Effects of pathogens and disease on plant physiology

Ray, Rumiana V.

Abstract

Plant disease is the lasting departure from the normal physiological functioning of a plant caused by a pathogen interfering with the metabolism of its host for the purposes of nutrition acquisition, reproduction, and survival. The effects of disease on the plant host manifest as symptoms that can vary in severity depending on the susceptibility of the host, and the life strategy and aggressiveness of the pathogen. Pathogens differ with respect to the species of plants that they can attack, the organs and tissues that they can infect, and the growth stage of the plant on which they can grow. Some pathogens are restricted to a single plant species as their hosts, others to one genus of plants, and many have a wide range of hosts, belonging to many families of higher plants. Often diseases and their pathogens can be categorized, according to their target plant tissues or organs that can be above- or belowground. For example, some pathogens specialize in infecting roots, others stems, and some can only infect the leaves or the fleshy fruits or vegetables. Pathogens can also attack specific tissues, e.g., vascular parasites infect the phloem or xylem. This chapter focusses on the means by which pathogens interfere with the processes of photosynthesis, water or nutrient translocation of their host for the destruction of plant tissues, and the mechanisms by which pathogens alter plant growth and development, and reduce plant reproductive capacity, resulting in plant disease causing losses in crop productivity and yield.

Citation

Ray, R. V. (2024). Effects of pathogens and disease on plant physiology. In Agrios' Plant Pathology (63-92). (6). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822429-8.00002-9

• Online Publication Date: May 31, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Pages: 63-92
• Series Title: Agrios' Plant Pathology
• Edition: 6
• Book Title: Agrios' Plant Pathology
• Chapter Number: 2
• ISBN: 9780128224298
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822429-8.00002-9
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/37950212