Detecting novel plant pathogen threats to food system security by integrating the Plant Reactome and remote sensing.

Abstract

Plant diseases constantly threaten crops and food systems, while global connectivity further increases the risks of spreading existing and exotic pathogens. Here, we first explore how an integrative approach involving plant pathway knowledgegraphs, differential gene expression data, and biochemical data informing Raman spectroscopy could be used to detect plant pathways responding to pathogen attacks. The Plant Reactome (https://plantreactome.gramene.org) demonstrates the potential to synthesize knowledgegraphs depicting plant-pathogen interactions, leveraging availability of publicly available OMIC data sets related to major diseases of rice and maize. Plant pathway signatures may then guide the development of drone and satellite remote-sensing methods for early monitoring of disease outbreaks across farms and landscapes. A review of current proximal- and remote-sensing technology demonstrates the potential for actionable early pathogen detection. We furthermore identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed for developing these tools as components of effective strategies for safeguarding global food security against current and emerging pathogens.