Introductory Plant Pathology

Class 1 Expectations, Realities, Formats, and Evaluation

By the end of class today the student will; 1. Know that PLPT/BIOS 369 is an IS course and will be taught with those expectations on the part of both the faculty and the student. 2. Understand the schedule 3. Know how to access the class web-page and become familiar with it 4. Know that faculty and TA's are available, approachable, eager to interact both inside and outside of classes. Moving from "Competency" level to "Mastery" level learning requires additional time engaged with course material beyond what one would spend to become competent. This does not necessarily mean that one need to acquire additional new information or"memorize" more "facts" but rather one spends additional time processing and thinking about the course materials in ways not necessarily presented in a classroom setting. Materials on this page may not seem to directly refer to material for a specific class. To support you efforts at Masterly Level learning, a red M appears next to the number in the reading column. This is a link to supplemental material to enhance your studies. You may or may not think these links to be what you might anticipate as supplemental but they are intended to get you to look and think about the material in a different and/or deeper way. It, in your studies you find material you think your fellow students (and myself) could benefit from reading. I would be pleased to include them on one of the Masterly Learning Pages

Websites:
y y

What is Plant Pathology? "One Foot in the Furrow:

Symptom y

Abnormal plant growth or function due to a disease. A symptom is a reaction of the PLANT.

Sign

Pathogen parts or products seen on a host plant. A sign is the PATHOGEN itself.

Local symptom y

Symptoms restricted to a particular part of the plant.

Systemic symptom y

Symptoms distributed throughout the plant by internal movement.

Primary symptom y

Direct changes to the tissues initially infected by the pathogen

Secondary symptom y

Indirect or subsequent changes in tissues away from the site of initial infection

Abortion y

The halt in development of an organ after partial differentiation.

Abscission y

Premature drop of leaves, flowers or fruit resulting from the premature formation of the abscission meristem.

Anthocyanescence y

A reddish or purplish coloration of leaves resulting from abnormal development of anthocyanin pigments.

Bark roughening y Blasting y

The formation of rough bark where smooth bark normally occurs.

The failure to develop fruit.

Bleeding y Blight y

Chronic sap flow from wounds or other lesions.

The sudden drying and browning of whole leaves, shoots or branches.

Blister y

Large swollen patches on leaves, fruit, etc.

Bronzing y

A coppery or bronze coloration of the leaves.

Brooming y

The clustering of organs such as branches about some common point on the plant. Generally arises from development of adventitious buds.

Burl y Burn y Callus y

A hard woody, often flattened, hemispherical outgrowth on a tree.

See Scorch.

Tissue overgrowth produced in response to injury or other irritation and which tends to cover a wound, canker, etc.

Canker y

A sunken necrotic lesion beginning in the bark of branches, trunk, or roots and usually becoming deeper and wider by normal or accelerated secondary growth (callusing) of cambium, phellogen, and traumatic meristem. This deepening continues as the pathogen encroaches transversely into the cambium and wood as well as tangentially in the cambium region. A typically well-developed canker is a symptom complex exhibiting necrotic, atrophic and hypertrophic symptoms.

Cast y

See Abscission.

Chlorosis y

Yellowing of green tissue due to chlorophyll destruction or failure of chlorophyll formation.

Curl y

Abnormal bending or curling of leaves or shoots due to localized overgrowth on one side or in certain tissues.

Damping-off y

A symptom complex characterized by rapid dying, browning, and rotting of germinating seedlings. Shoots may be killed before before emergence, stems may be attacked in the root collar region causing shoots to fall over, roots may be destroyed, or cotyledons may be attacked.

Decay y

See Rot.

Defoliation y Dieback y

Loss of leaves through abscission.

The progressive drying, shrivelling, and browning of twigs or branches from the tips inward toward the trunk.

Drop y

Premature abscission of fruit or twigs.

Dwarfing y

Subnormal size of a plant or some of its organs.

Epinasty y

A leaf curl in which the leaves turn downward, due to a more rapid growth of cells on the upper side than on the lower side of the leaf stalk.

Etiolation y

A symptom complex in which the major symptoms are dwarfing of foliage and inflorescence, spindly stem growth, and chlorosis.

Exudate y

See Ooze.

Fasciation y

Flattening or cohering of organs such as stems, flowers, and roots. The cause is unknown, but in some cases the condition can be propagated.

Flagging

y Gall y

Loss of rigidity and drooping of leaves and young shoots preceding whole plant wilting.

A pronounced tumefaction, often more or less spherical and usually composed of undifferentiated cells.

Girdling y

Tangential enlargement of a canker or lateral coalescence of cankers causing a branch or stem to be encircled and resulting in the complete stoppage of conduction.

Greening y

See Virescence.

Gummosis y

The formation of gums by diseased cells and tissues and the extrusion of gum from wounds and other lesions.

Hairy root y

Abnormal number of fine fibrous roots frequently making compact clusters.

Heterotropy y

The adventitious development of normal tissues or organs in unusual areas.

Hydrosis y

A water soaked, translucent appearance of leaves, fruits and green stems due to the extrusion of water from the cells into the intercellular spaces.

Hyperplasia y

An abnormal increase in number of cells in a particular tissue or organ.

Hypertrophy y

An abnormal increase in the size of a plant or plant part generally due to an abnormal increase in the size of the cells.

Hypoplasia y

An abnormally small number of cells in a particular tissue or organ.

Hypotrophy

y Knot y

An abnormally small plant part generally due to abnormally small cells.

A type of tumefaction.

Leaf retention y

The abnormally long retention of leaves usually resulting from a failure to develop the abscission meristem.

Lesion y Mosaic y Mottle y

A localized area of diseased tissue.

Pale green mottling of leaves.

An irregular pattern of indistinct light and dark areas.

Mummy y

A dried shriveled fruit that is generally the result of a fungal disease.

Necrosis y Oozes y

The death and disintegration of cells and tissues.

Viscid masses composed of living or dead pathogen structures and partially disintegrated host tissues.

Pitting y

Superficial depressions in the surface of succulent organs resulting from the death and shrinkage of subepidermal cells.

Prolepsis y

Premature development of a shoot from a bud.

Proliferation

Continued or extended development of a plant part beyond the point at which growth normally ceases.

Reddening y

The loss of green color from chlorophyllous tissue due to the destruction of the chlorophyll and/or the degeneration of chloroplasts which unmasks red pigments. Reddening may also result from the production of decomposition products accompanying death and deterioration.

Resinosis y

The flow of resin or pitch from wounds or other lesions in conifers.

Restoration y

The development of tissues or organs that normally would be only rudimentary.

Rosetting y

A shortening of internodes through failure to elongate, which results in a crowding of the foliage.

Roll y Rot y

See Curl.

The disintegration and decomposition of dead tissues.

Russeting y Scab y

Rough or corky surfaces formed where they do not normally occur.

A limited, more or less circular, raised, and sometimes roughened lesion on fruits, tubers, leaves, and stems resulting from an overgrowth of epidermal, cortical, and peridermal tissues. This overgrowth is usually accompanied by rupturing and suberization (corking of cell walls).

Scaling y Scorch

The formation of scales or corky material where scales normally do not occur.

A sudden drying and browning of large, indefinite areas on leaves and fruits. Also damage to bark resulting in drying and death.

Shelling y

Large scale loss of leaves through premature abscission.

Shot-hole y

Holes in leaves caused by the falling out of killed spots of tissue.

Silvering y

A silvery sheen or gray luster of leaf or primary bark surfaces due to the development of unnatural air spaces beneath the epidermis

Spike top y Spot y

Death of the entire crown of a tree causing a pattern that resembles staghead.

