About this Research Topic
Many crops are being affected due to vector-borne plant diseases everywhere on the Earth. Cassava, tomatoes, Jatropha C., peppers, cucumbers, etc., plantations are affected, with estimated losses reaching 40%-70% of annual harvest by the vector-borne diseases. One example of vector-borne is the mosaic disease caused by begomoviruses and vectored through whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The mosaic disease is the biggest challenge to growing cassava in tropical and subtropical regions. Cassava is an important edible food crop in many parts of South Africa, and Jatropha curcas is emerging recently as biodiesel's most promising source. Mosaic disease of these plants has adverse effects on communities planting them.
Mosaic disease is transmitted to plants by insect vectors, mainly by the whitefly B. tabaci. It results in mottled and distorted leaves, veinal netting, as well as stunting of plants, often causing them to produce almost no yield. Thus disease control is necessary for healthy plantation and high crop yields. Mathematical modeling is helpful for disease dynamics and control. In terms of controlling plant disease, e.g., mosaic disease, several mathematical models have been proposed by researchers.
Different strategies have been proposed, such as roguing (removing infected plants) and replanting (replacing the infected plants with healthy ones), with others targeting disease vectors using insecticides, biological control, and developing vector-resistant plant varieties. The host-plants biochemical changes induced by the plant virus can influence the host's choice by the vector. Infected plants can produce volatiles to make them more attractive to insect suckling. Infected plants are seen to be the superior hosts for vectors compared to susceptible plants. It enhances the vector life cycle and virus feast. Also, fast vector spreading has also been observed due to reduced host plant quality. For example, Luteovirid acquisition by aphids appears to alter host selection behavior to prefer uninfected plants. In contrast, non-viruliferous aphids tend to prefer virus-infected plants, thereby promoting both virus acquisition and transmission. Similar virus effects on host preferences of the vector were observed for reovirus-infected and virus-free plant-hoppers. The impact of vector behavioral manipulation discussed above is known as the vector bias effect. This phenomenon has not been considered yet in the modeling of mosaic disease transmission in plants.
This Research Topic aims to establish mathematical models on the latest research findings on the interactions between host, pathogen, and vector; disease epidemiology; genetic diversity; and environmental and evolutionary factors involving an agro-ecological perspective of insect-borne diseases.
Stochastic differential equation models play an essential role in many applied sciences, including population dynamics, finance, mechanics, medicine, and biology. They provide an extra degree of realism compared to their deterministic counterparts. The main question is to restore the dynamical properties of the model by developed stochastic systems. Thus we shall also establish a stochastic differential equation model for plant disease dynamics.
Mosaic disease is transmitted to plants by insect vectors, mainly by the whitefly B. tabaci. It results in mottled and distorted leaves, veinal netting, as well as stunting of plants, often causing them to produce almost no yield. Thus disease control is necessary for healthy plantation and high crop yields. Mathematical modeling is helpful for disease dynamics and control. In terms of controlling plant disease, e.g., mosaic disease, several mathematical models have been proposed by researchers.
Different strategies have been proposed, such as roguing (removing infected plants) and replanting (replacing the infected plants with healthy ones), with others targeting disease vectors using insecticides, biological control, and developing vector-resistant plant varieties. The host-plants biochemical changes induced by the plant virus can influence the host's choice by the vector. Infected plants can produce volatiles to make them more attractive to insect suckling. Infected plants are seen to be the superior hosts for vectors compared to susceptible plants. It enhances the vector life cycle and virus feast. Also, fast vector spreading has also been observed due to reduced host plant quality. For example, Luteovirid acquisition by aphids appears to alter host selection behavior to prefer uninfected plants. In contrast, non-viruliferous aphids tend to prefer virus-infected plants, thereby promoting both virus acquisition and transmission. Similar virus effects on host preferences of the vector were observed for reovirus-infected and virus-free plant-hoppers. The impact of vector behavioral manipulation discussed above is known as the vector bias effect. This phenomenon has not been considered yet in the modeling of mosaic disease transmission in plants.
This Research Topic aims to establish mathematical models on the latest research findings on the interactions between host, pathogen, and vector; disease epidemiology; genetic diversity; and environmental and evolutionary factors involving an agro-ecological perspective of insect-borne diseases.
Stochastic differential equation models play an essential role in many applied sciences, including population dynamics, finance, mechanics, medicine, and biology. They provide an extra degree of realism compared to their deterministic counterparts. The main question is to restore the dynamical properties of the model by developed stochastic systems. Thus we shall also establish a stochastic differential equation model for plant disease dynamics.
Keywords: Mathematical modeling, optimal control, impulsive control, delay differential equation, stochastic approach, disease transmission, disease management, Biological control, basic reproduction number, vector behavioral manipulation (vector bias effect)
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