An Internet Platform to Monitor Plant Pathogens Spread: The Italian Case of Xylella

Abstract

The numerous species of harmful organisms of tropical origin represent real phytosanitary emergencies that are bringing sectors of agri-food production to their knees, determining negative economic consequences for many farms and significant repercussions on the management of the territories on which production activities insist. For some years, a phytosanitary emergency affects tree species of the Mediterranean scrub, especially the olive trees in the south of Italy: Xylella Fastidiosa (Xf) infection. In this scenario, the paper aims to describe a proposed internet platform, developed in order to support farmers in pathogen monitoring, providing information about the crop and the cropping environment. It is able to provide information about Plant Sap Flow Density, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Vapor Pressure Deficit. Information was represented using interactive maps able to tell the overtime parameters trend. Stakeholder, can access to the olive oil trees maps, obtaining in a single view the risk derived from the Xf contagion. The platform could benefit farmers and other stakeholders interested in analysis and territorial sustainability (decision makers, researchers, citizens and biologists).