A study has found that as climate change causes the Arctic permafrost to melt, pathogens may awaken and damage crops. The Research Team at the Korea Polar Research Institute announced their findings on the impact of permafrost thawing on pathogen activation on the 4th.
The research team, including Dr. Kim Deok-kyu, Dr. Kim Min-cheol, and Dr. Lee Young-mi from the Korea Polar Research Institute, conducted experiments to determine the likelihood of dormant pathogens activating as the Arctic permafrost thaws, and whether the awakened pathogens possess pathogenicity. The team brought permafrost collected from the Council region of the Kenai Peninsula in northwestern Alaska to the laboratory. They then created a thawing environment for 90 days and observed changes in bacterial patterns.
The experiment results showed that, unlike the unfrozen surface layer, the frozen-then-thawed transition layer and permafrost layers showed an increase in bacterial population and changes in community structures. In particular, strains of Pseudomonas buried in the permafrost were found to potentially cause potato rot disease. Until now, strains of Pseudomonas had been known as pathogens infecting fruits and vegetables in temperate regions, but this study confirmed their presence in the transition and permafrost layers of the Arctic tundra.
The research team stated that while this strain had low numbers and was dormant at low temperatures, its pathogenicity activated and population increased in a thawing environment. Potatoes were chosen as the experimental target because they thrive in harsh environments and are seeing expanded cultivation areas.
Shin Hyoung-chul, director of the Korea Polar Research Institute, noted, "The microorganisms that will awaken as the Arctic permafrost melts are indeed a concern, but we have not yet scientifically understood their risks sufficiently." He added, "To proactively respond to potential threats, we will continuously track the dormancy and activity of plant pathogens in both Arctic field and laboratory settings."
Reference materials
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117531