Linking Climate Change Awareness with Disease, Pest, and Weed Dynamics in Tea (Camellia sinensis) Cultivation

Abstract Climate change poses a significant threat to tea cultivation (Camellia sinensis) by altering the incidence and severity of diseases, pests, and weeds. This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of 713 tea producers in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey regarding climate change and its impact on biotic stress. Data was collected through structured, face-to-face surveys that included demographic, awareness, and field observation components. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were used to analyses the relationships between climate change awareness, observed biotic stressors and management practices. The results showed high awareness of climate change (89.9%) and its perceived negative impacts on tea production (91.3%), but only 2.9% of growers had taken adaptation measures. Grey leaf spot disease (Pestalotiopsis spp.) was the most common disease (57.5%), while yellow tea mite (52%) was the most observed pest; both are often associated with yield loss. Invasive weeds such as Asiatic daylily, prickly bindweed, and telegraph bindweed were mentioned by 73.5% of respondents, with 96.1% of respondents attributing yield losses to them. A significant statistical correlation was found between awareness of climate change and the perception of increased pressure from diseases, pests and weeds (p