1,720,975 research outputs found
Viable and not viable spore concentrations in National Gallery of Umbria (Italy)
No full textThe conservation actions towards artworks holding a common patrimony for the community are of primary importance, but also those related to their "container" as museums, libraries or archives are to consider. Fungal spores and bacteria carried by air flows to the artwork surface can colonize it causing biodeterioration through physical and/or chemical alterations of the materials with the irreversible loss of their value. The quality control of the indoor air surrounding the historic building is essential, as well as for the protection and conservation of the artwork, also for the protection of the health of operators and visitors. The aim of this study was to monitor airborne fungal particles, through volumetric spore traps, for improving the knowledge about the conservation and protection of artworks in the museum environment analysing the principal relationships between indoor environmental conditions and potentially biodeteriogen fungal spore growth. The evidence of no significant relationships between spore concentrations and environmental conditions recorded inside the different expositive rooms testified the regular and correct maintenance of the air conditioning system inside the considered building (National Gallery of Umbria, central Italy). Moreover, in a specific museum room a significant spore concentration decreasing trend was recorded mainly due to a structural modification in the same building
Control of biodeterioration using aerobiological monitoring: indoor investigations for the conservation of artistic patrimony.
No full textThe assessment of fungal bioaerosols in the crypt of St. Peter in Perugia (Italy)
No full textThe inspection of the quality of the indoor air in which a work of art or a historical artefact is kept becomes essential for its conservation. The determination of organic pollutants represents an important tool in pre-emptive conservation. The study investigated the quality of the air in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Peter in Perugia (Italy) through different methodologies. The objectives included the analysis of the levels of biological particulates of fungal origin, and the determination of the degree of variability of the airborne spore concentrations, as indicative of the level of contamination of the environment. The quantitative analysis of the airborne fungal component demonstrates that across the whole period considered there were wide variations in the bioaerosols, heterogeneous spore distributions and different peak concentrations in the areas studied. The qualitative analysis of the airborne fungal component allowed the determination of the different fungal genera present, both in the interior of the crypt and in the outside environment. The analysis of the data shows an increasing trend over the period considered, with the highest values during the months of June and July
Ecosystem functions of fruit woody species in an urban environment
No full textThe objective of this work was to investigate the potential ecosystem services of 16 fruit trees to plan and manage more efficiently “Urban Forest,” increasing also the resilience of cities to climate change. We evaluated the potential capacity of PM10 absorption, the storage of CO(2) from the atmosphere, and the cooling of the environment through shading by the crown and through evapotranspiration. We observed that some species, such as Morus nigra, Juglans regia, Pyrus communis, and Cydonia oblonga, are able to store a higher quantity of CO(2) than others over a period of 50 years, respectively, of 2.40 tons, 2.33 tons, 1.51 tons, and 0.96 tons. Ficus carica, Juglans regia, and Morus nigra were relevant for PM10 absorption, since they were able to absorb, referring to the year 2019, 146.4 gr/tree, 195.6 gr/tree, and 143.1 gr/tree, respectively. Results showed that these ecosystem functions depend principally on the morphological characteristics of the individuals: their height, DBH, expansion of their crowns, and characteristics of the foliage system
Meteorological Influences on Pheno–Morpho–Yield Data of Grain Sorghum Varieties in Central Italy
No full textSorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is widely grown in many arid and semiarid areas of the world due to its ability to yield well under rainfed or water-limited conditions. In the present study some sorghum varieties (medium-long season) have been studied in relationship with the principal meteorological variables considering also the drought effect in a favorable groundwater situation. The phenological adaptation, morphological and productive features during 11 yr of investigations from 2005 to 2015 in central Italy were evaluated. In the study area the soil water availability from emergence to flowering was high for all the varieties development considering that no significant phenological differences were evidenced also after flowering between the groups of sorghum cultivars. The plant vegetative development and in particular the flag leaf height was influenced by the low precipitation volumes recorded during 2007 and 2015 spring periods such as plant height particularly affected by extremely low rain volumes from May to July during the last study year. Moreover, seed numbers may be reduced if drought stress occurs immediately after seed set as a result of embryo abortion and the quite absent precipitations during summer 2007 (above all during August when average sorghum flowering is recorded) resulted in a reduction of kernel weight for almost all the varieties. The highest groundwater depth (conditioned by low precipitation volumes) recorded during 2015 determined a high water stress that may have influenced above all panicle size and consequently the number of seeds per panicle
