Gummosis ( Figure 5–27): Exudation of sticky sap. Root galls ( Figure 5–26): Swellings on root tissue. Stem galls ( Figure 5–25): Swellings, usually woody, on stems. Leaf galls ( Figure 5–24): Swellings on leafy tissue. Malformation ( Figure 5–23): Any deviation from the normal shape of a plant organ. Mummy ( Figure 5–21): A dried, shriveled fruit.ĭamping off ( Figure 5–22): Death of seedlings, before or after emergence from the soil. The exterior portion is easily pulled off the central core of vascular tissue.įruit rot ( Figure 5–20): Decay of fruit.

Water-soaking ( Figure 5–13): A dark, “wet” appearance to a spot, best seen by holding the leaf up to a light source.įlecking or stippling ( Figure 5–14): Numerous very small chlorotic or necrotic points.īlight ( Figure 5–15): Extensive and rapid death of plant tissue.ĭieback ( Figure 5–16) : Death of a branch from the tip down.Ĭanker ( Figure 5–17): Sharply-defined dead area on a woody plant part.Įxample of a canker visible only under the bark ( Figure 5–18). Ringspot ( Figure 5–12): Chlorotic or necrotic rings or arcs surrounding healthy tissue. Mosaic or mottle ( Figure 5–11): Patchwork of colors, usually light-green, yellow, or dark-green, against the normal green background color of the leaf. Scorch ( Figure 5–10): Necrosis and desiccation of leaf tissue, starting at the margins.

Wilting ( Figure 5–9): Loss of turgor in all or part of a shoot. Shot-hole ( Figure 5–8): Clean-edged, round to oval holes in leaves where necrotic spots have fallen out. Note that any well-defined dead area of a leaf, stem, or root can be called a “necrotic lesion.”Įxample of necrotic (dead) leaf spots with necrotic)( Figure 5–6): Death of plant tissue. If it is more pronounced between veins it is called “interveinal chlorosis.” chlorotic)( Figure 5–5): Yellowing of a normally green plant part. Symptoms are not unique to a particular disease as a specific symptom can be caused by a variety of pathogens.Ĭhlorosis ( adj. These are detailed in Tables 5–1a, 5–1b, and 5–2.

In order to talk about diseases and disorders, we need a set of terms to describe plant abnormalities and pathoge n structures. Instead, all are normal plant structures and responses.

Leaves on some evergreen trees (such as some hollies and magnolias) drop in the spring as new leaves expand homeowners new to North Carolina might become concerned if they expect leaves to shed only in the fall. The female cones on the tips of oriental arborvitae foliage look somewhat like galls ( Figure 5–4). The spore-bearing sori on the underside of a fern frond might be mistaken for insects ( Figure 5–3). A deodar cedar might appear to be suffering from a nutrient deficiency because it has yellow-green leaves, but this coloring is normal for this cultivar ( Figure 5–2). For instance, patterns of light and dark colors on foliage can sometimes indicate disease, but color patterns can also be normal variegation in certain varieties of ornamentals ( Figure 5–1). Although this may seem obvious, some plants have characteristics or habits at certain stages of growth that can be mistaken for symptoms of disease. To recognize a plant problem, you must first know what the healthy plant looks like. Healthy and Unhealthy Plants Skip to Healthy and Unhealthy Plants

Beet seedlings decay at soil line