Research & Development
The research and development activities of PHEM include various sectors of modern epidemiology, which concerns the study, over time and space, of the variations that occur during diseases caused by populations of harmful organisms on plant.
The studies are therefore focused on the population dynamics of harmful organisms and host plants, host-pathogen interactions that cause diseases, the multitrophic relationships that develop between plants and harmful arthropods, and the effects of the environment and anthropogenic interventions.
These studies aim to develop accurate and robust process-based mathematical models for the simulation/prediction of epidemics through an original and innovative working method that includes the following phases:
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Systematic literature review
and meta-analysis of the literature data
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Definition of the modelling framework
through Systems analysis
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Acquisition of the necessary data
for the development of mathematical equations linking the development of harmful organisms to meteorological variables, host plant development, and cropping conditions
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Biological validation of the model
through the use of independent datasets and appropriate statistical techniques
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Development of crop defense strategies
based on the model's outputs
PHEM develops mathematical models for
disease agents, mycotoxin-producing fungi, plant-feeding arthropods and disease vectors, and weeds within the framework of research projects funded at various levels (from international to local projects), on behalf of public institutions and private companies offering 4.0 Agriculture solutions for plant protection.
