EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PLANT PATHOGENS

Disease triangel (picture by Annika Djurle).

Modern agriculture needs to optimize the control measures used to reduce or eliminate losses due to plant diseases. In order to achieve this goal, it is essential to understand how different environmental factors, as well as the control measures themselves affect the development of diseases, as well as the economic impact of the resulting loss. By studying the development of disease in populations, under natural or semi-natural conditions, and quantifying the effects of the different factors (as well as disease and crop loss) an optimal production system can be developed that optimizes productivity and minimises deleterious effects to the environment.

Contact person: Jonathan Yuen