Phytopathology
|
|
Phytopathology or Plant Pathology is the science of diagnosing and managing plant diseases. Its covers all infectious agents that attack plants and abiotic disorders, but does not include herbivory by insects, mammals, etc.
Common plant pathogens (in rough order of importance) include species from these groups:
- Fungi - the most common pathogens (root rot fungi, moulds, rusts, and mildews).
- Insects
- Oomycetes (Water Moulds) - such as Phytophthora infestans (potato blight).
- Bacteria - prokaryotic organsisms which include as many as 18 genera.
- Viruses - more than 700 are plant pathogens, comprised of only protein and DNA.
- Nematodes (Roundworms) - both as pathogens and vectors, the only animals normally regarded as plant pathogens.
- Viroids - small, single-stranded RNA pathogens causing a dozen plus diseases.
- Parasitic angiosperms - plants that parasitize other plants, mistletoe and witchweed are common examples.
- Myxomycetes (Slime molds) - usually not actual pathogens but may be aesthetically unpleasant.
- Labyrinthulomycetes (Plasmodial slime molds) - biologically more complex protists than the Myxomycetes, true pathogens represented by two genera, Polymyxa and Plasmodiophora
Significant abiotic disorders can be caused by:
- Natural
- Man-made (arguably not abiotic, but usually regarded as such)
See also
External link
de:Phytopathologie fr:Pathologie vgtale nl:Plantenziekte pl:Fitopatologia