Fungicide resistance reduces the effectiveness of fungicides, thereby reducing crop productivity and causing economic losses to farmers due to increased labor and resource needs. Strategies for managing fungicide resistance are necessary to promote th...
Fungicide resistance reduces the effectiveness of fungicides, thereby reducing crop productivity and causing economic losses to farmers due to increased labor and resource needs. Strategies for managing fungicide resistance are necessary to promote the sustainable use of fungicides and increase crop production. Simulating the fungicide resistance selection dynamics using a mathematical model can assess resistance management strategies. In this study, a mathematical model was developed and validated with field data to explain the ratio of fungicide-resistant strains in the fungicide treatment scenario for Colletotrichum scovillei, the causative agent of pepper anthracnose. The model consisted of three modules: fruit growth, infection, and fungicide dynamics. These modules account for seasonal pepper fruit development influenced by weather conditions, pathogen infection mechanisms, and the effects of fungicide applications. The feasibility of the model was evaluated using the fungicide "pyraclostrobin" as a case study. Field experiments were conducted at four sites during two growing seasons (2023 and 2024) for parameterization and validation. Through model validation, the model demonstrated a reasonable ability to predict temporal changes in the ratio of resistant strains in the field. Sensitivity analysis of model parameters revealed that the reduction in infection efficiency of the susceptible strain due to pyraclostrobin had the greatest effect on the proportion of resistant strains within the model. Finally, by simulating the effect of the dosage and treatment frequency on fungicide resistant dynamics, this study provides insight into establishing an effective resistance management strategy using a mathematical model. Although this study was limited by the field experimental design, including a relatively low number of repetitions, the dynamics of fungicide-resistant strains were nevertheless effectively captured and explained within the available data using the model. Furthermore, investigating the relationship between disease incidence and severity in future research is expected to contribute to improving the model’s precision and reliability.