Circular, areolate, or irregular discolored and dead areas on leaves, fruits, or green stems.

Staghead y Streak y

Dieback or flagging of entire large branches in the crown, or of the entire top of a tree.

Elongated, narrow, lesions which are first water soaked then brown, in foliage or green stems. In wood there is discoloration in axial streaks within the outer, conducting layer of sapwood resulting from deterioration of the wood structure or extraneous components.

Stripe y

The streak symptom in monocots.

Stunting y

A type of dwarfing in which the entire plant is subnormal in size.

Suppression y Tumor

The complete prevention of organ development.

Local swelling on any part of the plant, usually woody roots, stem, or branches, usually resulting from stimulation of the plant meristem by the pathogen.

Variegation (also breaking) y

Loss of color in streaks in petals of flowers.

Virescence y

The process in which a normally white or colored tissue develops chlorophyll and becomes green.

Wart y

A horny, hardened protuberance.

Water Soaking y Wilting y

See Hydrosis.

A flaccid appearance of leaves and shoots resulting from a temporary or permanent loss of turgor due to excess transpiration by the leaves and shoots.

Witches' broom y

A type of overgrowth in which there is an abnormal bushlike development of many weak shoots or roots.

Yellowing y

The loss of green color from chlorophyllous tissues, due to the destruction of the chlorophyll and/or degeneration of the chloroplasts, which unmasks yellow pigments.

Signs
Symptom y

Abnormal plant growth or function due to a disease. A symptom is a reaction of the PLANT.

Sign y

Pathogen parts or products seen on a host plant. A sign is the PATHOGEN itself.

Bacterial streaming

Observation of bacteria and bacterial products streaming out of plant tissue and into water.

Ooze y

Viscid masses composed of living or dead pathogen structures and partially disintegrated host tissues.

Egg y

Reproductive propagule of nematodes.

Egg Mass y Cyst y Hypha y

A group of eggs produced in a gelatinous matrix by a nematode female.

A female nematode body filled with eggs produced by some nematodes.

Vegetative structure of fungi and Oomycetes.

Mycelium y

A mass of hyphae.

Rhizomorph y

Macroscopic rope-like strand of compacted tissue formed by certain fungi.

Sclerotia y Stroma y Spore y

Macroscopic mass of hyphae, usually rounded and darkened.

Macroscopic mass of hyphae, usually flattened and containing fruiting structures.

Reproductive propagule of fungi and Oomycetes.

Sporocarp y

Fungal fruiting body, any structure that produces spores.

Pustule y

Small blister like elevation of epidermis created as spores form underneath and push outward.

Oomycetes
Hypha y

Vegetative structure of fungi and Oomycetes.

Coenocytic hyphae y Oospore y

Hyphae without crosswalls, found in Oomycetes, some other protists and some fungi.

Sexual spore produced by Oomycetes characterized by a thick cell wall, this is the resting or survival stage.

Oogonium y

Female gamete of Oomycete that is fertilized by an antheridium to form an oospore.

Antheridium y

Male gamete of Oomycete that fertilize an oogonium to form an oospore.

Sporangium y

Non-motile asexual spore produced by Oomycetes, lemon or globulose in shape.

Sporangiophore y

A specialized hyphae that produces sporangia.

Zoospore y

A motile asexual spore characterized by two flagella. Found in Oomycetes and Plasmodiophoromycetes. Chytrids produce zoospores with a single flagellum.

Germ tube y

The early growth of mycelium from a germinating spore.

Groups of Oomycetes you should know

Pythium - Important cause of damping off and root rots. Phytophthora - Species in this genera cause late blight of potato, sudden oak death and other root rots, fruit rots, cankers and diebacks. Aphanomyces - Important casue of damping off and root rots. Downy mildew - A group of several genera of Oomycetes that cause foliar diseases on many different plant species, characterized by production of sporangiophores on the the lower surface of leaves.

Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes

Septate y

Having cross walls in a hypha or spore. A cross wall is called a septum.

Germ tube y

The early growth of of a hypha produced by a germinating fungus spore.

Apressorium y

The swollen tip of a hypha or germ tube that facilitates attachment and penetration of the host by a fungus.

Haustorium y

A specialized fungal hyphae that enters and absorbs nutrients from a host cell.

Ascomycetes y

Fungi in the Phylum Ascomycota that produce sexual spores in sac-like structures called asci.

Deuteromycetes y

A group of fungi with no known sexual stage. Often, when a sexual stage is discovered, these fungi turn out to be Ascomycetes.

Anamorph y

The imperfect or asexual stage of a fungus.

Teleomorph y Conidia

The perfect or sexual stage of a fungus.

Asexual, non-motile spores of fungi.

Conidiophore y

A specialized hypha that produces conidia.

Ascocarp y Asci y

Fruiting body of Ascomycetes that contain the asci and ascospores.

A sac-like structure that contains ascopores.

Ascospores y

Sexual spores of Ascomycetes produced in an ascus.

Apothecia y

An open cup-shaped ascocarp.

Perithecia y

A flask-shaped ascocarp with an opening for releasing spores.

Cleistothecia y

An ascocarp where the asci are completely enclosed.

Sporodochium y

An asexual fruiting structure consisting of a cluster of conidiophores woven together on a mass of hyphae.

Pycnidium y

A flask-shaped asexual fruiting body with an opening for releasing spores..

Acervulus y

A subepidermal, saucer-shaped, asexual fruiting body producing conidia on short conidiophores.

Synnema y

An asexual fruiting body consisting of fused conidiopores to form a stalk with conidia on the end.

Chlamydospores y

A thick-walled asexual spore formed by the modification of a hyphal cell.

Sclerotia y

Macroscopic mass of hyphae, usually rounded and darkened.

Groups of Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes to know

Taphrina - Species in this genus have naked asci and cause various leafg curl diseases. Powdery Mildew - A group consisting of several genera of fungi that cause foliar diseases on many different plant species characterized by white surface mycelium, chains of condia (giving the leaf surface a powdery appearance) and production of cleistothecia. Verticillium - Two species in this genus cause of Verticillium wilt, an important vascular wilt. The fungus has a wide host range and produces microsclerotia. Colletotrichum - Species in this genus cause anthracnose diseases on many different plant hosts. Anthracnose diseases are characterized by blackened sunken leasions. Colletotrichum species produce acervuli. Fusarium - Species in this genus (most commonly Fusarium oxysporum) cause Fusarium wilt of many different plant species. Fusarium oxysporum produces microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores. Alternaria - Species in this genus cause lesions and blights on many different host species. Alternaria species produce dark, multicellular conidia in chains. Septoria - Species in this genus cause lesions and blights on many different host species. Septoria species produce long, thin conidia in pycnidia.

Basidiomycetes
Basidiomycetes y

Fungi in the Phylum Basidiomycota that produce sexual spores on a basidium.

Basidiocarp y

Fruiting body of Basidiomycetes that contain the basidia and basidiospores.

Basidium y

A club-shaped structure that prodcued basidiospores.

Basidiospores y

Sexual spores of Basidiomycetes prodcued on basidia.

Dikaryotic hyphae y

Hypahe with two haploid nuclei. This is the normal vegetative state for Basidiomycetes.

Clamp connections y

Specialized hyphal structure that maintains the dikaryotic condition of Basidiomycete hyphae.

Telia y

Rust and smut fruiting bodies that produce teliospores.

Teliospores y Aecia y

Overwintering spores of rusts and smuts that produce basidia and basidiospores.

