Integrating pests and pathogens into the climate change/food security debate
TL;DR: More mechanistic inclusion of pests and pathogen effects in crop models would lead to more realistic predictions of crop production on a regional scale and thereby assist in the development of more robust regional food security policies.
Abstract: While many studies have demonstrated the sensitivities of plants and of crop yield to a changing climate, a major challenge for the agricultural research community is to relate these findings to the broader societal concern with food security. This paper reviews the direct effects of climate on both crop growth and yield and on plant pests and pathogens and the interactions that may occur between crops, pests, and pathogens under changed climate. Finally, we consider the contribution that better understanding of the roles of pests and pathogens in crop production systems might make to enhanced food security. Evidence for the measured climate change on crops and their associated pests and pathogens is starting to be documented. Globally atmospheric [CO(2)] has increased, and in northern latitudes mean temperature at many locations has increased by about 1.0-1.4 degrees C with accompanying changes in pest and pathogen incidence and to farming practices. Many pests and pathogens exhibit considerable capacity for generating, recombining, and selecting fit combinations of variants in key pathogenicity, fitness, and aggressiveness traits that there is little doubt that any new opportunities resulting from climate change will be exploited by them. However, the interactions between crops and pests and pathogens are complex and poorly understood in the context of climate change. More mechanistic inclusion of pests and pathogen effects in crop models would lead to more realistic predictions of crop production on a regional scale and thereby assist in the development of more robust regional food security policies.
Citations
More filters
01 Jan 2019
TL;DR: The threat of climate change is well evident by the fact of increasing temperature and more frequent severe drought and floods in recent times, and higher incidence of insects-pest and diseases impacting agriculture and food production.
Abstract: The threat of climate change is well evident by the fact of increasing temperature and more frequent severe drought and floods in recent times, and higher incidence of insects-pest and diseases impacting agriculture and food production. This situation has aggravated the scarcity of food and hunger around the world. To mitigate the ill effects of climate change, developing climate resilient varieties for heat, cold, drought and flood stresses is one of the options, where breeders can play major role. Several Institutions in the world are engaged in developing viable strategies. This will require a much better understanding of our genetic resources, the underlying mechanism of gene interactions and pyramiding multi-stress related genes for developing new variety or improving the already cultivated variety. The most suited approaches should involve conventional breeding as well as new emerging technologies like doubled haploidy, marker-assisted selection, high throughput phenotyping and bioinformatics to hasten the crop improvement. For breeders, ample opportunity lies in developing climate resilient high-yielding varieties, resistant/tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses that help increasing food production and productivity, thus ease the cultivation under climate change regime. In this direction, several international institutes have initiated work on developing climate resilient crops, for example, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has released 44 varieties of rice that are resilient to the effects of climate change and work is underway on a tripartite rice variation to cope with stresses like droughts, floods and saltiness. Even, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) identified 40 germplasm lines of chickpea with resistance to extreme weather conditions such as drought, high temperature and salinity. In India, various ICAR institutes and state agricultural universities, under National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) programme, made the concerted efforts to develop different high yielding cultivars with enhanced tolerance to heat, drought, flooding, chilling and salinity stresses for different agro-climatic zones. Thus, effect of climate change can be withstand to a greater extent with a suitable genetic blue print in our cultivars and that need more focussed research and development from breeder’s side.
1 citations
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: Map-based cloning of QTL isolated dozens of genes controlling yield components, rice quality, and biotic stress tolerance and functional markers started to play important roles in developing rice varieties with higher quality, higher yield potential, and greater yield stability.
Abstract: Rice grain yield and its quality are quantitatively inherited. These traits are controlled by their genetic constitution, and environmental factors including light, temperature, fertilizers, and biotic stress. With completion of the rice genome sequence, dissection of the genetic basis of yield traits as well as rice quality advanced substantially. Hundreds of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these traits were identified on the basis of molecular linkage maps. Dozens of disease and insect resistant QTL/genes were identified as well. Numerous markers linked to major QTL were anchored in the process of fine mapping. Map-based cloning of QTL isolated dozens of genes controlling yield components, rice quality, and biotic stress tolerance. Functional markers were developed based on these functional genes. These linked markers and functional markers started to play important roles in developing rice varieties with higher quality, higher yield potential, and greater yield stability.
