Weather and Plant Diseases: A Review

摘要

Weather, insects and plant diseases are the three major national hazards to crop production. For a plant disease to occur, a susceptible plant must be in a vulnerable stage, the pathogen must be in an infectious stage, and environmental conditions must be favorable for disease development. The primary environmental conditions that affect the plant - pathogen relationship are temperature, humidity, light, and wind. Descriptions of weather influences on diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses are given. The influence of weather on nematodes is also discussed. Details of plant disease forecasting for potato blight (Phytophthora infestans), apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), pecan scab (Fuscladium effusum), tobacco blue mold (Peronospora tobacina) and downy mildew of lima beans (Phytophthora phaseoli) are given, together with sample forecasts. (Author)