PLANT PATHOGENS

Disease Triangle & Tetrahedron

Disease <\

Environment

Pathogen Environment
Disease Square

Parasitism, pathogenesis

Nutrition, resistance

ate)

Q
o
~
Ic

(alterr

ofc

predisposition
ther host

plant pathogen

1
|

10

Abiotic disease

Parasites or

1)

hs
Physical —— femperature, moisture, food, poisons — Biological

Environment <— Antibiotics, depletion of nutrients Environment

Figure 8.3

ha Mica - er
re) SRACH <I
Biotic Disorders

Signs and Symptoms of Disease

Signs
Symptoms
= Shoo! and leaf blight
{juvenile growth)

-— Lhiarosia
w [photoayn:hasis)

Seed dacay .
rfood storage) a Leaf spots
(photosynihesis)

Vascular wilt
F (water

Canker
franzpart]

« (iransloe ation)

E, Heart
d
decoy» a= Sup decay

Co . . (structure! integrity
_ lsiructuel integrity) transtacalion}
Er Gall ww - : ~—

ftranstecalian) Ee
. NY:

Co Tycorrhizae Jere Ng But: decoy

(praleclion

Fl . Cn “ Co
4 - CIstructural findegrity)
hy wd against root : Ra
i patsyere} :

w=Fooi disease
root extension’

FIGURE 2.2 Schemaric representation of the etfeces of discases om Tes Lwealtly,

shenwing the
vital luncdions ala tree and their impairment by various types of pathogenic
influences,
Koch's Postulates

Robert Koch 1843-1910

Proved Bacillus anthrax

was responsible for
disease in animals and
humans

Noble Prize Winner 1905

Koch's Postulates
Proof of Pathogenicity

1)
2)

3)

4)

The pathogen must be associated with the disease in all

the symptomatic plants examined.

The pathogen must be isolated and grown in pure culture

on nutrient media and its characteristics described.

The pathogen in pure culture must be inoculated into

healthy plants of the same species and produce the same
symptoms in the diseased plants in No. 1

The pathogen must be re-isolated from inoculated plants

and grown in pure culture again and its characteristics
must be like those described in No. 2
Biotic Disorders

FUNG] p—
Fungi

*Eukaroytic organisms

*Non-chlorophyll

*Vegetative growth is through mycelium

Single thread = Hypha, plural = (Hyphae)
*Propagate via spores
Classification of Fungi

*Zygomycota
*Oomycota
Ascomycota
*Basidiomycota
*Deuteromycota
Oomycota

eOccur as saprotrophs

eLack chitin in their cell walls and have

a life cycle that is dominantly diploid
Water molds

eSexual reproduction = Oospores

e Asexual reproduction = Zoospores

Example: Littleleaf disease
Diseases caused
by Oomycetes:

* Root rots of numerous

plants:

Pythium spp.

* known as water molds

Pythium attacks juvenile

tissues such as the root tip
and newly germinated
seedlings.

After gaining entrance to

the root the fungus may
cause a rapid, brown to
black rot of the entire
primary root and may
even move up into the
stem tissue.
Late blight of potato
and tomato

» Phytophthora infestans

* fungus-like microorganism that causes

the serious potato and tomato disease
known as late blight or potato blight

* Late blight was a major culprit in the

1840s European, the 1845-1852 Irish,
and the 1846 Highland potato famines.
Downy mildew of
grape and impatiens

* Plasmopara viticola — grapes

* also known as grape downy mildew, is

considered to be the most devastating disease
of grapevines in climates with relatively
warm and humid summers

* Plasmopara obducens — impatiens

* is a species of oomycete that causes

Impatiens downy mildew

* leaves are stippled or yellowed. Infected

leaves curl downward. A white down is often
present on the underside of the leaves; buds
and stems may also develop a down.
Aspergillus nidulans Neurospora crassa Peziza vesiculosa Cochliobolus
heterostrophus
Plectomycetes Pyrenomycetes Discomycetes Loculoascomycetes
Cleistothecium Perithecium Apothecium Pseudothecium

Sexual reproduction = Ascospores are produced in a sac-like

structure called an Ascus (Always 8 Ascospores [ Ascus)

