COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

(Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3)

Kullapuram (Po), Via Vaigai Dam, Theni-625 562

PARASITISM AND ITS TYPES

STUDENT : GOWTHAM M COURSE TEACHER

ID. NO. : 2017021020 Dr. PARTHASARATHY S
Asst. Professor (Plant Pathology)
PARASITISM

An organism that lives on or in another organism and obtains

food from the latter for their growth and multiplication is
called parasite.

Broomrape Witchweed

© britannica © britannica
 The word parasite is derived from a latin word ‘parasitus’ which means
“one who eats at the table of the another”

TYPES OF PARASITISM

Ectoparasite

Endoparasite

Destructive parasite

Balanced parasite

Facultative parasite

Facultative saprophyte
ECTOPARASITE

The parasite may live on the external surface of the host they
take nutrients from epidermal and mesophyll cells.

EXAMPLE
Erysiphe polygoni

© bladmineerders
ENDOPARASITE

The parasite may grow inside the host cell (intracellular) or in

between the cells (intercellular) of the host plant and draw
nutrition.
EXAMPLE

Leveillula taurica

They grow in the subcuticular cells parenchyma tissues or in

vascular tissues.
 INTRACELLULAR
HYPHAE

INTERCELLULAR
HYPHAE
DESTRUCTIVE PARASITE

Those which draw nutrition from the host and often destroy or kill the
host.

Root rot, Wilt causing pathogens.

© arborjet
BALANCED PARASITE

Those which draw nutrition without killing the host.

© hiveminer
FACULTATIVE PARASITE

These are the organisms which are usually saprophytic in their mode of
life but under certain conditions they became parasites.

EXAMPLES

Pythium sp., Rhizopus sp., Fusarium sp., etc

© alchimiaweb
FACULTATIVE SAPROPHYTE

These are the organisms which are usually parasites in their mode
of life but under certain condition they become saprophytes.

EXAMPLES

Smut fungi, Phytophthora sp., Mucor sp. and Venturia sp.

© wikipedia
BROAD CATEGORIES OF PARASITISM

BY LUTTRELL (1974)
BIOTROPHS

HEMIBIOTROPHS

PERTHOTROPHS
BIOTROPHS

OBLIGATE PARASITE OR TRUE

PARASITE

Parasite only on/ in living host to complete their entire life cycle.

Plant cell remain alive.

EXAMPLES
Mildews
Viruses
Viroids
Candidatus Phytoplasma
OBLIGATE INAPPROPRIATE © amienvironmental

Obligate parasite can be cultured in complex

artificial media.
EXAMPLES
Rust
Smut
HEMIBIOTROPHS

Pathogen only attack living tissues and continue to grow.

Further continue to grow and reproduce.

After the tissue is dead the plant cell remain alive initially
but killed later.

EXAMPLES

Cercospora
Alternaria
Helminthosporium

© flickr
PERTHOTROPH / NECROTROPH

Pathogen kill the tissue in advance of penetration

Live saprophytically.

Also, possess enzyme and toxin secretion.

EXAMPLES
Phytophthora
Agrobacterium
Sclerotium rolfsii
Claviceps
Venturia

© alamy
 REFERENCES

ALICE D, JEYALAKSHMI C AND SETHURAMA K, 2007. HANDBOOK

OF INTRODUCTORY TO PLANT PATHOLOGY.
A.E.PUBLICATIONS,COIMBATORE.

https://www.britannica.com/plant/parasitic-plant/media/1511885/114207