Causal Organisms for Plant

Diseases & its Symptoms

Dr. Subhomay Sinha, W.B.A.S. (Administration)

Assistant Director of Agriculture (Admn.)
Soil Survey, Malda
Disease may be defined as a malfunctioning process that is
caused by continuous irritation by a pathogen and/or
environmental / abiotic factor resulting in some suffering
producing symptoms.

A PLANT DISEASE is any abnormal condition that alters the appearance or

function of a plant. It is a physiological process that affects some or all plant
functions. Disease may also reduce yield and quality of harvested product.

Disorder: The diseases caused by the deficiency of nutrients or

unfavourable environmental are sometimes termed as disorders or
physiological disorders.
What are Physiological functions of a Plant ?
 Photosynthesis
 Respiration
 Plant nutrition
 Plant hormone functions
 Photoperiodism & photomorphogenesis
 Environmental stress physiology
 Seed germination
 Dormancy
 Stomata function
 Transpiration………etc

PLANT PATHOGENS CAUSING A DISTURBANCE IN

THESE PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS.
What is a pathogen / Pathogenic agent / Causal Organisms ?

A living or un-living agent (infectious agent) that can cause a disease

to the host plant is called a PATHOGEN / CAUSAL ORGANISM.
 The Disease Triangle

Plant Disease results only if all of these three factors occur

simultaneously. If one or more of the factors is not present, then
disease does not occur.
 Causal Organisms for Plant Disease

BIOTIC FACTORS: Micro-organisms / Microbes like

Fungi, bacteria, virus, viroids, phytoplasma,
algaes, nematodes, higher parasitic plants etc
causing plant diseases through invasion.

The main categories of MICROBES that cause plant

diseases are FUNGI, BACTERIA, VIRUSES and
NEMATODES. Fungi account for around 85 per cent of
plant diseases followed by viruses, bacteria and
nematodes. Besides PHYTOPLASMA, PROTOZOA AND
ALGAE are also responsible for plant disease
 Types of pathogens
Fungi Bacteria

Viruses Nematodes
 Groups of Plant Pathogens - Fungi

• Vast majority are beneficial.

• Can cause diseases to plant,
human, and livestock.
• Most cannot be seen without a
microscope.
• Devoid of chlorophyll.
• Composed of growing structure
of delicate, thread-like filaments
called hyphae.
• Reproduce by forming spores.
Example of FUNGAL DISEASE SIGNS:
Plant Pathogens - Fungi
Leaf rust (common leaf rust in corn)
Stem rust (wheat stem rust)
Sclerotinia (white mold)
Powdery mildew

Leaf rust Stem rust Sclerotinia Powdery mildew

 Plant Pathogens - Fungi
Example of FUNGAL DISEASE SYMPTOMS:

Birds-eye spot on berries (anthracnose)

Damping off of seedlings (phytophthora)
Leaf spot (septoria brown spot)
Chlorosis (yellowing of leaves)

Birds-eye spot on berries

Damping off of seedlings

Leaf spot Chlorosis
 Groups of Plant Pathogens - Bacteria

• Extremely small organism

requiring microscope to be seen.
• Bacteria population can increase
in number in short time period.
• Cells clump together in masses
called colonies.
• Obtain food from dead or
decaying organic matter or living www.foodmate.net

tissue
• Spread plant to plant by wind-driven rain.
• Gain entrance through natural plant openings or injuries.
 Plant Pathogens - Bacteria

Bacterial ooze

Bacterial streaming in water from a cut stem

BACTERIAL DISEASE SIGNS (difficult to observe) :

 Bacterial ooze
 Water-soaked lesions
 Bacterial streaming in water from a cut stem

Water-soaked lesions
 Plant Pathogens - Bacteria
BACTERIAL DISEASE SYMPTOMS :

 Leaf spot with yellow halo

 Fruit spot
 Canker
 Crown gall
 Sheperd’s crook stem ends on woody plants
Canker

Leaf spot with yellow halo Fruit spot Crown gall

 Groups of Plant Pathogens - Viruses

• Most familiar because they

cause human and animal
diseases such as influenza, polio,
rabies, smallpox, and warts.
• Cause some destructive plant University of Florida

diseases.
• Measure only about one-
millionth of an inch in size.
• Are not complete living systems,
but survive only in living cells.
• Plant Viruses are transmitted by insects which are called vectors.
 Plant Pathogens - Viruses