Rust fruiting bodies that produce aeciospores.

Aeciospores y

Dikaryotic spore of a rust fungus produced in an aecium; in heteroecious rusts, a spore stage that infects the alternate host.

Spermatia y

Male gametes of rust fungi.

Spermagonia y

Rust fruiting bodies that contain receptive hyphae and produce spermatia.

Receptive hypha y Uredia y

The part of a rust fungus spermogonium that receives the nucleus of a spermatium.

Rust fruiting bodies that prodcue uredospores.

Uredospores y

Asexual, dikaryotic, often rusty-colored spore of a rust fungus, produced in a structure called a uredinium; the "repeating stage" of a heteroecious rust fungus, i.e. capable of infecting the host plant on which it is produced.

Macrocyclic y

Rusts that produce all five spore types.

Microcyclic
y

Rusts that lack one or more of the five spore types.

Heteroecious
y

Rusts that require two different hosts to complete their life cycle.

Autoecious
y

Rusts that complete their life cycle on a single host.

Groups of Basidiomycetes to know

Rusts Smuts Wood rotting fungi Rhizoctonia

Other fungi and fungal-like organisms

Myxomycetes y

Slime molds - Fungal-like protists that can cause disease by growing on the surface of plants

Plasmodiophoromycetes y

Fungal-like protist that cause a few important plant diseases. They produce resting spores and zoospores.

Zoospore y

A motile asexual spore characterized by two flagella. Found in Oomycetes and Plasmodiophoromycetes. Chytrids produce zoospores with a single flagellum.

Resting spore y

Long term survival spores produced by Plasmodiophoromycetes.

Chytridiomycota

Chytrids - True fungi that lack true mycelium. They produce resting spores and zoospores with a single flagellum.

Zygomycetes y

Group of fungi with coenocytic hyphae that produce thick walled resting spores called zygospores and sporangiospores.

Zygosporangia y

Thick-walled sexual spores produced by Zygomycetes.

Sporangiospores y

Asexual spores produced in a sporangium by Zygomycetes.

Genera of other fungi and other fungal-like organisms to know

Physarum - Genus of slime mold causing disease on turf Plasmodiophora - Genus of Plasmodiophoromycetes causing club root of cabbage Spongospora -Genus of Plasmodiophoromycetes causing powdery scab of potato Rhizopus - Genus of Zygomycetes that are oppotunistic pathogens casuing soft rots mainly on fruit

Nematodes
Nematodes y

Nematoda - Phylum of worm-like animals. Soil dwelling and plant parastic nematodes are microscopic.

Stylet y

A long, slender, hollow feeding strcuture used by plant parasitic nematodes.

Ectoparasite y

A parasite that feeds from outside the host.

Endoparasite y

A parasite that enter and feed from inside the host.

Sedentary

Describes a life style of plant parasitic nematodes that stay in one place and set up a feeding site.

Migratory y

Describes a life style of plant parasitic nematodes that move through the host as they feed.

Egg y

Reproductive propagule of nematodes.

Egg Mass y Cyst y Juvenile y

A group of eggs produced in a gelatinous matrix by a nematode female.

A female nematode body filled with eggs produced by some nematodes.

Immature, non-reproductive stage of nematodes.

Giant cells y

Syncytial structure produced by Meloidogyne spp. as a feeding site.

Syncytia y

A large, multinucleate, cell-like structure.

Groups/Genera of nematodes to know

Meloidogyne - Root knot nematodes, these sedentary endoparasites form galls on plant roots. Heterodera and Globodera -Cyst nematodes, these sedentary endoparasites produce cysts on plant roots. Heterodera glycines - Soybean cyst nematode. Pratylenchus - Lesion nematodes, these migratory endoparasites cause lesions on roots.

Viruses
Virus y

A submicrscopic obligate parasite consisting of nucleic acid and protein.

Viroids y

Small RNAs that can infect a host and cause disease

Nucleoprotein y

Refering to viruses, which consist of nucleic acid and protein

Submicroscopic y

Particles too small to be seen with a compound microscope

Multipartite/Multiparticulate y

Refers to viruses which are packaged in multiple particles

Coat Protein y

Protein, encoded by virus nucleic acid, which covers the viral nucleic acid

Inclusion body y

Aggregation of virus partilces in a host cell that is visible with a compound microscope

Plasmodesmata y

A connection across a plant cell wall that connects the cytoplasm of two neighboring cells

Movement Protein y

Protien, encoded by virus nucleic acid, that facilitates the movement of the virus through the plant and/or by the vector

Vector transmission y

Transmission of a pathogen from plant to plant by another organism

Mechanical transmission y

Refers to virus transmission from plant to plant by infected plant sap

Non-persistant transmission y

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where the vector quickly picks up virus particles on its mouthparts and is infective for a short period of time (hours).

Semi-pertsistant transmission

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where virus particles enter the vectors foregut. In this case the vector also picks up the virus quicly but is infective for somewhat longer (days) than with non-persistant transmission.

Circulative transmission y

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where virus particles must circulate through the vectors hemolymph and enter the salivary glands to be tramsitted. In this case the vector aquisition and retention time is longer than with non or semi-persistant transmission.

Propagative transmission y

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where virus particles are repliacted in the the vector. In this case the vector retention time is longer than with circulative transmission and, in some cases, the virus can be transovarially transmitted.

Transovarial transmission y

Refers to viral transmission from an insect vector to its offspring, meaning offpring of an infected vector are also infective.

Aquisition period y

Refers to the period of time need for a virus vector to aquire a virus while feeding on an infected plant host.

Inoculation period y

Refers to the period of time need for a virus vector to transmit a virus while feeding on an uninfected plant host.

Latent period y

Refers to the period of time before a vector is infective after picking up the virus from an infected host.

Hemolymph y

Fluid of an insects circulatory system, "insect blood"

Viruses to know
Tobacco mosiac virus (TMV) - Highly stable, rod-shaped virus that is an important pathogen of tobacco and other solanaceous crops. It was the first virus to be discovered. Cucumber mosiac virus (CMV) - Multipartite, isometric virus that is an important pathogen of many plants, most importantly cucumbers, melons, peppers, beans, bananas and brassicas.

Potato virus Y (PVY) - Flexuous rod-shaped virus that is an important pathogen of potato and other solanaceous crops. Papaya ringspot virus (PRV) - Flexuous rod-shaped virus that is an important pathogen of papaya. It almost destroyed papaya production in Hawaii until a genetically engineered resistance was developed.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) - Spherical virus with a membrane enclosing the nucleoprotien that is an important pathogen with a wide host range.

Bacteria
Bacteria y

Large group of ubiquitous single celled prokaryotes.

Extracellular polysacharide y

Substance produced and excreted by bacteria for protection and/or adherance. It is what gives bacterial colonies a "slimy" appearance when grown in culture.

Flagellum y Pili y

A long whip-like structure used by bacteria for movement.

Hair-like appendage of found on the surface of a baterium. Used for conjugation with another bacterium.

Plasmid y

Small, circullar, extrachromosomal DNA found in bacteria.

Gram positive y

Refers to a group of bacteria with one membrane in association with their cell wall.

Gram negative y Fission y

Refers to a group of bacteria with two membranes in association with their cell wall.

Refers to bacterial reproduction by simple cell division.

Quorum sensing

Dependence of bacterial behavior and pathogenicity on thier cells reaching a certain density by sensing the concentration of certain signal molecules.

Phage y

Virus that attacks bacteria.

Transposons/Insertion elements y

A segment of chromosmal DNA that can move around in the genome.

Natural transformation/competence y

When a bacterial cell takes up DNA from the environment.

