SUSTAINABLE DISEASE MANAGEMENT

- Evolution of plant pathogens in modern agriculture vs. natural ecosystems. Effect of high-intensity, multicropping and monoculture. Effect of qualitative and quantitative resistance. Fungicide resistance in crop pathogens;
- Cultural practice to slow down the evolution of infective traits in the pathogen population. Deployment of R genes: mixture, pyramiding and rotation. Species diversification: crop rotation and intercropping;
- Fungicide resistance management. Reducing selection: principles and strategies. Fungicide dose, mixtures, alternation, spray timing;
- Biological control. Mechanisms: antagonism, competition for nutrients, induction of resistance in plants. Biological control agents: oomycetes, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Physical methods, organic amendments, plant extracts and secondary metabolite;
- Agricultural practices for preventing mycotoxins contamination in cereal grains;
- Predictive models and Decision-support systems: developments, improvements and benefits. Examples: wheat-Fusarium spp., apple-Venturia inaequalis, grapevine-Plasmopara viticola pathosystems.