Extreme weather events and their effects on plant pests infesting wheat, barley and maize

Abstract

In this review article 78 evaluable globally accessible articles regarding the influence of heat, drought, heavy rain, flooding, black frost, early frost, late frost, extreme frost, storm, hail, radiation and wet snow have on significant plant pests – namely fungi, insects and viruses – infesting wheat, barley and maize are summarized and discussed. The influence of other extremes and/or plant pests wasn't backed up enough by research, hence it wasn't evaluated. Sufficient evaluable literature was available for the influence drought and heat have on fungal infections, especially Fusarium and Aspergillus species and various species of aphids and the damage caused by them, including the mycotoxin levels in the grains of wheat and maize. As statements obtained from literature are partly contradicting and overall lacking information, a generalization of results is impossible. Suggestions for further research, such as the obtainment of primary data concerning temperature extremes, increased night time temperatures and their implementation in existing simulation and prediction models are made.