What is tropical plant pathology?

Tropical plant pathology is the study of diseases that affect crops and plants in tropical and subtropical regions. These regions are characterized by high rainfall, high temperatures, and high humidity which create the ideal environment for the growth and spread of plant pathogens. Tropical plant diseases are a major threat to food security and can cause significant economic losses.

Common tropical plant diseases include fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode infections. Some of the most important plant diseases in the tropics include black Sigatoka (a fungal disease affecting banana plants), cassava mosaic virus (a viral disease affecting cassava), coffee rust (a fungal disease affecting coffee plants), and late blight (a fungal disease affecting potato plants).

Tropical plant pathology researchers are working on developing new strategies to manage and control plant diseases in these regions. This includes integrated pest management, breeding disease-resistant plant varieties, and discovering new biocontrol agents. Importantly, they are also working to understand the factors that contribute to the emergence and spread of new plant diseases in the tropics, such as climate change and globalization.