Activity No.

PLANT PATHOGENS

I. Introduction

(write an introduction about plant pathogens and plant diseases)

A plant pathogen is a broad term that refers to any of the organisms, such as fungi,
bacteria, protists, nematodes, and viruses that cause plant diseases. Plant pathogens
are of interest for a number of reasons, ranging from concerns about fragile ecosystems
to the desire to protect the food supply. Plant pathogens that cause plant diseases
reduce a grower’s ability to produce crops and can infect almost all types of plants.
A plant disease is defined as “anything that prevents a plant from performing to its
maximum potential.” This definition is broad and includes abiotic and biotic plant
diseases.

II. Objectives

This activity aims to discuss plant diseases and pathogens. Specifically, it aims to:

a. discuss what causes plant diseases;

b. discuss the disease cycle;
c. identify some plant diseases and causal agents;
d. have a hands-on experience in plant disease diagnosis/identification, and
e. discuss the importance of proper plant disease diagnosis.

III. Discussion

1. In your own words, define the following terms:

a. Plant disease
A plant disease is usually defines as abnormal growth or dysfunction of a plant. b.
Pathogens
A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ. c.
Signs
Signs are physical evidence of the pathogen's presence in conjunction with the ill
plant material.
d. Symptoms
As a plant responds to the disease, it may exhibit visible changes in color, shape, or
function.

2. Draw the disease cycle and discuss its process.

3. Enumerate at least 10 plant diseases and determine their causal agent (could be
biotic or abiotic) and list down the signs and symptoms. Your table should look like
this:
Plant Disease Causal Agent Signs Symptoms
Black spot Biotic None The initial
symptoms start as
feathery-edged,
black spots on
lower leaves. As
these spots
enlarge, the leaves
turn yellow and
 drop off. The
disease continues
up the stems until
the entire plant

becomes defoliated.

Powdery Mildew Biotic None Powdery mildews

are easily
recognized by the
white, powdery
growth of the
fungus on infected
portions of the plant
host.
Downy Mildew Biotic Downy mildew Downy mildew
causes light green causes light green
to yellow angular to yellow angular
spots on the upper spots on the upper
surfaces of leaves. surfaces of leaves.
Blight Biotic roughly circular Symptoms of early
brown spots appear blight first appear at
on leaves and the base of affected
stems. plants, where
roughly circular
brown spots appear
on leaves and
stems. As these
spots enlarge,
concentric rings
appear giving the
areas a target-like
appearance. Often
spots have a yellow
halo.
Canker Abiotic You might notice a Most canker sores
tingling or burning are round or oval
sensation a day or with a white or
two before the yellow center and a
sores actually red border. They
appear. form inside your
mouth — on or
 under your tongue,
inside your cheeks
or lips, at the base
of your gums, or on
your soft palate.
You might notice a
tingling or burning
sensation a day or
two before the

sores actually
appear.
Shot Hole Biotic None The main
symptoms of shot
hole on peach
occur on twigs and
buds, but fruit
lesions may
develop when
spring weather is
wet. Twig
symptoms first
appear as small,
purplish black
spots. These turn
brown as they
enlarge, often
having a light
center with a
purplish brown
margin.
Black Knot Biotic None a small, olive-green
gall or swelling will
develop at a
succulent growing
point or fruit spur
(as a result of
spores landing and
infection taking
place).
Apple Scab Biotic The first signs of Olive-green to
apple scab often black velvety spots
 are not noticed. with indistinct
These signs include margins on leaves.
twisted and
puckered leaves
that have black,
circular scabby
spots on the
underside.
Deficiencies in Abiotic Dry soil Scorching
available water
Peach Leaf Curl Biotic Peach leaf curl firstSymptoms of leaf
appears in spring curl appear in the
as reddish areas on spring. Developing
developing leaves. leaves become
These areas severely distorted
become thickened (thickened and
and puckered, puckered), and
causing leaves to have a reddish or
curl and severely purple cast.
distort. The
thickened areas turn
yellowish and then
grayish white, as
velvety spores are
produced on the
surface by the leaf
curl fungus.

4. Plant disease diagnosis/symptoms. Take a roam inside or outside your home and
look for at least ten (10) diseased plants or commodities. It could be condiments
from your kitchen, the plants in your garden, and even weeds in your backyard. Take
photo/s of the diseased plant or plant part and identify what kind of disease it could
be according to the visible symptoms (and possibly, visible signs). Then identify the
possible causal agent of the disease. You may use mobile applications such as
Spidtech, Agrio, Agrobase, Plantix, and such to help you with the identification. Your
table should look like this.
NOTE: Your photo must be captured by you. Set the settings of your camera and put
the date and time. DISCLAIMER: Plant disease diagnosis will be more accurate by
having the signs tested and identified in laboratories.

