1. Abiotic stresses affecting crop-insect pest
interactions in the context of global climate
change
Dr. Babasaheb B. Fand
Scientist (Agril. Entomology)
National Institute of Abiotic Stresses Management

2. National Institute of Abiotic Stresses Management

3. Every life in nature is dependent on some
another life
National Institute of Abiotic Stresses Management

4. Agro-ecosystem environment
Abiotic
Biotic
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5. Agricultural yield losses due to abiotic and biotic stresses
200
180 Influencing crop growth
160
and productivity to the
Yields (Qtls/ha)
140 Record yield
120 extent of 80%
100
80 Abiotic stresses
60
Biotic stresses
These yield losses are
40
20 Average yield likely to be aggravated
0 with impending climate
change
Crops
(Source: Buchanan, Gruissem & Jones, 2000: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants; American Society
of Plant Physiologists,)
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6. Climate change and global warming
• An issue of global concern
• Increasing levels of Global atmospheric
Temperature : 0.80C
CO2 : 370 ppm
• Alarming signals about rapid environmental change
• Profound effects on many biological systems
• Serious effects on agricultural production & livelihood of farmers
• Climate sensitive sectors : Agriculture
Forestry
Livestock
Fisheries
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7. Climate change and India
• 0.56°C rise in annual mean temperature over last 100 yrs
• Worst droughts yrs: 1971-72, 1999-2000 & 2000-2002
• Increased intensity of rainfall
• Decrease in number of rainy days
• Prolonged dry spells
(IMD, 2006, 2007, 2009)
• Phenomenal effect on incidence of major crop
pests
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8. Contribution of different sectors in India to climate change
Energy Land use
61% changes
1%
Agriculture
28%
Wastes Industrial
2% processes
8%
Source: India’s Initial National Communication on Climate Change, 2004
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9. Contribution of Agricultural sectors to Climate change
Manure Rice cultivation
m anagem ent 23%
Crop residues
5%
1%
Em ission from
soils
12%
Enteric
ferm entation
59%
Source: India’s Initial National Communication on Climate Change, 2004
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10. Overexploitation and misuse of natural resources for
various anthropogenic developmental activities
• Increased urbanization
• Deforestation
• Industrialization
Major drivers of Climate change
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11. Yield
Productivity
Area
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12. Minor pests Major pests
Extinction of many
Habitat alteration insect species
Changes in cropping Suppression
practices : Bt cotton of Competitor
species
Excessive pesticide Destruction
Use of natural enemies
Outbreaks

13. Climate change
and Insects
Impact negatively the diversity and abundance of insect pests
Increasing the extent of crop losses
Upsetting ecological balance
Unpredictable changes in the abundance of insect-pests and
their existing and potential natural enemies
(Ball, 1997; Rao et al., 2006; IPCC, 2007)
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14. Insect-pests in the era of climate change
• Loss of ecological biodiversity
• Expansion of geographic ranges
• Increased overwintering survival
• Increase in number of generations per season
• Impact on pest population dynamics and outbreaks
• Breakdown of host plant resistance to insects
• Impact of increased CO2
• Reduced effectiveness of biocontrol agents
• Disruption of plant-pollinator interactions
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15. 1. Loss of ecological Biodiversity
• Biological wealth of habitat
• Species richness in an ecosystem
India:
- One of the 12 mega-biodiversity centres
- Three out of 34 biodiversity hotspots
• Plays a major role in climate regulation
• Human pressure on ecosystem accelerating
the rate of extinction of life on earth
• Climate change- dominant direct driver of
biodiversity loss by the end of century
(Myers et al., 2000; UN-HABITAT, 2004; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report, 2005; Murugan, 2006)
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16. Insect Biodiversity
 Most diverse group of animals (80%)
 Integral component of ecological cycles
 Very good indicators of environmental change
 Play an important role in food chains
 Excellent pollinators for many of the economically important crops
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17. Indian Insect
fauna
Western Ghats in India
The only habitat to many rare, endemic and exotic species of colourful
butterflies in the world
Many butterfly species are under a real threat due to depletion of the
natural vegetation for various anthropogenic developmental activities
About 6.83% of world insect
species are inhabitant in India
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18. More than one-third of
species in the world are at
the risk of extinction
Up to 50% of the Asia’s
total biodiversity is at risk
due to climate change
Many other species could
also be extricated as a
result of the climate change
and habitat fragmentation
(Insects, nematodes, earthworms, crustaceans, spiders etc)
Number of threatened animal species per group
(Source: IUCN threat categories, 1994)
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19. What are the implications ????
