The impact of global warming on plant diseases and insect vectors in Sweden

Abstract

Cold winters and geographic isolation have hitherto protected the Nordic countries from many plant pathogens and insect pests, leading to a comparatively low input of pesticides. The changing climate is projected to lead to a greater rise in temperature in this region, compared to the global mean. In Scandinavia, a milder and more humid climate implies extended growing seasons and possibilities to introduce new crops, but also opportunities for crop pests and pathogens to thrive in the absence of long cold periods. Increased temperatures, changed precipitation patterns and new cultivation practices may lead to a dramatic change in crop health. Examples of diseases and insect pest problems predicted to increase in incidence and severity due to global warming are discussed.

Impacts of climate change on plant diseases—opinions and trends

“…Plant pests are already causing substantial crop losses in most regions of the world (Rosenzweig et al 2001;Barnes et al 2010;Haq et al 2011). An increase in extreme weather events and a trend towards warmer temperatures may well worsen these impacts (Roos et al 2010;Thomas 2010;Hakala et al 2011;Madgwick et al 2011;West et al 2012). Regional tree declines due to drought, new pathogens and existing pests, and the interactions between these factors, can have negative repercussions on biodiversity (Fischer et al 2010;Parks and Bernier 2010;Tomback and Achuff 2010;Carnicer et al 2011;McDowell et al 2011).…”

“…The assumption is that more and better data will make prediction more accurate and/or reliable (Shaw and Osborne 2011). In these efforts, documented impacts of environmental change on plant pathosystems need to be complemented by predictions based on expert knowledge and common sense (Marçais and Desprez-Loustau 2007;Roos et al 2010) as well as on computer simulations (Bergot et al 2004;DesprezLoustau et al 2007b;La Porta et al 2008;Watt et al 2010;Seidl et al 2011).…”

Pyramiding of Ryd2 and Ryd3 conferring tolerance to a German isolate of Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV-ASL-1) leads to quantitative resistance against this isolate

“…This will have consequences for the transmission of insect-transmitted viruses like the aphid-transmitted viruses causing Barley yellow dwarf (BYD) (Habekuß et al 2009;Harrington 2003;Roos et al 2011).…”

Socio-economic Impacts—Agricultural Systems

“…This may also allow for the introduction of new species previously unfavourable due to low temperatures or short growing seasons. This is relevant for the introduction of new crops, such as for grain maize or winter wheat in northern Europe ), but will also affect the spread of weeds, pests and diseases that often follow the crops grown (Roos et al 2011).…”