Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile

Extreme maximum temperatures in summer present a significant risk to agroindustry as crops and their ecological interactions have critical thermal limits that can affect their performance and microorganisms-related. Gray mold disease caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> is the most critical...

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Main Authors: William Campillay-Llanos, Samuel Ortega-Farías, Patricio González-Colville, Gonzalo A. Díaz, Marlon M. López-Flores, Rafael López-Olivari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/608
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author William Campillay-Llanos
Samuel Ortega-Farías
Patricio González-Colville
Gonzalo A. Díaz
Marlon M. López-Flores
Rafael López-Olivari
author_facet William Campillay-Llanos
Samuel Ortega-Farías
Patricio González-Colville
Gonzalo A. Díaz
Marlon M. López-Flores
Rafael López-Olivari
author_sort William Campillay-Llanos
collection DOAJ
description Extreme maximum temperatures in summer present a significant risk to agroindustry as crops and their ecological interactions have critical thermal limits that can affect their performance and microorganisms-related. Gray mold disease caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> is the most critical disease affecting crops worldwide. In this sense, the impact of temperature on agricultural productivity is well documented in the Northern Hemisphere; the risk of extreme temperatures on the infection rate of <i>B. cinerea</i> in Central Chile is limited. This study analyzes historical climate data from January and February between 1951 and 2023 for the cities of Santiago, Talca, Chillán, and Los Ángeles. The aim was to examine trends in extreme maximum temperatures (EMTs) and develop a simple model to estimate the infection rate of <i>B. cinerea</i>. Linear trend analyses were conducted, as was analysis of the probability of occurrence. Additionally, five-year averages were calculated, and a generic model was presented to assess the effects of warming on the infection rate. The analysis shows positive growth in extreme maximum temperatures in January and February, with projections for 2024, 2025, and 2026 at 70%, 80%, and 80%, respectively. February showed the most significant thermal increase among all stations, with Chillán and Los Ángeles recording higher increases than Santiago and Talca. Projections suggest temperatures near 40–41 °C. The five-year averages for Chillán and Los Ángeles exceeded 37 °C in the 2016–2020 period, the highest values during the analyzed time frame. Trends for 2021–2026 indicate upper limits above 38 °C. These trends, combined with dry summers, could increase the severity of infections and modify the optimal thermal conditions for the pathogen. The results suggest that thermal changes could reduce the infection risk by <i>B. cinerea</i> on fruit crops in Central Chile, and a theoretical approach is proposed to develop predictive tools to facilitate risk assessment in a warming environment.
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spelling doaj-art-e7a961f68dcc4c63b43b0febd98658ec2025-08-20T03:40:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-02-0115360810.3390/agronomy15030608Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central ChileWilliam Campillay-Llanos0Samuel Ortega-Farías1Patricio González-Colville2Gonzalo A. Díaz3Marlon M. López-Flores4Rafael López-Olivari5Departamento de Ciencias Matemáticas y Físicas, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4813302, ChileCentro de Investigación y Transferencia en Riego y Agroclimatología (CITRA), Universidad de Talca, Av. Lircay s/n, Casilla 747, Talca 3460000, ChileCentro de Investigación y Transferencia en Riego y Agroclimatología (CITRA), Universidad de Talca, Av. Lircay s/n, Casilla 747, Talca 3460000, ChileLaboratorio de Patología Frutal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, ChileDepartamento de Economia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro—PUC-Rio, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Sala 210F—Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22451-900, RJ, BrazilInstituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Carillanca, km 10 Camino Cajón-Vilcún s/n, Casilla 929, Temuco 4780000, ChileExtreme maximum temperatures in summer present a significant risk to agroindustry as crops and their ecological interactions have critical thermal limits that can affect their performance and microorganisms-related. Gray mold disease caused by <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> is the most critical disease affecting crops worldwide. In this sense, the impact of temperature on agricultural productivity is well documented in the Northern Hemisphere; the risk of extreme temperatures on the infection rate of <i>B. cinerea</i> in Central Chile is limited. This study analyzes historical climate data from January and February between 1951 and 2023 for the cities of Santiago, Talca, Chillán, and Los Ángeles. The aim was to examine trends in extreme maximum temperatures (EMTs) and develop a simple model to estimate the infection rate of <i>B. cinerea</i>. Linear trend analyses were conducted, as was analysis of the probability of occurrence. Additionally, five-year averages were calculated, and a generic model was presented to assess the effects of warming on the infection rate. The analysis shows positive growth in extreme maximum temperatures in January and February, with projections for 2024, 2025, and 2026 at 70%, 80%, and 80%, respectively. February showed the most significant thermal increase among all stations, with Chillán and Los Ángeles recording higher increases than Santiago and Talca. Projections suggest temperatures near 40–41 °C. The five-year averages for Chillán and Los Ángeles exceeded 37 °C in the 2016–2020 period, the highest values during the analyzed time frame. Trends for 2021–2026 indicate upper limits above 38 °C. These trends, combined with dry summers, could increase the severity of infections and modify the optimal thermal conditions for the pathogen. The results suggest that thermal changes could reduce the infection risk by <i>B. cinerea</i> on fruit crops in Central Chile, and a theoretical approach is proposed to develop predictive tools to facilitate risk assessment in a warming environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/608climate changegray moldtemperature extremethermal performance curvesbiomathematics modeling
spellingShingle William Campillay-Llanos
Samuel Ortega-Farías
Patricio González-Colville
Gonzalo A. Díaz
Marlon M. López-Flores
Rafael López-Olivari
Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile
Agronomy
climate change
gray mold
temperature extreme
thermal performance curves
biomathematics modeling
title Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile
title_full Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile
title_fullStr Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile
title_short Modeling the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on the Infection Rate of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> Using Historical Climate Data (1951–2023) of Central Chile
title_sort modeling the effects of extreme temperatures on the infection rate of i botrytis cinerea i using historical climate data 1951 2023 of central chile
topic climate change
gray mold
temperature extreme
thermal performance curves
biomathematics modeling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/608
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