Plant Diseases and Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Plant pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and insects, can cause huge economic losses on a wide range of crops and forest species worldwide. At present, we face several challenges such as climate change, population growth, and limited resources [1]. Sustainability strategies worldwide (e.g., the European Green Deal under the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies and ONU Sustainable Development Goals) emphasize the importance of a resilient agri-food sector and an efficient use of natural resources. To meet these challenges, plant protection represents a key factor in developing efficient disease management practices. Plant pathogens employ different pathogenic strategies to overcome plant defenses. For the success of plant protection, it is essential to be one step ahead of these pathogens. This is possible by understanding how these agents interact with their hosts, vectors, other pathogens, and the environment. We must also predict how all these drivers will respond to climate change, which can increase disease severity and lead to pathogens spreading into new areas. In this Special Issue ‘Plant Diseases and Sustainable Agriculture’, we have gathered upto- date research on the importance of the study of plant pathogens to achieve sustainable agriculture, reinforcing that the more we know them in terms of biology, epidemiology, and genetics, the more we will be prepared to control them in a sustainable manner.