Characteristics
The epidemic plant diseases are cause by bacteria and virus, but it is mostly cause by fungus. Lots of diseases are happening during May to August, the rainy season, which is a good condition for fungus and other type of bacteria to grow. The areas that will be affected by the epidemic plant disease are mostly all of the area with lots of plant with a not too hot and not too cold temperature. The LEDC has more effect on this problem than the MEDC, because LEDC is relying on the help of the other countries and they got less amount of money for the prevention and research on the disease. While MEDC have their own aids, lots of money for protection of the disease and faster respond to the problem. The reason that people live in the place that have the disease is because they are poor and have no where else to live or there are no more land for planting and farming.
Specific Hazard Event
The blast disease on rice in Roi Ed province in Thailand on August 2006 is one of the example of the epidemic plant diseases. It was caused by the high amount of moisture, not too hot and not too cold temperature and the use of lots of fertilizer. It is the most perfect condition for the fungus called “Pyricularia grisea” to grow. The effect of this disease were the lost of the farmer’s job and money, decrease in the food supply and the increase in the price of rice in Thailand. As the result of this event the government had ordered the scientist to research and made the new kind of rice with a different gene that can resist the blast disease. The government also gave out the information about the uses of chemical to prevent the disease through the agriculture center in each province.
Conclusion
The epidemic plant disease will cause the population growth to be decreasing by the lack of food in the LEDC countries. It will affect the MEDC because it will need to help the LEDC that face this problem, but it will not have any effect on the climate change.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=143&art_id=iol1149929476524R200
http://roiet.doae.go.th/pathumrat/RM.htm
