessment applied to improve yield, resource efficiency, environmental sustainability, and cost savings. It represents a significant shift from traditional farming methods to a more technology-driven, data-driven, and environmentally conscious approach to crop and animal production. On one side, CFD is powerful and precise techniques of computer modeling and simulation of airflows and thermo-hygrometric parameters, that has been applied to optimize the growth environment of crops and the efficiency of ventilation in pig barns. On the other side, the sustainability aspect has been investigated and researched in terms of Life Cycle Assessment analyses.

Integrating the age factor in designing industrial environments and workstations in the workforce ageing era

As people spend a third of their lives at work and, in most cases, indoors, the work environment assumes crucial importance. The continuous and dynamic interaction between people and the working environment surrounding them produces physiological and psychological effects on operators. Recognizing the substantial impact of comfort and well-being on employee satisfaction and job performance, the literature underscores the need for industries to implement indoor environment control strategies to ensure long-term success and profitability. However, managing physical risks (i.e., ergonomic and microclimate) in industrial environments is often constrained by production and energy requirements. In the food processing industry, for example, the safety of perishable products dictates storage temperatures that do not allow for operator comfort. Conversely, warehouses dedicated to non-perishable products often lack cooling systems to limit energy expenditure, reaching high temperatures in the summer period. Moreover, exceptional events, like the COVID-19 pandemic, introduce new constraints, with recommendations impacting thermal stress and respiratory health. Furthermore, the thesis highlights how workers' variables, particularly the aging process, reduce tolerance to environmental stresses. Consequently, prolonged exposure to environmental stress conditions at work results in cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders. In response to the global trend of an aging workforce, the thesis bridges a literature gap by proposing methods and models that integrate the age factor into comfort assessment. It aims to present technical and technological solutions to mitigate microclimate risks in industrial environments, ultimately seeking innovative ways to enhance the aging workforce's comfort, performance, experience, and skills. The research outlines a logical-conceptual scheme with three main areas of focus: analyzing factors influencing the work environment, recognizing constraints to worker comfort, and designing solutions. The results significantly contribute to science by laying the foundation for new research in worker health and safety in an ageing working population's extremely current industrial context.