Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
become unmarketable. Most important but much more difficult to quantify
are influences that affect susceptibility to physiological and pathological
breakdown in postharvest environment.
15.4.1 BIOTIC STRESSES
15.4.1.1 INSECT-PESTS
Climate change is likely to alter the balance between insect-pests and their
natural enemies and their hosts. Incidence of insect-pests is going to in-
crease with rise in temperature. Most damaging will be fruit fly (
Bactro-
cera
sp
.
) that can have preas well aspostharvest impact on fruit quality.
In Australia, costs of apple, citrus and pear production are estimated to
increase by 25, 38 and 95% with increase of 0.5°C, 1.0°C, and 2°C tem-
perature, respectively due to changing pattern of fruit fly attack (Sutherst,
2000).
15.4.1.2 DISEASES
It is estimated that any increase in temperature, relative humidity, rainfall
and plant canopy growth would increase incidence of
Botrytis
bunch rot
in grapes. It is estimated that field and postharvest fungal diseases would
depend on temperature, relative humidity and rainfall changes, which in
turn would be affected by climate change.
15.4.2 ABIOTIC STRESSES
These stresses include water scarcity (drought), excess water (floods), ex-
cess temperature, excess evaporation and high CO
2
levels. Losses due to
fruit drop will be more under high temperature and water scarcity condi-
tions as water during fruit development is necessary. Floods have already
started causing soil erosion, which is going to affect production and qual-
ity in long run.
