Disease in Plants

Created by : Ryan Yusuf 8.4

PREFACE

Praise the highest presence of ALLAH SWT the Most

Compassionate and Merciful, for
abundance of mercy and grace can we finish this paper
according to the plan. In this paper I discuss the "Disease in
Plants", a discussion about the disease that can affect plants

This paper was made in order to deepen understanding of

plant disease problems so that readers know and understand
about the disease which can attack plants and also discuss its
type and how to control it
In the process of understanding of plant diseases, of course we
get the guidance, direction, correction and advice. Therefore,
a sense of deep gratitude for:

• Mr. Lukmanul Hakim, My Science Teacher,

• Internet, My source of information, and
• My Computer

So I created this paper and i hope it may be useful, AMIN!

 Plant Diseases
Plants can suffer from bacterial, viral and fungal attack just as we can ourselves. The
organisms themselves (pathogens) are different, but at the microbial level the infection is
much the same since one cell is as good a host as another. No matter which part of the plant
is attacked the effect is usually to weaken or kill it. By infecting the leaves the plant's ability
to produce its food is reduced. Some pathogens block the vessels in the stems which supply
the leaves and by attacking the roots, the uptake of water and nutrients is reduced or stopped
completely.
When a plant is attacked by one of these microorganisms the damage caused provides an
opportunity for the others to get in and it is the combined onslaught which deals the final
blow. Also if it is under stress, such as through drought or poor nutrition it is more
susceptible.

Sometimes the 'infection' is symbiotic where both organisms derive a benifit. A good
example of this is the nitrogen fixing bacteria ( Rhizobium ) which reside in nodules on the
roots of leguminous (pea family) plants, the plant provides food and protection, the bacteria
takes nitrogen from the air and converts it to a form usable by the host. Also the Mycorrhizae
are a whole Order of fungi which have a symbiotic relationship with plant roots.

In other cases of interest to gardeners, the plant is not benefited but the changes caused
produce more attractive features. This is what happens with Aucuba japonica where a viral
infection produces the mottled leaves in the 'Variegata' variety. The Tulipomania craze in the
17th century was caused when 'Broken' varieties of tulips began to appear with streaked and
mottled petals. This occurred at random and increased the desire and fascination for the
bizarre effects. Prized examples were valued at more than "a mansion with servants",
although it was not discovered until the early 20th century that viruses were to blame for the
unusual colours and effects. In Holland, where the craze caused great hardship when it
crashed in 1637, they now grow the pure forms with no streaks or frills.

Fungi are essential in breaking down dead organic matter to produce the humus which is
needed for good soil structure - saprophytes. They do not have any chlorophyll so cannot use
light to capture energy, instead they derive their energy by breaking down plant and animal
material - alive or dead. They can also live in a symbiotic relationship, eg. the mycorrhiza in
the fine roots of conifers which cannot survive without them to take up vital nutrients. The
widespread use of chemical control can damage the balance of these beneficial fungi and this
forms part of the principals of Organic management. Lichens are an algae and a fungus
growing together as a symbiotic conjunction, ie. the fungus provides physical support for the
algae and the algae produces food.(*Lichens are not harmful, but a monograph is included as
they are sometimes thought to be.)
There are some less welcome fungi which attack living plants and weaken or kill them - these
are the ones which are mentioned in more detail here.

Viruses dwell inside the cells and cannot be treated with chemicals so affected plants must be
destroyed (special microculture techniques may overcome the infection by taking cells from
the growing tip, but this is restricted to the laboratory). There are no antibiotics for plants, so
bacterial attacks, eg. fireblight, are untreatable as well. Fungi can be killed with chemicals
without damaging the host because their growth habit is different, ie. they tend to grow on the
plant and not in it, using root-like structures to extract nurishment.
Since killing the pathogens is difficult or impossible, "prevention is better than cure". By
observing good hygiene when propogating and growing your plants, you can prevent a lot of
diseases from taking hold.

 Destroy diseased plants, clear up dead leaves and other debris.

 As the spores can have tough outer coatings, do not add diseased material to the
domestic compost heap as they do not usually achieve high enough temperatures to
destroy them.
 Prune fruit trees and bushes regularly to keep an open structure allowing a good air
flow and to remove damaged branches.
 Disinfect secateurs, saws or knives used for cutting out diseased branches with
methylated spirits or a flame (a cigarette lighter comes in handy for this). Household
bleach or other disinfectants can also be used as a dip for shears and clippers,
including electric or petrol machines. This also helps when taking cuttings.
 Only use new or well-washed containers when growing cuttings and sowing seeds.
 Crop rotation in the vegetable plot will prevent a build up of disease.
 Space plants well apart especially crops where similar plants are growing together, to
allow good air flow. Fungal diseases in particular, thrive in still, damp air and there is
a greater chance for them to be transmitted to surrounding plants if they are in close
proximity.
 Catching disease early is important so keep an eye out for it at all times.

