plant diseases and disorders

Cold temperature (freeze)

A freeze occurs when temperatures drop below the freezing point of water (32° F or 0° C). When the water inside a plant freezes, it can cause the plant cells to burst, resulting in irreparable damage.

Damping - off

Caused by a number of different pathogens that kill or weaken seeds or seedlings before or after they germinate. Damping off typically occurs when old seed is planted in cold, wet soil and is further increased by poor soil drainage.

Phosphorus deficiency

Crops usually display no obvious symptoms of phosphorus deficiency other than a general stunting of the plant during early growth. By the time a visual deficiency is recognized, it may be too late to correct in annual crops. Some crops, such as corn, tend to show an abnormal discoloration when phosphorus is deficient. The plants are usually dark bluish-green in color with leaves and stem becoming purplish. T

Downy mildew

Downy mildew is a disease of the foliage, caused by a fungus-like (Oomycete) organism. It is spread from plant to plant by airborne spores. It is a disease of wet weather as infection is favoured by prolonged leaf wetness.

Botrytis - Gray mold

Found on a wide range of plants (strawberries) , gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is a fungal disease that travels quickly through gardens, especially during damp, cool to mild weather. Disease symptoms appear as grayish colored soft, mushy spots on leaves, stems, flowers and on produce.

Tospovirus (INSV or TSWV)

Infection with the virus results in spotting and wilting of the plant, reduced vegetative output, and eventually death. No antiviral cures have been developed for plants infected with a Tospovirus, and infected plants should be removed from a field and destroyed in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Insufficient water damage

Instead of just wilting or drooping, the leaves eventually begin to die and drop off of the plant. The weakened root system and stem of the plant becomes more susceptible to damage from insects and diseases. The plant can eventually die if the damage is severe enough.

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency, also called iron chlorosis or lime chlorosis, starts with a yellowing of the leaves in between the dark green veins, giving the leaves a spidery look. Over time, the leaves become whitish and start to die back, eventually resulting in stunting and dying back of the entire plant.

Nitrogen deficiency

Nitrogen deficiency in plants can occur when organic matter with high carbon content, such as sawdust, is added to soil. Symptoms include poor plant growth, and leaves that are pale green or yellow because they are unable to make sufficient chlorophyll.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants. Its symptoms are quite distinctive. Infected plants display white powdery spots on the leaves and stems.The lower leaves are the most affected, but the mildew can appear on any above-ground part of the plant. As the disease progresses, the spots get larger and denser as large numbers of asexual spores are formed, and the mildew may spread up and down the length of the plant.

root rot

Root rot is a condition found in both indoor and outdoor plants, although more common in indoor plants with poor drainage. As the name states, the roots of the plant rot. Usually, this is a result of overwatering.

Stem Rot

Stem rot is a disease caused by a fungus infection in the stem. Fungus that causes stem rot are Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Pythium. Stem rot can readily infect crops that are in their vegetative or flowering stages. The disease can survive up to five years in the soil.

Ethylene damage

Symptoms range from shedding or shattering of flower petals, misshapen or malformed leaves and flowers, thickened stems, leaf yellowing or chlorosis, stunted plant growth, flower bud and leaf abortion to epinasty or twisting.

Leaf spot (Black)

The majority of leaf spots are caused by fungi, but some are caused by bacteria. Spotted leaves occur when fungal spores in the air find a warm, wet, plant surface to cling to. As soon as that microscopic spore gets comfortable in its new home, sporulation (the fungal method of reproduction) occurs and the tiny brown fungal leaf spot begins to grow.

Rust

The rusts are a group of fungal diseases affecting the aerial parts of plants. Leaves are affected most commonly, but rust can also be found occasionally on stems and even flowers and fruit. The spore pustules produced by rusts vary in colour, according to the rust species and the type of spore that it is producing

Cold water damage

When watering your plants, it is essential to use water at the right temperature. This is because the roots of your plants are very sensitive to extremes of temperature. Using water that is too hot or too cold can put your plant under stress and cause damage.