SBR-RISC

This project focuses on understanding and managing the spread of the sugar beet disease complex known as 'syndrome basses richesses' (SBR), caused by two bacterial pathogens and transmitted by the planthopper Pentastiridius leporinus. The disease has been spreading rapidly across central Europe, significantly impacting sugar yield. To predict and mitigate the spread of the disease, the study aims to develop both correlative and mechanistic species distribution models (SDMs) to assess agronomic and ecological factors influencing P. leporinus populations. Additionally, the project seeks to improve vector identification and monitoring by developing an automated, image-based detection system using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), therefore reducing reliance on time-consuming PCR-based methods.