Pathogen Ecology and Management in Crop Systems
Summary
Pathogen ecology in crop systems examines how disease-causing organisms interact with plants, soil, climate and agricultural practices to influence infection dynamics and yield outcomes. Key drivers include the genetic diversity of both hosts and pathogens, the physical and chemical properties of soils, and landscape-scale patterns of crop rotation and management. Emerging technologies such as genome sequencing, high-resolution pathogen surveillance and remote sensing have deepened our understanding of disease emergence, spread and evolution. Integrated management strategies draw on host resistance, cultural practices (for example crop rotation, sanitation and tillage), judicious use of chemical fungicides and deployment of biological control agents to suppress pathogen populations and delay resistance breakdown. Addressing global food security under changing climates requires multidisciplinary approaches that combine fundamental research on pathogen life cycles with practical, farm-level interventions and policy measures to mitigate disease risk and ensure sustainable crop production.
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Pathogen Ecology and Management in Crop Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pathogen ecology and management in crop systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Soilborne pathogen: a disease-causing organism that persists and infects hosts through the soil.
Chlamydospore: a thick-walled fungal spore capable of surviving adverse conditions in soil.
Microsclerotia: compact masses of fungal hyphae serving as survival structures under environmental stress.
Marker-assisted breeding: the use of genetic markers linked to desirable traits to accelerate cultivar development.
Integrated disease management: a holistic approach combining genetic, cultural, chemical and biological tactics to reduce pathogen impact.
References
- Characterization and Genetic Mapping of Black Root Rot Resistance in Gossypium arboreum L.. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
- Berkeleyomyces rouxiae is a causal agent of root rot complex on faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Frontiers in Plant Science (2022).
- Efficacy of Commercial Disinfectants Against Black Root Rot (Berkeleyomyces rouxiae) and Verticillium Wilt (Verticillium dahliae) Pathogens of Cotton. Agronomy (2024).
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