How much do we know about the threat of combined stresses in Indian agriculture?

Abstract

Pathogens and pests continue to evolve new strains and variants, with different levels and mechanisms of resistance. Meanwhile, the earth faces unprecedented changes in global climate. Together, various stress combinations can have devastating effects on agriculture. Studies focusing on combinatorial effects of different stresses and novel strategies to control them are urgently warranted for food security. This note enumerates the occurrence and impact of combined stresses and the efforts made by Indian researchers to explore this aspect. Through this write-up, we hope to draw attention to the need for expanding research in this area in India.