88
A. Chanda et al.
the leaf sheath and therefore may protect the internal growing region from lethal
dehydration.
4 Effects of Climate Change on Saprophytic Fungi
Many saprophytic fungi decompose carbon in soil efficiently more than mycorrhizal fungi. There is clear confirmation that fungal community varies vertically
through the soil profile. Wood decay fungi, especially brown rot fungi and white
rot basidiomycetes colonize on standing dead or fallen woody debris. Surface litter
horizon is controlled by saprotrophic basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. Increase in
temperatures upon global warming may increase plant biomass imbalance if high
temperatures induce faster plant growth and soil nutrient mineralization. Warming
may stimulate carbon losses from the soil by increasing rates of decomposition by
the saprophytes. The saprophytic activity can be influenced directly through variations in temperature or precipitation or indirect effect as variations in soil moisture
[7]. Increasing temperature will also increase the metabolic rates of saprophytes,
thereby mobilizing the large carbon stocks in soil, and increasing soil respiration and
decomposition.
5 Effects of Climate Change on the Pathogenic Fungi
Plant pathogens differ in the degree of host specificity and in the amount of physiological interactions they have with their plant hosts, depending on their mode of infection [8–11]. Necrotrophic pathogens that acquire nutrients from damaged host plants
have restricted interactions with the active metabolism of host plants [12]. However,
abiotic factors that lead or fasten tissue necrosis, such as increased O 3 levels, may
lead to infection by these types of pathogens [13]. On the other hand, biotrophic
pathogens, as obligate parasites, have increased periods of physiological interaction
with their hosts, as they develop nutrients from living cells [14, 15]. Therefore, the
factors that affect plant growth, such as elevated levels of CO 2 , may also affect the
colonization of host plants by biotrophic pathogens by altering in host physiology
[13–16]. Climate changes can also have direct effects on pathogens, in addition to
host plants [17–22]. Pathogen existence in the absence of a host plant (e.g. overwintering and over-summering) can be affected by temperature, the developments
of tuber production and germination and host infection and are usually controlled
by temperature and moisture conditions. Warming, rainfall events, or origination of
infections earlier in the season can lead to more damaging action. After infections,
temperatures and plant water capacity affect the rate of colonization of host tissues,
the production of new inoculum and the appearance of symptoms by the host. These
changes affect the pathogenicity of both biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, and
the host defense responses [23]. Some pathogens as Xylella fastidiosa can cause
A. Chanda et al.
the leaf sheath and therefore may protect the internal growing region from lethal
dehydration.
4 Effects of Climate Change on Saprophytic Fungi
Many saprophytic fungi decompose carbon in soil efficiently more than mycorrhizal fungi. There is clear confirmation that fungal community varies vertically
through the soil profile. Wood decay fungi, especially brown rot fungi and white
rot basidiomycetes colonize on standing dead or fallen woody debris. Surface litter
horizon is controlled by saprotrophic basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. Increase in
temperatures upon global warming may increase plant biomass imbalance if high
temperatures induce faster plant growth and soil nutrient mineralization. Warming
may stimulate carbon losses from the soil by increasing rates of decomposition by
the saprophytes. The saprophytic activity can be influenced directly through variations in temperature or precipitation or indirect effect as variations in soil moisture
[7]. Increasing temperature will also increase the metabolic rates of saprophytes,
thereby mobilizing the large carbon stocks in soil, and increasing soil respiration and
decomposition.
5 Effects of Climate Change on the Pathogenic Fungi
Plant pathogens differ in the degree of host specificity and in the amount of physiological interactions they have with their plant hosts, depending on their mode of infection [8–11]. Necrotrophic pathogens that acquire nutrients from damaged host plants
have restricted interactions with the active metabolism of host plants [12]. However,
abiotic factors that lead or fasten tissue necrosis, such as increased O 3 levels, may
lead to infection by these types of pathogens [13]. On the other hand, biotrophic
pathogens, as obligate parasites, have increased periods of physiological interaction
with their hosts, as they develop nutrients from living cells [14, 15]. Therefore, the
factors that affect plant growth, such as elevated levels of CO 2 , may also affect the
colonization of host plants by biotrophic pathogens by altering in host physiology
[13–16]. Climate changes can also have direct effects on pathogens, in addition to
host plants [17–22]. Pathogen existence in the absence of a host plant (e.g. overwintering and over-summering) can be affected by temperature, the developments
of tuber production and germination and host infection and are usually controlled
by temperature and moisture conditions. Warming, rainfall events, or origination of
infections earlier in the season can lead to more damaging action. After infections,
temperatures and plant water capacity affect the rate of colonization of host tissues,
the production of new inoculum and the appearance of symptoms by the host. These
changes affect the pathogenicity of both biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, and
the host defense responses [23]. Some pathogens as Xylella fastidiosa can cause