LABORATORY ACTIVITY # 3

PLANT DISEASE CYCLE

NAME: PANGANIBAN, LOVELY G. DATE: Oct. 17 2021

SECTION: BSA-1B SCORE:

Introduction
Plant disease cycles represent pathogen biology as a series of interconnected stages of development
including dormancy, reproduction, dispersal, and pathogenesis. The progression through these stages is
determined by a continuous sequence of interactions among host, pathogen, and environment. The stages
of the disease cycle form the basis of many plant disease prediction models. The relationship of
temperature and moisture to disease development and pathogen reproduction serve as the basis for most
contemporary plant disease prediction systems. Pathogen dormancy and inoculum dispersal are
considered less frequently.
Objectives:

 Determine the disease that found in different crops.

 Study the disease cycle of crop
 Study the ecology of crop disease

2. Choose at least 2 diseases found in different crops.

 Black Spot
 Brown Spot
3. Illustrate and explain the disease cycle of each crop.
4. Discuss the ecology of each crop disease.
 Disease cycle of Black Spot

Alternaria disease cycle

 Spring infections on plants begin directly from infected seed, spores produced on crop
residue, or infections on cruciferous weed. Many  plants are hosts on which the fungi can
survive from year-to-year. These include tame mustard, flixweed, hedge mustard,
tumbling mustard and stinkweed. Spores, after landing on susceptible plant tissue, remain
intact until exposed to moisture from dew or rain. Then they germinate, penetrate and
cause lesions within a few days. The leaf lesions or spots are important because they
produce more wind-borne or rain-splashed spores that may cause more infection on the
same or neighbouring plants.
Humid conditions and moderate temperatures favour the disease. Cooler temperatures (10
to 15 degrees Celsius) on days with rain and wind promote abundant spore production,
especially where leaves remain wet over longer periods. Wind spreads spores throughout
the crop canopy.
The cycle continues throughout the season under favourable conditions. Alternaria black
spot epidemics intensify at flowering when heavy crop canopies promote humid
conditions. Epidemics reach their maximum intensity in ripening plants. High
concentrations of airborne spores are needed to initiate development of severe epidemics
on canola leaves and pods. Early lodging and cool wet weather in the podding stage
become critical factors that lead to major outbreaks. Lodged canopies remain wet longer
promoting greater spore production. Hot and dry conditions can interrupt alternaria black
spot epidemics as the absence of moisture greatly reduces spore production. Black spot
 disease can be quite variable across a field with more serious infection levels on lower
slopes (which generally have higher moisture and/or humidity) than on upper slopes
(which tend to be drier). Seeds may become infected following development of lesions on
the pods. At harvest, spores produced on stems, branches and pods may also infect the
seed in the combine.

Disease cycle of Brown Spot

Septoria brown spot disease cycle.

The fungus survives on infected leaf and stem residue. Warm, wet weather favors disease
development. Disease usually stops developing during hot, dry weather but may become active
again near maturity or when conditions are more favorable.
There are no known sources of resistance, but differences in susceptibility occur among soybean
varieties. The host range of the pathogen includes some other legume species and common
weeds such as velvetleaf. Rotation to non-host crops such as alfalfa, corn, and small grains and
incorporation of infested crop residue into the soil will reduce survival of S. glycines. Foliar
fungicides labeled for Septoria brown spot control are available. Applications made during R3
through R5 soybean growth stages may slow the rate of disease development into the middle and
upper canopy and protect yield.
Additional activity
Create a “Guide for Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms”. (Use table in creating guide for nutrient
deficiency symptoms.
Nutrient deficiency occurs when a plant lacks sufficient quantity of an essential nutrient required
for growth. Without sufficient essential nutrients, plants will not grow well and show various
symptoms to express the deficiency.

Learn more about nutrient deficiency as you stay at home during this period.

Essential Nutrients
Plants obtain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen from water, air and sunlight, to make food for growth.
They also require the following for healthy growth:

Macronutrients
Namely: Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium and magnesium. These are required
by plants in relatively large amounts. 
 
Micronutrients, also known as trace or minor elements
Namely: Copper, manganese, zinc, iron, boron and molybdenum. These are required by plants in
smaller quantities.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies

Mobile Nutrients
Symptoms of deficiency generally appear in older leaves at the lower part of the plants

Nitrogen (N)

Nitrogen is one of the major nutrients

commonly applied as fertilisers. Plants absorb
Nitrogen in the form of ammonium or nitrate
which can be readily dissolved in water and
leached away from soil.

Nitrogen is needed by plants to promote rapid

growth especially for fruit and seed
development. Also, it increases leaf size and Whole leaves turn yellow, starting from
quality, and hastens plant maturity. the lower to upper leaves.

