Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
2010 show higher risk of dry root rot in chickpea varieties that are resistant to Fusarium wilt in
years when temperature exceed 33 0 C (Pande et al. 2010; Sharma 2010 et al.).This is consistent
with green house experiments where different soil moisture levels and temperatures manipulated,
showing that R. bataticolainfected chickpea plants caused dry root rot faster at 35 0 C with soil
moisture level less than or equal to 60% (Sharma et al 2010).By contrast, cooler temperatures and
wetter conditions are associated with increased incidence of stem rot (Sclerotiniasclerotiorum) on
soybean (Workneh et al.2000), blights in chickpea (Pande et al.2005), and anthracnose
(Colletotrichumspp.) in stylosanthes(Pengga et al.2004). Recently, studies indicated that the
epidemic of Phytophthora blight of pigeonpea (P.drechslerif.sp.cajani) in India over the last decade
can be attributed to high intermittent rainfall(>300 mm), within a week during the crop season
(Pande et al.2010; Sharma et al.2006).
GAP in Knowledge
It is critical that there should be a progress toward pro-poor, environmentally neutral, host
plant resistances, as well as toward drought tolerance in crops especially grown in dry land tropics
such as chickpea, beans, and cowpea etc. combined with systems-adapted integrated disease
management technologies. In this context and because of the close interaction between global
change and climate change, far too little research has addressed the effects of the latter on crop
health.
Global change may affect crop health in quite different ways depending on the type of
disease considered. Though there have been so many new methods available for plant
pathologists to analyze data. However, the availability of ground truth data on crop health is a
serious issue; the collection of system-based, holistic data remains a keystone towards progress
to understand and manage constantly evolving pathosystems.
There is a need to create facilities, device methodologies, and develop collaborative
research activities to understand the impact of climate change variables on crop health and plant
diseases. Several available tools and methodologies such as simulating modeling, geographic
information systems, mapping, technology targeting for efficiently implementing disease
management tools as global change and climate change unfold. Actual measurement of disease in
the field, their proper recording and processing is required for effective disease management as it
depends on these combinations of resources, methods, and disciplines.
The topic of climate change and plant diseases has not yet sparked widespread interest
among plant pathologists. This may be partly because of the well understood genetic basis of
host-pathogen-specificity, where many of the crop disease management options are based on
host plant resistance. However, realistic assessments of climate change impacts on host-pathogen
interactions are still scarce and there are only handfuls of FACE studies. Despite being interesting
from a pathogen life-cycle point of view, realistic effects of high CO 2 need to be considered in the
context of rising temperatures and other changes projected under changing climate. New FACE
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