Scientists predict massive hunger due to global warming

Due to climate change, many natural systems are undergoing transformation. For example, increased

temperatures and constant droughts make life easier for the pathogenic fungus Pythium ultimum, which can cause crop failures. And this could lead to mass starvation.

This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the University of Bonn. Essentially, they predicted mass famine due to global warming.

Pathogenic fungus Pythium ultimum infects rootsplants through the soil. Moreover, important crops are suffering, including beets, peas, corn, soybeans and potatoes. In plants affected by the fungus, root rot develops and they die. Soil is restored from the fungus only in exceptional cases. And even then only for a while. However, the soil has protective mechanisms against fungi, in particular other pathogens.

Scientists have studied soil samples from places with differentclimate - Scotland, Germany and Hungary. These samples, and hence the microorganisms living in them, were subjected to stress in the form of high temperature up to 40 ° C. After that, the soil was infected with Pythium ultimum.

The results were deplorable. Soils from Scotland suffered the most from the heat and drought, because they already had few microorganisms to fight Pythium ultimum.