VIRAL DISEASE SYMPTOMS:

 Mosaic leaf pattern

 Crinkled leaves
 Yellowed leaves
 Plant stunting

Plant stunting

Crinkled leaf

Mosaic leaf Yellowed leaves

 Groups of Plant Pathogens - Nematodes

• Round, slender,
threadlike worms.
• Some are parasites on
animals, insects, fungi,
other nematodes, and
plants.
• Plant-parasitic nematodes
have a stylet.
• Most live in the soil and
feed in or on plant
roots.
Groups of Plant Pathogens - Phytoplasma
Phytoplasmas, previously called
MYCOPLASMA-LIKE ORGANISMS
(MLO), are un-culturable, phloem-
limited insect-transmitted plant
pathogens.

In contrast to bacteria,
phytoplasmas do not have a rigid cell
wall. Phyllody of Rose

Phytoplasmas are pathogens of many

Agriculturally important plants,
including coconut, sugarcane, sesame
and sandalwood.

They are specifically responsible for

the disease “Phyllody” (Phyllody is
the abnormal development of floral
parts into leafy structures.)
Phyllody of Sesame
Groups of Plant Pathogens - Algae

Cephaleuros is a parasitic Green

Algae, living under leaf cuticle,
causing Red Rust disease in Tea, &
Mango; Algal leaf spot on Magnolia
(Green Scurf)

Structure of Cephaleuros

Colony of Cephaleuros on Tea

Groups of Plant Pathogens – Algae (contd…)
Green Scurf / Algal leaf spot on Magnolia

 Greyish green brown spots on leaves.

 The leaf tissue may die beneath the

spots and the leaves may become
yellow and drop prematurely.

Algal leaf spot on Magnolia

Red Rust on Mangoes.

 The disease can be easily recognised

by the rusty red spots on leaves and
sometimes on petioles and on young
twigs of Mangoes.

Red Rust on Mangoes.

 Groups of Plant Pathogens – Protozoa
PROTOZOA are defined as a diverse
group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms.
these tiny organisms can cause a variety of
diseases in plants. Several varieties of
crop plants can suffer from protozoan
diseases. Protozoas upon infestation,
causes Phloem Necrosis in Coffee Phloem Necrosis in Coffee

Protozoas
 Groups of Plant Pathogens – Parasitic plants
Root parasites
The pathogenic flowering plants, can be classified as Root Striga
Parasites or Stem Parasites.
 Root parasites are Witchweed and Broomrape (Orobanche).
 Stem parasites include Dodder (Cuscuta) and Mistletoes.

Striga (Witchweed)
attacks important
crops like maize,
sorghum, pearl millet,
rice, sugarcane &
legumes.

Witchweed (Striga)

With a bell-like swelling form, the parasitic roots of Striga Striga attaching with
attach to the roots of the host plants. host plant’s root
The pathogen develops underground, where it may spend
the next four to seven weeks before emergence, when it
rapidly flowers and produces seeds.
 Groups of Plant Pathogens – Parasitic plants
Root parasites
Broomrape (Orobanche)

 Orobanche have no chlorophyll, they are totally

dependent on Host plants for nutrients.

 Broomrape seedlings put out a root-like growth,

which attaches to the roots of nearby hosts.

 Once attached to a host, the broomrape robs its host

of water and nutrients.

Broomrape
 Groups of Plant Pathogens – Parasitic plants
Stem parasites
Dodder (Cuscuta)

 Cuscuta (dodder) is a Stem Parasite.

 Its slender, twining, orange-yellow, leaf-less stems
form conspicuous tangled mass on the host.
 It can photosynthesize its own food, but water and
nutrients are drawn from the host plant.
 Dodders are most important parasites of legumes.
It causes considerable damage to alfalfa, flax,
sugar beet, onion and other fruit and forest crops.
Monocots are less preferred by Stem parasites.
 It also transmit virus.
Dodder

Mistletoes are also stem

parasites

Mistletoes
Dwarf Mistletoes
ABIOTIC FACTORS : Abiotic factors responsible for plant disease
are :

1. Deficiency /Excess of Nutrients

2. Light
3. Temperature
4. Relative Humidity
5. Soil Moisture
6. Soil Aeration
7. Soil pH
8. Soil Fertility
9. Abnormality in Soil Condition
10.Atmospheric Impurities etc.
 Some Examples of Abiotic Factors Causing Plant Diseases:

 Zinc deficiencies in Soil causes “KHAIRA DISEASE of rice”.

