📝 Terms and Concepts in Plant Pathology
Core terminology and foundational concepts used in plant disease diagnosis and study.
Plant pathology terms are the operating vocabulary of diagnosis, epidemiology, and management, so conceptual clarity here prevents confusion in advanced topics.
Core Terms
Important definitions:
- Host: plant that can be infected.
- Pathogen: disease-causing infectious agent.
- Inoculum: pathogen unit that initiates infection.
- Infection: successful establishment in host tissue.
- Pathogenesis: sequence of disease development events.
Disease Triangle Concept
Disease occurs only when all three are present together:
- Susceptible host.
- Virulent pathogen.
- Favorable environment.
If any one side is broken, disease development is disrupted.
Survival and Dispersal Concepts
Pathogen survival structures include spores, sclerotia, resting mycelium, infected debris, seed, and alternate hosts.
Dispersal routes include:
- Wind.
- Rain splash and irrigation.
- Soil and tools.
- Insects and other vectors.
- Planting materials and trade movement.
Historical Perspective
Epidemics such as potato late blight in Ireland demonstrate how plant disease can alter food supply, migration, and economic systems.
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Term / Concept | High-Yield Meaning |
|---|---|
| Inoculum | Unit initiating infection |
| Infection | Pathogen establishment in host |
| Disease triangle | Host + pathogen + environment |
| Survival | Carryover between seasons |
| Dispersal | Movement to new hosts/fields |
References
1 source • [1]
References
Used for: Core terms and conceptual framework for undergraduate disease science.
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