Mapping Yield and Fusarium Wilt on Green Bean Combining Vegetation Indices in Different Management Zones

Legumes are sensitive to soil heterogeneity and disease pressure, particularly from Fusarium oxysporum, which causes severe yield losses worldwide. This study examined the relation- ships between soil properties, disease incidence, and yield variability within management unit zones (MUZs) to support site-specific management strategies. Two field experiments were conducted in central Italy, in two different growing seasons, using synthetic images of bare soil and clusters to delineate MUZs. Soil samples were analyzed for texture, organic carbon, and nitrogen content, while disease incidence and severity were assessed in relation to symptoms on foliar, root, and hypocotyl tissues. Furthermore, pathogen isolations were carried out from the altered hypocotyl and root tissue. Vegetation indices, including NDVI and PRI derived from Sentinel-2 images, were integrated with field observations to map disease and yields spatially. The results highlighted the almost exclusive presence of F. oxysporum on the altered tissues. MUZ-3, characterized by lower organic carbon content and higher sand content, consistently exhibited the highest incidence and severity of Fusar- ium wilt. In contrast, MUZ-1, richer in clay and organic carbon, supported healthier plant growth and higher productivity. The integration of vegetation indices with field data proved effective in detecting spatial variability, allowing the delimitation of productivity zones and supporting precision farming strategies aimed at mitigating Fusarium-related yield losses.