 Unfavourable environmental condition causing plant damage like FROST

INJURY, PHYSIOLOGICAL WILT etc.

 SO2 toxicity in air causes Black tip of Mango.

 Mo deficiency in soil results Whiptail of cauliflower.

Hollow and black heart of potato is caused by excessive

accumulations of CO2 in storage).

 Bitter pit of apple caused by Ca deficiency in soil.

 Necrosis in leaf margin of greenhouse plants due to Micronutrient

toxicity.
Symptoms due to ABIOTIC FACTORS

Black tip of Mango

Khaira Disease of Paddy

Whiptail of cauliflower Hollow heart of Potato

 Difference between SYMPTOM and SIGN of plant disease

SYMPTOM are the expression of the disease caused by the manifestation of

the physiological reaction of the plant due to harmful activity of the pathogen.
Here we are not actually seeing the disease pathogen, but rather a symptom
that is being caused by the pathogen.

SIGN - physical evidence of the presence of disease causing agents (e.g., mould
or fungal spores, bacterial ooze), visible through naked eye. Here, the pathogen
itself becomes visible on the host surface in the form of its organs or
structures. eg. Sclerotia, Spores, Mycelium, Ooze, Cyst etc.

fungal spores
bacterial ooze
Different signs of Plant Disease
 Classification of Plant Diseases

A. On the basis of extent to which plant diseases associated with plant

1. LOCALIZED
2. SYSTEMIC

B. On the basis of mode of infection

1. SOIL BORNE
2. AIR BORNE
3. SEED BORNE

C. On the basis of symptoms of disease

1. RUSTS
2. SMUTS
3. ROTS
4. BLIGHT
5. LEAF SPOT
6. CANKER
7. WILT
8. DOWNY MILDEWS
9. POWDERY MILDEW
10. ANTHRACNOSE
 Primary Symptoms and Secondary Symptoms

Primary symptoms are the direct result of pathogen activity on invaded

tissues (e.g., swollen clubs in club-root affected cabbage are formed by
feeding of the root knot nematode).

On the other hand, Secondary symptoms result from the physiological

effects of disease on distant tissues and un-invaded organs (e.g., wilting and
drooping of bean leaves in hot weather due to Fusarium root rot). Root is
infected, but symptoms appears on leaves through drooping and wilting.

Club-root of cabbage Fusarium root rot

Local symptoms are physiological or structural changes within a limited area of
host plant tissue around the infection site, such as leaf spots, galls, and cankers.

leaf spots leaf galls

Systemic symptoms are those involving the reaction of the entire / greater
part of the plant, such as wilting, yellowing, and dwarfing.

wilting

yellowing dwarfing
 Classification of plant Diseases Based on Infection Process

 INFECTIOUS : All the diseases caused by VIRUSES and VIROIDS

can be transmitted from infected host plants to the healthy plants
and are called infectious.

 NON-INFECTIOUS : Non-infectious diseases can not be transmitted

to a healthy plant.

Potato Spindle Tuber Disease transmitted by Viroids Early blight of potato is a non – infectious disease
Classification of plant Diseases on the basis of occurrence and
distribution

Wart disease of potato

1. ENDEMIC : when a diseases more or
less constantly prevalent from year to
year in a moderate to severe form in a
particular country. E.g., Wart disease
of potato is endemic to Darjeeling .

2. EPIDEMIC / EPIPHYTOTIC: A disease

occurring periodically but in a severe
form involving major area of the crop.
it may be constantly present in locality
but assume severe form occasionally
e.g. Rust of wheat, Late blight of
Rust of wheat
tomato, Powdery Mildews of Grapes
 leaf blight of Maize

3. SPORADIC: Diseases which occur at

very irregular interval and location in a
moderate to severe form e.g., leaf
blights, wilt .

4. PANDEMIC: Diseases occurring

throughout the continent or sub-
continent resulting in mass mortality
e.g., Late blight of potato.

