Microbes and Plant Diseases

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.

Pythium insidiosum is the causative agent of swamp cancer especially in horses, mainly in wet tropical environments. Infections are characterised by tumour-like masses, which develop mostly on the legs.

It is a rare cause of subcutaneous, sinusitis, endocarditis, peritonitis and disseminated infection in immunosuppressed patients.

Mortierella wolfii is an important casual agent of bovine mycotic abortion, pneumonia and systemic mycosis. It has also been isolated from soil, rotten silage, hay and coal spoil tips.

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.

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

Obligate parasite is completely dependent on its host.

 Neurospora crassa belongs to ascomycetes class of fungi and widely used in genetical studies.

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Mushroom is a saprophyte, which obtains nutrients from dead organic matter.

Mushrooms, yeast, and penicillin are all types of fungi. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, not a fungus.

Wheat rust is a plant disease caused by fungi of the genus Puccinia.

Aspergillus and Penicillium belong to class Ascomycetes.

Citrus canker is a disease affecting citrus species that is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis.

Deuteromycetes are commonly known as imperfect fungi because only the asexual or vegetative phases of these fungi are known. Some examples are Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Trichoderma.