1 citations
Dissertation•
10 May 2013
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the immature development of the invasive maize pest western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifiera LeConte; WCR) under Northern German temperature regimes and evaluated the effects of varying day-night temperature regimes compared to the equivalent constant temperature regimes on WCR immature development.
Abstract: We examined the immature development of the invasive maize pest western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte; WCR) under Northern German temperature regimes. This research was part of the Climate impact and adaptation research in Lower Saxony, Germany (KLIFF; Klimafolgenforschung in Niedersachen), funded by the Ministry for science and culture of Lower Saxony. The experiments were conducted under quarantine conditions in climatic cabinets. Aim of the study was an improved knowledge of western corn rootworm biological key data under regional conditions which were necessary for an adequate integrated pest management strategy. This thesis adresses three fundamental issues: 1. Does a by 2 weeks delayed sowing date under recent temperature regime or a warmed temperature regime influence WCR development by disrupting host-pest synchronity? The temperature regime did not influence hatching rates, but the time of mean hatch occured earlier (JD 177) under the warmed temperature regime compared to JD 195 under today's temperature regime. Under the warmed regime larval development was retarded at the late sown plants.
2. We evaluated the effects of varying day-night (4°C and 6°C difference) temperature regimes compared to the equivalent constant temperature regimes on WCR immature development. Varying day-night temperatures resulted in earlier larval hatch and accelerated larval development. This effect was fortified at the higher temperature difference regime. For WCR the temperature sum needed for hatch in the field are overestimated when they are determined by models based on constant experimental temperatures. 3. We tested for developmental differences between the US non-diapausing laboratory population and two European field populations from Serbia and Hungary under a Northern German temperature regime. Hungarian and Serbian populations showed slight higher temperature requirements compared with the laboratory population. The Hungarian population required most thermal energy for hatch. We assumed that the differences between the two field populations indicate a rapid adaptation process of the introduced population. The benefits of the non-diapausing laboratory population are very high. For our comparing studies of the WCR traits hatching rate, development and recovery the US non-diapausing laboratory population was a very useful organism.. The earlier hatch has to be considered in comparison to field populations. For the implementation of regional pest management strategies local populations should be used in further experiments.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors assess whether the German bilateral climate finance (GCF) geared toward the agriculture sector of 35 SSA countries is helping achieve food security, and find that GCF improves food availability and general food security in SSA, but government expenditure is inadequate to do so.
Abstract: This study seeks to assess whether the German bilateral climate finance (GCF) geared toward the agriculture sector of 35 SSA countries is helping achieve food security. In measuring food security, the study employed principal component analysis to generate an index for all four food security dimensions proposed by FAOSTAT-food availability, access, stability, and utilization. A general composite food security index was also generated. System-GMM was used to estimate the influence of GCF on all the food security components. The findings show that GCF improves food availability and general food security in SSA, but government expenditure is inadequate to do so. It was also found that agricultural technology or capacity moderates the effect of GCF on food availability and overall food security. Based on the findings of the study, it is clear that bilateral climate finance flow invested in agricultural technology coupled with an increase in government agricultural expenditure from the current 6% to 10% as proposed by the Malabo declaration will put SSA on a path to achieving food security. It is recommended that SSA countries deepen incentives to attract FDI inflows to the region due to its role in improving food security via food access.
1 citations
Dissertation•
01 Dec 2013
TL;DR: The study has provided insight into the genome-wide transcriptional changes in rice under a combined biotic and abiotic stress and led to better understanding of the stress responses in plants that will be advantageous in developing crop varieties with improved yield and nutritive value.
Abstract: With the predicted climate change and an ever-growing population there is increasing
pressure to develop crop plants with improved stress responses, increased yield and high
nutritive value. We have explored transcriptomic changes in the leaves and roots of rice
plants (Oryza sativa japonica cv Nipponbare) in response to drought and the root-knot
nematode Meloidogyne graminicola. A glasshouse model was developed to mimic
conditions experienced by rice plants in the field. The plant responses under
simultaneous biotic and abiotic stress were dominated by the drought element
accompanied by a unique set of genes that were only responsive to the simultaneous
stress. Highlighted within this group were novel members of stress-responsive gene
families for example cytochrome P450, wall-associated kinases, lipid transfer proteinlike
proteins and new candidate genes that may play important roles in the response of
rice to multiple stresses. The genes that were differentially regulated between the
multiple and the drought stress treatment were explored using loss-of-function mutants.