Late blight of potato

 Microscopic Symptoms and Macroscopic Symptoms

The disease symptoms may be microscopic or macroscopic. In Microscopic

Symptoms, the expressions of disease are in the cell structure or cell
arrangements, which can be seen under a microscope.

In Macroscopic Symptoms the expressions of disease on the surface of plant parts

that can be seen with the unaided eye in the form of symptoms on the plant.

Macroscopic (morphological) symptoms can be classified as:

A. Necrosis

B. Hypoplastic

C. Hyperplastic
 DISEASE
SYMPTOMS

MACROSCOPIC SYMPTOMS MICROSCOPIC SYMPTOMS

NECROSIS HYPOPLASTIC HYPERPLASTIC

SPOT BLIGHT BLAST ROT DIE - BACK STRIPE HYDROSIS CANKER DWARFING LEAF CURL

ROSETTIING SCAB

CHLOROSIS GALL

MOSAIC
ROOT KNOT
 Necrosis symptoms

It is localized or the general DEATH / DEGENERATION of

plant tissue (protoplast) due to invasion of disease causing
agent. It includes leaf spots, blight, rots, cankers, hydosis
etc.
Some examples of the necrotic symptom

Spot is a definite, localized, round to regular lesion, often with a border of a

different colour, characterized by its location (leaf spot, fruit spot) and colour
(brown spot, black spot).

Septoria leaf spot of tomato Tikka leaf spot of Groundnut

Angular leaf spot of beans

If numerous spots enlarge and merge, a large
irregular blotch or blight may develop, such as grey
leaf spot of tomato; black spot of rose; angular
leaf spot of beans, Tikka leaf spot with yellow
halo, fruit spot etc.
Some examples of the necrotic symptom

Blight is the sudden or total discoloration and killing of large area of a leaf, shoots
or stems or the entire plant. Usually young tissues are attacked. The disease name is
often coupled with the name of the host and the part attacked, for example —
blossom blight, twig blight, tip blight etc. it occurs mostly due to bacterial invasion.

Bacterial blight of beans Bacterial blight of rice

Some examples of the necrotic symptom

Blast is sudden death of young buds, flowers, or young fruit and failure to produce
fruit or seeds. such as Rice blast, Wheat Blast etc.

Different symptoms of Rice blast disease

Different symptoms of wheat blast disease

Some examples of the necrotic symptom Damping off

Damping off : symptoms are decay of seed in soil, rapid death of germinating
seedlings before emergence, or emerged seedlings suddenly shows wilting
symptoms, toppling over, and dying from rot at collar region. This is common
disease found in seedbeds

Damping off in seedbed.

Some examples of the necrotic symptom DIE-BACk

DIE-BACK is a plant disease, showing progressive browning and death of shoots,

branches, and roots starting at the tips then moving downward e.g. Die back of
chilli/ citrus / Mango.

Die back of Citrus plant Die back of Mango plant

Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

Root and Stem Rot

ROTS refer to the decomposition and putrefaction of cells, tissues and organs.
The rot may be dry, watery or mushy such as bacterial soft rot.

Root rot of Beans

Red Rot of sugarcane
Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

Dry rot

Dry rot of potato

Dry rot of Ginger Dry root rot of Lentil

Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

SOFT ROT

Soft rot on Capsicum Soft rot symptoms on carrot

SOFT ROT diseases are caused by pathogens that secrete enzymes capable of
decomposing cell wall structure. Soft rots commonly occur on fleshy vegetables
such as potato, carrot, capsicum, squash, and tomato.
Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

BLACK ROT

BLACK ROT OF CRUCIFERS caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris p.v.

campestris is also a plant disease where the vascular system is infected and leads
to necrosis of the leaves.

Symptoms of black rot on V-shaped lesions on mature

cabbage transplants cabbage
Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

BLACK ROT

BLACK ROT OF GRAPE is a fungal

disease, resulting hardened, black
mummified fruit at the time of harvest.
Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

Bulb rot of Onion & Garlic

BULB ROT of Onion is a fungal disease,

causing by the fungi Botrytis spp. White
fluffy fungal growth appears on the base of
the bulb and later it spread through out
the bulb, with small, round, black
structures.
Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

GRAY MOULD ROT

GRAY MOULD ROT is caused by fungi in

the genus Botrytis. The disease is
characterized by soft, tan to brown
spots or blotches that become covered
with a dusty white mould.
Some examples of the necrotic symptom ROTS

HEART ROT

Heart rot of Carrot Heart rot of Pineapple

HEART ROT is a fungal disease. Fungus

produce a discoloured, lightweight, soft,
spongy, stringy, crumbly, or powdery
heart decay. Sugarbeet, Carrot,
Pineapple are prone to this type of rot.

