Sensor networks for indexing disease severity on rose plants in low-tech Mediterranean greenhouse conditions

Average temperature and relative humidity are driving factors of several environmental and biological models used to manage the high-tech greenhouse environment and reduce the risk of fungal disease development. In low- or medium-tech greenhouses, however, the micrometeorological internal variability limits the control of these factors, determining differences in the prediction of disease risk. This work analyzed the effect of air temperature and relative humidity variability on fungal disease development into a low-tech greenhouse with inside placed different cultivars of rose plants. Modeling outputs based on micrometeorological parameters were compared with direct observations of leaf colonization and damage, showing a substantial agreement in the assessment of fungal incidence and disease severity. Indeed, the use of several monitoring devices positioned in the cultivation area allowed to overcome the problems related to the low-tech greenhouse microclimatic variability.