Ascomycota Apothecia = open

Cup Fungi * Perithecia = closed and flask shaped
* Cleistothecia = closed and ornamented
» Hysterthecia = closed and elongated
Ascomycota: Sexual Spores

By Beth Des Jardin, UF/IFAS, FLREC

21

Ascomycota: Asexual Spores

RN —

a Z a N EN

Phomopsis Fusarium Cylindrocladium

All photos by Beth Des Jardin, UF/IFAS, FLREC

* Asexual reproduction =
Conidia on a conidiphore

* Synnemata (flask shaped

— long)

* Pycnidia (flask shaped —

short)

Spordochia (cushion or
padded)
Ape * Sexual reproduction = Basidiospores are produced on a club-
Basidiomycota like structure called a Basidium

Gilled fungi * Always 4 spores/basidia

* The basidia, which are the reproductive organs of these

fungi
Wheat
Stem Rust

* Stem rust, also

known as cereal
rust, black rust

* Puccinia graminis

* causes significant
disease
in cereal crops
Corn Smut

* Ustilago maydis

* One of several cereal crop pathogens

called smut, the fungus forms galls on
all above-ground parts of corn species
such as maize

The fungus infects all parts of the host

plant by invading the ovaries of its
host. The infection causes the corn
kernels to swell up into tumor-like
galls, whose tissues, texture, and
developmental pattern are mushroom-
like

* These galls are made up of

hypertrophied cells of the infected
plant, along with resulting fungal
threads, and blue-black spores.
Rots

Wood-decay fungi can be

classified according to the type of
decay that they cause

Brown rot, soft rot, and white rot

Each produce different enzymes,

can degrade different plant
materials, and can colonise
different environmental niches

Brown rot and soft rot both digest

a tree's cellulose and

hemicellulose but not its lignin;

white rot digests lignin as well.

Serpula lacrymans — Brown Rot

Ceratocystis — Soft Rot

Phanerochaete chrysosp
White Rot
Deuteromycota

* Sexual reproduction = No known sexual state = Fungi

Imperfecti

* They form visible mycelia with a fuzzy appearance and are

commonly known as mold

Reproduction of Deuteromycota is strictly asexual, occuring

mainly by production of asexual conidiospores.

* The blue veins in Roquefort cheese and the white crust on

Camembert are the result of fungal growth.
Chytridiomycota

* Include pathogens and a vector of a plant virus

* Obligate fungi

1571813

By USDA-APHIS-PPQ - USDA-APHIS-PPQ Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments,

Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo,
Bugwood.org
Public Domain, https://commons. wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5603175

Synchytrium endobioticum Olpidium brassicae transmits a

Black Wart Disease of Potato virus that causes Lettuce Big Vein
Bacteria

*Single-celled,
prokaryotic organisms

* Spread via
* wind, rain,
* insects,
EE
Bacterial Leaf Spot

* Bacterial leaf spot is a

potentially devastating disease
that, in severe cases, can lead
to unmarketable fruit and even
plant death.

* Bacterial spot can occur

wherever plants are grown, but
is found most frequently in
warm, wet climates, as well as
in greenhouses.

* Xanthomonas
campestris pv. vitians
Bacterial Spot of Tomato

Sunken, scabby bacterial spot lesions on ripening

tomato fruit. (Phom courssy of Mary Amn Hansan, Virginia Polytechnic

Insts and Swe University)

* Potentially fatal disease

that, in extreme situations,
can result in unmarketable
fruit and possibly plant
death.

* Bacterial spot of tomato is

caused by Xanthomonas
vesicatoria, Xanthomonas
euvesicatoria, Xanthomonas
gardneri, and Xanthomonas
perforans.
Panama Disease — Fusarium wilt

* Caused by the soil-borne

fungus Fusarium oxysporum
f. sp. Cubense.

* It is caused by a fungus that

lives in soil and travels up
the stem of the plant before
blocking the tissues that
carry water and nutrients.

Eventually Panama TR4 will

kill the plant.
Pierce’s
Disease

Commonly known as
bacterial leaf scorch

It is a deadly disease

Spread is through
vector

Prevalent within USA

from Florida to
California and outside
the USA in Central
and South America.

Xylella fastidiosa

Learhoppers
sharpshoot
Citrus Variegated
Chlorosis

* CVCis a systemic disease that

only survives in plant xylem
or within its vector.