Ti-plasmid y

Tumor inducing plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens that causes gall formation and opine production by infected plants.

Opines y

Nitrogen and sugar source used by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Type three secretion system y

Protein sectretion system used by some bacteria to inject bacterial proteins into a host cell.

Stomates y

Microscopic pores on plant leaves used for gas exchange.

Plant pathogenic bacterial genera and species to know

Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp. - Soft rot pathogens. Agrobacterium tumefaciens - Causal agent of crown gall. Pseudomonas syringae - Large group of plant pathogenic bacteria with more host specific pathovars that are important pathogens of many crops. Ralstonia solanacearum - Causal agent of bacterial wilt. Citrus greening disease - Important bacterial disease of citrus. Erwinia amylovora - Causal agent of fire blight, an important disease of apple and pear.

Streptomyces spp. - Large group of common, antibiotic producing, filamentous bacteria. Streptomyces scabies causes common potato scab.

Parasitic plants
Plant parasitic plants y

Vascular, flowering plants that get nutrients directly from the host plant. These plants have a close relatioship with the host plant. They have specialized structures (haustoria) to enter the host's vasuclar tissues and retrieve nutrients.

Haustoria y

Specialized structure, a modified root, of a parasitic plant that enters the host host plant and obtains nutrients. (The same term is used for a specialized fungal hyphae that enters and absorbs nutrients from a host cell.)

Hemiparasites y

Parasitic plants that have chlorphyl and can make some of their own sugar but still rely on thier host for water and other nutrients.

Holoparasites y

Parasitic plants that do not have chlorphyl and rely on thier host for all nutrients.

Climbing vines y

A group of plants that have roots and grow in the soil, but still damage other plants by growing over them and restricting photosynthesis and/or vascular systems.

Parasitic plant genera to know

Phoradendron spp. - Leafy mistletoe (genus found in the United States) is a semi-parasitic plant that parasitizes hardwoods. Striga spp. - Witchweed is a semi-parasitic plant that parasitizes many crop species, mainly in Africa and Asia. Cuscuta spp. - Dodder is a true parasite that parasitizes many crop species in many areas of the world. Arceuthobium spp. - Dwarf mistletoe is a true parasite that parsitizes conifer trees.

Epidemiology
Epidemic

A disease increase in a population; usually a widespread and severe outbreak of disease.

Epidemiology y

The study of factors affecting the outbreak and spread of disease.

Disease incidence y

The number or poroportion of individuals that are diseased.

Disease severity y

The amount or proportion of tissue that is diseased.

Disease progress curve y

A graph that plots disease vs. time.

Polycyclic disease y

A disease with several cycles each year (or growing season) of inoculum production and infection.

Monocycic disease y

A disease where only one disease cycle is completed each year or growing season.

Primary inoculum y

Inoculum that produces the first infection of plants in a year or growing season.

Secondary inoculum y

Inoculum produced by previous infections that infect in the same year or growing season.

Inoculum density y

The number of infective units in a given volume or area.

Disease-gradient curve y

A graph that plots disease vs. distance from an inoculum source.

Diagnosis
Selective medium

Medium used to isolate a target organism, and no other organisms. These media are designed to enhance growth of the target organism while inhibiting growth of non-target organisms.

Differential medium y

Medium that differentiates between the target organism and all others that may grow on that particular medium. Differentiation is often based on color.

Indicator plants y

Certain plant species or cultivars that show characteristic symptoms of infection.

Differential hosts y

Host range can be tested and compared to known pathogens for identification

Antibodies y

A type of protien produced by vertebrate immune systems to detect harmful substances.

Antigens y ELISA y

Substances, ususally proteins, detected by antibodies.

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - a test used to detect antigens. Antibodies can be created to detect pathogen proteins.

PCR y

Polymerase chain reaction - technique to amplify sequences of DNA. Can be used to detect specific sequences of pathogen DNA.

DNA fingerprinting y

Technique for pathogen identification where restirction enzymnes are used to cut genomic DNA, producing a pattern specific to a pathogen.

Plant Disease Management Strategies

Avoidance y

Prevent disease by selecting a time of the year or a site where there is no inoculum or where the environment is not favorable for infection.

Exclusion

Prevent the introduction of inoculum.

Eradication y

Eliminate, destroy, or inactivate the inoculum.

Protection y

Prevent infection by means of a toxicant or some other barrier to infection.

Resistance y

Utilize cultivars that are resistant to or tolerant of infection.

Therapy y

Cure plants that are already infected.

Other terms related to disease management

Antagonism y

The activity of any organims that suppresses the activity of a pest organism. An antagonist is not autmatically a biological control agent, but antagonists are used to create biological controls.

Crop rotation y

Planting of different crops in the same area in sequential years (or seasons) to balance fertility and reduce the build up of crop pests.

Integrated Pest Management y

The attempt to prevent pests from causing economic damage by using a variety of management methods that are cost effective and cause the least damage to the environment.

Host resistance
Interaction phenotype y

The phenotypic reaction of a plant to an interaction with a potential pathogen at a given point in time and environment.

Susceptible

Phenotypic expression related to extensive symptom development and/or pathogen reproduction and accomplished by uninhibited invasion of host by pathogen.

Resistant y

Phenotypic expression related to complete or partial suppression of symptom severity and/or pathogen reproduction and accomplished by arrested or slowed invasion of host by pathogen.

Partial resistance y

Expression of symptoms, but less than full susceptibility or greater than complete resistance.

Non-host reaction y

No interaction of pathogen and host; the pathogen is unable to infect the plant because the plant is not a host.

Hypersensitive response y

Plant responds to pathogen infection by quickly killing the infected cells, blocking the advance of the pathogen.

Pathogenicity/Virulence y

Refers to the ability of a microbe to cause disease (invade, infect, cause symptoms, reproduce).

Avirulence y Race y

Refers to the inability of a pathogen to cause disease.

A genetically and often geographically distinct mating group within a species; also a group of pathogens that infect a given set of plant varieties.

Aggressiveness y

Virulent forms of pathogen cause differing degrees of symptom severity.

Single gene resistance y

Resistance attributed to the function of a single gene. Often confering complete resistance or hypersensitive response.

Polygenic resistance

Resistance attributed to the function of multiple genes. Often confering partial resistance.

Race specific resistance y

Resistance that is effective against only one race of a pathogen and not other races of the same pathogen.

Rate-reducing resistance y

Partial resistance where that pathogen is able to infect the plant but reproduction is reduced or eliminated thereby reducing the spread of the pathogen.

R gene y

Resistance gene, a plant gene that confers resistance to a pathogen.

Avr gene y

Avirulence gene, a pathogen gene whose product is recognized by a plant and leads to a resistant reaction in the plant.

Avr protein/effector y

A pathogen protein that is recognized and leads to a resistant reaction in resistant plants but that is often a virulence factor in susceptible plants.

Systemic aquired resistance y

Whole plant resistance response that occurs following an earlier localized exposure to a pathogen.

Transgenic plants y

Plants that have been genetically manipulated to express a gene from a different species.

Chemical control
Preventative y

Refers to a chemical control method aimed at preventing infection of the pathogen.

Curative y

Refers to a chemical control method aimed at inhibiting the development of an established infection.

Protectant

Refers to a chemical meant to reside on the plant surface as a preventative control measure.

Systemic y

Refers to a chemical meant to be taken up by and distributed throughout the plant as a preventative or curative control measure.

ED 50 y

Effective dose, the amount needed to have the desired effect in 50% of the population.

Active ingredient y

In pesticides, the chemical responsible for the desired effect.

