A1222
Title: Network-based modeling for plant disease dynamics: Data-driven inference and management insights
Authors: Thien Minh Le - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (United States) [presenting]
Abstract: Plant disease dynamics in agricultural systems are shaped by spatial structure and localized interactions, yet many existing approaches rely on homogeneous mixing or purely spatial models that may be violated in practice or produce diffuse transmission signals. A network-based modeling framework is presented as a flexible alternative that represents fields as networks, allowing heterogeneous interactions and multiple transmission pathways to be explicitly captured. This perspective provides richer insight into disease spread and naturally links data with statistical inference, enabling data-driven disease management in agriculture. Using Frogeye Leaf Spot in soybeans as a case study, the network approach reveals additional structure in transmission dynamics and supports more targeted intervention strategies. Network-based models offer a powerful and flexible paradigm for understanding and managing plant disease dynamics in agricultural systems.