* CVC has a latency period of 9-12

months before symptoms occur.

* Affects citrus family, particularly n

sweet oranges. NE

SERRE 2
* Xylella fastidiosa subsp. Pauca i %

* Sharpshooter
Citrus Greening

» Citrus Greening is one of the most

serious citrus plant diseases in
the world.

* Itis also known as

Huanglongbing (HLB) or yellow
dragon disease.

* Once a tree is infected, theres

no cure.

* Spread by a disease-infected
insect, the Asian citrus psyllid
(Diaphorina citri)
Cucurbit Yellow wih al
Vine Disease Wy

* Cucurbit yellow vine disease is a

bacterial diseases caused by the
pathogen Serratia marcescens.

* It causes phloem discoloration, 4

foliar yellowing, wilting, and plant 1
decline

* CYVD is spread by squash bugs

Little Leaf of Brinjal

* Little leaf if Brinjal is a mycoplasmal

disease.

* This disease is transmitted by a

leafhopper (Hishimonus phycitis).

* Symptoms:

* Leaves and plant become small.

* Node and internodes reduce in size

* Leaves-yellowing.

* Plants look like bush

* No fruiting if form become small and

Virus

* Protein encapsulated DNA or RNA

* Usually vectored by insects

* Results in yellowing, chlorosis, wilting, distortion of

infected plant
Vegetative Propagation

* Whenever plants are propagated vegetatively by budding

or grafting, by cuttings, or by the use of tubers, corms,
bulbs, or rhizomes, any viruses present in the mother
plant from which these organs are taken will almost
always be transmitted to the progeny.
XE

By budding By grafting By bulbs

By cuttings

8 “he

By rhizomes

Through natural root grafts Through dodder

FIGURE 14-15 Transmission of viruses, mollicutes, and other pathogens through

vegetative propagation, natural
root grafts, and dodder.
Mechanical Transmission of
Viruses through Sap

* The mechanical transmission of plant viruses in nature by

the direct transfer of sap through contact of one plant
with another is uncommon and relatively unimportant.

* Such transmission may take place after a strong wind

injures the leaves of adjacent diseased and healthy plants
or when plants are wounded during cultural practices by
tools, hands, or clothes, or by animals feeding on the
plants, and the sap carrying virus is transferred to
wounded plants
Young diseased
leaves collected

Virus-infected
plant

Diseased leaves
and buffer or
water placed in
mortar

Cotyledons i

i
gy
a
S& Primary a.
leaves

Regular
leaves

[Abrasive

wr)

Cotyledons, primary leaves,

with abrasive powder glass rod, brush, etc.

Infected sap rubbed on healthy

or regular leaves are dusted plants with fingers, gauze pad,

AN

r
|
|
|
|
|
1

oy

I
I
I
I
I
= ]

[.

I.
=
9
Leaves ground in Strained
buffer with pestle

Inoculated plants
must in some cases
be rinsed with
water immediately

/f Leaf
% % homogenate

1
— Cheese cloth

--

Infected sap
infected sap

Inoculated
plants kept in
greenhouse or
growth chamber

i)

Ey
Infected sap picked up

on fingers, gauze pad,

glass rod, brush, etc.

Systemic
symptoms

Local lesions

Symptoms develop in
2to 21 days
Seed Transmission

* In most seed-transmitted viruses, the virus seems to come

primarily from the ovule of infected plants, but several
cases are known in which the virus in the seed seems to be
just as often derived from the pollen that fertilized the
flower. In some host—virus combinations the virus is

carried in the integument of the seed and infects seedlings

as they are wounded on germination.
Through contact

Diseased Healthy Diseased Healthy

Through natural leaf contact and rubbing Through handling

ef

Seed carrying Germinating seedling

virus is infected with virus

©
@
@
wv
i
o
=
O
=

Through pollen

Virus infected tree Flower of virus- Virus moves from Virus moves from Previously
healthy
in bloom infected tree. pollen into flower flower to the rest tree now infected
Virus in pollen of healthy tree of the tree with the virus

Plant virus transmission through direct contact of plants, handling, seed, and
pollen.
Pollen Transmission

* Virus transmitted by pollen may result in reduced fruit set,

may infect the seed and the seedling that will grow from
it, and, in some cases, can spread through the fertilized
flower and down into the mother plant, which thus
becomes infected with the virus.