Mode of action y

The molecluar mechanism of a pesticide; how the chemical interacts with the pathogen. Pesticides are grouped by mode of action. Some groups of pesticides are more likely to lead to the development of resistance than others.

Fumigant y

A toxic gas or volitile substance that is used to disinfest soil of various pests.

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Complete Glossary
Below is a listing of all of the glossary terms sorted by lecture. Either scroll to the lecture that you wish to see or use the links below.
y y y y y

Symptoms Signs Oomycetes Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes Basidiomycetes

y y y y y y y y y y y

Other fungi and fungal-like organisms Nematodes Viruses Bacteria Parasitic plants Epidemiology Diagnosis Pathogenesis General control terms Host resistance Chemical control

Symptoms
Symptom y

Abnormal plant growth or function due to a disease. A symptom is a reaction of the PLANT.

Sign y

Pathogen parts or products seen on a host plant. A sign is the PATHOGEN itself.

Local symptom y

Symptoms restricted to a particular part of the plant.

Systemic symptom y

Symptoms distributed throughout the plant by internal movement.

Primary symptom y

Direct changes to the tissues initially infected by the pathogen

Secondary symptom y

Indirect or subsequent changes in tissues away from the site of initial infection

Abortion y

The halt in development of an organ after partial differentiation.

Abscission

Premature drop of leaves, flowers or fruit resulting from the premature formation of the abscission meristem.

Anthocyanescence y

A reddish or purplish coloration of leaves resulting from abnormal development of anthocyanin pigments.

Bark roughening y Blasting y

The formation of rough bark where smooth bark normally occurs.

The failure to develop fruit.

Bleeding y Blight y Blister y

Chronic sap flow from wounds or other lesions.

The sudden drying and browning of whole leaves, shoots or branches.

Large swollen patches on leaves, fruit, etc.

Bronzing y

A coppery or bronze coloration of the leaves.

Brooming y

The clustering of organs such as branches about some common point on the plant. Generally arises from development of adventitious buds.

Burl y Burn y Callus

A hard woody, often flattened, hemispherical outgrowth on a tree.

See Scorch.

Tissue overgrowth produced in response to injury or other irritation and which tends to cover a wound, canker, etc.

Canker y

A sunken necrotic lesion beginning in the bark of branches, trunk, or roots and usually becoming deeper and wider by normal or accelerated secondary growth (callusing) of cambium, phellogen, and traumatic meristem. This deepening continues as the pathogen encroaches transversely into the cambium and wood as well as tangentially in the cambium region. A typically well-developed canker is a symptom complex exhibiting necrotic, atrophic and hypertrophic symptoms.

Cast y

See Abscission.

Chlorosis y

Yellowing of green tissue due to chlorophyll destruction or failure of chlorophyll formation.

Curl y

Abnormal bending or curling of leaves or shoots due to localized overgrowth on one side or in certain tissues.

Damping-off y

A symptom complex characterized by rapid dying, browning, and rotting of germinating seedlings. Shoots may be killed before before emergence, stems may be attacked in the root collar region causing shoots to fall over, roots may be destroyed, or cotyledons may be attacked.

Decay y

See Rot.

Defoliation y Dieback y

Loss of leaves through abscission.

The progressive drying, shrivelling, and browning of twigs or branches from the tips inward toward the trunk.

Drop

Premature abscission of fruit or twigs.

Dwarfing y

Subnormal size of a plant or some of its organs.

Epinasty y

A leaf curl in which the leaves turn downward, due to a more rapid growth of cells on the upper side than on the lower side of the leaf stalk.

Etiolation y

A symptom complex in which the major symptoms are dwarfing of foliage and inflorescence, spindly stem growth, and chlorosis.

Exudate y

See Ooze.

Fasciation y

Flattening or cohering of organs such as stems, flowers, and roots. The cause is unknown, but in some cases the condition can be propagated.

Flagging y Gall y

Loss of rigidity and drooping of leaves and young shoots preceding whole plant wilting.

A pronounced tumefaction, often more or less spherical and usually composed of undifferentiated cells.

Girdling y

Tangential enlargement of a canker or lateral coalescence of cankers causing a branch or stem to be encircled and resulting in the complete stoppage of conduction.

Greening y

See Virescence.

Gummosis y

The formation of gums by diseased cells and tissues and the extrusion of gum from wounds and other lesions.

Hairy root y

Abnormal number of fine fibrous roots frequently making compact clusters.

Heterotropy y

The adventitious development of normal tissues or organs in unusual areas.

Hydrosis y

A water soaked, translucent appearance of leaves, fruits and green stems due to the extrusion of water from the cells into the intercellular spaces.

Hyperplasia y

An abnormal increase in number of cells in a particular tissue or organ.

Hypertrophy y

An abnormal increase in the size of a plant or plant part generally due to an abnormal increase in the size of the cells.

Hypoplasia y

An abnormally small number of cells in a particular tissue or organ.

Hypotrophy y Knot y

An abnormally small plant part generally due to abnormally small cells.

A type of tumefaction.

Leaf retention y

The abnormally long retention of leaves usually resulting from a failure to develop the abscission meristem.

Lesion y Mosaic y Mottle

A localized area of diseased tissue.

Pale green mottling of leaves.

An irregular pattern of indistinct light and dark areas.

Mummy y

A dried shriveled fruit that is generally the result of a fungal disease.

Necrosis y Oozes y

The death and disintegration of cells and tissues.

Viscid masses composed of living or dead pathogen structures and partially disintegrated host tissues.

Pitting y

Superficial depressions in the surface of succulent organs resulting from the death and shrinkage of subepidermal cells.

Prolepsis y

Premature development of a shoot from a bud.

Proliferation y

Continued or extended development of a plant part beyond the point at which growth normally ceases.

Reddening y

The loss of green color from chlorophyllous tissue due to the destruction of the chlorophyll and/or the degeneration of chloroplasts which unmasks red pigments. Reddening may also result from the production of decomposition products accompanying death and deterioration.

Resinosis y

The flow of resin or pitch from wounds or other lesions in conifers.

Restoration y

The development of tissues or organs that normally would be only rudimentary.

Rosetting y

A shortening of internodes through failure to elongate, which results in a crowding of the foliage.

Roll y Rot y

See Curl.

The disintegration and decomposition of dead tissues.

Russeting y Scab y

Rough or corky surfaces formed where they do not normally occur.

A limited, more or less circular, raised, and sometimes roughened lesion on fruits, tubers, leaves, and stems resulting from an overgrowth of epidermal, cortical, and peridermal tissues. This overgrowth is usually accompanied by rupturing and suberization (corking of cell walls).

Scaling y Scorch y

The formation of scales or corky material where scales normally do not occur.

A sudden drying and browning of large, indefinite areas on leaves and fruits. Also damage to bark resulting in drying and death.

Shelling y

Large scale loss of leaves through premature abscission.

Shot-hole y

Holes in leaves caused by the falling out of killed spots of tissue.

Silvering y

A silvery sheen or gray luster of leaf or primary bark surfaces due to the development of unnatural air spaces beneath the epidermis

Spike top y Spot y

Death of the entire crown of a tree causing a pattern that resembles staghead.

Circular, areolate, or irregular discolored and dead areas on leaves, fruits, or green stems.

Staghead y Streak y

Dieback or flagging of entire large branches in the crown, or of the entire top of a tree.

Elongated, narrow, lesions which are first water soaked then brown, in foliage or green stems. In wood there is discoloration in axial streaks within the outer, conducting layer of sapwood resulting from deterioration of the wood structure or extraneous components.

