A Review on Impact of Climate Change on Plant Diseases: Perspectives, Patterns and Mitigating Measures

Abstract

With the industrial revolution, the climate on earth has altered. The temperature has soared by 0.3
to 0.6 °C and atmospheric CO2, a significant greenhouse gas, has increased by almost 30%.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, by the year 2100, the global mean
temperature would have increased by 0.9 to 3.5 °C under the current emission scenario. These
forecasts are, however, subject to a great deal of uncertainty. Although weather plays a significant
role in plant diseases, a thorough review of the pattern these diseases affect primary production
in agricultural systems may be impacted by climate change is currently lacking. Based on a
review of the minimal research available, it appears that losses due to plant diseases, the
effectiveness of disease management techniques, and the geographic distribution of plant diseases
are the three areas where the effects of climate change are most likely to be felt. Specific plant
diseases may be positively impacted, negatively impacted, or unaffected by climate change.
Additional investigation is required to acquire foundational data on various disease systems.
Several plant disease models use various climatic variables and operate at a different temporal
and geographical scale than global climate models. To accurately evaluate the effects of disease
on a worldwide scale, methodological advancements are required.