Plant Pathology

Plant pathology (also phytopathology )is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by
pathogens (infectious diseases) and environmental conditions (physiological factors).

phytopathology is concerned with the characteristic symptoms of disease (Symptomatology),

the interpretation of symptoms (Diagnosis), with the causes of diseases (Etiology) and with
the remedies (Therapeutics) and prevention of disease (Prophylaxis).
It includes the studying of living and nonliving contents.

Studying of the mechanism of disease.

Studying of the action of disease on the host, methods of controlling disease and reduction of
loosing crops.

Desease
A plant disease is usually defined as abnormal growth and/or dysfunction of a
plant. Diseases are the result of some disturbance in the normal life process of the
plant.

Biotic vs. Abiotic – Diseases may be the result of living and/or non-living causes.
Biotic diseases are caused by living organisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Abiotic diseases are caused by environmental conditions.

Plant Disease Pyramid

Specific conditions must be present for biotic disease to develop. There must be a
susceptible host, the causal organism, a time component and environmental
conditions conducive to disease development. These conditions make up what is
called the “Plant Disease Pyramid”. Biotic disease cannot occur if one of these
pieces is missing

Parasite(causal agent):

An organism absorbs the nutrients from the host.

Differences between parasite and saprophyte:

Parasite

Obligate parasite Facultative parasite

An obligate parasite is a parasite Originally saprophytic, change its

that must be with its host, or it dies. mode of nutrition and become
Obligate parasites depend on the parasitic, first it kills the host's
presence of a host to complete their living cells and then feeds on.
life cycle. It is also called "Necrotroph".
It's also called ''Biotroph".

Saprophyte

Obligate saprophyte Facultative Saprophyte

An organism which can only live Originally parasitic ,it change its
off dead organic matter. mode of nutrition and become
saprophytic.

Pathogenicity:

the ability of a pathogen to produce an infectious disease in an organism .The pathogencity of

a pathogen is determined by the pathogen's ability to produce toxins, its ability to enter tissue
and colonize and its ability to spread from host to host.

Virulence: describes the degree of the Pathogenicity.

Pathogenesis: The term pathogenesis means step by step development of a disease and the
chain of events leading to that disease due to a series of changes in the structure and/or
function of a cell/tissue/organ being caused by a microbial, chemical or physical agent
Aggressiveness: describes the degree of pathogenesis

Symptoms

Symptoms of disease are the plant’s reaction to the causal agent. Plant symptoms
include:
o Chlorosis – loss of green color
o Mosaic – varying patterns of light and dark plant tissue
o Necrosis – dead plant tissue
o Blight – sudden death
o Wilting– limp, droopy appearance
o Canker – sunken, discolored areas on any plant part
o Stunting – lack of growth
o Galls – localized swellings of plant tissue
o Distortion – malformed plant tissue

Syndrome:

Infection:

Incubation:

Immunity of the host:

Signs

are the actual organisms causing the disease. Signs include:

o Ooze – slime like droplets.
o Mycelium – thread-like vegetative growth of fungi.
o Spore masses – masses of spores, the “seeds” of a fungus
o Mildew– whitish growth produced by fungi composed of mycelium
o Mushrooms – fleshy reproductive structures of fungi
o Conks – woody reproductive structures of fungi
o Insects and/or their frass (excrement) are also signs, although not signs of
disease.
 Hypertrophy

Hyperplasia Hypertrophy

Hypotrophy

Hypoplasia Atrophy

Hypersensitivity:
Damping Off
Damping off is the fungal infection of seeds or seedlings that leads to death. When
infected with damping off, seeds may fail to germinate. In other situations,
seedlings develop but eventually fall over and die. An examination of stems at the
soil line reveals a discolored, “pinched in” appearance. Most plants are susceptible
to damping off because of the soft immature nature of seedling tissue which is
more susceptible to infection.
The best method to manage damping off is to avoid it in the first place. Use
pasteurized soil or planting mix and ensure that plants are receiving optimum light
and water. In home situations, damping off frequently develops due to poor
lighting and overwatering. These conditions stress plants and make conditions
optimal for the development of the soil-borne organisms that cause damping off.
In the garden, plant seeds at appropriate times for the crop and avoid overwatering
for optimal germination and growth. A strong healthy plant is better equipped to
fight off infection.
Scientists continue to study the role of hyperparasites (parasites of parasites) in
disease management. Several biological pesticides have been developed from
naturally occurring hyperparasitic fungi and bacteria. The organisms protect plant
roots against invasion by harmful soil pathogens. These pesticides must be applied
prior to the development of damping off so the beneficial organisms have time to
grow and colonize roots. They cannot be used as “rescue” treatments.
Weather plays a large role in fungal disease development. Many fungi require free
water or specific levels of humidity or moisture for prolonged periods of time to
develop. Dry climates are not conducive to their survival. The Rocky Mountain
region has many fewer fungal diseases than many other parts of the United States
due to climatic differences. However, gardens and other microclimates may have
conditions ideal for disease development due to poor air circulation, shade, high
humidity and high moisture.