 Plants are more susceptible to disease if they are not growing well. This can be due to
poor soil, drought or both. So prepare the site well adding plenty of organic matter
and give plants an occasional feed. As gardeners we are usually trying to grow plants
which most likely are not native to the region or in a place they would not choose for
themselves, so there is a greater probability that they could be under stress.

Of course not all plant diseases can be prevented by good hygiene as some are transmitted by
insects and others are wind-borne. Aphids and other sap-sucking insects are the main vectors
of viruses. Tobacco mosaic virus can be harboured in cigarettes, so smokers are banned from
greenhouses where Surfinia Petunias (susceptible to the virus) are raised from cuttings - all
stocks had to be destroyed in 1995 when they became infected. The spores of fungal diseases
are carried in the air, and in rain drops and splashes.
Be careful when bringing plant material into the garden. Diseases can be in the soil as well as
the plants themselves. Some gardeners will only raise their plants from seed, especially
vegetables as some onion sets may have White Rot or brassicas may have Clubroot and this
would infest the plot for years to come.
The Kinds Of Plant Disease :
1. Fungi

The majority of phytopathogenic fungi belong to

the Ascomycetes and the Basidiomycetes.The fungi
reproduce both sexually and asexually via the
production of spores. These spores may be spread
long distances by air or water, or they may be soil
borne. Many soil borne spores, normally zoospores,
are capable of living saprotrophically, carrying out
the first part of their lifecycle in the soil.Fungal
diseases can be controlled through the use of
fungicides in agriculture, however new races of
fungi often evolve that are resistant to various
fungicides.

2. Bacteria

Most bacteria that are associated with plants are actually saprotrophic, and do no harm to the
plant itself. However, a small number, around 100 species, are able to cause disease.Bacterial
diseases are much more prevalent in sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world.Most plant
pathogenic bacteria are rod shaped (bacilli). In order
to be able to colonize the plant they have specific
pathogenicity factors. Five main types of bacterial
pathogenicity factors are known:Cell wall degrading
enzymes – used to break down the plant cell wall in
order to release the nutrients inside. Used by
pathogens such as Erwinia to cause soft rot.Toxins
These can be non-host specific, and damage all
plants, or host specific and only cause damage on a
host plant.Effector proteins These can be secreted
into the extracellular environment or directly into
the host cell, often via the Type three secretion
system. Some effectors are known to suppress host defense processes.Phytohormones – for
example Agrobacterium changes the level of auxins to cause tumours.Exopolysaccharides –
these are produced by bacteria and block xylem vessels, often leading to the death of the
plant.Bacteria control the production of pathogenicity factors via quorum sensing.
 3. Viruses, viroids and virus-like organisms

There are many types of plant virus, and some are

even asymptomatic. Normally plant viruses only
cause a loss of crop yield. Therefore it is not
economically viable to try to control them, the
exception being when they infect perennial species,
such as fruit trees.Most plant viruses have small,
single stranded RNA genomes. These genomes may
only encode three or four proteins: a replicase, a coat
protein, a movement protein to allow cell to cell
movement though plasmodesmata and sometimes a
protein that allows transmission by a vector.Plant
viruses must be transmitted from plant to plant by a
vector. This is often by an insect (for example, aphids), but some fungi, nematodes and
protozoa have been shown to be viral vectors.

4. Phytoplasmas ('Mycoplasma-like organisms') and spiroplasmas

Phytoplasma and Spiroplasma are a genre of bacteria

that lack cell walls, and are related to the
mycoplasmas which are human pathogens. Together
they are referred to as the mollicutes. They also tend to
have smaller genomes than true bacteria. They are
normally transmitted by sap-sucking insects, being
transferred into the plants phloem where it
reproduces.

5. Nematodes

Nematodes are small, multicellular wormlike creatures. Many

live freely in the soil, but there are some species which
parasitize plant roots. They are a problem in tropical and
subtropical regions of the world, where they may infect crops.
Potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida and G.
rostochiensis) are widely distributed in Europe and North and
South America and cause $300 million worth of damage in
Europe every year. Root knot nematodes have quite a large
host range, whereas cyst nematodes tend to only be able to
infect a few species. Nematodes are able to cause radical
changes in root cells in order to facilitate their lifestyle.