Plant disease management strategies under changing climate scenario

Abstract

Plant diseases are major problem of food production. Climate is dominating factor which influence the crop yield. Climate change directly affect rate of physiological process and biochemical process. Cliamte change result in increase in temperature, quantity and pattern of precipitation, increased CO₂ and ozone level, drought, etc. Any change in ecosystem can affect plant diseases, because plant disease is the result of interaction between a susceptible host, virulent pathogen and favourable environment. Increase in temperature and moisture can have some effect on fitness (no. of generation and sexual reproduction). Changes in temperature and precipitation alter the growth stage, development and pathogenicity of infectious agent. Persistence of fungicide on the plant surface depends on weather condition. Fungicides are wash out due to frequent rainfall and temperature. Changes in duration, frequency and intensity of rain events can alters the efficacy of chemicals. Model of plant disease have been developed to incorporate more sophisticated climate prediction.