Real time production of phenological maps for Italy the experience of the Iphen network

IPHEN (Italian PHEnological Network) is a co-operative effort for the real time production of phenological maps at Italian national scale, proposed and developed starting from the 2006 growing season. Iphen project was promoted by a group of phenologists and crop modelers, belonging to some universities, agrometeorological services, local extension services, Cm (National Research Council) and Cra (Agriculture research council). The whole activity in this prototypal phase is referred to vine (Vitis vinifera L.) and black elder (Sambucus nigra L.) but only the case of vine is hereafter discussed. Data carried out by observers in different areas of Italy are processed at Department of Crop Science of University of Milano and internet broadcasting is carried out by Cma (www.ucea.it).