Loss of biodiversity
-ve impacts
Ecosystem Wildlife habitat
Structure Composition Function
Outbreaks of destructive
insect-pests and diseases
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20. 2. Expansion of geographic ranges
Regional/ Growth, survival Geographic distribution
local and abundance of
Reproduction
climate organisms
Altered temperature and rainfall regimes with the
predictable changes in climate will determine the future
distribution, survival and reproduction of the species
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21. Increased temperature
Inhospitable conditions
Altitude wise shift in cultivation areas
of crop plants
Local
extinctions
Expansion of geographic range of insect-pests
Increased abundance of tropical insect species
Sudden pest outbreak
Heavy losses in crop yield
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22. Predicted range expansions with Global warming
The rise in temperature due to
global warming has shifted
apple cultivation in Himachal
Pradesh from Lower areas of
Kullu & Mandi districts to higher
altitude in Lahaul & Spitti
Rana et al., 2008
The associated insect-pests may also extend their geographic range along
with the host plants
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23. Predicted range expansions with Global warming
Corn earworms in USA
Heliothis zea (Boddie)
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)
(EPA, 1989; Diffenbaugh et al., 2008)
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)
A major pest of cotton, pulses and
vegetables in North India
(Sharma et al., 2005; Sharma, 2010)
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24. 3. Increased overwintering survival
Insects (Poikilotherms)
Limited ability of homeostasis
Adaptation strategies to support life under thermally stressful environments
Behavioural avoidance Diapause
through migration (Physiological)
-- Seasonal regulation of insect life cycles
-- Survival under environmental adversities
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25. Increased temperature
Summer Winter
Accelerated metabolic activities Delay in onset of diapause
Faster nutrient depletion low winter mortality
Early termination of diapause
Increased insect survival
Early resumption of active growth
Early infestations
Increased population built-up
Heavy losses in crop yield
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26. Increased temperature
Accelerated rates of development, reproduction and survival
Capacity to complete more number of generations per year / season
More crop damage
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27. 5. Impact on pest population dynamics and
outbreaks
Changes in climatic variables have led to
increased frequency & intensity of
outbreaks of insect-pests
• Wooly aphid in Sugarcane
• Brown plant hopper in Rice
• Cotton mealybug
• Papaya mealybug
• Coconut mite
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28. Sugarcane wooly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner (2002-03)
• Sugarcane belt of Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Resulted in 30 % yield losses
(Joshi and Viraktamath, 2004; Srikanth, 2004; 2007; Tripathi et al, 2008; Rafee, 2010)
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29. Brown plant hopper, Nilaparvata lugens in Rice (2008-09)
Hopper Burn symptoms
• Northern rice growing region of India
• Significant damage to high value Basmati rice
• Affected rice crop over 33,000 ha
IARI News, 2008. Brown plant hopper outbreak in rice. 24(Oct-Dec): 1-2.
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30. Cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley
 Major havoc to the cotton crop in
India: 2006-07
(Dhawan et al., 2007; Gautam, 2007, 2008; Tanwar et al., 2007, Jhala et
al., 2008; Bhosle et al., 2009)
 Economic impact of P. solenopsis
flare up on Indian Agriculture
30-40 % yield loss in cotton
Pesticide sale over Rs 500 crores in Punjab
Cost of plant protection increased by Rs 2500/ acre
Mealybug took away the glory of Bt cotton
Made another big hole in the pocket of the already
distressed farmers
(Dhawan et al., 2007; Gautam, 2007, 2008; Jhala et al., 2008)
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31. Papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus (2009-10)
Major havoc to papaya growers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Maharashtra
NCIPM, 2009, 2010; NBAII, 2010
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32. 6. Breakdown of host plant resistance to
insects
Host Plant Resistance
Environmental factors
Temperature
Sunlight Impact on secondary metabolic pathways
Soil moisture (SA, JA)
Air pollution
Weakening of plants’ own defensive system
Increased susceptibility to attack by insect pests
Pest outbreaks and more crop damage
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33. Temperature and water stress
Breakdown of resistance Transgene expression in Bt cotton
(Midge Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coq.) &
Spotted stem borer Chilo partellus Swinhoe) Reduced production of Bt toxins
Severe yield loss in sorghum Enhanced susceptibility of the cotton to
Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)
(Sharma et al., 1999; 2005)
(Kaiser, 1996; Hilder and Boulter, 1999)
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34. 7. Impact of increased CO2
CO2 enriched environment
Widening of C: N ratio.
Reduced nitrogen content of plant tissue
Enhanced feeding by insects
Slows down the insect development
Increases the length of life stages
More crop damage than the normal
(Lincoln, 1984; 1993; Bazzaz and Fajer, 1992; Coviella and Trumble 1999, Hunter 2001)
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35. 8. Reduced effectiveness of biological control
agents
Natural enemies of crop pests : predators, parasitoids & pathogens
Density responsive subjected to the action of abiotic components
Tiny and delicate
More sensitive to the climatic
Host - NEs extremes like heat, cold, wind &
Differential response to rains
changing climate
Hosts escape at higher temperatures
Reduced window of opportunity for parasitism
Great set back to the survival and multiplication of parasitoids
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36. 9. Disruption of plant-pollinator interactions
Entomophilies pollination:
A fundamental process essential for the
production of about one-third of the world
human food
Important insect pollinators
Bees, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, etc.
