Microbes and Plant Diseases

This fungi is usually isolated as a saprophytic contaminant. World-wide, it is known as an insect parasite. Sympodial development of single-celled conidia on a narrow geniculate or zig-zag rachis emanating from a flask-shaped conidiophore.

It is a common human pathogen causing pulmonary, rhinocerebral, disseminated, CNS zygomycosis. It is a small pyriform shaped sporangia with a characteristic conical shaped columellae and pronounced apophysis.

It is a mycotic infection of humans and animals caused by a number of different fungi and actinomycetes characterised by draining sinuses, granules and tumefaction. The disease results from the traumatic implantation of the aetiologic agent and usually involves the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue.

Aspergillus parasiticus is a mold known to produce aflatoxins which is a potent liver carcinogen. It is closely related to Aspergillus flavus.

A. flavus is the major producer of carcinogenic aflatoxins in crops worldwide. It is also an opportunistic human and animal pathogen, causing aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals.

Plants growing in  extremely dry soil and arid conditions that are under stress will be more prone to infection. Powdery mildew is a powdery fungus that grows mostly on the upper surface of leaves. It is usually white in colour. It will occasionally spread to the underside of leaves and other parts of the plant, such as stems and sometimes flowers and fruit. Powdery mildew prospers in dry soil conditions.

It is a result of Sclerotium rolfsii which is a soil-inhabiting fungus affecting the seed of the plant. This seed-borne disease infects the seed and it turns into blue and black patches.

Blossom end rot is a common problem of tomatoes, peppers and aubergines grown in a greenhouse caused by erratic watering or dryness at the root. Brown sunken spots develop at the bottom of the fruit opposite stem.

This is a fungal disease affecting elms. 

 Ampelomyces quisqualis is an anamorphic fungus that is a hyperparasite of powdery mildews. This parasitism reduces growth and may eventually kill the mildew. L. longisporum is used for management of aphid pests. Insects are infected when they come into contact with the sticky fungal spores which then grow and invade the body. Thus the internal organs are consumed.

Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, despite its misleading name. Elephantiasis is caused by parasitic worms, Diphtheria by bacteria, and Pneumonia can be bacterial or viral - none are fungal diseases.

M13 is a filamentous bacteriophage composed of circular single stranded DNA (ssDNA). Filamentous bacteriophage fd is a type of filamentous bacteriophage known to infect Escherichia coli. Bacteriophage f1 is structurally classified as a class I filamentous phage.

Spores are released when the sporangium wall ruptures or breaks open. This passive dispersal mechanism allows spores to be carried by wind to new locations for germination.

The study of fungi is called mycology.

Coffee rust (caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix), commonly referred to as Leaf Rust, devastated coffee plantations in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in the late 19th century, ending its status as a major coffee producer.