5.6 Diseases caused by fungi and protists

Question 1

Describe 3 ways in which fungi diseases such as black spot or stem rust can be spread from plant to plant

Answer 1

Any three from:
• spores carried in air,
• spores in water splashes,
• contaminated plant material in soil,
• direct contact between healthy and diseased leaves

Question 2

Explain why roses affected by black spot produce fewer smaller flowers than healthy plants

Answer 2

Fungus causes black spots on leaves that then turn yellow and fall early, reducing leaf area for photosynthesis
and limiting food available to make flowers.

Question 3

Describe how malaria is passed from one person to another?

Answer 3

Through bite of female Anopheles mosquito

infected with malaria parasite from another blood meal

Question 4

Insecticide- treated mosquito nets help to prevent the spread of malaria in two ways. EXPLAIN HOW

Answer 4

nets prevent mosquito bites,

insecticide kills mosquitoes

Question 5

For travellers from the UK going to an area with malaria, doctors suggest the ABCD approach.
This stands for Awareness, bite, prevention, chemoprophylaxis (antimalarial medicines), and Diagnosis. Discuss how each of these points would reduce the chance of becoming seriously ill with malaria.

Answer 5

awareness:
• avoid malarial areas if possible,
• be aware if malaria is in intended region of travel;

bite prevention:
• precautions such as insecticide‑treated mosquito nets to sleep under, mosquito netting at windows and doors,
• use of insect repellent,
• keeping skin covered;

chemoprophylaxis:
• take antimalarial drugs that kill parasites in blood;

diagnosis:
• early malaria treatment more likely to be effective,
• have blood test for early diagnosis if ill after travel to malarial area.

Question 6

Fungal Disease
FEW OR MANY affect people
FEW OR MANY affect plants

Answer 6

few

many

Question 7

Name an Example of a fungal disease in people

Answer 7

athletes foot (minor disease)

Question 8

Name an Example of a fungal disease in plants

Answer 8

rose black spot

Question 9

What is a protist?

Answer 9

a type of single celled organisms which cause a range of diseases in plants and animals

Question 10

Disease caused by protists usually involve a vector. What is a vector?

Answer 10

an organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.

Question 11

Name a disease that is transferred by a vector?

Answer 11

malaria

Question 12

How can diseases such as malaria, that are spread by a vector be controlled?

Answer 12

• using insecticide-impregnated insect nets
• insecticides to kill mosquitoes
• prevent vectors from breeding by removing standing water
• travellers take antimalarial drugs to kill parasites in the blood if they are bitten by the animal