ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ವಿಶ್ವ ವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯ

DAVANGERE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF PG STUDIES & RESEARCH IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

PRESENTATION ON:
IMPORTANT DISEASES OF PLANTS
Under the guidance of:
Dr. Gopinath S M
Professor & Chairman
Department of PG Studies in Biotechnology,
Davangere University.

Presented by:
Prajwal Bhanu R B
M.Sc. I Year - I Semester,
Register No. BT201017
Department of PG Studies in Biotechnology,
Davangere University.
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CONTENT

 INTRODUCTION – PLANT DISEASES

 RUST DISEASE IN MAIZE - INTORDUCTION, TAXONOMIC
POSITION, SYMPTOMS, LIFE CYCLE, PREVENTION AND
CONTROL MEASURES.
 DOWNY MILDEWS IN GRAPES - INTORDUCTION,
TAXONOMIC POSITION, SYMPTOMS, LIFE CYCLE,
PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES.
 POWDERY MILDEWS IN CUCURBITA - INTORDUCTION,
TAXONOMIC POSITION, SYMPTOMS, LIFE CYCLE,
PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES.
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCE

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INTRODUCTION

The study of plant diseases is known as plant

pathology or phytopathology.
These words are derived from the “Greek” words
phyton means plant, pathos means suffering and logos
means reason.
A plant disease may be defined as “any disturbance
that prevents the normal development of a plant and
reduces its economic or aesthetic value”.

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INTRODUCTION

A disease interferes with the normal function of some

part of the plant, resulting in lower yields or reduced
quality.
Diseases are caused by living agents (microorganisms
and parasitic plants) and non-living agents
(environmental factors, faulty nutrition, and chemical
substances).
The microorganisms and parasitic plants are called
pathogens or biotic agents.

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INTRODUCTION

The non-living environmental, nutritional factors and

chemical substances are called abiotic agents.
In some diseases both pathogens and abiotic agents
are involved.
A plant disease develops over a period of time,
whereas an injury that may be caused by an insect
feeding on a plant or damage occurs immediately or
over a very short period of time.
The visible reactions of a plant to disease are called
symptoms include wilting, stunting, yellowing & death.
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RUSTS

 Rust is the disease that appears in Cereals crops i.e.

Wheat.
 It is caused by the fungus known as Puccinia spp.
(3,000-4,000) species.
 Puccinia is an obligate parasite. It requires two
alternate host. It has macrocyclic life cycle.
 Example: Stem Rust of Wheat causes severe grain
shriveling where masses of pustules on leaves and
stems produces brick red spores.

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RUSTS

 Rust infected plants transpire more water than

normal.
 It shrivels the kernels, where as heavily rusted plants
are weakened and dwarfed.
 There are three forms of rust that affect the Wheat as
follows:
I. Stem Rust: Puccinia graminis tritica (Black Rust)
II. Leaf Rust: Puccinia rodentia (Brown Rust)
III. Stripe Rust: Puccinia striiformis (Yellow Rust)

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TAXANOMIC POSITION OF FUNGUS

According to G. C. Ainsworth (1971)

Kingdom Fungi

Division Eumycota

Sub-Division Basidiomycotina

Class Teliomycetes

Order Uredinales

Family Puccinaceae

Genus Puccinia

Species P. graminis tritica

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RUSTS

Wheat stem rust mainly causes by fungus “Puccinia

graminis tritica”
Common names are Stem Rust or Black Rust.
Mainly infects Wheat, Barley and Barberry.
Favorable temperature is 23 to 25 degree Centigrade.
At this temperature, large number of teliospores are
produced.

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SYMPTOMS:
 Reddish brown pustules.
 Large number of uredospores are released.
 Brownish appearance from distance.
 Severe grain shriveling where masses of
pustules on leaves and stems produces brick red
spores.

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Fig. Wheat infected by rust disease

Image source: https://www.ars.usda.gov/stemrust

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Fig. Life cycle of puccinia

Image source: https://www.plantscience4u.com/stages-in-lifecycle-of-puccinia

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CONTROL MEASURES AND MANAGEMENT OF RUST

Affected plant should be removed and burnt to

avoid further infection.
The alternate host should be eradicated in the hills
and plains.
Several fungicides like nickel-sulphate,
sulphadiazine, napthaquinones, zinc-sulphate etc.
are used to prevent rust infection.
Rust resistant varieties can be cultivated. Some
varieties N.P. 797, N.P. 798, N.P. 799.

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DOWNY MILDEW

Downy mildew is a highly destructive disease of

grapevines in all grape-growing areas of the world
where there is spring and summer rainfall.
This disease known to occur under humid
conditions.
In India, this disease is common in Maharashtra
and Karnataka.
Downy mildew affects the leaves, fruits and vine.
Losses through necrosis of leaf tissue and
defoliation.
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DOWNY MILDEW

Fruits are low quality and destroyed.

Dwarfing and killing of younger shoots will occur.
The first symptoms of downy mildew of grapes,
caused by “Plasmopara viticola”, are usually seen on
leaves as soon as 5 to 7 days after infection.

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SYMPTOMS

LEAVES:
Infected leaves develop yellowish-green and
translucent “oily” lesions on their upper surfaces. As
lesions expand, affected areas turn brown, necrotic or
mottled.
The corresponding under leaf surface sporulation of
pathogen – a delicate, dense, white to grayish, cottony
growth occurs.

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SYMPTOMS

LEAVES:
The lesion may be numerous on the upper leaf
surface that they merge to cover a large portion of
leaf.
Infected tissue gradually becomes reddish brown to
dark, brown, irregular and brittle.

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SYMPTOMS

SHOOTS & TENDRILS:

Symptoms appear as water-soaked, shiny
depressions on which a dense growth of whitish
mildew appears.
When young shoot, petioles, tendrils or cluster
stems are infected, they often become distorted,
thickened or curled.

