Description

Crops suffer from biotic and abiotic stress during their growing period. The biotic stress in crops is caused by living organisms, specifically viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects, arachnids, phanerogamic plant and weeds. They directly deprive their host of its nutrients leading to reduce plant vigour and, in extreme cases, death of the host plant and cause about up to 40% yield losses and significantly reduce the quality of the produce annually. This has led to increased concern over food safety and nutritional security in India as well as abroad. Climate change and human interventions have altered ecosystems, reducing biodiversity, and creating new niches where pests and pathogens can thrive and emerging new pest and diseases of crops. The integrative strategies for management of biotic stresses of crops include managing pests through enhancing resistance of host plants, biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods are needed.