Stripe y

The streak symptom in monocots.

Stunting y

A type of dwarfing in which the entire plant is subnormal in size.

Suppression y Tumor y

The complete prevention of organ development.

Local swelling on any part of the plant, usually woody roots, stem, or branches, usually resulting from stimulation of the plant meristem by the pathogen.

Variegation (also breaking) y

Loss of color in streaks in petals of flowers.

Virescence y

The process in which a normally white or colored tissue develops chlorophyll and becomes green.

Wart y

A horny, hardened protuberance.

Water Soaking y Wilting y

See Hydrosis.

A flaccid appearance of leaves and shoots resulting from a temporary or permanent loss of turgor due to excess transpiration by the leaves and shoots.

Witches' broom y

A type of overgrowth in which there is an abnormal bushlike development of many weak shoots or roots.

Yellowing y

The loss of green color from chlorophyllous tissues, due to the destruction of the chlorophyll and/or degeneration of the chloroplasts, which unmasks yellow pigments.

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Signs
Symptom y

Abnormal plant growth or function due to a disease. A symptom is a reaction of the PLANT.

Sign y

Pathogen parts or products seen on a host plant. A sign is the PATHOGEN itself.

Bacterial streaming y

Observation of bacteria and bacterial products streaming out of plant tissue and into water.

Ooze y

Viscid masses composed of living or dead pathogen structures and partially disintegrated host tissues.

Egg y

Reproductive propagule of nematodes.

Egg Mass y Cyst y Hypha

A group of eggs produced in a gelatinous matrix by a nematode female.

A female nematode body filled with eggs produced by some nematodes.

Vegetative structure of fungi and Oomycetes.

Mycelium y

A mass of hyphae.

Rhizomorph y

Macroscopic rope-like strand of compacted tissue formed by certain fungi.

Sclerotia y Stroma y Spore y

Macroscopic mass of hyphae, usually rounded and darkened.

Macroscopic mass of hyphae, usually flattened and containing fruiting structures.

Reproductive propagule of fungi and Oomycetes.

Sporocarp y Pustule y

Fungal fruiting body, any structure that produces spores.

Small blister like elevation of epidermis created as spores form underneath and push outward.

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Oomycetes
Hypha y

Vegetative structure of fungi and Oomycetes.

Coenocytic hyphae y Oospore y

Hyphae without crosswalls, found in Oomycetes, some other protists and some fungi.

Sexual spore produced by Oomycetes characterized by a thick cell wall, this is the resting or survival stage.

Oogonium y

Female gamete of Oomycete that is fertilized by an antheridium to form an oospore.

Antheridium y

Male gamete of Oomycete that fertilize an oogonium to form an oospore.

Sporangium y

Non-motile asexual spore produced by Oomycetes, lemon or globulose in shape.

Sporangiophore y

A specialized hyphae that produces sporangia.

Zoospore y

A motile asexual spore characterized by two flagella. Found in Oomycetes and Plasmodiophoromycetes. Chytrids produce zoospores with a single flagellum.

Germ tube y

The early growth of mycelium from a germinating spore.

Groups of Oomycetes you should know

Pythium - Important cause of damping off and root rots. Phytophthora - Species in this genera cause late blight of potato, sudden oak death and other root rots, fruit rots, cankers and diebacks. Aphanomyces - Important casue of damping off and root rots. Downy mildew - A group of several genera of Oomycetes that cause foliar diseases on many different plant species, characterized by production of sporangiophores on the the lower surface of leaves.

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Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes

Septate y

Having cross walls in a hypha or spore. A cross wall is called a septum.

Germ tube

The early growth of of a hypha produced by a germinating fungus spore.

Apressorium y

The swollen tip of a hypha or germ tube that facilitates attachment and penetration of the host by a fungus.

Haustorium y

A specialized fungal hyphae that enters and absorbs nutrients from a host cell.

Ascomycetes y

Fungi in the Phylum Ascomycota that produce sexual spores in sac-like structures called asci.

Deuteromycetes y

A group of fungi with no known sexual stage. Often, when a sexual stage is discovered, these fungi turn out to be Ascomycetes.

Anamorph y

The imperfect or asexual stage of a fungus.

Teleomorph y Conidia y

The perfect or sexual stage of a fungus.

Asexual, non-motile spores of fungi.

Conidiophore y

A specialized hypha that produces conidia.

Ascocarp y Asci y

Fruiting body of Ascomycetes that contain the asci and ascospores.

A sac-like structure that contains ascopores.

Ascospores y

Sexual spores of Ascomycetes produced in an ascus.

Apothecia y

An open cup-shaped ascocarp.

Perithecia y

A flask-shaped ascocarp with an opening for releasing spores.

Cleistothecia y

An ascocarp where the asci are completely enclosed.

Sporodochium y

An asexual fruiting structure consisting of a cluster of conidiophores woven together on a mass of hyphae.

Pycnidium y

A flask-shaped asexual fruiting body with an opening for releasing spores..

Acervulus y

A subepidermal, saucer-shaped, asexual fruiting body producing conidia on short conidiophores.

Synnema y

An asexual fruiting body consisting of fused conidiopores to form a stalk with conidia on the end.

Chlamydospores y

A thick-walled asexual spore formed by the modification of a hyphal cell.

Sclerotia y

Macroscopic mass of hyphae, usually rounded and darkened.

Groups of Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes to know

Taphrina - Species in this genus have naked asci and cause various leafg curl diseases. Powdery Mildew - A group consisting of several genera of fungi that cause foliar diseases on many different plant species characterized by white surface mycelium, chains of condia (giving the leaf surface a powdery appearance) and production of cleistothecia. Verticillium - Two species in this genus cause of Verticillium wilt, an important vascular wilt. The fungus has a wide host range and produces microsclerotia.

Colletotrichum - Species in this genus cause anthracnose diseases on many different plant hosts. Anthracnose diseases are characterized by blackened sunken leasions. Colletotrichum species produce acervuli. Fusarium - Species in this genus (most commonly Fusarium oxysporum) cause Fusarium wilt of many different plant species. Fusarium oxysporum produces microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores. Alternaria - Species in this genus cause lesions and blights on many different host species. Alternaria species produce dark, multicellular conidia in chains. Septoria - Species in this genus cause lesions and blights on many different host species. Septoria species produce long, thin conidia in pycnidia.

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Basidiomycetes
Basidiomycetes y

Fungi in the Phylum Basidiomycota that produce sexual spores on a basidium.

Basidiocarp y

Fruiting body of Basidiomycetes that contain the basidia and basidiospores.

Basidium y

A club-shaped structure that prodcued basidiospores.

Basidiospores y

Sexual spores of Basidiomycetes prodcued on basidia.

Dikaryotic hyphae y

Hypahe with two haploid nuclei. This is the normal vegetative state for Basidiomycetes.

Clamp connections y

Specialized hyphal structure that maintains the dikaryotic condition of Basidiomycete hyphae.

Telia y

Rust and smut fruiting bodies that produce teliospores.

Teliospores

y Aecia y

Overwintering spores of rusts and smuts that produce basidia and basidiospores.

Rust fruiting bodies that produce aeciospores.

Aeciospores y

Dikaryotic spore of a rust fungus produced in an aecium; in heteroecious rusts, a spore stage that infects the alternate host.

Spermatia y

Male gametes of rust fungi.

Spermagonia y

Rust fruiting bodies that contain receptive hyphae and produce spermatia.

Receptive hypha y Uredia y

The part of a rust fungus spermogonium that receives the nucleus of a spermatium.

