Plant Diseases

• Tobacco Mosaic Virus

  • Spread by direct contact between infected plants, either natual or through farmers hands
  • Infects chloroplasts
  • changes leaf colour from green to yellow/white in a mosaic pattern
  • Leaves crinkle or curl up
  • No cure
• Crown Gall Disease

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens (bacteria) causes it
  • Transmitted through infected soil or plant material
  • Tumor develops where bacteria has infected the plant
  • often in stems or roots of a plant
  • No cure
  • bacteria transfers some of its DNA into infected plant cells DNA
• Barley Powdery Mildew

  • Caused by Erysiphe Graminis (fungus)
  • Produces spores that reproduce
  • Spread by wind
  • Fluffy white growth of leaves
  • Plants stop being able to make chlorophyll
  • Can't photosynthesise
  • Treated with fungicides
  • Carefully destroy infected leaves