The Role of Plant Pathology in Food Safety and Food Security (eBook)

Richard N. Strange is Senior Lecturer in Plant Pathology at University College London and has a special interest in the plant disease problems of developing countries. Maria Lodovica Gullino is a professor of plant pathology at the University of Torino and President of the International Society for Plant Pathology. She has long term experience in plant disease management.

Foreword 6
Contents 8
Part I The Role of Plant Pathology in Food Safety and Food Security 10
Chapter 1 11
Plant Diseases and the World’s Dependence on Rice 11
1.1 Introduction: Unprecedented Agricultural Changes and Challenges, and the Importance of Rice Diseases 11
1.2 The Importance of Rice Diseases as Yield-Reducers 12
1.3 Research to Prevent Losses to Specific Diseases 13
1.4 Dealing with Crop Health Syndromes 14
1.5 Concluding Comments 15
References 16
Chapter 2 18
Development of Appropriate Strategies to Control Cassava Diseases in Ghana 18
2.1 Introduction 18
2.2 Materials and Methods 21
2.2.1 Surveys to Establish the Incidence of Diseases 21
2.2.2 Testing Cassava Genotypes for Resistance to Diseases 22
2.2.3 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) 22
2.2.4 Awareness and Disease Control Workshops 22
2.2.5 Introduction of Sweetpotato Varieties into Areas Where Cassava Diseases Are Endemic 23
2.2.6 Multiplication Fields for Healthy Planting 23
2.2.7 Development of Disease Identification and Control Extension Materials 23
2.3 Results 24
2.3.1 Surveys to Establish Disease Incidence 24
2.3.2 Testing Cassava Genotypes for Resistance to Diseases 24
2.3.3 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) 26
2.3.4 Workshops for Disease Awareness and Control 27
2.3.5 Introduction of Sweetpotato Varieties to Disease Endemic Areas 27
2.3.6 Development of Disease Identification and Control Extension Materials 28
2.4 Discussion 29
References 30
Chapter 3 32
Biosecurity in the Movement of Commodities as a Component of Global Food Security 32
3.1 Introduction 32
3.2 The Introduction of Plant Pests 33
3.3 Food Security and Plant Diseases 35
3.4 World Trade, International Travel and Their and Effects on Biosecurity 36
3.5 The National and International Plant Health Biosecurity Framework 36
3.5.1 National Plant Health Systems 37
3.5.1.1 National Phytosanitary Measures 37
3.5.1.2 The Organization of National Plant Protection 37
3.5.2 The International Regulatory Framework 38
3.6 Trade Related Plant Biosecurity Issues Raised at the WTO SPS Committee 41
3.7 Issues and Challenges 43
References 45
Part II Global Food Security 47
Chapter 4 48
ISPP and the Challenge of Food Security 48
4.1 Seventh ICPP Edinburgh 1998: ISPP Challenged to Act 48
4.2 Poverty and Hunger: Changes Between 1998 and 2008 49
4.3 ISPP’s Task Force on Global Food Security: Activities Under Five Headings 49
4.4 Challenge Programme 51
4.4.1 Ghana 51
4.4.2 South Africa 52
4.5 Postgraduate Training for Plant Pathologists from Developing Countries 53
4.6 The Impact of Plant Diseases 53
4.7 A New Journal on Food Security 53
4.8 The Stark Challenge 55
References 55
Chapter 5 57
Globalisation and the Threat to Biosecurity 57
5.1 Introduction 57
5.2 The Subject Area Defined 58
5.2.1 The Threats 58
5.3 Drivers of EIDs 60
5.3.1 Pathogen Pollution 60
5.3.2 Weather 62
5.3.3 Vectors 62
5.3.4 Evolution–Adaptation 63
5.4 Case Studies of EIDs 63
5.4.1 Food Crops 63
5.4.1.1 Potato 63
5.4.1.2 Wheat 64
5.4.1.3 Cassava 65
5.4.2 Commodity or Cash Crops 66
5.4.2.1 Coffee 66
5.4.2.2 Cocoa 67
5.5 Tackling EIDs 69
5.5.1 Plant Health 69
5.5.2 Resistance 71
