Fighting Fusarium Pathogens in the Era of Climate Change: A Conceptual Approach

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium pathogens is one of the most devastating fungal diseases of small grain cereals worldwide, substantially reducing yield quality and food safety. Its severity is increasing due to the climate change caused by weather fluctuations. Intensive research on FHB control methods has been initiated more than a decade ago. Since then, the environment has been rapidly changing at regional to global scales due to increasing anthropogenic emissions enhanced fertilizer application and substantial changes in land use. It is known that environmental factors affect both the pathogen virulence as well as plant resistance mechanisms. Changes in CO2 concentration, temperature, and water availability can have positive, neutral, or negative effects on pathogen spread depending on the environmental optima of the pathosystem. Hence, there is a need for studies of plant–pathogen interactions in current and future environmental context. Long-term monitoring data are needed in order to understand the complex nature of plants and its microbiome interactions. We suggest an holobiotic approach, integrating plant phyllosphere microbiome research on the ecological background. This will enable the development of efficient strategies based on ecological know-how to fight Fusarium pathogens and maintain sustainable agricultural systems.

Proteomics-Based Data Integration of Wheat Cultivars Facing Fusarium graminearum Strains Revealed a Core-Responsive Pattern Controlling Fusarium Head Blight

“…In many wheat-growing regions such as the United States, Europe, China, and Canada, epidemics are dominated by the occurrence of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) (teleomorph: Gibberella zeae). Due to intensified outbreaks promoted upon the global climate change, FHB has become a major issue to sustain the ever-increasing human food needs (Zhang et al, 2012;AlTaweel et al, 2017;Timmusk et al, 2020). Global losses attributed to FHB on bread wheat were estimated at more than United States $250 billion per year between 2011 and 2014 (Wilson et al, 2017), in particular by affecting the nutritional quality of grains and causing major health risks through mycotoxin contamination of crops (Li et al, 2014).…”

Grafting Snake Melon [Cucumis melo L. subsp. melo Var. flexuosus (L.) Naudin] in Organic Farming: Effects on Agronomic Performance; Resistance to Pathogens; Sugar, Acid, and VOC Profiles; and Consumer Acceptance

“…Regarding the incidence of fungi, global warming is favoring the increasing incidence of highly damaging fungi to melon (Cohen et al, 2012;de Sousa Linhares et al, 2020;Timmusk et al, 2020). M. phaseolina and N. falciformis were identified as major pathogens in snake melon NG plants.…”

Climate change will influence disease resistance breeding in wheat in Northwestern Europe

“…Fusarium diseases are caused by combinations of different species. For FHB in wheat up to 20 different Fusarium species are co-existing (Timmusk et al 2020 ). The most common species are Fusarium graminearum ( Gibberella zeae ), F. culmorum , F. avenaceum ( G. avenacea ), F. poae .…”