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Both flowering and non-flowering plants are prone
to a number of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Fungi are able
to survive in the soil, independent of the plants, while both bacteria and
viruses require a plant host for their survival.
Fungi
Fungi are among the most primitive of all organisms,
and they are able to reproduce through the use of spores. These spores can be
extremely difficult to kill, and the spores are designed to spread rapidly.
Fungi produce spores in large numbers, and some of the spores are able to enter
plants through their roots, while other spores attach themselves to the leaves
of the plant. A single infected plant can release up to 100 million spores, so
it is important to completely eradicate any fungal infection.
Bacteria
Unlike fungi, which can lie dormant for years or even decades in the soil,
bacteria need both warmth and water to multiply and grow. Therefore, the
majority of bacterial diseases are more of a problem in climates that are both
warm and wet. Bacterial infections are easily spread through rain, splashing
water, and even unknowingly by gardeners as they move between their plants. Most
bacteria enter plants through a natural opening like a flower, or through a
wound or cut in a stem or leaf.
Viruses
Viruses are even smaller life forms than bacteria, and they are able to
reproduce only from within the cells of the plant or animal they infect. Certain
viruses can be transmitted from plant to plant by insects such as aphids, thrips
and leafhoppers, while still others can be carried by infected seeds or pollen
spores. Like bacteria, viruses often enter plants through cuts or wounds in the
stems, leaves or other parts of the plant.
As with all other disease treatment, the first step to effectively treating a
viral, bacterial or fungal infection in the garden is to diagnose it properly.
Every gardener should keep a book or guide on hand which shows the effects of
common plant diseases. This guide will prove invaluable when trying to figure
out what is bothering your plants. If you are still stumped for a diagnosis, be
sure to seek the assistance of the staff at your local garden center, or the
help of a more experienced gardener.
When treating bacterial, fungal and viral infections, the best approach is to
try the most natural, least invasive methods first, and to move on only if those
natural cures do not produce results. It is always a good idea to keep the use
of harsh chemical pesticides and fungicides to a minimum, both for the health of
your garden and the health of the wider environment.
Of course, it's impossible to put everything about plant and flower diseases
into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your
understanding about plant and flower diseases, and that's time well spent.
About the Author:
B. Keith Johnson is a contributing author for
Flower
Gardens. Visit his other sites for
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