Types Of Plant Diseases

Plants, which fall under living organism category, are susceptible to diseases. There are different types of plant diseases that people face when they grow plants in the garden. Flower plants, fruit plants and general plants fall as prey to different traits. It is essential for the gardener or the caretaker of the garden to offer additional nutrients or a protective environment to avoid damage to the immune system of the plant. Continue to read ahead to understand the types of plant diseases found generally across the globe.

1. Fungal Diseases

Fungus is the common occurring disease in plants. Occurrence of this disease reduces productivity in a plant. They often occur at different stages of a plants growth and hamper the immune system. There is a considerable amount of stress existing, which in turn effects the growth and ultimately leads to death. Rusts, moulds, fungi, blackspot are common forms of fungal disease that attack fruit, flower and ornamental plants.

2. Bacterial Disease

A bacterium is another form of living organism and commonly occurring types of plant diseases that has the capacity to bring down the growth of a plant. They affect the immune system of the plant, destroying the natural ability to fight against bacterium. A protective environment helps a plant develop its natural ability to fight against bacterial diseases.

3. Diseases due to nutrient deficiency

Nutrient deficiency is other types of plant diseases that cause severe effect on the growth of the plant. Like any other living organism, plants require their share of nutrients to function properly. Presence of essential nutrients, improves the immune system, thereby increasing the ability to develop resistance against bacterial diseases.

4. Cankers

This is one among different types of plant diseases. It especially forms on wooden stems. Occurrence behind the disease dates back to a dead tissue. Sunken areas and cracks are other reasons for occurrence of the disease. With cankers present on the wooden stem, there is no growth of the region above its occurrence. This causes an ultimate death over a period.

5. Cultural Disorders

a. Cold

Exposure to cold environment during the growth phase of a plant leads to cold death or dieback. Cold stress increases stunting, lead drop and cracking of stem. Such a process increases the number of dead tissues, which in turn transform into cankers.

b. Heat

Exposure of extreme heat causes withering, sunscald of trunk and leaves. Blistering and discoloration are other effects.

c. Moisture

Improper maintenance of moisture content in the soil leads to wilting of plants. Long period of wilting causes reduced productivity and damage to roots. Improper content of moisture in soil also makes it difficult for the plant to generate necessary oxygen.

d. Wind

Tattered leaves and discoloration are the symptoms on plants that experience heavy winds.

e. Salt

Presence of excessive salt content within the soil damages the growth of the plant. Animal urine, road salt and ocean spray are common agents that bring in excessive salt into soil. A drought like symptom appears around the region where excessive salt is residing. Salts reside on leaves, stems, and around the roots. Accumulation over a period, damages the entire growth.