Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing: Is a better understanding of fungicide resistance required to protect global food production?

Since the widespread introduction of fungicides in the 1940s, fungicides have emerged as a basic component of modern IDM programmes.

However, the sheer effectiveness of fungicides has proven to be – in part – their downfall, with widespread application and improper use contributing to the emergence of fungicide resistance.

“There is no doubt that fungicides will remain a vital component of modern agricultural production systems for the foreseeable future,” says Dr Gregory M. Kemmitt, Global Leader in Disease Management, Integrated Biology and Field Sciences at Corteva Agriscience.

“However their development and use within agronomic production systems will likely need to be adapted and grounded within a more holistic and sustainable system of food production,” he concludes.

A new book published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing explores the emergence of fungicide resistance in agricultural and horticultural systems, as well as how fungicide use and application can be optimised to reduce the impact of fungicide resistance on global food production.

Understanding and minimising fungicide resistance has been edited by Dr Francisco J. Lopez-Ruiz who currently leads the Fungicide Resistance Group at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Australia.

“This new book provides a comprehensive coverage of the issue of fungicide resistance in agriculture,” says Dr Lise Nistrup Jørgensen, Senior Scientist at Aarhus University, Denmark.

“Edited by a leading name in the field and featuring contributions from a very impressive list of international experts, the volume promises to be an excellent reference for the future management of fungicide resistance,” she adds.

Systemic Fungicides

Since the development of systemic fungicides in the 1960s, a core group of fungicides has provided the foundation for effective disease control over the last 50 years: sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SFIs), quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs), succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) and oxysterol binding protein inhibitors (OSBPIs).

Through the inclusion of a select number of informative case studies, coupled with discussions exploring the science behind the emergence of fungicide resistance, the book reviews our current understanding of resistance to the four key groups of fungicides mentioned above, as well as the role of good practice in minimising the development of resistance in key staple crops.

“These four groups of fungicides have proven to be extremely effective in preventing the onset of disease in crops and are extremely popular with farmers around the globe,” says Francis Dodds, Editorial Director at Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

“This popularity with farmers emphasises the need for a more informed understanding of the mechanisms of resistance of each fungicide group and I’m confident that this book can contribute to achieving that,” he concludes.

The need for farmers to have a more informed understanding of the crop protection products they’re applying on their farms is reinforced through the contribution of chapters written by experts working at some of the world’s most renowned agrochemical companies, including Bayer, Syngenta and Corteva Agriscience who are largely responsible for the development of these same fungicides.