SIGNIFICANT WAYS TO SPREAD PLANT VIRUS DISEASES IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS: IS AGROTERRORISM POSSIBLE?

摘要

The use of biological weapons is nothing new and has been practiced since centuries to reach war aims and terrorize enemies (Rogers et al., 1999). In most cases the targets were either wariors or their animals which they needed for transport or fight. In these cases either pathogens of humans or animals were set free deliberately or otherwise biotoxins were delivered in form of poisoned food or drinkwater (see also Osborne, this volume). Rarely plant pathogens were used and if, predominantly with the aim to cause shortage of food supply resulting in famine. However, when the causal connection between microbes and diseases of humans, animals and plants became elucidated by the end of the 19th century, this eventually led to the development of scientific research fields by their own and the planned development of bioweapons started in several countries. In most cases human and animal pathogens were weaponized, i.e. mass propagation, development of ways to deliver them, protection of the own troops and formulations to favor the spread, as well as the virulence under non-favorable conditions after delivery.