PLANT PATHOLOGY

COURSE WORK:
TEST 1: 10%
TEST 2: 10%
TEST 3: 10%
QUIZES: 10%
LAB REPORT/ASSIGNMENT: 20%
CARRY MARKS: 60%
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FINAL EXAM: 40%
TOTAL: 100%

INTRODUCTION TO PLANT PATHOLOGY

The Concepts
Phytopathology derived the Greek words
phyton meaning plant.
Pathos = suffering/disease
Logos = reason/study

Def: Pathology is the study about the diseases.

Plant pathology @ phytopathology = the study about the plant
diseases
Plant pathology is an interdisciplinary science that includes
knowledge of botany, microbiology, crop science, soil science,
ecology, genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and
physiology.

Plant pathology is the study of:

The microorganisms (pathogen) and of the environmental factors
(abiotic agents) that cause disease in plants - causal agents.
of the mechanisms by which these factors induce disease in
plants infection mechanisms.
of the methods of preventing or controlling disease and reducing
the damage it causes - disease controlling/preventing.
Pathogen is the organisms that cause the diseases.
Parasite is the organism that lived in the other living organism.
Obligate parasite = the parasite that lived only in the living host.
Eg: bacteria, virus, nematode
Non obligate parasite (Facultative parasite) = the parasite that
live either in the living or dead host. Eg: fungi and bacteria.

The concepts of disease in plants

The plant is healthy (normal) when it can
carry out its physiological functions to the
best of its genetic potential.
Normal physiological functions include:
normal cell division, differentiation and
development;
absorption of water and minerals from soil
and translocation of these substances
throughout the plant;
photosynthesis and translocation of the
photosynthetic products to areas of
utilization or storage;
metabolism or synthesized compounds
reproduction;
storage of food supplies for over wintering
or reproduction.

 The sick plant is when all its physiological functions are disturbed
that caused the cells or tissues weakened or destroyed and thus can
disturb the plant growth and die.

Disease is A malfunctioning of host cells and

tissues that results from theircontinuous
irritation by a pathogenic agent or environmental
factorand
leadsto
the
development
ofsymptoms.

Disease is acondition involving abnormal changes

in the form, physiology, integrity orbehavior of
a plant.Such changes may result inpartial
impairmentor death of the plant or its parts.

Plant diseases can be classified into 2 types:

Infectious diseases = the diseases that caused by the pathogens or biotic agent
such as fungi, bacteria, virus/viroid, mycoplasmas, nematode etc.

Non infectious diseases = the diseases that caused by the abiotic agents
environmental factors such as:
Too low or too high a temperature
Lack or excess of soil moisture
Lack or excess of light
Lack of oxygen
Air pollution
Nutrient deficiencies
Mineral toxicities
Soil acidity or alkalinity (pH)
Toxicity of pesticides
Improper cultural practices.

Noninfectious diseases, perhaps more appropriately called disorders, do not

spread from plant to plant.

These disorders result from the plant's exposure to such factors as unfavorable
weather, mechanical damage, nutrient deficiencies, excess salts or toxic
chemicals.

Although disorders can predispose plants to infection by pathogens, disorders are

or

History of plant
pathology
The
Early Belief

Theophrastus (370 286 B.C)

Greek philosopher
The first to study and write about diseases of trees, cereals

and legumes.

Observed that diseases generally were more severe in lowlands

than on hillsides and the rust was more common on cereals than
on legumes.
His approach was observational and speculative rather than

experimental.

Romans era

Rust diseased on grain crops, they believed that diseases is the

punishment of god to the man behavior (good and bad)
They become so painfully aware of the devastating effects of

the rust of grain crops that they created a special rust god,
Robigo to protect them from these diseases.

In the spring of each year, just before the rust appeared they
celebrated the Robigalia, a special holiday that involved
sacrifices of red dogs and sheep in an attempt to appease
Robigo.

 During these times they believed in Theory of Spontaneous

Generation of lower plants and animals.
This theory passed down from century to century. Theory of
Spontaneous generation stated that an organism is formed or
created from where itexists or from where it comes from. For
example frogs live in pond, so the frog was created there at the
pond! The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving
matter, as maggots from rotting meat.
The theory of spontaneous generation for larger organisms was
easily shown tobe false, butthe theory was not fully discredited
until the mid-19th century with the demonstration of theexistence
and reproduction ofmicroorganisms.
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) demolished the theory of spontaneous
generation and established the germ theory. Prior to Pasteur it was
generally accepted that some life forms arose spontaneously from
non-living matter. Pasteur experiments disproved the theory
ofspontaneous generation anddemonstrated that microorganisms
occur everywhere even in the air.