Deficiency symptoms: General chlorosis of

entire plant to a light green followed by
yellowing of older leaves proceeding towards
younger leaves. Plants become spindly,
stunted and secondary shoots develop poorly if
the initial symptoms are not corrected.

Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus is the second major component in
fertilisers. Plants absorb Phosphorus in the
form of phosphate.

Phosphorus is needed by plants to promote

photosynthesis, protein formation, seed
germination, bloom stimulation and budding.
It also hastens maturity.

Purple or bronze discolouration in the upper

Deficiency symptoms: Purple or bronze and lower sides of older leaves.
colouration on the underside of older leaves
due to the accumulation of the pigment,
Anthocyanin. Affected plants develop very
slowly and are stunted compared to normal
plants.

Potassium (K)

Potassium is the third major component in

fertilisers. Plants absorb Potassium as an ion,
which can be readily leached and lost through
run-off from the soil.

Potassium is needed by the plants to promote

formation of sugars for protein synthesis, cell
division in plants and for root development. It
also increases the plant’s resistance to
diseases. Browning or yellowing on leaf edges of newly
matured leaves.

Deficiency symptoms: Leaf edge chlorosis on

new matured leaves followed by interveinal
scorching and necrosis from leaf edge to the
midrib as deficiency increases. The chlorosis
in potassium deficiency is irreversible even if
potassium is given to plants.

Magnesium (Mg)
 Magnesium is a structural component of the
chlorophyll molecule.

Magnesium is needed by plants to promote the

function of plant enzymes to produce
carbohydrates, sugars and fats and in the
regulation of nutrient absorption.

Deficiency symptoms: Older leaves are

chlorotic in between veins, often known as
interveinal chlorosis. In severe deficiency, Lower leaves are paler and chlorotic as compared to
plant growth rate drops, leaf size is reduced, upper leaves, with dark green veins. This is known as
and lower leaves are shed. interveinal chlorosis.

Immobile Nutrients
Symptoms of deficiency generally appear in younger leaves at the upper part of the plants.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is a constituent of plant cell wall and

provides structural support to cell walls. It is
immobile within plants and remains in the
older tissue throughout the growing season.
Hence first symptom of deficiency appears on
the younger leaves and leaf tips.

Calcium is needed by plants to produce new

growing points and root tips.
New leaves are paler with stunted growth as
compared to the older leaves.
Deficiency symptoms: New foliage, buds and
roots have stunted growth. Younger leaves
curl downwards with browning of leaf edges
and leaf tips, also known as tip burn. In some
plants, they may also show abnormally green
foliage. Roots become short and stubby.
Iron (Fe)

Iron deficiency is similar to Magnesium,

except that it appears on young leaves and
shoots instead of older leaves.

Iron is needed by plants for the synthesis of

chloroplast proteins and various enzymes.
Young leaves are paler as compared to matured
leaves, with dark green veins.
Deficiency symptoms: Light green to yellow
interveinal chlorosis on newly emerging
leaves and young shoots. It is common to see
shoots dying from the tip inwards. In severe
cases, newly emerged leaves may reduce in
size and turn nearly white, with necrotic spots.

Manganese (Mn)

Manganese acts as an enzyme activator for

nitrogen assimilation.

Manganese is needed by plants for

photosynthesis, respiration and enzyme
reactions.

Deficiency symptoms: Newly emerging leaves

exhibit a diffused interveinal chlorosis with Yellowing between veins and broad green areas around
poorly defined green areas around the veins. veins in younger leaves.
Chlorosis and necrotic spotting are common
symptoms. In severe deficiency, new leaves
become smaller and tip dieback can occur.
Zinc (Zn)

Plants require zinc to activate plant growth

regulators, particularly Auxin and Indole
Acetic Acid (IAA).

Zinc is needed to activate plant growth

regulators.

Yellowing between veins and bronze spots in younger

Deficiency symptoms: Chlorosis, bronzing or leaves.
mottling of younger leaves. Interveinal
chlorosis of the young leaves followed by
reduced shoot growth with short internodes, as
well as small and discoloured leaves giving
the affected part a rosette appearance.

Boron (B)

Boron is absorbed from the soil by plants as

borate.

Boron is needed in the process of cell

differentiation at the growing tips of plants
where cell division is active.
Leaf buds are discoloured. They will break and
drop eventually.
Deficiency symptoms: Plants become stunted
and deformed. Proliferation of side shoots
known as ‘witches broom’ can be observed as
the main stem falls to ensure the growth of the
lateral shoot stays dormat. This is known as
the loss of apical dominance. In flowering
shrubs, new growth becomes dark green and
they develop cupped or puckered small brittle
leaves with short internodes.