Global Challenges Facing Plant Pathology: A Review on Multidisciplinary Approaches to Meet the Food Security

Abstract

Plant disease outbreaks cause a decline in primary productivity and biodiversity, which negatively impacts the socioeconomic and environmental circumstances in the afflicted areas. They also pose significant threats to the environment's sustainability and the world's food security. Climate change increases the risk of outbreaks by altering host-pathogen interactions, altering the development of pathogens, and encouraging the emergence of new pathogenic strains. Changes in the range of pathogens can cause plant diseases to spread more quickly in new areas. In this review, we examine the potential effects of future climatic scenarios on plant disease pressures and the resulting effects on plant productivity in agricultural and wild environments. We study the effects of climate change, both now and in the future, on disease incidence and severity, pathogen biogeography, natural ecosystems, agriculture, and food production. To mitigate future disease outbreaks, we propose modifying the current conceptual framework and integrating eco-evolutionary theories into studies to improve our mechanistic comprehension and prediction of pathogen spread in future climates. We stress the need of an interface between science and policy that works closely with relevant intergovernmental organisations to provide effective monitoring and management of plant disease under future climate scenarios. This will be necessary to ensure long-term food and nutrient security as well as the sustainability of natural ecosystems.