The loss-of-function mutant for peroxidase precursor gene (per) showed improved
growth and yield compared to the wildtype Nipponbare plants. The experiments
conducted in growth rooms were validated in a field study. Both Nipponbare rice plants,
and the popular lowland indica rice cv IR64 were grown under prolonged vegetative
drought stress accompanied by cyst nematode or root-knot nematode infection.
Reduction of phytate, an anti-nutrient, has been adopted as a major strategy to improve
the nutritional value of crop plants. Nematode susceptibility of low phytate Arabidopsis
plants was studied to determine the effect of reduced phytate content on the plant’s
defence response.
The study has provided insight into the genome-wide transcriptional changes in rice
under a combined biotic and abiotic stress. It has led to better understanding of the
stress responses in plants that will be advantageous in developing crop varieties with
improved yield and nutritive value.
1 citations
Cites background from "Integrating pests and pathogens int..."
...The effect of climate change on plant-pest interactions has been widely reviewed in recent years (Garrett et al. 2006; Chakraborty 2005; Scherm 2004; Gregory et al. 2009; Newton, Johnson and Gregory 2011; Luck et al. 2011)....
[...]
References
More filters
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: The first volume of the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report as mentioned in this paper was published in 2007 and covers several topics including the extensive range of observations now available for the atmosphere and surface, changes in sea level, assesses the paleoclimatic perspective, climate change causes both natural and anthropogenic, and climate models for projections of global climate.
Abstract: This report is the first volume of the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report. It covers several topics including the extensive range of observations now available for the atmosphere and surface, changes in sea level, assesses the paleoclimatic perspective, climate change causes both natural and anthropogenic, and climate models for projections of global climate.
32,826 citations
Book•
01 Jul 2001
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors set the stage for impact, adaptation, and vulnerability assessment of climate change in the context of sustainable development and equity, and developed and applied scenarios in Climate Change Impact, Adaptation, and Vulnerability Assessment.
Abstract: Summary for policymakers Technical summary Part I. Setting the Stage for Impact, Adaptation, and Vulnerability Assessment: 1. Overview 2. Methods and tools 3. Development and application of scenarios in Climate Change Impact, Adaptation, and Vulnerability Assessment Part II. Sectors and Systems: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability: 4. Hydrology and water resources 5. Natural and managed ecosystems 6. Coastal zones and marine ecosystems 7. Energy, industry, and settlements 8. Financial services 9. Human health Part III. Regional Analyses: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability: 10. Africa 11. Asia 12. Australasia 13. Europe 14. Latin America 15. North America 16. Polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic) 17. Small island states Part IV. Global Issues and Synthesis: 18. Adaptation to climate change in the context of sustainable development and equity 19. Synthesis and integration of impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability Index.
12,541 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a cross-chapter case study on climate change and sustainability in natural and managed systems and assess key vulnerabilities and the risk from climate change, and assess adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity.
Abstract: Foreword Preface Introduction Summary for policymakers Technical summary 1. Assessment of observed changes and responses in natural and managed systems 2. New assessment methodologies and the characterisation of future conditions 3. Fresh water resources and their management 4. Ecosystems, their properties, goods and services 5. Food, fibre and forest products 6. Coastal systems and low-lying areas 7. Industry, settlement and society 8. Human health 9. Africa 10. Asia 11. Australia and New Zealand 12. Europe 13. Latin America 14. North America 15. Polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic) 16. Small islands 17. Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity 18. Inter-relationships between adaptation and mitigation 19. Assessing key vulnerabilities and the risk from climate change 20. Perspectives on climate change and sustainability - 811 Cross-chapter case studies Appendix I. Glossary Appendix II. Contributors to the IPCC WGII Fourth Assessment Report Appendix III. Reviewers of the IPCC WGII Fourth Assessment Report Appendix IV. Acronyms and abbreviations Appendix V. Index and database of regional content Index CD-ROM.
8,465 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a document, redatto, voted and pubblicato by the Ipcc -Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
Abstract: Cause, conseguenze e strategie di mitigazione Proponiamo il primo di una serie di articoli in cui affronteremo l’attuale problema dei mutamenti climatici. Presentiamo il documento redatto, votato e pubblicato dall’Ipcc - Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - che illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
4,187 citations