Snow Moulds in a Changing Environment—A Scandinavian Perspective

Abstract

Plant production in sub-Arctic area is assumed to be greatly affected by climate change. The northern parts of Scandinavia have unique conditions; there is no other place on the earth where plant production is carried out under similar combination of climate factors. The projected climatic change represents both an opportunity and a challenge: A potential for increased biomass production is expected due to higher temperatures in the growth season. However, diseases previously restricted by a hostile climate represent a challenge, in particular, for perennial plants. In response to decreasing temperatures in the autumn, plants undergo metabolic changes that enhance their resistance to several fungal diseases as well as most abiotic winter stress factors. Disturbances of the natural cold hardening will render current varieties of plants more susceptible to diseases as snow mould fungi. Our most opportunistic snow mould, Microdochium nivale, has an ability to grow over a large range of temperatures and can cause disease both with and without a snow cover. Identifying germplasm and development of cultivars with enhanced resistance to such pathogens are crucial for expanded and increased biomass production in northern Scandinavia.