Chapters authored
Fungal Diseases of Wheat
Wheat is considered the first crop that is grown on earth. It is a staple food in many regions of the world. Due to the increase in the world’s population, it is very important to increase wheat production. With an estimate in 2050, almost 50% more production of wheat will be required due to the increase in population. Increased productivity of wheat is the biggest challenge for researchers. It faces several biotic (microbial diseases) and abiotic (water, temperature, and climatic change) limiting factors. But the major threat for wheat is due to a large number of fungal diseased pathogens, which causes massive and destructive loss to the crop. It includes rusts, smuts, Fusarium head blight, Septoria leaf blotch, tan spot, and powdery mildew that cause the most serious losses. It was estimated in 2019 that almost 22% yield loss of wheat was due to diseases. These percentages will increase with time due to mutation and diversity in virulent strains. This chapter includes all major and minor fungal diseases of wheat, symptom, disease cycle, spore identification, disease losses, etiology, and integrated disease management.
Part of the book: Wheat
Effect of Climate Change on Wheat Productivity
Climate is the average of weather situation in a particular area, which affects all parts of ecosystem. Due to industrialization and urbanization, forests are cutting down and converted into living societies. This change in ecosystem disturbs the balance of ecosystem from decomposers to producers and consumers. Important part of ecosystem is plants (producers) that are energy providers. This alteration affects productivity and sustainability of plants. Wheat is staple food, which is highly affected by temperature and CO2 elevation. It not only affects wheat yield but also make wheat vulnerable to several diseases. High temperature causes a high rate of transpiration, which causes drought that ultimately leads to low productivity. A model was designed on drought conditions and result showed that global warming causes serious drought in 60% of wheat-growing areas of the world. Currently, drought affects 15% of wheat productivity. It was predicted that every 2°C shift of temperature can cause severe water shortage in the coming 20 to 30 years. Water shortage at milking and grain filling stage will affect yield. This chapter includes factors affecting climate, impact on wheat growth, yield, and elevation of carbon dioxide, impact on disease severity, prediction model for temperature rise, and CO2 curve in 2050.
Part of the book: Wheat