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SYMPTOMS

FRUITS:
Infection may occur in two periods, it may occur
during growing season and late summer or autumn
season.
Infection occur during growing season turns fruits
into light brown, soft and white downy growth of
pathogen.

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White downy growth of pathogen on grapes

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TAXANOMIC POSITION

The causative organism for Downy mildew is

“ Plasmopara viticola”.
Domain Eukaryota

Kingdom Fungi

Phylum Oomycota

Class Oomycetes

Order Peronosporales

Family Peronosporaceae

Genus Plasmopara

Species Plasmopara viticola

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DEVELOPMEMNT OF DISEASE

 The pathogen overwinters in infected leaves on the

ground and possibly in diseased shoots.
 The overwintering spores (oospore) germinates in
the spring and produces a different type of spore
(sporangium).
 These sporangia are spread by wind and splashing
rain.
 When plant parts are covered with a film of
moisture, the spornagia release small swimming
spores called zoospores.
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DEVELOPMEMNT OF DISEASE

 Zoospores, which also spread by splashing rain,

germinate by producing germ tube that enters the
leaf through stomata (tiny pores) on the lower leaf
surface.
 Once inside the plant, fungus grows and spread
through tissues (Optimum temperature 18-25 degree
C)
 Infections are visible as lesions in about 7-12 days.

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Fig. Disease cycle of Downy mildew of grapes.

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CONTROL MEASURES OF DOWNY MILDEW

The most affective fungicides for the control of

downy mildew have been copper-based products such as
the bordeaux mixture, some broad-spectrum protective
fungicides, and several systematic fungicides.
Sanitation is important. Remove dead leaves and
berries from vines and the ground after the drop.
Expose the site to all-day sun and good air circulation.
Control weeds and tall grasses in the vineyard and
surrounding areas.
Select good resistant and hybrids.
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POWDERY MILDEW

It is a fungal disease which affects a wide variety of

plants and takes away plant nutrients.
This causes the plants to bloom less and become
weaker.
Its symptoms are quite distinctive and easy to
identify.
Powdery mildew grows well in all environments
with high humidity and moderate temperatures.
The powdery growth is a mass of conidia borne
conidiophores.
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CAUSES OF POWDERY MILDEW

The overwinter in plant debris began producing

spores in the spring. These spores are carried to your
plants via wind, insects and splashing water.
Powdery mildew, mainly caused by
the fungus Podosphaera xanthii infects all cucurbits.
Conditions that encourage the growth and spread of
powdery mildew include:
a. Dampness or high humidity
b. Crowded plantings
c. Poor air circulation
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IDENTIFICATION OF POWDERY MILDEW

Plants infected with powdery mildew look as if they

have been dusted with flour.
It usually starts as off as circular, white spots which
can appear on leaves, stems and sometimes fruits.
It usually covers the upper part of the leaves and
affects the older leaves first. The leaves turns yellow
and dried out.
The fungus might cause some leaves twist, break or
sometimes distorted.
Usually appears late in growing season.
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IDENTIFICATION OF POWDERY MILDEW

Fig. Infected powdery mildew of cucurbita leaf

Image source: https://gardenerspath.com/powdery-mildew

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TAXANOMIC POSITION

The causative organism for Downy mildew of cucurbits is

“ Plasmopara viticola”.

Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Ascomycota
Sub Phylum Pezizomycotina
Class Leotiomycetes
Order Erysiphales
Family Erysiphaceae
Genus Podosphaera
Species Podosphaera xanthii

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LIFE CYCLE OF POWDERY MILDEW

Powdery mildew disease cycle is initiated by

windblown conidia, which infect cucurbits over a range
of humidity (50 to 95%) during moderate to warm (68
to 80ºF) temperatures.
The life cycle of powdery mildew includes both
sexual and asexual reproduction.
Asexual spores produce conidia and the sexual stage
produces cleistothecia (ascocarps or fruiting bodies)
which contain ascospores.

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LIFE CYCLE OF POWDERY MILDEW

The ascocarp can be an over-wintering structure and

is important to the survival of the fungi.
The asexual, or conidial, stage of the infection serves
to spread the disease and intensify its effects.
Powdery mildews can also survive winter conditions
as dormant mycelia within the buds and other plant
tissue of the host.
These infected parts of the host can be the source of
primary inoculum that can initiate further infection
when conditions are right.
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LIFE CYCLE OF POWDERY MILDEW

Fig. Life cycle of Powdery Mildew

Image source: https://projects.ncsu.edu/
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PREVENTION & CONTROL MEASURES

Plant varieties with complete or partial resistance to

powdery mildew.
Apply fertilizer based on soil test results. Avoid over-
applying nitrogen.
Provide good air movement around plants through
proper spacing, staking of plants and weed control.
Apply fungicides after finding the first spot of powdery
mildew.
Home gardeners can apply sulfur products to both the
upper and lower surface of the leaves.
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CONCLUSION

Plant diseases are one of the major problems in

agriculture across the world, many modern scientific
research and methodologies were trying implement
disease resistance plants.
Prevention and breaking of life cycle of pathogenic
microbes is the only mode to avoid plant diseases.
Prevention and taking control measures are very
essential to avoid crop loss & bad debts in future.
Every farmer should get correct scientific information
about agriculture and diseases related information.
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RERERENCES

 George B. Lucas, C. Lee Camphbell, Leon T.

Lucas. “Introduction to plant diseases:

Identification and Management” – 2nd Edition, New

York, Thompson Publishing Inc; 1992. pp.192-212

R S Singh.  “Plant Diseases” -10th Edition, New

Delhi, Medtech Publishers; 2017. pp 176-179

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ANY
QUESTIONS…?

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