5.5.3 New Approaches 71
References 72
Chapter 6 76
Genetic Modification (GM) as a New Tool in the Resistance Toolbox 76
References 79
Chapter 7 80
The Role of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology in Food Security in Africa 80
7.1 The Global Food Situation 80
7.2 Yield Losses Caused by Diseases and Pests 80
7.3 Biotechnology and Food Security 81
7.4 Disease Free Planting Material Obtained Through Tissue Culture 81
7.5 Bio-Pesticides 83
7.6 The Role of Biotechnology in Virus Disease Management 87
7.7 Biotechnology in the Management of Fungal Diseases 87
7.8 Discussion 88
References 89
Part III Mycotoxins 90
Chapter 8 91
The Secondary Metabolite Toxin, Sirodesmin PL, and Its Role in Virulence of the Blackleg Fungus 91
8.1 Sirodesmin PL, an Epipolythiodioxopiperazine Toxin 91
8.2 Biosynthesis of Sirodesmin PL 92
8.3 Regulation of Sirodesmin PL Biosynthesis 92
8.4 The Gliotoxin Gene Cluster in Aspergillus fumigatus 94
8.5 Origin and Distribution of ETP Gene Clusters in Ascomycetes 94
8.6 Role of Sirodesmin PL in Virulence of Leptosphaeria maculans on Oilseed Rape 94
References 96
Chapter 9 98
Biological and Chemical Complexity of Fusarium proliferatum 98
9.1 Taxonomy and Identification 98
9.2 Pathogenicity 100
9.3 Secondary Metabolism 105
9.4 Future Research 108
References 108
Part IV Biosecurity and Quarantine 113
Chapter 10 114
Bioterrorism: A Threat to Plant Biosecurity? 114
10.1 Plant Biosecurity: The Foundation for Food Security 114
10.1.1 What Is Plant Biosecurity? 114
10.1.2 The Food Security – Plant Biosecurity Linkage 115
10.2 Threats to Plant Biosecurity 115
10.2.1 General Threats to Plant Biosecurity 115
10.2.2 Specific Threats to Plant Biosecurity 117
10.3 Bioterrorism as a Threat to Plant Biosecurity 117
10.3.1 Is Bioterrorism a Real Threat to Plant Biosecurity? 119
10.3.2 Evidence for Bioterrorism in Plant Systems 120
10.3.3 Plant Systems as Soft Targets 121
10.3.4 The Technology Factor 122
10.4 Threat and Vulnerability Assessments 122
10.4.1 Strategy 122
10.4.2 Threat Identification and Assessment 124
10.4.3 Vulnerability Identification and Assessment 126
10.5 Security Through International Cooperation 127
10.5.1 Science 127
10.5.2 Policy 128
10.5.3 Law 129
10.5.4 Commerce 129
References 129
Chapter 11 132
The Revised International Plant Protection Convention – a New Context for Plant Quarantine 132
Reference 135
Chapter 12 136
Pest Risk Analysis as Applied to Plant Pathogens 136
12.1 International Context of Plant Health 136
12.2 EPPO Context and Procedures for Performing PRAs 136
12.3 Application of the EPPO Decision-Support Scheme on PRA to Pathogens 138
12.3.1 Initiation 139
12.3.2 Pest Risk Assessment 139
12.3.2.1 Pest Categorization 139
12.3.2.2 Full Assessment 142
Probability of Entry 142
Probability of the Pest Being Associated with the Pathway 142
Probability of Survival During Transport or Storage 143
Probability of the Pest Surviving or Remaining Undetected During Existing Pest Management Procedures 143
Probability of Transfer to a Suitable Host 143
Probability of Establishment 144
Availability of Suitable Hosts, or Vectors in the PRA Area 144
Suitability of the Environment 144
Cultural Practices and Control Measures 144
Likelihood of Survival Following Eradication Programmes 145
Other Characteristics of the Pathogen Affecting the Probability of Establishment 145
Probability of Spread 145
Assessment of Potential Economic Consequences 145
Degree of Uncertainty and Conclusion of the Pest Risk Assessment 146
12.3.3 Pest Risk Management 146
12.4 Results and Further Challenges 148
References 149
Index 150