Damping-off in Flower and Vegetable Seedlings

Damping-off is a common disease of seedlings in North Carolina. It causes

extensive losses to growers through death of seedlings or production of low-
quality plants that perform poorly in the field. The disease can be avoided and
controlled by practicing effective preplant control measures.

Cause

Damping-off is primarily caused by fungi present in the growing medium. The

fungi include species of Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium, Phytophthora,
Sclerotinia, Sclerotium, Botrytis, and others. Germinating seed and seedlings,
especially weak ones, are vulnerable to attack by these fungi during periods of
unfavorable growing conditions. Species of Pythium, Sclerotinia, and
Phytophthora are more likely to cause damping-off in cool, wet soils; whereas
species of Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Sclerotium rolfsii may cause damping-off
under warmer and drier conditions.

True damping-off may be confused with plant injury caused by excessive

fertilization, high soluble salts, drowning in wet soil, desiccation in dry soil, and
death of seedlings from excessive heat, cold, fuel fumes, or chemical injury. This
type injury often damages the leaves and upper stem before the roots are
affected.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms of damping-off are rotting stems at or near the soil line and
root decay (post-emerging damping off). Affected areas in the seed bed are
usually a foot or more in diameter with shriveled brown, collapsed or stunted
seedlings. Moldy fungal growth may be seen on affected plants at the soil line.
Germinating seed can also be attached by these fungi before they emerge from
the soil (pre-emerging damping off), resulting in poor stands. Rhizoctonia,
Fusarium, Sclerotinia, and Sclerotium generally caused post emergence damping-
off by killing the seedling at the soil line. Pythium attacks below the soil line,
often at root tips.

Control

The best control of damping-off is to avoid it altogether. Once damping-off has

started in a plant bed or seedling flat, it may be difficult to control. the general
methods employed to prevent damping-off consist of :
1) proper soil preparation and management to provide for good soil drainage,
structure, aeration, water-holding capacity and plant nutrition by including proper
amounts of fertilizer and lime according to the soil test report,
2) proper soil treatment with heat or chemicals to reduce the level of fungi that
cause damping-off (see Plant Pathology Information Note No. 170),
3) the use of fungicide-treated seed with high germination (see Agricultural
Chemicals Manual; specify treated seed before purchasing),
4) proper seeding rates to avoid thick plant stands, poor air movement and low
light intensity,
5) proper planting depth and soil temperature to assure rapid seeding
emergence, growth, and
6) strict sanitation to avoid reinfesting treated soil with these fungi. Many
outbreaks of damping-off in North Carolina can be attributed to poor sanitation
practices after treating the soil. For bedding plant operations, it may be more
practical to buy a sterilized soilless mix and eliminate steps 1 and 2 above.

Once damping-off has started in a bed or flat, its spread may be reduced by
providing drier conditions for better seedling growth. This can be done by
increasing greenhouse temperature, increasing air circulation and ventilation,
reducing the frequency of watering, providing better water drainage by ditching
inside and outside the plant bed structure or greenhouse, and by increasing the
amount of light by removing dirty covers, overhanging branches, removing
shading materials, etc.

If the above preventive control measures fail, several fungicides are available
that may be effective if applied as a drench or heavy spray as soon as the first
symptoms of damping-off are observed. Growing conditions should be improved
and flats or areas of bed with damping-off should be carefully removed from the
growing area. Rapid identification of the causal fungus should be obtained so that
proper chemicals can be applied (see county agent for diagnosis). Several
applications of the fungicide may be necessary, If the specific fungus causing
damping-off is not known, one broad spectrum fungicide (captan or ferbam), two
specific fungicides (benomyl plus, etridiazole or metalaxyl) or a prepared
combination of fungicides (etridiazole + thiophanate methyl) should be used.
Check the current North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual and the label
carefully to be sure of the proper fungicide and rate to be used on a particular
crop.