Modelling fungicide resistance management in an uncertain world

BBSRC theme: Bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food
Plant disease poses a major threat to modern food production. One challenge to our ability to effectively control crop pathogens is challenged by fungicide resistance, where pathogens evolve so that control mechanisms cease to work effectively. Mathematical models can be an effective tool in predicting selection for resistant pathogen strains and can help establish the most sustainable and durable disease management strategies, with greater flexibility and reduced cost compared to field trials. We try to establish the most effective fungicide resistance management strategies using of Septoria tritici blotch, the most damaging disease of wheat, as a case study. The models used in the project vary from extensions of existing models found in the literature to entirely novel models of our own creation.