Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEAbstract
Plant pathogens cause significant (>20%) yield losses in major crops such as rice and maize during cultivation and post-harvest storage. Current disease and post-harvest control measures are expensive. Chemical fungicides in particular remain a major input cost in agriculture, especially in areas where high humidity and unfavorable weather provide ideal conditions for pathogens. Farmers and growers are motivated to limit the application of chemicals, thus reducing their input costs, but there is also a significant environmental justification and therefore growing pressure from politicians and consumers alike to find environmentally beneficial and sustainable approaches for disease management in agriculture. Therefore the early identification of plant pathogens is essential to ensure that appropriate action can be taken to fight plant pathogens.