Rust fruiting bodies that prodcue uredospores.

Uredospores y

Asexual, dikaryotic, often rusty-colored spore of a rust fungus, produced in a structure called a uredinium; the "repeating stage" of a heteroecious rust fungus, i.e. capable of infecting the host plant on which it is produced.

Macrocyclic y

Rusts that produce all five spore types.

Microcyclic
y

Rusts that lack one or more of the five spore types.

Heteroecious
y

Rusts that require two different hosts to complete their life cycle.

Autoecious

Rusts that complete their life cycle on a single host.

Groups of Basidiomycetes to know

Rusts Smuts Wood rotting fungi Rhizoctonia

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Other fungi and fungal-like organisms

Myxomycetes y

Slime molds - Fungal-like protists that can cause disease by growing on the surface of plants

Plasmodiophoromycetes y

Fungal-like protist that cause a few important plant diseases. They produce resting spores and zoospores.

Zoospore y

A motile asexual spore characterized by two flagella. Found in Oomycetes and Plasmodiophoromycetes. Chytrids produce zoospores with a single flagellum.

Resting spore y

Long term survival spores produced by Plasmodiophoromycetes.

Chytridiomycota y

Chytrids - True fungi that lack true mycelium. They produce resting spores and zoospores with a single flagellum.

Zygomycetes y

Group of fungi with coenocytic hyphae that produce thick walled resting spores called zygospores and sporangiospores.

Zygosporangia

Thick-walled sexual spores produced by Zygomycetes.

Sporangiospores y

Asexual spores produced in a sporangium by Zygomycetes.

Genera of other fungi and other fungal-like organisms to know

Physarum - Genus of slime mold causing disease on turf Plasmodiophora - Genus of Plasmodiophoromycetes causing club root of cabbage Spongospora -Genus of Plasmodiophoromycetes causing powdery scab of potato Rhizopus - Genus of Zygomycetes that are oppotunistic pathogens casuing soft rots mainly on fruit

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Nematodes
Nematodes y

Nematoda - Phylum of worm-like animals. Soil dwelling and plant parastic nematodes are microscopic.

Stylet y

A long, slender, hollow feeding strcuture used by plant parasitic nematodes.

Ectoparasite y

A parasite that feeds from outside the host.

Endoparasite y

A parasite that enter and feed from inside the host.

Sedentary y

Describes a life style of plant parasitic nematodes that stay in one place and set up a feeding site.

Migratory y

Describes a life style of plant parasitic nematodes that move through the host as they feed.

Egg y

Reproductive propagule of nematodes.

Egg Mass y Cyst y Juvenile y

A group of eggs produced in a gelatinous matrix by a nematode female.

A female nematode body filled with eggs produced by some nematodes.

Immature, non-reproductive stage of nematodes.

Giant cells y

Syncytial structure produced by Meloidogyne spp. as a feeding site.

Syncytia y

A large, multinucleate, cell-like structure.

Groups/Genera of nematodes to know

Meloidogyne - Root knot nematodes, these sedentary endoparasites form galls on plant roots. Heterodera and Globodera -Cyst nematodes, these sedentary endoparasites produce cysts on plant roots. Heterodera glycines - Soybean cyst nematode. Pratylenchus - Lesion nematodes, these migratory endoparasites cause lesions on roots.

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Viruses
Virus y Viroids y

A submicrscopic obligate parasite consisting of nucleic acid and protein.

Small RNAs that can infect a host and cause disease

Nucleoprotein

Refering to viruses, which consist of nucleic acid and protein

Submicroscopic y

Particles too small to be seen with a compound microscope

Multipartite/Multiparticulate y

Refers to viruses which are packaged in multiple particles

Coat Protein y

Protein, encoded by virus nucleic acid, which covers the viral nucleic acid

Inclusion body y

Aggregation of virus partilces in a host cell that is visible with a compound microscope

Plasmodesmata y

A connection across a plant cell wall that connects the cytoplasm of two neighboring cells

Movement Protein y

Protien, encoded by virus nucleic acid, that facilitates the movement of the virus through the plant and/or by the vector

Vector transmission y

Transmission of a pathogen from plant to plant by another organism

Mechanical transmission y

Refers to virus transmission from plant to plant by infected plant sap

Non-persistant transmission y

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where the vector quickly picks up virus particles on its mouthparts and is infective for a short period of time (hours).

Semi-pertsistant transmission y

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where virus particles enter the vectors foregut. In this case the vector also picks up the virus quicly but is infective for somewhat longer (days) than with non-persistant transmission.

Circulative transmission

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where virus particles must circulate through the vectors hemolymph and enter the salivary glands to be tramsitted. In this case the vector aquisition and retention time is longer than with non or semi-persistant transmission.

Propagative transmission y

Refers to vector trasmission of a virus where virus particles are repliacted in the the vector. In this case the vector retention time is longer than with circulative transmission and, in some cases, the virus can be transovarially transmitted.

Transovarial transmission y

Refers to viral transmission from an insect vector to its offspring, meaning offpring of an infected vector are also infective.

Aquisition period y

Refers to the period of time need for a virus vector to aquire a virus while feeding on an infected plant host.

Inoculation period y

Refers to the period of time need for a virus vector to transmit a virus while feeding on an uninfected plant host.

Latent period y

Refers to the period of time before a vector is infective after picking up the virus from an infected host.

Hemolymph y

Fluid of an insects circulatory system, "insect blood"

Viruses to know
Tobacco mosiac virus (TMV) - Highly stable, rod-shaped virus that is an important pathogen of tobacco and other solanaceous crops. It was the first virus to be discovered. Cucumber mosiac virus (CMV) - Multipartite, isometric virus that is an important pathogen of many plants, most importantly cucumbers, melons, peppers, beans, bananas and brassicas. Potato virus Y (PVY) - Flexuous rod-shaped virus that is an important pathogen of potato and other solanaceous crops. Papaya ringspot virus (PRV) - Flexuous rod-shaped virus that is an important pathogen of papaya. It almost destroyed papaya production in Hawaii until a genetically engineered resistance was developed.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) - Spherical virus with a membrane enclosing the nucleoprotien that is an important pathogen with a wide host range. Return to the top of the page

Bacteria
Bacteria y

Large group of ubiquitous single celled prokaryotes.

Extracellular polysacharide y

Substance produced and excreted by bacteria for protection and/or adherance. It is what gives bacterial colonies a "slimy" appearance when grown in culture.

Flagellum y Pili y

A long whip-like structure used by bacteria for movement.

Hair-like appendage of found on the surface of a baterium. Used for conjugation with another bacterium.

Plasmid y

Small, circullar, extrachromosomal DNA found in bacteria.

Gram positive y

Refers to a group of bacteria with one membrane in association with their cell wall.

Gram negative y Fission y

Refers to a group of bacteria with two membranes in association with their cell wall.

Refers to bacterial reproduction by simple cell division.

Quorum sensing y

Dependence of bacterial behavior and pathogenicity on thier cells reaching a certain density by sensing the concentration of certain signal molecules.

Phage

Virus that attacks bacteria.

Transposons/Insertion elements y

A segment of chromosmal DNA that can move around in the genome.

Natural transformation/competence y

When a bacterial cell takes up DNA from the environment.

Ti-plasmid y

Tumor inducing plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens that causes gall formation and opine production by infected plants.

Opines y

Nitrogen and sugar source used by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Type three secretion system y

Protein sectretion system used by some bacteria to inject bacterial proteins into a host cell.

Stomates y

Microscopic pores on plant leaves used for gas exchange.