Heart rot of Sugarbeet

Some examples of the necrotic symptom
STREAK

LEAF STREAK: Narrow, elongated, somewhat

superficial necrotic lesions with irregular margins
develops on stems or leaf veins. The Causal
Organism is Virus. Example : Leaf streak virus of
Maize

Leaf streak of Maize

Some examples of the necrotic symptom
Stripe

LEAF STRIPE: narrow, elongated, parallel, necrotic

lesions develops especially in leaf. These diseases are
specific of cereals and grasses. Both fungus and
bacteria causes this stripe symptoms.

Helminthosporium stripe of barley Red stripe of Sugarcane

Some examples of the necrotic symptom
Hydrosis

WATER-SOAKING / HYDROSIS is a translucent condition of tissues

caused by water, moving from host cells due to rupturing of cell membranes
into intercellular spaces. Examples are late blight lesions on potato and
tomato leaves , bacterial soft rot of fleshy vegetables

late blight lesions on potato

Some examples of the Necrotic symptom
Canker

CANKER is a definite, dead, often sunken or swollen and cracked area on a stem,
limb, trunk, tuber, fruit or root surrounded by living tissues. The C.O. is often
Bacteria or fungi.

Citrus Canker on Fruits Tomato Canker on Stems

 HYPOPLASTIC SYMPTOMS

Hypoplasia is the failure of plants or organs to develop fully i.e

to obtain normal size.

Abnormal size and pale colouration is the most common

hypoplastic symptom.
Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom
DWARFING

DWARFING is the under-development of the plant or some of its organs eg Maize

Streak Virus, mosaic, curly top of beans etc.

Dwarfing of Maize plant due to Maize streak virus

Dwarfing of Papaya plant due to Papaya Mosaic virus

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom
ROSETTING

ROSETTING is the shortening of internodes of shoots and branches, producing

a bunchy growth habit example are the ground nut rosette.

Ground Nut Rosette VIRUS

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

ALBICATION

ALBICATION is the complete repression of leaf colour caused by viruses,

bacteria, fungi, and iron deficiency leading to whitening of leaf tissue.

Broad Bean Stain Virus (BBSV) symptoms

on pea plants include whitening of
interveinal tissues.
Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

CHLOROSIS

CHLOROSIS is the yellowing or whitening of normal green tissue due to partial or

complete failure of chlorophyll to develop. This symptom can developed due to
different diseases causing organisms.

Chlorosis of Green leaves

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom
Mosaic
MOSAIC is the abnormal coloration yellowing, reddening, bronzing, or purpling in
localized areas of leaves where chlorophyll has been destroyed. This symptoms
shows a clearing along the leaf veins (vein clearing).

Yellow Mosaic virus on Moongbean

Turnip Mosaic virus on cabbage leaves

Yellow Mosaic virus on Okra leaf

 HYPERPLASTIC SYMPTOMS

Hyperplasia is the over-development (in size and colour) of

the plant parts due to invasion of plant pathogen.
Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom LEAF CURLS

LEAF CURLS - overgrowth of tissue on one side of a leaf or petal

resulting to leaves rolling. This symptoms appears mostly due to virus
attack on plants.

Leaf Curl of Chilli Leaf Curl of Tomato

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom
LEAF CURLS (contd….)

Leaf curl symptoms

Leaf Curl of Papaya Leaf Curl of Tobaco Leaf Curl of Potato

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

SCABS

Scabs develops crust like, more or less circular, slightly raised or sunken
lesions on the surface of leaves, stems, fruit, or tubers. e.g. common scab of
potato, apple scab and wheat scab.

Apple Scab
Potato Scab
Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom
GALLS
GALLS are abnormal growths of plant cells that occur on leaves,
twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants.

Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation of plant cells

due to feeding or egg-laying by insects such as aphids, midges,
wasps, or mites.

Sometimes invasion of Fungi and / or Bacteria can results into gall

formation.

