Helena Vieira Mateus

Helena Vieira Mateus is conducting a Ph.D. in Agri-Food and Environmental Sustainability – specialization in Agriculture by the Agricultural College - Castelo Branco Polytechnic Institute starting in 2025 within the Environmental Quality and Human Health Group. She is conducting the PhD "The influence of ground cover plants on arthropod biodiversity in peach and cherry orchards in the Beira Interior region", under the supervision of Maria Teresa Rebelo (CIÊNCIAS, CE3C), Maria Paula Simões (IPCB) and Francisco Vieira (AAPIM). Her Ph.D. project main aims are: To investigate how different levels of vegetation cover, consisting of various plant species (Trifolium fragiferum, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Thymus serpillum, Rosmarinus officinalis and Origanum majorana), affect the biodiversity and abundance of arthropods in peach and cherry orchards. This approach aims to reduce the reliance on pesticides and enhance sustainability compared to alternative agronomic management methods, such as the use of herbicides in rows to control weeds. Specific objectives are:
1.    Observe the phenological state of each crop in order to verify the association between its development and susceptibility to pest attack, as well as its potential to attract flying auxiliaries. This will enable us to assess the estimated risk of pests and the ecological dynamics involved.
2.    To evaluate the effects of ground cover on the phytosanitary status of orchards, specifically with regard to the key pests of each fruit tree species and fruit production. For peach trees specifically, the aim is to evaluate the impact of these plants on the pests Ceratitis capitata, Anarsia lineatella and Asymmetrasca decedens. For cherry trees, the assessment will focus on the pests Drosophila suzukii and Rhagoletis cerasi.
3. Analyse the relationship between ground cover plant diversity, particularly aromatic species, and its impact on improving fruit productivity and quality.
4. Identify flying and ground-dwelling auxiliaries, especially predators such as Araneae, Coleoptera, Neuroptera and Hymenoptera parasitoids (specifically Dryinidae and Mymaridae), down to the lowest possible trophic level.
5. Assess the effects of vegetation cover on mycorrhizae.ce the reliance on pesticides and enhance sustainability compared to alternative agronomic management methods, such as the use of herbicides in rows to control weeds.