Overview the beginning of scientific study

Anton von Leeuwenhoek (1675)
constructed a microscope
he was able to view organisms, including protozoa and bacteria,
which cannot visible to the naked eye (1683)
Robert Hook (1635-1703)
developed simple microscope which was used to study of minute
structure of fungi.
Pier Antonio Micheli (1729)
Italian botanist
Observed that dust particles taken from a fungus and placed on
freshly cut slices of melon generally reproduced the same kind
of fungus.
Concluded that the dust particles were the seeds (spores) of
fungus.
Is the first observation of fungal infection of plant diseases.

Overview the beginning of scientific study ..con

Tillet (1755)
France scientist
Study about infectious diseases
Study on wheat smut/bunt
Diseases can be reduced by seed treatment.
Prevost (1807)
Proved that bunt is caused by a fungus
He study on spores, their production and germination
Able to control the disease by dipping the seed in copper sulphate
solution.
Pointed out the importance of the environment in induction and
development of the disease.
1840s
Devastating epidemics of late blight of potato in Northern Europe
particularly Ireland, results in the death of hundreds of thousands of
people and emigration of more than one and a half million people from
Ireland to the United States.
Rise the concern to the plant disease cause by fungus

Heinrich Anton de Bary (1853)

Germany botanist

Proved experimentally that potato late blight disease caused by the

fungus Phytophthora infestans

Known as father of modern pathology

Brefeld (1875,1883,1912)
contributed greatly to plant pathology

introducing and developing modern

microorganisms in pure culture.

techniques

for

growing

1878 Downy Mildews of grape was introduced from US and spread

rapidly and threatened to ruin the vineyards of Europe.
Prof

Millardet (1885)
From Bordeaux University
Create the first fungicide (CuSO4 + hydrated lime)
Known as Bordeaux mixture

Pasteur and Koch (1876)

Studied about antrax disease on animal caused by bacterium

Burril (1878)
Showed that fire blight of pear and apple is caused by
bacterium
Needham (1743)
Observed nematode within wheat gall. (kernels)
Cobb (1913 1932)
Studies on plant parasitic nematodes and contributed greatly to
nematode taxonomy, morphology and methodology.

1965 the first systemic fungicide was created (Carboxin)

Definition and terms

Parasite: An organism living upon or in another living organism (the host) and
obtaining the food from the invading host.

Pathogen: An entity, usually a micro-organism that can cause the disease.

Pathogenicity: The relative capability of a pathogen to cause disease.

Pathogenesis: It is a process caused by an infectious agent (pathogen) when

it comes in contact with a susceptible host.

Virulence: The degree of infectivity of a given pathogen.

Infection: The initiation and establishment of a parasite within a host plant.

Primary infection: The first infection of a plant by the over wintering or
over summering of the pathogen.

Inoculum: That portion of pathogen which is transferred to plant and cause

disease.
Invasion: The penetration and spread of a pathogen in the host.
Colonization: The growth of a pathogen, particularly a fungus, in the host after
infection is called colonization.
Symptoms: The external and internal reaction or alterations of a plant as a
result of disease.
Incubation period: The period of time between penetration of a pathogen to the
host and the first appearance of symptoms on the plant.
Disease cycle: The chain of events involved in disease development.
Single cycle disease (Monocyclic): This type of disease is referred to those
caused by the pathogen (fungi) that can complete only one life cycle in one crop
season of the host plant. e.g. downy mildew of rape seed, club root of crucifers,
sclerotinia blight of brinjal etc.
Multiple cycle disease (Polycyclic): Some pathogens specially a fungus, can
complete a number of life cycles within one crop season of the host plant and
the disease caused by such pathogens is called multiple cycle disease e.g. wheat
rust, rice blast, late blight of potato etc.
Cop Damage: It is defined as any reduction in the quality or quantity of yield or
loss of revenue resulting from crop injury.
Deficiency: Abnormality or disease caused by the lack or subnormal level of
availability of one or more essential nutrient elements.

Alternate host: Plants not related to the main host of parasitic fungus,
where it produces its different stages to complete one cycle
(heteroecious).

Predisposition: The effect of one or more environmental factors which

makes a plant vulnerable to attack by a pathogen.

Symbiosis: A mutually beneficial association of two or more different

kinds of organisms.

Mutualism: Symbiosis of two organisms that are mutually helpful or

that mutually support one another.

Antagonism: The counteraction between organisms or groups of

organisms.

Mutation: An abrupt appearance of a new characteristic in an individual

as a result of an accidental change in genes present in chromosomes.

Disease: Any deviation in the general health, or physiology or function

of plant or plant parts, is recognized as a disease.

Significance of plant diseases

All of our food, much of our clothing, building materials, and much of the
beauty in nature is provided by plants.

Plant diseases are a constant threat to the worlds food and fiber crops,
forests, and landscape plants.

