Decision support systems for horticulture.
Abstract Decision Support Systems (DSSs) are interactive computer-based information systems or subsystems intended to help decision makers use information and communication technologies, data, knowledge and/or models to solve complex and ill-structured management problems and to choose the best alternative solution in terms of economics, social impact and environmental issues (Manos et al., 2010). These systems are specifically being designed to address complex tasks involving multiple disciplines, enabling mimicking of the necessary requirements of fruit crops with respect to biotic and abiotic characteristics so that the optimum objectives specified by the user are obtained. They alter production systems, enhance management skills and reduce cost of production by applying modelling, simulations, specialized algorithms, calculation models, optimization and artificial intelligence techniques.