Insect pollination, mostly by bees, is necessary
for reproduction and formation of fruits and
seeds in about 75% of crops
(Ingram et al., 1996; Klein et al., 2007; Ricketts et al., 2008)
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37. Pollination is one of the major ecosystem services
currently under threat from mounting pressures
exerted by growing population, depleting natural
resource base and global climate change
(Costanza et al., 1987; MEA, 2005; Sachs, 2008)
-ve impacts of climate change on pollinators
Declining population abundance
Shift of geographic range
Declining pollination activities
(Klusser et al., 2007; FAO, 2008)
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38. Changing climate regimes Temperature and water availability
Impact on critical events in the life cycle of plants
(flowering, pollination, fruiting & seed set)
Disruption of the synchrony between plant-pollinator
relationships
Impact on extent, quality & quantity of pollination
Multiple implications for food security, species
diversity, ecosystem stability and resilience to
climate change
(Cleland et al., 2007; (Kudo et al., 2004; Deustch et al., 2008; FAO, 2008)
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39. Socio-economic impacts
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40. Implications for food security
Changing climate
regimes
Aggravating pest problems Disruption of the plant-pollinator
interactions
Intensification of the agricultural
yield losses Reduced crop pollination
Reduction in food production
Threat to the food & nutritional security
(Patterson et al., 1999; Gutierrez, 2000; Klein et al., 2007; FAO, 2008; IPCC, 2007; Chahal et al., 2008).
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41. Implications for farming community
• Need to take care of more types and more number of insects
• Reduced effectiveness of pest management strategies/ pesticides
• Frequent pesticide applications
• Increased cost of plant protection
• Impact on livelihood of the rural poor
• Increased food prices resulting from declining food production
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42. Challenges ahead
Breeding climate-resilient varieties
• To breed new varieties for improved resistance
to biotic and biotic stresses
• Considering late onset and shorter duration of winter, there is chance of
delaying and shortening the growing seasons for Rabi/ cold season crops like
wheat
• Breeding varieties suitable for late planting and those can sustain adverse climatic
conditions
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43. Rescheduling of crop calendars
• Certain effective cultural practices like crop rotation will be less or no
effective with changed climate
• Global temperature increase may result in shrinking of crop growing seasons,
hence there is need to change the crop calendar according to the changing
crop environment
• The growers of the crops have to change insect management strategies in
accordance with the projected changes in pest incidence and extent of crop
losses in view of the changing climate
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44. Developing temperature based phenology models for pests & diseases
The forewarning models for predicting insect arrival/ infestations based on earlier climate
profiles need to be revised in accordance with location specific changes in climate in
order to provide precise and accurate forecast of the pest incidence
GIS based risk mapping of crop pests
• Agro-ecological hot spot zonation
• Delineation of future areas of pest risk
Weather-based Apple fire blight risk
mapping in GIS
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45. Adaptation/ mitigation of agriculture to changing pest scenario
due to climate
Strengthen research for enhancing adaptive capacity:
• Pest surveillance for improved assessments in advance of outbreaks
• Research focus on the search for more general forms of resistance against
various classes of insects or diseases
• Developing mechanisms for collection and disseminating information on insect-
pest data in different environmental situations
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46. Sensitization of stakeholders about climate change and its impacts
• Training and capacity-building of extension worker, farmers & other stakeholders involved
in supply chain management
• Development of learning material and support guides for different risk scenarios in the
contexts of pest outbreaks in agriculture sector
• Assist farmers in coping with current climatic risks through weather services, agro-
advisories, insurance, community banks, etc
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47. Promotion of resource conservation technologies
• Incentives to farmers for resource conservation and use efficiency (Bio-
control, Integrated Pest Management)
• Subsidies for adaptation of environmental conserving pest controlling
technologies, pest based Agri-Insurance
• Strategies for adaptation and coping could benefit from combining scientific
and indigenous knowledge, especially in developing countries where
technology is least developed
• Further more study towards integrating indigenous adaptation measures in
global adaptation strategies and scientific research
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48. Conclusions
Is it possible to stop climate change ?????
Most of the researchers agree that the current warming trend
can’t be stopped or reversed but that it can be slowed down
to allow the biological systems and human society to adapt
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49. Implications for India
• Being a tropical country, more challenged with impacts of looming climate change
• Differential impacts of abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity &rainfall
• Varied pest damage in different agro-climatic regions across the country
• Intensification of yield losses due to potential changes in crop diversity and
increased incidence of insect-pests
• Serious environmental and socioeconomic impacts on rural farmers whose
livelihoods depend directly on the agriculture
• Urgent need to modify crop protection measures with changed climate in order to
attain the goal of food security of the nation
• Need for careful attention in planning and devising adaptation and mitigation
strategies for future pest management strategies
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50. National Institute of Abiotic Stresses Management