Dear Colleagues,

Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life in all its forms and all its interactions. Biodiversity is a key measure of the health of any ecosystem and describes how much variety in terms of resources and species that an ecosystem has. Food value chains destroy biodiversity by converting natural habitats to intensely management systems. Most commercial agriculture and modern food production systems, in particular greenhouse cultivations, are intensive in many ways, e.g. through inputs of pesticides and fertilizers or by cultivating specific plants varieties. Through such agricultural and horticultural intensification for food demands, agri-horticultural systems lose biodiversity in the form of species and ecosystems. In order to counteract the negative effects of agri-horticulture intensive systems, science has implemented agri-environment components of integrated agri-management strategies, adopting biological cultivation practices that are more friendly to the environment. Theory provides many examples for biological cultivation as well as pests and disease control outcomes, but only few are leading to spectacular successes. The basic approach used in successful biocontrol systems was mathematical models, which are nowadays combined with high technology systems. Research shows that by using mathematical models, biological control success is achieved faster. In general, the stability of biological control is confirmed by modeling.

This research topic seeks to provide more scientific data on modeling the effects of abiotic and biotic environmental factors and population dynamics of biological control in horticulture. 

Specific subjects to be addressed by contributors include, but are not limited to:

Biodiversity and Biocontrol: Methods and Statistical Analysis

for example,

1. Modeling the spread of invasive species
2. Modeling dynamics of native and invasive species

Soil fauna Modeling

for example,

1. Modeling the dynamics of soil microbes
2. Soil C and N that integrate microbial diversity into horticultural crops
3. Modeling the availability of nutrients in soil and soilless cultures

Rhizosphere Modeling

for example,

1. Modeling the complex dynamics of microbial communities in the
   rhizosphere
2. Rhizosphere carbon flow modeling: The role of microorganism

Growth modeling and plant stress

e.g. Abiotic stress biology in horticultural plants

Crop Modeling

for example,

1. Modelling plants growth and architecture
2. Models in crop production
3. Modeling climatic influence on parasitoids
4. Modeling CO₂ foot-print

Diseases and Pest Modeling in Horticultural Crops

e.g. Models of decision making process of pesticides (insecticides,
fungicides, essential oils)

Biological Control in Horticultural Crops

for example,

1. Biological control of pathogens and insect pests in horticulture
2. Modeling soil-borne pathogens
3. Modeling microbes profile in the canopy

Dr. Ioannis Vagelas
Dr. Christos Lykas
Guest Editors

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• Biodiversity
• Crop Modeling in Horticulture
• Epidemiology and Biological Control
• Modeling Plant Disease Infection
• Modeling Soil Functions
• Modeling Plant Nutrients/Soil Carbon of Horticultural Crops
• Modeling Root Growth and Impact on Plant Development
• Modeling Water and Nutrients Losses
• Plant Stress Modeling