Causes of Forest Tree Disease

This flashcard set covers key vocabulary terms related to forest tree diseases, including definitions and descriptions for each term.

Fungi

Eukaryotic, achlorophyllous, spore-producing organisms belonging to Kingdom FUNGI, known for their filamentous structure and ability to produce enzymes to degrade plant cell components.

Zygomycota

A fungal phylum known as black molds with coenocytic hyphae, reproducing via sporangiospores and zygospores, majorly causing seed decay and fruit rot.

Ascomycota

A fungal phylum known as sac fungi with septate hyphae, reproducing asexually by conidia and sexually by ascospores, impacting leaf spot and wood discoloration.

Basidiomycota

A fungal phylum known as club fungi with septate hyphae, reproducing asexually by conidia and sexually by basidiospores, affecting rusts and smuts.

Oomycota

Organisms traditionally classified with fungi, now in Stramenopila, reproducing asexually by zoospores and sexually by oospores, causing seedling damping-off.

Deuteromycetes

Also known as imperfect fungi, these reproduce asexually by means of conidia and cause diseases such as leaf spots and root rots.

Bacteria

Unicellular prokaryotic organisms belonging to Kingdom Monera, they reproduce asexually by binary fission and can produce thick-walled endospores.

Nematodes

Worm-like organisms belonging to kingdom ANIMALIA, producing enzymes to degrade host cell components and causing diseases like root knot.

Viruses

Submicroscopic entities that replicate only within living host cells, characterized by being composed of nucleoproteins and often causing various plant diseases.

Parasitic Seed Plants

Higher plants that can parasitize other plants, including mistletoes and dodders, which form haustoria to obtain nourishment from the host.

Mycoplasma

Prokaryotic organisms without cell walls, reproducing by fission and budding, often associated with various plant diseases.

Phytoplasmas

Cell wall-less entities related to Mycoplasmas, transmitted by insect vectors and associated with systemic diseases in plants.

Air Pollutants

Substances in the air that can harm plant health, primarily originating from fossil fuel combustion, including gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Soil Moisture

Water content in the soil, crucial for plant health; both excess and deficiency can lead to substantial plant stress and disease.

Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies

Lack of essential nutrients in soil, causing distinct symptoms in plants such as poor growth and discoloration.

Epidemiology

The study of epidemics, particularly focusing on their causes and effects within plant populations, often referred to as epiphytology in plant health.

Koch's Postulates

A series of criteria used to establish a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease, including association, isolation, inoculation, and reisolation.

Integrated Disease Management (IDM)

A holistic approach to managing plant diseases that combines multiple strategies, including chemical, cultural, and biological methods for effective control.

Damping-off

A common seedling disease characterized by the rotting of seeds and seedlings, primarily caused by pathogens like Pythium and Phytophthora.

Blight

A plant disease that causes sudden death or browning of foliage, often due to pathogens like Botryodiplodia and Botrytis.

Leaf Spot

Symptoms in plants characterized by the appearance of necrotic areas on leaves, often caused by fungal pathogens.