This document discusses biotic disease causing agents such as viruses and fungi. It provides details on the characteristics of viruses, including their small size, genome composition, protein coat, obligate parasitism, and replication methods. Historical developments in plant virology are outlined. The morphology of different types of viruses is described. Fungal characteristics such as hyphae, septa, cell walls, nuclei, and life cycles are explained. Different types of fungal pathogens such as saprophytes, necrotrophs, and biotrophs are defined. Common disease symptoms caused by fungi like necrosis, wilting, and abnormal growth are listed.
2. Virus
Size: ultramicroscopic, visualization requires an electron
microscope
Genome: RNA/DNA. Either single stranded or double
stranded
Capsid/ protein coat: composed of protein subunits.
Lipoproteins are also sometimes associated
Obligate parasite: Dependent on the host for all the functions
plus the synthesis of nucleic acids and amino acids
Replication by assembly: dependent on assembly of new
particles from pools of required components .
Vector required for transmission
3. Historical developments in plant virology
1. Tulipomani in 15th century Holland- tulip from Persia:
development of Bizzare
2. 1886: Adolf Mayer confirmed the primary principle of plant
virology when working with TMV
3. Dmitri Ivanowski (1892) Beijernick (1898)- unique nature of
viral pathogens- named vrus as contagium fluidium
vivium- a contagious living fluid
4. Stanley- crystallized TMV- 1946 Nobel prize for chemistry
5. Bawden and Pirie- precence of phosphorus
6. Fraenkel Conrat- isolated RNA-1956
4. What do viruses look like
Isometric: spherical and (depending on the
species) from about 18nm in diameter upwards.
E.g Tobacco necrosis virus, genus Necrovirus
with particles 26 nm in diameter.
Rod-shaped: about 20-25 nm in diameter and
from about 100 to 300 nm long.
E.g. Tobacco mosaic virus, genus Tobamovirus
with particles 300 nm long.
5. Filamentous: usually about 12 nm in diameter and more
flexuous than the rod-shaped particles. They can be up
to 1000 nm long, or even longer in some instances. E.g.
Potato virus with particles 740 nm long.
Geminate: twinned isometric particles about 30 x
18 nm. These particles are diagnostic for viruses in
the family Geminiviridae which are widespread in
many crops especially in tropical regions. The
example here shows Maize streak virus, genus
Mastrevirus.
Bacilliform: Short round-ended rods. These come in
various forms up to about 30 nm wide and 300 nm
long. E.g Cocoa swollen shoot virus 28 x 130 nm.
6. Symptoms found in plants infected with virus
1. Local lesions
2. Symptoms affection reproduction sterility and yield loss
3. Symptoms caused by growth abnormalities
1. stunning and dwarfing
2. Tumour and gall
3. Distortions
4. Enations
4. Symptoms based on changes in Chlorophyll or other pigments
1. Mosaics and mottles
2. Stripes and streaks
3. Ring spots and line patterns
4. Vein banding
5. Vein clearing
17. Plant Biotic disease agents- Fungi most prevalent
Mycology- Mycos = Fungus+ -logy = study
Systematic study- 250 yrs old
Role of Fungus
1. Agents of decomposition
2. Fungi attack wood
3. Important in production of food
4. Toxins (mycotoxins)- source of antibodies, cyclosporine,
vaccine, hormones, enzymes
Fungi found consistently in association with particular plant
disease are called fungal pathogens
18. Fungal characteristics
A fungus (Pl. Fungi) is a eukaryotic, heterotrophic, absorptive
organism that develops a microscopic diffuse, branched,
tubular thread called a hypha (Pl. hyphae).
A group of hypha is called mycelium. It makes up the
vegetative (non- reproductive) body or thallus of the
fungus
The hypha of most fungi are microscopic- 3-4 亮m to 30 亮m
wide
Septa (cross walls) may or may not be present- Septate
Without cross walls are called as aseptate or coenocytic
20. Hypha bound by cell membrane- plasmalemma- sterol-
ergosterol
Outside the plasmalemma Gylcocalyx
Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Deuteromycota-
Chitin (硫- (14) linkage of n-acetylglucosamine) and
glucans (long chains of glucosyl rediues) are major cell
wall component.
Zygomycota contains chitosan, chitin and polyglucuronic
acid
Oomycota contains- cellulose (硫- (14) linkages of
glucose
Chitin, glucans and cellulose form strong fiber called as
microfibrils embedded in a matrix of glycoprotein and
polysaccharide
Cell wall also contains dark pigments such as melanin
22. Fungal cells may contain one or many nuclei.
A hyphal cell with genetically identical haploid nuclei is
monokaryotic.
A cell with 2 genetically different but compatible haploid nuclei
are dikaryotic (characteristic feature of Basidiomycota)
Plasmids present
Vacuoles-storage
Carbon reserve- lipids, glycogen, trehalose
Mitochondria present- varies in size
23. Fungal celld from different hyphal strands fuse in a process
called anastomosis- results in formation of
Rhizomorphs, sclerotia (A sclerotium (plural sclerotia)
is a compact mass of hardened fungal mycelium
containing food reserves) and fruiting structures such as
sporocarps
24. Types of fungal pathogens
Saprophytes: use nonliving organic matter as a source of food
Facultative saprophytes: Mainly parasites, but act as
saprophytes between growing season
Necrotrophs: usually saprophytes and survive well as sclerotia,
spores or as mycelia but given the opportunity they become
parasitic.
Biotrophic pathogens (Obligate parasites): grow or reproduce
only on or within a suitable host
Mutualist biotrophic: Mycorrhiza and endophytes
Hemibiotrophes: function as both Biotrophs and Necrotrophs
25. Disease symptoms caused by Fungus
1. Necrosis
2. Permanent wilting
3. Abnormal growth
4. Leaf and fruit abscission
5. Replacement of host tissue
6. Mildew