Effects of climate change on plant pathogens and host-pathogen interactions

• Published in: Crop and Environment Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 159 - 170
• Main Authors: Lahlali, Rachid, Taoussi, Mohammed, Laasli, Salah-Eddine, Gachara, Grace, Ezzouggari, Rachid, Belabess, Zineb, Aberkani, Kamal, Assouguem, Amine, Meddich, Abdelilah, El Jarroudi, Moussa, Barka, Essaid Ait
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2024; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agriculture & agronomie; Agriculture & agronomy; Climate change; Climate changeCrop productionPlant diseasesGreenhouse gas emissionsmitigation strategies; Crop production; Greenhouse gas emissions; Life sciences; Mitigation strategies; Plant diseases; Sciences du vivant; Climate change; Plant diseases; Greenhouse gas emissions; Crop production; Mitigation strategies
• ISSN: 2773-126X; 2773-126X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crope.2024.05.003

Crop production stands as a pivotal pillar of global food security, but its sustainability faces complex challenges from plant diseases, which pose a substantial threat to agricultural productivity. Climate change significantly alters the dynamics of plant pathogens, primarily through changes in temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns, which can enhance the virulence and spread of various plant diseases. Indeed, the increased frequency of extreme weather events, which is a direct consequence of climate change, creates favorable conditions for outbreaks of plant diseases. As global temperatures rise, the geographic range of many plant pathogens is expanding, exposing new regions and species to diseases previously limited to warmer climates. Climate change not only affects the prevalence and severity of plant diseases but also influences the effectiveness of disease management strategies, necessitating adaptive approaches in agricultural practices. This review presents a thorough examination of the relationship between climate change and plant pathogens and carefully provides an analysis of the interplay between climatic shifts and disease dynamics. In addition to insights into the development of effective strategies for countering the adverse impacts of climate change on plant diseases, these insights hold significant promise for bolstering global crop production resilience against mounting environmental challenges. •Elevated CO2 levels exacerbate plant-pathogen interactions, leading to more complex disease dynamics.•Climate change directly influences crop physiology, productivity, and associated microbiota, including pathogens.•Changes in climate alter the distribution, abundance, and virulence of pathogens, affecting crop health.•Increasing temperatures might shift disease pressure geographically, as predicted by process-based models.•Mitigation strategies may include breeding resistant crops and implementing integrated pest management practices.