Vegetation Can Also Fall Ill!
Plant diseases are a significant concern in the agricultural industry, responsible for half of the food loss during the growing, transporting, and storing of crops worldwide[1]. These diseases can be devastating, particularly in the tropics where two-thirds of some crops are lost, contributing to the world hunger problem[2].
For a disease to develop, three essential elements are required: a susceptible host, a pathogen capable of causing disease, and a favorable environment for pathogen development[3]. Plant pathogens, much like those that cause disease in humans and animals, can infect all types of plant tissues[3].
The initial symptoms of a plant disease are often invisible or very small and nondescript[4]. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more apparent, with various visual or otherwise detectable alterations in a plant[4]. Symptoms can include abnormal tissue coloration, wilting, tissue death, defoliation, abnormal increase in tissue size, dwarfing, and replacement of host plant tissue by tissue of the infectious organism[5].
The term injury refers to damage caused by transitory interactions with an agent such as an insect, chemical, or unfavorable environmental condition[6]. On the other hand, disease is defined as "suboptimal plant growth brought about by a continuous irritant, such as a pathogen, or by chronic exposure to less than ideal growing conditions"[6].
Plant pathogens include viruses, bacteria, phytoplasmas, fungi and fungal-like organisms, nematodes, and parasitic higher plants[7]. Examples of signs of these pathogens include fungal hyphae, mycelium, spores, fruiting bodies, bacterial ooze, and nematodes[7].
Managing plant diseases is essential for successful and sustainable plant cultivation. The collective use of all strategies for managing plant diseases, including genetically resistant plants, cultural practices, chemical application, beneficial microorganisms, quarantines, and Integrated Pest Management, is referred to as Integrated Plant Health Management[8]. A proper diagnosis is critical in the management of plant diseases[9].
Successful pathogens must also be able to survive prolonged periods of unfavorable environmental conditions in the absence of a susceptible plant host[3]. The disease cycle takes into account the disease triangle: host, pathogen, and environment, and requires inoculation, penetration, establishment, growth and reproduction within or on the host, and dissemination to other susceptible plants[10].
Annual losses in food, fiber, and ornamental production systems caused by plant pests and diseases are estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars[1]. Left unchecked, diseases can devastate crops and compromise food security, making disease prevention, early detection, and integrated management essential practices for successful and sustainable plant cultivation[4][5].
References:
[1] FAO (2019). The state of food and agriculture 2019: pathways to food system transformation. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [2] FAO (2016). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2016: building a peaceful food system. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [3] Throne, R. E. (2011). Plant diseases: concepts and applications. Academic Press. [4] Krupinsky, S. G. (2006). Plant pathology: concepts and applications. Academic Press. [5] Wani, S. P., & Gupta, S. K. (2016). Plant diseases: concepts, diagnosis, management and biotechnological interventions. Springer. [6] Ellis, J. T., & Throne, R. E. (2015). Plant diseases: epidemiology. Academic Press. [7] Chakraborty, S., & Chakraborty, S. (2014). Plant pathology: a molecular perspective. Academic Press. [8] IPM Institute of North America. (n.d.). Integrated plant health management. Retrieved from https://www.ipminstitute.org/ipm/ [9] FAO (2011). Principles of plant pathology: a practical approach. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [10] Throne, R. E. (2011). Plant diseases: concepts and applications. Academic Press.
- In the agricultural industry, plant diseases are a significant source of food loss, accounting for half of the food loss during the growing, transporting, and storing of crops.
- These diseases can be particularly devastating in the tropics, where two-thirds of some crops are lost, contributing to the world hunger problem.
- For a plant disease to develop, three essential elements are required: a susceptible host, a pathogen capable of causing disease, and a favorable environment for pathogen development.
- Plant pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes, can infect all types of plant tissues and can be found in various visual or otherwise detectable alterations in a plant.
- Symptoms of plant diseases can include abnormal tissue coloration, wilting, tissue death, defoliation, abnormal increase in tissue size, dwarfing, and replacement of host plant tissue by tissue of the infectious organism.
- Injury refers to damage caused by transitory interactions with an agent such as an insect, chemical, or unfavorable environmental condition, while disease is defined as suboptimal plant growth brought about by a continuous irritant, such as a pathogen, or by chronic exposure to less than ideal growing conditions.
- Managing plant diseases is essential for successful and sustainable plant cultivation and includes strategies like genetically resistant plants, cultural practices, chemical application, beneficial microorganisms, quarantines, and Integrated Pest Management.
- Annually, losses in food, fiber, and ornamental production systems caused by plant pests and diseases are estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars, making disease prevention, early detection, and integrated management essential practices.
- To effectively manage plant diseases, a proper diagnosis is critical and should take into account the disease cycle: host, pathogen, and environment, and require inoculation, penetration, establishment, growth and reproduction within or on the host, and dissemination to other susceptible plants.
