Plant pathology

The Plant Pathology is the study of plant diseases.

Most crops have during the evolution of a high resistance ( resistance) against germs ( pathogens ) of the natural environment and acquired strategies against attackers developed ( Plant defense against pathogens and herbivores ). Diseases of crops provide food producers in agriculture and horticulture each year with new challenges in plant protection. In the food production plant diseases mean losses through reduction in quality and yield reduction or even complete crop failure. Even pathogens that adhere to the crop can produce through their metabolic activity of toxins that prevent the release for human consumption.

Through scientific knowledge about pathogens and their life cycles include effective procedures for systematic prevention (prophylaxis) and curative control of disease have been developed. The disease can, inter alia, caused by fungi, protists, bacteria or viruses, and transmitted via the wind or animals.

In addition to the widespread in industrialized countries biological and chemical fungicides are for disease resistance and traditional methods such as long crop rotations, disease-resistant seed varieties and organic farming is important.

Examples

• Powdery mildew
• Downy mildew
• Late blight of potato
• Ergot fungus
• Tobacco blue mold
• Tobacco mosaic virus
• Fire blight of pome fruit trees ( a bacterium)
• Sharka disease
• Shotgun disease
• Dutch elm disease
• Various fungal diseases

More can be found in the category: Plant disease.