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Although environmental sustainability and economic feasibility frameworks have been developed to evaluate the impact of insect farms, significant studies on the development of territorial suitability methods specifically tailored to insect production have not yet been performed. This work proposes a GIS-based multi criteria decision making analysis to evaluate the suitability of a territory to the installation of insect farms. A case study developed specifically for black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (HI) insect farms in Emilia-Romagna region (North Italy) is presented. This is an area which, due to its agro-industrial nature and the consequent large production of related waste and by-products, is an optimal candidate for the installation of insect farms. Nine physical, environmental, and economic criteria were assessed. A raster spatial layer for each criterion was obtained, and their values were standardised. The criteria were weighted using the analytical hierarchical process, based on expert opinion recorded via an online questionnaire. The resulting weights were used to combine the single criterion maps using a weighted linear combination procedure and generate, after reclassification, the final suitability map. This map indicates the areas suitable for insect farms at the local level and provides indications for estimating suitability at regional and provincial level. The results showed that 56.2% of the study area was deemed unsuitable, and 43.8% was determined suitable for an HI insect farm; best locations were found around the main agro-industrial centres of the Po valley. The proposed methodology can be easily adapted to other breeding models, insects or study areas and adds valuable information in the development of guidelines for industrial-scale insect farms.

To test the efficacy and sustainability of evaporative cooling, two blocks of a commercial 'Fuji' apple orchard in Medelana (Ferrara, Italy) were subjected to two irrigation regimes: drip irrigation alone (DRI) or, between July and August (the hottest period of the year), supplemented by overcanopy irrigation (OCI). Stem/leaf water potential, leaf gas exchange where performed the day before, soon after and the day after OCI, along the growing season. Daily fruit growth, leaf and fruit temperature and microclimatic parameters within the blocks where monitored for the entire experiment. No difference was found in leaf/stem water potentials and leaf gas exchanges the day prior and after OCI. Photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance were improved on the OCI day. Also, fruit growth increased only on the OCI day, with higher rates all day long, but no further effects in the following days. Leaf, fruit temperature and microclimatic measurements within the blocks were only affected during OCI. Yield data show no difference between the two irrigation regimes. OCI in the environment tested affects tree performance only during application and a few hours afterwards. This management practice reduces water use efficiency resulting in more water applied per ton of fruit, likely a result related to the hot and humid climate of the Ferrara province.

The ecosystem services provided by urban forests contribute to ameliorate air quality and human well-being in cities. An integrated approach based on direct measurements of leaf functional multi-traits and on estimation of the plant mitigation potential was used for predicting the species-specific impact on air quality of 29 species, including trees and shrubs, commonly present in the urban context. In addition, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and ozone forming potential (OFP) of each species were evaluated. At plant levels, pollution deposition equations and the i-Tree Eco model were applied for estimating particulate (PM10) and ozone (O-3) removal potential and for calculating carbon dioxide (CO2) storage and sequestration by the studied species. The results highlight the plant species-specific ability to capture atmospheric pollutants based on their physiological (CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance) and morphological (stomata, trichomes, waxes and cuticular ornamentation) leaf traits. Trees with abundant trichomes, waxes and wrinkled leaf surfaces are considered more suitable for capturing pollutants. Most of the studied species are suitable for urban planning programs as they result for the majority low VOC emitters and consequently are characterized by low or moderate OFP. Annual O-3 and PM10, removal of the investigated trees species ranged from about 58-140 g plant(-1) yr(-1) and from about 17-139 g plant(-1) yr(-1), respectively. Total tree CO2 storage ranged from about 164-215 kg plant(-1) and gross annual CO2 sequestration from 11 to 20 kg plant(-1) year(-1). Liriodendron tulipifera, Celtis australis, Acer campestre and Acer platanoides, were efficient species in capturing PM10 and absorbing O-3. Prunus cerasifera, Quercus cerris, together with Celtis australis, Acer campestre and Acer platanoides, were efficient for carbon sequestration and storage. As aspected, lower potential of pollutant removal and CO2 storage and sequestration were estimated for shrubs, due to their smaller leaf area and structure.

The use of formalin constitutes serious health hazards for laboratory workers. We investigated the suitability and performance of the ethanol-based fixative, FineFIX, as a substitute for formalin for anatomical and cellular structure investigations of leaves by light microscopy and for leaf surface and ultrastructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We compared the anatomical features of leaf materials prepared using conventional formalin fixation with the FineFIX. Leaves were collected from ornamental tree species commonly used in urban areas. FineFIX was also compared with glutaraldehyde fixation and air drying normally used for scanning electron microscopy to develop a new method for evaluating leaf morphology and microstructure in three ornamental tree species. The cytological features of the samples processed for histological analysis were well preserved by both fixatives as demonstrated by the absence of nuclear swelling or shrinkage, cell wall detachment or tissue flaking, and good presentation of cytoplasmic vacuolization. In addition, good preservation of surface details and the absence of shrinkage artefacts confirmed the efficacy of FineFIX fixation for SEM analysis. Cuticular wax was preserved only in air dried samples. Samples treated with chemical substances during the fixation and dehydration phases showed various alterations of the wax structures. In some air dried samples a loss of turgidity of the cells was observed that caused general wrinkling of the epidermal surfaces. Commercial FineFIX is an adequate substitute for formalin in histology and it can be applied successfully also for SEM investigation, while reducing the health risks of glutaraldehyde or other toxic fixatives. To investigate the potential for plants to absorb and capture particulates in air, which requires preservation of the natural morphology of trichomes and epicuticular waxes, a combination of FineFIX fixation and air drying is recommended.

pollution control

Photoselective nets are an emerging technology that might affect apple tree productivity and fruit quality. However, the physiological aspects involved in these photo-responses are not yet fully understood. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of photoselective nets on apple leaf gas exchange. Two-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple trees grown in 40-L pots were covered with shade or hail nets, according to the following treatments: red shade net (RS), grey shade net (GS), blue shade net (BS), pearl hail net (PH), red hail net (RH). Light transmission (400-800 nm) spectra, leaf net photosynthesis (PN) and net transpiration (E) were measured under nets. Photosynthetically active radiation (400-700 nm) transmission was reduced 20.2% by RH, 12.5% by PH, 41.9% by RS, 46.3% by BS and 56.3% by GS. Spectral composition was unaltered by GS and PH nets, while RH, RS and BS substantially changed the blue:red light proportion. GS, RS and BS nets significantly increased E compared to RH and PH, while under BS, PN was significantly higher than RS, RH and PH. Differences on PN and E under photoselective nets are linked to changes in light quantity, but also in light quality, which probably affect anatomical and morphological aspects. These responses are currently being assessed.