Disease transmission in plants

Question 1

How is soil contaminated?

Answer 1

infected plants leave pathogen in the soil or protocisista or fungi spores

e.g. black sigatoka spores

these are passed onto the next plant

Question 2

What are the non-animal vectors for plants?

Answer 2

wind - bacteria, viruses, or spores may be carried in the wind

water - spores swin in the surface film of water on leaves, raindrop splashes carry pathogen and spores

Question 3

What are the animal vectors for plant diseasE?

Answer 3

insects and birds carry pathogens from one place to another as they feed

insects, such as aphids, inoculate pathogens driectly into plant tissues

humans - pathogen and spores arae transmitted by hands, fomites and farming practices and transporting plants and crops around the world

Question 4

What are the factors affecting the transmission of communicable disease in plants?

Answer 4

over crowding - increase likelihood of contact

poor mineral nutrition - reduces resistance

damp, warm condition increase survival and spread

Question 5

How does climate change increase the likelihood of transmission of communicable disease in plants?

Answer 5

some places have increased rainfall and wind and this proimotes the spread of diseases

allows animal vectors to spread to new areas

drier condition may reduce the spread

Question 6

How can spread of plant disease be minimised?

Answer 6

increase plant spacing

thorougly clear fields after harvesting

rotate crops - pathogens in area will eventually die if they cannot infect the host plant

strict hygeine - sterilising machinery, hands and clothes

control insect vectors