Fungal Diseases in Plants | Plant Pathology

In this article we will discuss about some common fungal disease in plants

BROWN PATCH 

It is a turfgrass disease caused by different species of the Rhizoctonia fungus. Patches of brown and yellow color appear on the lawn in irregular shapes. It does not affect the roots and crown of the grass, so it is also known as Foliar disease.

CANKER 

There are some fungal infections that affect the roots and barks of the plants. One such fungi is canker fungi. It is found on woody trees and is notorious for causing localized damage to the barks of trees.

CLEMATIS WILT 

It is caused by a fungus (Phoma clematidina), which makes an entry into the plant body through cuts and wounds created by insects. Generally, it appears on large-flowered hybrid plants in brown- and black-colored patches.

DOWNY MILDEW 

This disease is caused by Peronosporaceae which affects a number of plants. It can be identified when discolored blotches appear on the leaves; a mold-like growth also develops on the plants. It affects the growth and strength of the plant.

CLUB ROOT 

This infection is found in cabbages, turnips, and radishes which is caused by the Plasmodiophora brassicae fungus. The color of the leaves changes to bluish-green, and the roots if pulled out appear clubbed and are easily broken.

BLACK SPOT 

Diplocarpon rosae is the fungus that causes the black spot disease on a rose plant. Blackish spots that appear on the leaves gradually spread upwards and weaken the plant. It is mostly observed in humid climate.

DAMPING OFF 

This is a disease caused by different fungi Pythium and Phytophthora being some of them. It infects the seed and decays it, thus affecting the growth and vigor of the whole plant.

ANTHRACNOSE 

It is a disease caused by Colletotrichum or Gloeosporium fungi which occur in warm and humid areas. In this, shrunken kind of spots of different colors are observed on the fruits, flowers, stems, and leaves. These spots gradually expand and cause the plant to die.

BOTTOM ROT 

This is a fungal disease found on lettuce plants. The characteristic of this fungus is that it first affects the leaves on the lower part of the plant and then moves upward to affect the upper part. It is caused by Rhizoctonia solani fungus.

DOLLAR SPOT 

This is a lawn disease which is a result of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. Small and yellow-colored spots can be observed on the turf. It occurs generally in between early spring and late fall.

CROWN WART 

This disease is caused by a fungus of Physoderma species that attacks the stem of the alfalfa plants. It forms white protrusions at the base of the stem of the plant.

POTATO WART 

Caused by Synchytrium endobioticum, it is a fungal disease that causes dark, warty, spongy excrescences in the eyes of potato tubers, similar to the crown wart in alfalfa plants.

RHIZOCTONIA DISEASE 

Rhizoctonia solani is the fungus that infects potato plants, underground stems, and tubers as well. It generally occurs in the lesion form, or as sclerotia on tubers. This infection can kill the plant as it does not allow the plant to grow further.

LATE BLIGHT 

Late blight or blight is caused by Phytophthora infestans, which again attacks potatoes and tomatoes. Gray spots and white-colored molds start appearing on the leaves as well as the fruits, eventually killing the whole plant.

EARLY BLIGHT 

Alternaria solani is the fungal pathogen that causes early blight disease in potatoes and tomatoes. It destroys the fruit of the plant and affects the life as well. The leaves and fruits turn yellow or brown and then drop off from the plant.

LEAF CURL 

It is a disease caused by Taphrina deformans in which the leaves appear distorted, crumpled, and thickened. It reduces the production of leaves and fruits.

GRAY MOLD 

This infection is caused by Botrytis, which forms a white-colored growth on plants that gradually turns into gray color. The fruits and leaves of the infected plant fall while the stems break down.

APPLE SCAB 

It is caused by Venturia inaequalis, an air-borne fungus. Olive green-colored patches appear on the leaves, black- or gray-colored patches develop on the fruits eventually destroying it.

WHITE ROT 

Pleurotus ostreatus causes the lignin and cellulose present in the wood to break down, affecting the color and the vitality of the tree.

POWDERY MILDEW 

The characteristic of this fungal infection is that it is often specific to the host that it invades. It is normally seen on roses, lilac, English oak, zinnias, etc.

PINK ROOT 

This infection is mostly found in onions caused by Phoma terrestris, a soil-borne fungus. It can be identified by light pink to yellowish brown discoloration of the roots of onion. It affects the growth of the plant to quite an extent.

RUST 

This disease affects the stems, leaves, seeds, and fruits of the plant. It can be identified if spots of brown, yellow, red, or orange colors are seen. It may reduce the vigor of the plant. It is caused by pathogenic fungi.

COTTON BALL 

It is a disease of cranberry plant which is caused by Monilinia oxycocci fungus. Cotton-like fungus appears inside the berries, infects them, and spoils the whole fruit.

SMUT 

Ustilago maydis is a fungus that affects corn and sugarcane plants. Blisters develop on the affected parts of the plant and it gets discolored as well. The kernels become huge, they swell up, and the whole plant and fruit are slowly destroyed.

ROOT ROT 

Like leaves, barks, and stems, the roots can also be infected with fungal infections. Root rot disease causes root decay, eventually causing the plant to die. It is mostly a result of Phytophthora fungus.

YELLOW SPOTS 

These spots are caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis fungus. Yellow-colored spots develop on the leaves and the stem, and if not taken care it dries up or infects the whole plant.