Impact of Varied Microwave Exposures on Weed Species
No full textPurpose: This study explores the efficacy of microwaves as a method for the control of three weed species particularly widespread and problematic in the Italian farms cultivating IV range crops. These findings, based on laboratory experiments, are part of a project (MOPAS Project—Microwaves for Sustainable Agriculture) meant to realize a prototype for use in real field situations. Methods: Seeds from weed species (Trifolium repens L., Portulaca oleracea L., and Solanum nigrum L.) were subjected to microwave treatments at 480 and 900 W power levels for 10 and 30 s. The impact on seed germination and ion leakage was assessed. Histological changes induced by microwaves were also examined through microscopic analysis. Results: Significant germinability decreases were observed in S. nigrum and T. repens with increasing treatment duration and intensity. P. oleracea exhibited lower sensitivity, with detrimental effects only at the highest power levels suggesting that seed size and the associated differences in water absorption may play a crucial role in determining sensitivity to microwave exposure. S. nigrum membrane stability was affected only at the highest irradiation power, while all species showed increased ion leakage across treatments. Observations revealed wilting of stems and leaves, indicating cell turgidity loss in inner tissue layers. Conclusion: Microwave radiation may be a non-chemical weed control strategy, though efficacy is influenced by variability in seed traits. Further research is necessary to optimize treatment parameters and assess scalability under field conditions. This approach holds potential for reducing herbicide use and promoting sustainable agricultural practices
Spring Influences on Olive Flowering and Threshold Temperatures Related to Reproductive Structure Formation
No full textSeveral bioclimatic studies have been developed over recent years considering temperature trends and their influence on vegetative and reproductive phenomena during plant growth. In the applied aerobiology laboratory of Perugia University, various studies of olive (Olea europaea L.) flowering and its relationship with climatic variables have been conducted. Since 1999, a flowering monitoring network in central–southern Italy has been working to track the biological phenomena over the years, the
possible differences between the monitoring stations, and the relationships with climate.
Olive flowering was monitored in 15 monitoring stations located in four Italian regions (Campania, Calabria, Puglia, and Sicily) representing’90% of national olive territories. The flowering phenophase was studied through pollen emission monitoring, making use of scientific instruments that capture defined volumes of atmosphere and allow us to ascertain the pollen emission trends, thereby determining daily average pollen concentrations
(pollen grains/m3). The combined analysis of pollen monitoring and meteorological data permitted identifying various groups of stations characterized by the fact that better relationships between reproductive structure development and growing
degree-days are obtained with different spring threshold temperatures (low 7 to 10 8C or high 11 to 14 8C). Moreover, the study permitted demonstrating particular meteorological and biological behaviors, providing useful information about plant–climate relationships in a species of economic interest affected by interincompatibility
Il ruolo delle temperature primaverili sull'evento fioritura in olivo ed elaborazione delle soglie di "risveglio" degli apparati riproduttivi
No full textOlive flowering was monitored in 15 monitoring
stations located in four south-Italy regions
(Campania, Calabria, Puglia and Sicily) representing
about the 90% of national olive territories. The flowering
phenophase has been studied through the pollen
emission monitoring realized utilizing scientific instruments
which capture defined volumes of atmoshpere
and which permit us to know the pollen emission
trends determining daily average pollen concentrations
(pollen grains/m3). The combined analysis of
pollen monitoring and meteorological data permitted
to determine firstly a group of stations characterized
by the fact that the better relationships between reproductive
structure development and Growing degree
days were obtained using low spring threshold temperatures
(7-10° C). This first group is constituted by 4
stations (Benevento, Avellino, Salerno and Cosenza)
located on Appenninic mountains those coldest of the
entire monitoring database. Probably in theses areas
the cultivated olive cultivars need lower temperatures
to start their awakening processes to develop the
reproductive structures. A second group of stations is
characterized by higher threshold temperatures (11-
14° C) where the olive cultivars evidenced thermal
requirements typical of warm mediterranean areas.
The stations of this group are above all those located
in Sicily and Puglia. The scientific instrument utilized
to monitor flowering phenomenon permit to show
“recent” climatic trends furnishing useful information
about the relationships plant-climate
Analisi della microflora fungina aerodispersa all'interno dell'Archivio storico dell'Abbazia di San Pietro in Perugia
No full textOsservazioni fenologiche e morfologiche su quattro cultivar viticole presenti nell'area di S. Apollinare.
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