Galls on Rhododendron shoot caused by Fungi. Galls on Olive shoot caused by Bacteria.
Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom
WITCH’S BROOM
A WITCH'S BROOM or witches' broom is a deformity in a woody plants,
typically a tree, where a dense mass of shoots grows from a single point,
with the resulting structure resembling a broom or a bird's nest. It is
sometimes caused by pathogens, like Fungi, Insects, Mites, Nematodes ,
Phytoplasma and viruses.

WITCH'S BROOM on Woody Plants

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

INTUMESCENCE

INTUMESCENCE is a condition in which numerous small calluses grow

on the surface of the leaves. They may occur on either the upper or
lower surface, and may be scattered over inter-veinal tissue or
clustered along the main veins. Intumescence does not appear to
harm the plant.

Small calluses grow on the surface of the leaves by Intumescence

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

TUMOURS

TUMOURS are symptoms, caused by pathogens that stimulate uncontrolled

multiplication of plant cells, resulting in the formation of abnormally large
structures. e.g. Crown Gall on rose , caused by Bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Crown Gall on rose

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

CLUB ROOT
CLUB ROOT symptom is where the roots appear swollen & club-shaped. Clubroot
is a disease of the mustard family (Brassicaceae/ Cruciferae) caused by the
fungus-like soil pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicaceae.

Club root of Cruciferous crops

Some examples of the Hypoplastic symptom

ROOT KNOTS
ROOT KNOTS are the formation of galls on the roots which is as a result of
nematode infection.
 Some examples of the necrotic symptom

Wilting

Wilting : Wilting is loss of turgor pressure in a plant

leading to temporary or permanent drooping of leaves,
shoots, or entire plants from lack of water, due to infection
by different plant pathogens. It is a secondary symptoms.

Wilting results due to infestation of fungus as well as

Bacteria in the plant.

Bacterial wilt of tomato

SIGN - physical evidence of the presence of disease causing agents (e.g., mould
or fungal spores, bacterial ooze), visible through naked eye. Different signs of
plant pathogens, invading a plant is explained herein.
 Different SIGNS of plant disease

Mycelium or Mould Growth

Mycelium or Mould Growth: under some conditions, mycelia or fungal

growth in infested plant parts is readily visible to the naked eye.
 Different SIGNS of plant disease

Mildews
Mildews consist of white, grey, brownish or purplish pathogen growth on the host surface.

Powdery Mildews Downy Mildews

 Different SIGNS of plant disease

Rust

RUST appears as relatively small pustules of the spores, usually breaking

through the host epidermis. The pustules may be dusty or compact, and red,
brown, yellow or black in colour.

Pea Rust Wheat Rust

 Different SIGNS of plant disease

White Blister

White blister like pustules appear on the lower leaves and other
parts of cruciferous plants which break open the epidermis and
expose white powdery masses of spores. This disease is also
called as White rust.

White blister on Mustard leaves

 Different SIGNS of plant disease

BLOTCH consists of superficial growth of BLOTCH

Fungus / Bacterium, giving the affected plant
parts i.e., fruits and leaves a “Smoky (blotched)
appearance”, e.g. Sooty Blotch of Apple.

Sooty Blotch of Apple Bacterial fruit blotch of Cucurbits

 Different SIGNS of plant disease

 Smut means a sooty or charcoal like

powder.
SMUT  The affected parts of the plants show
black or purplish black dusty areas.
 Symptoms usually appear on floral
organs. Eg. Wheat Smut, Corn Smut

Wheat Smut Corn Smut False Smut of Paddy

 Different SIGNS of Plant Disease

Sclerotia

 A Sclerotium is a compact, often hard mass of dormant fungus mycelium.

 Sclerotia are mostly dark in colour and are found mixed with the healthy
grains as in the case of ergot of wheat and rye.

Dark colored Sclerotium in the infected plant parts

EXUDATION Causal organism comes out from the infected plant part through exudation.

 Mass of bacterial cells ooze out on the surface of the affected organs
where they may be seen as a drop or smear in several bacterial diseases
such as bacterial blight of paddy, gummosis of stone fruits and fire blight
of apple and pear.

 They form crusts after drying.

Ooze from bacterial blight of paddy Gum coming out from Gummosis of Stone fruit.