* Such plant-to-plant transmission of virus through pollen is

known to occur, for example, in sour cherry infected with
prunus necrotic ring spot virus.
Insect Transmission

» Undoubtedly the most common and economically most

important means of transmission of viruses in the field is
by insect vectors.

* The order Homoptera, which includes aphids (Aphididae),

leafthoppers (Cicadellidae), and planthoppers
(Delphacidae), contains by far the largest number and the
most important insect vectors of plant viruses.
§
w
£
o
S
=
ov
=
wv
©
c
©
=)
=
wv
—
=
a

Chewing insects

Aphid

(wingless)

Leafhopper

Mealy bug
\

Planthopper

Plant bug

“So

Grasshopper
Insect Transmission

* Insects with sucking mouthparts carry plant viruses on

their stylets —stylet-borne viruses— and can acquire and
inoculate the virus after short feeding periods of a few
seconds to a few minutes.

* Nonpersistent viruses
* persist in the vector for only a few to several hours.

* Semipersistent viruses
* viruses persist in the vector for a few (1 to 4) days
Insect Transmission

With still other viruses, the insect vectors accumulate the

virus internally and, after passage of the virus through the
insect tissues, introduce the virus into plants again
through their mouthparts; these viruses are known as
circulative or persistent viruses.

* Some circulative viruses may multiply in their respective

vectors and are then called propagative viruses.
Mite Transmission

* Primarily mites of the family Eriophyidae have been

shown to transmit at least six viruses, including wheat
streak mosaic and several other rymoviruses affecting
cereals.
Nematode Transmission

» Approximately 20 plant viruses are transmitted by one or

more species of three genera of soil-inhabiting,
ectoparasitic nematodes

» Nematode vectors transmit viruses by feeding on roots of

infected plants and then moving on to roots of healthy
plants.

* Juveniles as well as adult nematodes can acquire and

transmit viruses; however, the virus is not carried through
the juvenile molts or through the eggs, and, after molting,
the juveniles or the resulting adults must feed on a virus
source before they can transmit again.
Fungus Transmission

* Root-infecting fungal-like organisms, the

plasmodiophoromycetes Polymyxa and Spongospora, and
the chytridiomycete Olpidium, transmit at least 30 plant
viruses.

* Some of these viruses apparently are borne internally in,

whereas others are carried externally on the resting
spores and the zoospores of the fungi. On infection of new
host plants, the fungi introduce the virus and cause
symptoms characteristic of the virus they transmit
Eriophyid mite

Mite vector of plant viruses

~~
MAY A A
|" 'd ye | —
| ~~
Gn = ZXN\
J x -~
> a
NZ oI ~)
Plant infected with Fungal zoosporangia in root Virus-carrying Zoospore infects
virus and fungus of virus-infected plant zoospores leave plant new plant and

transmits virus

FIGURE 14-19 Transmission of plant viruses by nematodes, mites, and fungi.

Alfalfa mosaic virus

* is a virus usually found on

alfalfa where it does not
cause many problems

* Aphids transmit AMV from

alfalfa to nearby
vegetables

* Aphids acquire the virus by

feeding on infected plant
and deposit it when
feeding on a healthy plant
Alfalfa mosaic virus - tomato

©T.A. Zitter
Alfalfa mosaic virus - Pepper

* Peppers from infected

plants taste bitter
Alfalfa mosaic virus - Basil
Beet curly top virus

* Transmitted by beet leaf hopper

* Symptoms:
* Yellowing leaves, often purple veins
* Leaves are cupped
* Plants are stunted

* Management:

* Cover plants for the first 6-8 weeks after transplanting with a fine
mesh

Plant border rows with non-susceptible crops that shield tomatoes

Beet curly top virus - tomato
Tomato spotted wilt virus

» Tomato spotted wilt virus

(TSWV) is an important
pathogens of tomato,
pepper, tobacco and
peanut inthe U.S.

