Glossary of phytopathology

Phytopathology

Phytopathology (pronounced: fy-toh-puh-thol-uh-jee) is derived from the Greek words 'phyton' meaning plant and 'pathos' meaning disease. It is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens and environmental conditions.

Glossary

A

• Abiotic disease - Diseases caused by non-living agents such as nutrient deficiencies, temperature extremes, and toxic chemicals.

• Ascospore - A spore contained in an ascus or that was produced inside an ascus. This kind of spore is specific to fungi classified as Ascomycetes.

B

• Biotic disease - Diseases caused by living organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

• Blight - A rapid and complete chlorosis, browning, then death of plant tissues such as leaves, branches, twigs, or floral organs.

C

• Canker - A necrotic, often sunken, area on a stem, branch or twig of a plant, which is associated with the action of certain pathogenic fungi or bacteria.

• Chlorosis - The yellowing of normally green tissues, caused by the destruction of the chlorophyll or the partial failure of the chlorophyll to develop.

D

• Damping off - A disease of seedlings caused by various pathogens, resulting in the rotting of stem and root tissues at and below the soil surface.

E

• Etiology - The study of causation, or origination. In phytopathology, it refers to the study of the cause of diseases in plants.

F

• Fungicide - A chemical compound that kills or inhibits the growth of fungi.

G

• Gall - An abnormal outgrowth of plant tissues caused by various parasites, particularly insects and mites.

H

• Hypha - A long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria.

I

• Inoculum - Any substance or device used to introduce a pathogen into a host plant.

J

• Jaundice - A term used to describe the yellowing of plant tissues, often due to virus infection.

K

• Knot - A hard, woody swelling on a plant, typically caused by the growth and division of cells in response to a bacterial infection.

L

• Lesion - A localized, defined area of diseased tissue.

M

• Mildew - A type of fungus that grows on the surface of plants, often appearing as a white or gray powdery mass.

N

• Necrosis - The death of cells or tissues from disease or injury.

O

• Oomycete - A type of fungus-like microorganism that is often waterborne and can cause diseases in plants.

P

• Pathogen - A biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.

Q

• Quarantine - A restriction on the movement of plants and plant products to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

R

• Rust - A type of fungal disease that results in orange-brown, powdery spots on the leaves, stems, and fruit of infected plants.

S

• Spore - A reproductive unit capable of giving rise to a new individual without sexual fusion, characteristic of lower plants, fungi, and protozoans.

T

• Toxin - A poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms.

U

• Urediniospore - A type of spore that is characteristic of rust fungi.

V

• Virus - A small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.

W

• Wilt - A plant disease symptom characterized by drooping and shriveling; usually caused by parasites attacking the roots.

X

• Xylem - The vascular tissue in plants that conducts water and dissolved nutrients upward from the root and also helps to form the woody element in the stem.

Y

• Yellows - A disease of plants, characterized by stunting and the loss of chlorophyll.

Z

• Zoospore - A spore of certain algae, fungi, and protozoans, capable of movement.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Glossary of phytopathology
• Wikipedia's article - Glossary of phytopathology

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