Articles

Stable crop production is a pillar of food security in the world; however, this pillar is being grossly undermined by the duality in the changing plant pathogens and the changing climate. Climate change acts as a threat multiplier, causing the conventional resistance genes to become obsolete faster due to changes in the distribution patterns of pathogens, selection pressures, and host plant vulnerability. The present review holds that a lasting resistance can only be achieved through a complete paradigm shift where the current practice based on individual major genes is replaced by comprehensive, climate-sensitive approaches utilizing the current methods of genetic manipulation and the vast repertoire of genetic materials. We integrate information about the ecological reconstruction of host-pathogen relationships by climatic change and assess superior breeding strategies, such as genomic selection, gene editing, and use of crop wild relatives. Notably, we critically evaluate the serious trade-offs and socio-economic impediments that exist in the execution of the said solutions.