* Thrips have to acquire the

virus as larvae to be able
to transmit it as adults.
Once larvae are infected,
thrips carry and transmit
the virus throughout their
entire lifespan.
Tomato spotted wilt virus

* TSWV is not seedborne

* Plants get infected early in the season

* Symptoms:
* Necrotic spots on leaves
* Stunting of plants
* Necrotic rings on immature fruit
* Chlorotic ringspot on mature fruit

a
Tomato spotted wilt virus
Tomato spotted wilt virus -
Peppers
Tobacco/Tomato mosaic virus

* Not spread by insects

* Seedborne

* Spread by humans on hands, pruning tools, clothes

* Survives in cigarettes

» Can survive in plant debris and trellises

a
Tobacco/Tomato mosaic virus
Tobacco/Tomato mosaic virus -
Pepper
Tobacco/Tomato mosaic virus

* Management
» Certified virus-free seed

* Wear gloves when planting (smokers) or when dealing with

infected plants

» Wash trellises with strong soap or detergent solution or 10%

bleach solution

* Wash hands
* Wash clothes with hot water
* Remove plant debris
Pepper Mottle Virus

* Transmitted by aphids

* Can survive in nightshade weeds, volunteer peppers,

tomatillos and Datura

* Symptoms:
* Mottling and mosaic on leaves
* Misshapen fruit

mT —
Pepper Mottle Virus
Pepper Mottle Virus

* Management
» Good weed and volunteer plant control
* Clean transplants

* Good insect control only helps if aphids are prevented form

entering the field
Iris yellow spot virus - onion

* Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV)

is transmitted by onion
thrips
Iris yellow spot virus

* Symptoms:
» Diamond-shaped necrotic
lesions

* eaves will turn necrotic

Iris yellow spot virus - Onion

* Management:
* No resistant cultivar available
* Treatment with insecticides for onion thrips
* Good weed control
* Remove volunteer onions
* Destroy cull onions
Watermelon Mosaic Virus

* Transmitted by aphids
* Survive in alfalfa and weeds

* Symptoms:
» Mosaic and distortion of leaves
* Bumpy fruit
* Color breaking of fruit
* Reduced yield
Watermelon Mosaic Virus
Transmission of Plant Viruses

* Plant viruses are transmitted from plant to plant in a

number of ways.

* Modes of transmission include:

* Vegetative propagation,
* mechanically through sap,
* Through seed,
* pollen,
» dodder, and
* by specific insects, mites, nematodes, and fungi
Phytoplasmas

* Neither bacteria or virus, naked protoplasts with a

membrane wall

Vectored by insects

* Results in yellowing, chlorosis, wilting, distortion of

infected plant
Parasitic
Plants

* Obligate plants that

derive their nutrition
from trees

* Leafy Mistletoe
* Dwarf Mistletoe
Dodder
Nematodes

* Non-segmented microscopic worms

* Live in soil
* Feed on root systems
* Vector virus’ & bacteria

* Vectored by insects
* Pinewood Nematode

mT —
Nematodes

* Most numerous animal

* Second most numerous species

* Size: mostly microscopic

* Longest is 26 feet (in Blue whale)

* Simple morphology

* No circulatory system

* No respiratory system

* No skeleton
Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

* Over 6000 known species

* Present in all ecological

niches

* Attacks almost all plants

Cause 10% losses to crops

e Reduces ornamental
growth

* Serious turf problems

* Big problem on tree crops
Plant-parasitic nematodes all have
stylets (spears) that penetrate cells
and withdraw the contents.

=
Nematode Damage

- Nematodes damage plants by reducing or

modifying root mass

« Root cells are killed or modified to serve as food

for the nematode

- Typical root and foliar symptoms result

mT —
Foliar Damage Symptoms

«Water and Nutrient Stress —

«Premature Wilting

- Leaf Yellowing (Chlorosis)

«Plant Stunting

-Irreqgular Symptom Patterns

QE —
Root Damage Symptoms

« Galled Roots

« Stunted Roots

« Swollen Root Tips

« Root Lesions

« Increase in Lateral Roots

Root Symptoms- Cyst
Nematodes on Roots
Root Symptoms-
Peanut Pod Galling
Root Symptoms-
Lesions

SWAT

: fr ’
y rr,
TSS

» por : : 7)
ion
7 AG 7 7 7
Root Symptoms —
Sweet Potatoes
Root Symptoms -
Irish Potatoes
Root Symptoms-
Potato Rot Nematode
Root Symptoms-

Sprangling