Plant diseases are significant to humans because they cause:

1. Kinds and amounts of losses
damage to plants and plant products on which humans depend for food,
clothing, furniture and environment.
2. Limit the kinds of plants and industries in an area
3. Reduce the quality and quantity of plant produce

Destroy the beauty of environment by damaging plants around homes,

along streets, in parks and in forests.
4. Make plants poisonous to humans and animals
Diseased plant produce poisons and unfit to human and animals
5. May cause financial losses
Can cause economic losses to growers
Results in increased prices of products to consumers

Throughout history, plant diseases have been responsible for the

death and suffering of millions of people and countless animals.

A few examples of devastating diseases are:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Potato Late Blight

Ergot of Rye
Black Stem Rust of Wheat
Southern Corn Leaf Blight
Dutch Elm Disease
Bacterial Canker on Citrus
Plum Pox Virus on Stone Fruit

All of these are infectious diseases caused by plant pathogens.

Late Blight of Potato

Caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans
The fungus killed most of the potatoes grown
in Ireland during the mid 1800s.
Potatoes were the main source of food for the
Irish people.
This plant disease resulted in the Irish Potato
Famine of 1845
1 million people died
1.5 million people left Ireland -USA

Late Blight on Potato Tubers

Ergot of Rye
Caused by the fungus Claviceps
purpurea

The pathogen produces a structure called a

sclerotium that grows in place of the rye
kernel. This sclerotium contains poisons that
are very harmful to man and animals.
The sclerotium is harvested with the rye
grain. The grain is ground into flour, made
into bread and is eaten by people. Eating the
contaminated bread results in a disease called
Ergotism.
ERGOTISM OFTEN RESULTS IN DEATH.

Ergot of Rye
(note dark sclerotia)

Ergot of Rye
The scelotia also contains hallucinogenic compounds.
People that eat ergot often see Fire.
In the middle ages, people called the vision of fire
induced by Ergot as Holy Fire or St. Anthonys
Fire
Ergotism can also cause abortions and gangrene.
THIS PLANT DISEASE IS STILL KILLING PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD TODAY!

Black Stem Rust of Wheat

1916 Destroyed 300 million bushels of
wheat in the United States and Canada
1935 Destroyed 135 million bushels in
Dakotas and Minnesota
SPORATIC EPIDEMICS STILL COST NORTH AMERICAN
FARMERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS

Wheat rust in United State

In southern US the people faced the severe wheat
rust and stop planting the wheat and change to corn
thus, affected their food where they change to
corn bread

Black Stem Rust of Wheat

 Coffee rust in Ceylon (1870an)

Ceylon well known to its coffee industry and most
of them were exported to Europe
Then the coffee rust affect their coffee industry
and the British people cannot get the source of
coffee thus they change to tea.
SALB (South America Leaf Blight) in South
America
This disease caused the damage of rubber industry
in Brazil.
Rise the development of synthetic rubber

The relations of plant pathology with other areas

Many areas of science and agriculture are involved in the study of plant diseases.
Plant pathology began as an offshoot of botany, the study of plants.
To understand diseases and development management methods, one must study the
physiology, anatomy, taxonomy and growth of plants.
The following sciences also contribute to understanding of the causes of plant
diseases:
Agronomy: the science of field crop production and soil management
Bacteriology: the study of bacteria, because bacteria can cause plant diseases.
Biochemistry: the chemistry of plant and animal life.
Biotechnology: the collection of processes and techniques, many at the molecular and
cellular levels that involve understanding and modification of biology systems, including
genetically engineered microorganisms, plants and animals.
Botany: the study of plants and their structure, function, classification and ecology
(anatomy and physiology) characteristics of diseases.
Chemistry: the study of composition, properties and structure of substances,
important in disease treatment because most of fungicide need certain chemical
formulation.
Ecology; the study of the relations between organisms and their environment.
Economy: the study of trade and value. the diseased plant product will reduce it
economical value and yield so income will reduce.
Engineering: the study of machines and engines; also the practical application of
scientific principles. Important in built the pesticide equipments disease control

 Entomology: the study of insects, because most of the insects are the vectors of the
plant pathogens such as virus
Forestry: the science of plating and taking care of forests
Genetics and plant breeding: the study of sexual reproduction and inheritance in plants,
important in plant breeding to get the disease resistant plants
Horticulture: the science of cultivating flowers , fruits, vegetables or ornamentals plants
Mycology: the study of fungi, because most of the fungi are plant pathogen
Nematology: the study of nematode because most of the nematodes are plant pathogens
Physics: the study of matter and energy and their interaction, to use the microscope
(light and electron) in the study of pathology to see the cells and hyphae of fungi need to
know the physics.
soil science : the study of soil, most of the pathogens that infect the root live in soil
virology: the study of virus, because virus also plant pathogens
Weed science: the study of weeds and their control, because weed in the secondary host
for the pathogens.