A diseased plant has visible symptoms that indicate an illness. Infectious diseases are the result of an organism attacking the plant. However, there are abiotic factors that can cause plant disorders that produce similar symptoms. Diagnosing plant diseases often requires detective work. This chapter discusses some common plant diseases, the symptoms they cause, and how to treat or prevent them. Read on for more information! Plant disease prevention is a vital part of healthy landscaping.
Some diseases of plants are more apparent than others. Some diseases appear as leaf yellowing, poor vigor, and dieback. A variety of pathogens cause these symptoms. Plants also get water-soaked, which results in desiccation and a loss of leaf tissue. Symptoms of diseases of plants vary, depending on the plant’s type and the location. Listed below are some of the most common plant diseases. Check your plants regularly for these problems and you will be on your way to healthy plants in no time!
Weeds and other undesirable plants are the opposite of desirable plants. While desirable plants emerge in certain locations, weeds often appear as clusters and masses. They may also sprout before native species. Use pictures to identify difficult-to-remove plants. It’s a good idea to label undesirable plants to avoid confusion. When planting, remember to label all plants and their location so that you don’t accidentally plant them in the wrong place.
Phytophthora species are water-loving fungi. They produce plentiful spores under humid conditions. The most common ones are root-borne pathogens, but a species known as P. ramorum is a leaf pathogen and lives in oak woodlands within a fog belt. Plants that are infected with this pathogen should be destroyed or removed immediately, and infected materials must be disposed of properly.
Aphids will live in the soil of the garden in the winter. In spring and summer, newly emerged females inject eggs into the plant’s tissues. They may produce up to 80 eggs in one season, while those in cold weather will take weeks or months to hatch. Once the larvae hatch, the insects feed on plant sap and eventually drop to the soil to pupate. The adults will then fly to the plant. In this way, they can establish new colonies. The whole cycle of aphids is less than a year, but it does require more frequent treatment than other pests.
Fungal species of plants are often categorized according to their ability to attack other plants. Some fungi can invade plant tissues directly through the cuticle or stomata. Fungus can also penetrate plant tissues and cause plant diseases by infecting them with spores. The fungal species that attack plants have different characteristics that differentiate them from one another. One of these is the ability to reproduce efficiently. The foxglove plant can produce as many as 20,000 seeds, ensuring its survival and spreading throughout the world.
Aphids are soft-bodied insects with sucking mouthparts. The family Aphididae contains over four thousand species, and about 250 of them are harmful to plants. The majority of species are monochrome and are found in the wild. Most aphids feed on plants with the undersides of leaves, but some species are winged. Several species are dangerous to the environment, but they are not a direct threat to your crops.