Fungi as parasites of plants

Parasitic fungi that grow on plants have reshaped the biosphere and caused the deaths of millions of people since the beginning of agriculture. Dutch elm disease and chestnut blight are examples of fungal pandemics that resulted in widespread ecological changes in the 20th century. Crop failures caused by fungi have caused starvation, economic collapse, social conflict, warfare, and mass emigration. As the human population swells, scientists are engaged in a global effort to understand and combat fungal diseases of cereals and other vital crops. ‘Fungi as parasites of plants’ considers different types of parasitic fungi, including rusts and smuts, and their control with fungicides.