Plant Diseases, Pests and Food Security

McBeath, Jenifer Huang; McBeath, Jerry

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9180-3_5

Jenifer Huang McBeath³ &
Jerry McBeath³

Part of the book series: Advances in Global Change Research ((AGLO,volume 35))

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11 Citations

Abstract

Chapter 5 discusses the plant diseases and pests that affect agricultural production in China, and thus food security. Because diseases of plants and insect pests are anthropocentric concepts, we begin the chapter by defining the functions they play in ecological renewal and the environmental conditions favoring pathogens and pests. Then we explore the broad range of economic damage they do to food crops, with data from recent years. Our examination then turns in some detail to migratory locusts, rice blast disease and wheat rust, which afflicted food crops throughout history and remain of great significance to the Chinese economy today. Other diseases and insect pests have reached epidemic scales, and we treat them by the major food crops they threaten: rice, wheat, maize (corn), potatoes and soybeans. Some plant pathogens not only affect crop yield but also endanger human and animal health, and we consider rice false smut, wheat scab, and other post-harvest diseases. Too, we consider farm cultural practices having an impact on diseases and pests as well as changes in government policy, including improvement of domestic transportation. Climate change is the broadest environmental change that may affect incidence and severity of disease and pest infestation. Finally, we describe the primary mitigation (or control) measures China has adopted. These include regulations and standards, cultural controls, biological control measures, and physical and chemical controls.

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Notes

1.
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Ibid.
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Ibid., 660.
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Ibid.
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28.
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150.
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Jenifer Huang McBeath & Jerry McBeath

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McBeath, J.H., McBeath, J. (2010). Plant Diseases, Pests and Food Security. In: Environmental Change and Food Security in China. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9180-3_5

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9180-3_5
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