Plant pathogenic bacterial genera and species to know

Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp. - Soft rot pathogens. Agrobacterium tumefaciens - Causal agent of crown gall. Pseudomonas syringae - Large group of plant pathogenic bacteria with more host specific pathovars that are important pathogens of many crops. Ralstonia solanacearum - Causal agent of bacterial wilt. Citrus greening disease - Important bacterial disease of citrus. Erwinia amylovora - Causal agent of fire blight, an important disease of apple and pear. Streptomyces spp. - Large group of common, antibiotic producing, filamentous bacteria. Streptomyces scabies causes common potato scab.

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Parasitic plants
Plant parasitic plants y

Vascular, flowering plants that get nutrients directly from the host plant. These plants have a close relatioship with the host plant. They have specialized structures (haustoria) to enter the host's vasuclar tissues and retrieve nutrients.

Haustoria y

Specialized structure, a modified root, of a parasitic plant that enters the host host plant and obtains nutrients. (The same term is used for a specialized fungal hyphae that enters and absorbs nutrients from a host cell.)

Hemiparasites y

Parasitic plants that have chlorphyl and can make some of their own sugar but still rely on thier host for water and other nutrients.

Holoparasites y

Parasitic plants that do not have chlorphyl and rely on thier host for all nutrients.

Climbing vines y

A group of plants that have roots and grow in the soil, but still damage other plants by growing over them and restricting photosynthesis and/or vascular systems.

Parasitic plant genera to know

Phoradendron spp. - Leafy mistletoe (genus found in the United States) is a semi-parasitic plant that parasitizes hardwoods. Striga spp. - Witchweed is a semi-parasitic plant that parasitizes many crop species, mainly in Africa and Asia. Cuscuta spp. - Dodder is a true parasite that parasitizes many crop species in many areas of the world. Arceuthobium spp. - Dwarf mistletoe is a true parasite that parsitizes conifer trees.

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Epidemiology
Epidemic y

A disease increase in a population; usually a widespread and severe outbreak of disease.

Epidemiology y

The study of factors affecting the outbreak and spread of disease.

Disease incidence y

The number or poroportion of individuals that are diseased.

Disease severity y

The amount or proportion of tissue that is diseased.

Disease progress curve y

A graph that plots disease vs. time.

Polycyclic disease y

A disease with several cycles each year (or growing season) of inoculum production and infection.

Monocycic disease y

A disease where only one disease cycle is completed each year or growing season.

Primary inoculum y

Inoculum that produces the first infection of plants in a year or growing season.

Secondary inoculum y

Inoculum produced by previous infections that infect in the same year or growing season.

Inoculum density y

The number of infective units in a given volume or area.

Disease-gradient curve y

A graph that plots disease vs. distance from an inoculum source.

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Diagnosis

Selective medium y

Medium used to isolate a target organism, and no other organisms. These media are designed to enhance growth of the target organism while inhibiting growth of non-target organisms.

Differential medium y

Medium that differentiates between the target organism and all others that may grow on that particular medium. Differentiation is often based on color.

Indicator plants y

Certain plant species or cultivars that show characteristic symptoms of infection.

Differential hosts y

Host range can be tested and compared to known pathogens for identification

Antibodies y

A type of protien produced by vertebrate immune systems to detect harmful substances.

Antigens y ELISA y

Substances, ususally proteins, detected by antibodies.

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - a test used to detect antigens. Antibodies can be created to detect pathogen proteins.

PCR y

Polymerase chain reaction - technique to amplify sequences of DNA. Can be used to detect specific sequences of pathogen DNA.

DNA fingerprinting y

Technique for pathogen identification where restirction enzymnes are used to cut genomic DNA, producing a pattern specific to a pathogen.

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Pathogenesis - Terms comming soon

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Plant Disease Management Strategies

Avoidance y

Prevent disease by selecting a time of the year or a site where there is no inoculum or where the environment is not favorable for infection.

Exclusion y

Prevent the introduction of inoculum.

Eradication y

Eliminate, destroy, or inactivate the inoculum.

Protection y

Prevent infection by means of a toxicant or some other barrier to infection.

Resistance y

Utilize cultivars that are resistant to or tolerant of infection.

Therapy y

Cure plants that are already infected.

Other terms related to disease management

Antagonism y

The activity of any organims that suppresses the activity of a pest organism. An antagonist is not autmatically a biological control agent, but antagonists are used to create biological controls.

Crop rotation y

Planting of different crops in the same area in sequential years (or seasons) to balance fertility and reduce the build up of crop pests.

Integrated Pest Management y

The attempt to prevent pests from causing economic damage by using a variety of management methods that are cost effective and cause the least damage to the environment.

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Host resistance
Interaction phenotype y

The phenotypic reaction of a plant to an interaction with a potential pathogen at a given point in time and environment.

Susceptible y

Phenotypic expression related to extensive symptom development and/or pathogen reproduction and accomplished by uninhibited invasion of host by pathogen.

Resistant y

Phenotypic expression related to complete or partial suppression of symptom severity and/or pathogen reproduction and accomplished by arrested or slowed invasion of host by pathogen.

Partial resistance y

Expression of symptoms, but less than full susceptibility or greater than complete resistance.

Non-host reaction y

No interaction of pathogen and host; the pathogen is unable to infect the plant because the plant is not a host.

Hypersensitive response y

Plant responds to pathogen infection by quickly killing the infected cells, blocking the advance of the pathogen.

Pathogenicity/Virulence y

Refers to the ability of a microbe to cause disease (invade, infect, cause symptoms, reproduce).

Avirulence y Race

Refers to the inability of a pathogen to cause disease.

A genetically and often geographically distinct mating group within a species; also a group of pathogens that infect a given set of plant varieties.

Aggressiveness y

Virulent forms of pathogen cause differing degrees of symptom severity.

Single gene resistance y

Resistance attributed to the function of a single gene. Often confering complete resistance or hypersensitive response.

Polygenic resistance y

Resistance attributed to the function of multiple genes. Often confering partial resistance.

Race specific resistance y

Resistance that is effective against only one race of a pathogen and not other races of the same pathogen.

Rate-reducing resistance y

Partial resistance where that pathogen is able to infect the plant but reproduction is reduced or eliminated thereby reducing the spread of the pathogen.

R gene y

Resistance gene, a plant gene that confers resistance to a pathogen.

Avr gene y

Avirulence gene, a pathogen gene whose product is recognized by a plant and leads to a resistant reaction in the plant.

Avr protein/effector y

A pathogen protein that is recognized and leads to a resistant reaction in resistant plants but that is often a virulence factor in susceptible plants.

Systemic aquired resistance y

Whole plant resistance response that occurs following an earlier localized exposure to a pathogen.

Transgenic plants y

Plants that have been genetically manipulated to express a gene from a different species.

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Chemical control
Preventative y

Refers to a chemical control method aimed at preventing infection of the pathogen.

Curative y

Refers to a chemical control method aimed at inhibiting the development of an established infection.

Protectant y

Refers to a chemical meant to reside on the plant surface as a preventative control measure.

Systemic y

Refers to a chemical meant to be taken up by and distributed throughout the plant as a preventative or curative control measure.

ED 50 y

Effective dose, the amount needed to have the desired effect in 50% of the population.

Active ingredient y

In pesticides, the chemical responsible for the desired effect.

Mode of action y

The molecluar mechanism of a pesticide; how the chemical interacts with the pathogen. Pesticides are grouped by mode of action. Some groups of pesticides are more likely to lead to the development of resistance than others.

Fumigant y

A toxic gas or volitile substance that is used to disinfest soil of various pests.