Key challenges in plant pathology in the next decade

Authors: WANG, NIAN - University Of Florida; SUNDIN, GEORGE - Michigan State University; DE LA FUENTE, LEONARDO - Auburn University; CUBERO, JAIME - Instituto Nacional De Investigacion Y Tecnologia Agraria Y Alimentaria; Tatineni, Satyanarayana - Ts; BREWER, MARIN - University Of Georgia; ZENG, QUAN - Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; Bock, Clive; CUNNIFFE, NIK - University Of Cambridge; WANG, CONGLI - Northeast Institute Of Geography And Agronomy, Cas; CANDRESSE, THIERRY - University Of Bordeaux; CHAPPELL, THOMAS - Texas A&M University; COLEMAN, JEFFREY - Auburn University; MUNKVOLD, GARY - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2024
Publication Date: 5/30/2024
Citation: Wang, N., Sundin, G.W., De La Fuente, L., Cubero, J., Tatineni, S., Brewer, M.T., Zeng, Q., Bock, C.H., Cunniffe, N.J., Wang, C., Candresse, T., Chappell, T., Coleman, J.J., Munkvold, G. 2024. Key challenges in plant pathology in the next decade. Phytopathology. 114(5):837-842.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plant diseases significantly impact food security and food safety. It was estimated that food production needs to increase by 50% to feed the projected 9.3 billion people by 2050. Yet, plant pathogens and pests are documented to cause up to 40% yield losses in major crops, including maize, rice, and wheat, resulting in annual worldwide economic losses of approximately US$220 billion. Yield losses due to plant diseases and pests are estimated to be 21.5% (10.1-28.1%) in wheat, 30.3% (24.6-40.9%) in rice, and 22.6% (19.5-41.4%) in maize. In March 2023, the American Phytopathological Society (APS) conducted a survey to identify and rank the main obstacles that challenge plant pathology in the next decade. Phytopathology subsequently invited papers that address those key challenges in plant pathology, and these were published as a special issue. The key challenges impacting plant disease outbreaks covered include climate change, natural and man-made disasters, and specific diseases including those caused by Candidatus Liberibacter spp and Xylella fastidiosa. Additionally, disease detection, factors affecting plant immunity and resistance, and plant disease control strategies were explored in issue articles. Finally, aspects of open access and how to publish articles to maximize the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse of digital assets in plant pathology were described. Only by identifying the challenges and tracking progress in developing solutions for them will we be able to resolve the issues in plant pathology and ultimately ensure plant health, food security, and food safety.