Signs Symptoms
 You might Most canker
notice a sores are
tingling or round or oval
burning with a white or
sensation a yellow center
day or two and a red
before the border. They
sores actually form inside
appear. your mouth —
on or under
your tongue,
inside your
[Photo/s here] cheeks or lips,
at the base of
your gums, or
on your soft
palate. You
might notice a

tingling or
burning
sensation a
day or two
before the
sores actually
appear.

Plant Disease: canker

Causal Agent: abiotic
 None The main
symptoms of
shot hole on
peach occur
on twigs and
buds, but fruit
lesions may
develop when
spring
weather is wet.
Twig
symptoms
first appear as
small, purplish
black spots.
These turn
brown as they
enlarge, often
having a light
center with a
purplish brown
Shot hole margin.

roughly Symptoms of
circular brown early blight
spots appear first appear at
on leaves and the base of
stems. affected
plants, where
roughly
circular brown
spots appear
on leaves and
stems. As
these spots
enlarge,
concentric
rings appear
giving the
areas a
target-like
appearance
Often spots
Blight
 Peach leaf curl Symptoms of
first leaf curl
appears in appear in the
spring as spring.
.
reddish areas Symptoms of
Developing
on developing Cercospora
leaves
leaves. These leaf spot first
become
areas become appear as
severely
thickened and individual,
distorted
puckered, circularand
(thickened spots
causing puckered), tan to
that are
leaves to curl and light brown
have a
and severely with reddish
reddish or
distort. The purple
purple cast.As
borders.
thickened
areas turn the disease
progresses,
yellowish and
individual
then grayish spots
white, as coalesce.
velvety spores Heavily
are produced infected
Cercospora leaf spot on the surface leaves first
by the leaf curl become
fungus. yellow and
None Cankers on a turn
eventually
tree's bark
brown and
thatnecrotic.
look like
discolored or
wet patches,
often with
areas of dead
or decayed
sapwood
around their
edges.
Weeping
wounds.
The ends of
shoots, twigs,
or branches
are drooping
or dead (they
often look like
a shepherd's
Fire blight crook)
Burnt-looking,
dead leaves.
5. Why is it important to have an accurate plant disease diagnosis?
Disease control procedures can be a waste of time and money if the disease and the
disease-causing agent are not properly identified. This can lead to additional plant
losses. As a result, accurate disease diagnosis is critical. Symptoms are frequently
used by plant pathologists to identify disease problems.

IV. Conclusion

(based on our objectives)

INFECTIOUS PLANT DISEASES
Nematodes
Infectious plant diseases are caused by living (biotic) agents, or pathogens. These
pathogens can be spread from an infected plant or plant debris to a healthy plant.
Microorganisms that cause plant diseases include nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and
mycoplasmas. We also classify viruses and viroids as biotic agents because they must
have living cells for reproduction and are composed of nucleic acid and protein. Some
higher plants that produce seeds are parasitic on other plants and are considered to be
pathogens
Nematodes are small eel-like worms, many of which are too small to be seen with the
unaided eye. Nematodes feed on plants by means of a miniature hypodermic-like
structure called a stylet, which is used to suck liquid nutrients out of plant cells.
Nematodes reproduce by laying eggs that hatch into young nematodes called laroae
or juveniles. The larvae develop through a series of four molts, in which the outer skin
is shed, until they become adults. Some nematodes can complete their life cycle in
less than 30 days.
The most important nematode pathogens injure plant roots, but different types of
nematodes can feed on almost any part of a plant. Some nematodes feed mainly on
the outside of plant tissues (ectoparasites), whereas others wriggle inside the tissues
Plant disease cycles represent pathogen biology as a series of interconnected
stages of development including dormancy, reproduction, dispersal, and
pathogenesis. The progression through these stages is determined by a continuous
sequence of interactions among host, pathogen, and environment. The stages of the
disease cycle form the basis of many plant
disease prediction models. The relationship of temperature and moisture to disease
development and pathogen reproduction serve as the basis for most contemporary plant
disease prediction systems. Correct plant disease diagnosis is necessary for
recommending the appropriate control measures, and in plant disease surveys.
Diagnosis based on symptoms alone is not a very reliable means of identifying a
particular malady since some diseases exhibit that same symptoms although their
pathogens may be very different.

V. References
List down your references in APA format
An introduction to plant pathogen. (2017, August 11). Retrieved October 19, 2022, from
https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/blog/index.php/an-introduction-to-plant-pathogen/
Lucas, G. B., Campbell, L. C., & Lucas, L. T. (1992). Causes of Plant Diseases.
SpringerLink. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4615-7294-
7_2?error=cookies_not_supported&code=870070c0-ca28-4010-ac83-65092831590b
Access denied. (n.d.-b). Retrieved October 20, 2022, from
https://chedro3.ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/06.Disease-Cycle.pdf