Climate change is expected to create yet another problem – complications in plant diseases of the future.

University of Illinois researchers are studying the impact of elevated carbon dioxide, elevated ozone and higher atmospheric temperatures on plant diseases that could challenge crops in these changing conditions.

“Plants growing in a high carbon dioxide environment tend to grow faster and larger, and they have denser canopies,” said Darin Eastburn, U of I associate professor of crop sciences.

“These dense plant canopies favour the development of some diseases because the low light levels and reduced air circulation allow higher relative humidity levels to develop, and this promotes the growth and sporulation of many plant pathogens.”

At the same time, plants grown in high carbon dioxide environments also close their stomata, pores in the leaves that allow the plant to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, more often. [Read more...]