Climate change will impact crop protection from weeds, pests, and pathogens. Global studies show weeds cause 34% of potential crop losses, pests cause 18% of losses, and pathogens cause 16% of losses. Changes in temperature and rainfall from climate change can influence these threats in several ways. Higher temperatures may increase weed and pest presence earlier in seasons and alter balances between pests and natural enemies. More variable rainfall could favor some weeds and pathogens but inhibit others. Changes in temperature and moisture conditions may also impact the spectrum of which pathogens affect crops and their severity. Effective adaptation will require acknowledging change is inherent and that current adaptive capacity must be maintained.
2. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I Crop protection
Potential global losses (Oerke 2006)
– Weeds ~ 34%
– Pests ~ 18%
– Pathogens ~ 16%
Less in Australia
17% loss in winter crops in 1998-99 (Jones et al. 2005)
3. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
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D P I
Host Pathogen
Environment
Environment
4. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I Key factors
Temperature
Rainfall
Humidity
5. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I Climate change and crop protection
Impacts
–Weeds
–Pests
–Pathogens
Implications
6. N S W
D P I Climate change and crop protectionWeeds are opportunists
Short life cycles
High reproductive rates
Rapid response to rainfall events
Adapted to a wide range of environments & soils
CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
Weeds
7. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I
Changes in frequency
‘Summer’ weeds likely to increase
Weeds adapted to variable rainfall favoured
Climate variability may alter herbivory
Climate change and weeds
8. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I Pests
Short life cyclesShort life cycles
HHigh reproductive ratesigh reproductive rates
Temperature dependentTemperature dependent
9. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I
Temperature increase
– Changes in frequency
– Shorter generation time
– Earlier pest presence
– Control windows may change
– Balance between pests and beneficials may alter
Rainfall intensification
– Over-wintering may change
Climate change and pests
10. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I
Rapid response from pathogens with:
– Short generation time
– High reproductive rates
– Effective dispersal
Response will be variable
Pathogens
11. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
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D P I
5
Temperature (°C)
Growth
of fungi
10 15 20 25 30
Temperature and plant pathogens
12. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I
13
Soil temperature (°C)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Cotton
seedling
mortality
(% death)
14 15 16 17 18
Temperature and disease
19. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I Rainfall and disease
Rain events
– Favour some pathogens
– Inhibit others
Rain events and temperature are linked
22. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
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D P I
Changes in spectrum of pathogens
Impacts on disease severity
– Positive
– Neutral
– Negative
Climate change and disease
23. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I
Cooperating growers
Acknowledgments
24. CROP PROTECTION --- DAVID NEHL
N S W
D P I
Impacts
– Changes in pest/pathogen/weed spectrum
– Responses will be variable
Implications
– Change is inherent
– Adaptive capacity is currently present
Conclusions