Functional Biodiversity and Landscape Effects on Biological Control in Horticultural Systems
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Pathology and Disease Management (PPDM)".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2026 | Viewed by 30
Special Issue Editors
Interests: entomology; systematics; agroecology
Interests: sensorial ecology; plant-Insect interaction; chemical ecology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The effectiveness of biological control in horticultural systems is associated with the functional biodiversity of beneficial arthropods and landscape-level factors. This Special Issue aims to address these specific interactions by highlighting research that investigates how landscape structure, composition, and ecological connectivity influence the diversity, abundance, and functional role of natural enemies in horticultural ecosystems.
We invite contributions that focus on the relationships between landscape patterns (e.g., habitat heterogeneity, fragmentation, landscape complexity) and biological control efficacy. Studies that utilize experimental, observational, or modeling approaches to evaluate how landscape management practices enhance or limit natural enemy communities and pest suppression are highly encouraged.
Research articles, reviews, and case studies addressing how agroecological practices, habitat management, or landscape-level interventions contribute to sustainable pest control in horticultural crops will be prioritized. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies integrating entomology, landscape ecology, and agricultural sustainability are especially welcome.
Dr. Rodrigo Araujo
Prof. Dr. Cristian Villagra
Dr. Daniell Rodrigo Rodrigues Fernandes
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- agroecological practices
- biological control
- functional biodiversity
- landscape ecology
- natural enemies
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