Infection & ResponseDeep Dive
Plant Pathogens and Disease Types
Part of Plant Diseases and Defenses — GCSE Biology
This deep dive covers Plant Pathogens and Disease Types within Plant Diseases and Defenses for GCSE Biology. Plant pathogens, defense mechanisms, disease identification, crop protection It is section 3 of 18 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 18
Practice
18 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
Plant Pathogens and Disease Types
Types of Plant Pathogens
Fungal Pathogens
- Most common plant diseases
- Spread by spores through air or water
- Thrive in warm, moist conditions
- Examples: Rose black spot, potato blight
Bacterial Pathogens
- Enter through wounds or natural openings
- Spread by water, insects, or tools
- Cause wilting, spots, or soft rot
- Examples: Fire blight, bacterial canker
Viral Pathogens
- Need vectors (insects) to spread
- Cannot be cured once inside plant
- Cause stunting and deformation
- Examples: TMV, cucumber mosaic virus
Other Pathogens
- Nematodes (roundworms)
- Protists (e.g., Phytophthora)
- Parasitic plants (e.g., dodder)