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Brent Walston wrote: Pathogenic fungi and bacteria only eat LIVE tissue, I'll just correct you for the sake of being annoying. There are two types of pathogenic fungi: necrotrophs and biotrophs. Biotrophs attack living tissue. Necrotrophs kill tissue, and then eat it. I only bring up this trivial distinction because fungi are defined as organisms that excrete enzymes and then absorb their food. Things in the animal kingdom *ingest* food. So it is easy for a Phytophthora to excrete nasty enzymes, kill plant tissue, and then grow into it. [note: Phytophthora is now defined as an alga in the Kingdom Plantae so the definition for the Kingdome Fungi is now slightly modified]. although some fungi that start out as composters can, in some extraordinary cases, convert to a pathogenic form. There's a continuum among necrotrophs, from those readily kill tissue (Pythium, Fusarium, Verticillium)to those that need special conditions. Something like Choanephora is largely a "composter", but if it gets an energy boost, it will turn pathogen. Many fungi like this attack blossoms; they eat the nectar, get strong, then attack the branch. Botrytis cineria is a weak pathogen, but in the presence of flowers, wounds, or honeydew secreted by aphids, it will turn mean. Fungicides can play a role in controlling it, but changing the environment is the most important part. No argument! In most cases, it is the plant itself that will effect the control by shedding parts of itself or walling off the disease. How do tell the difference? This CAN be most difficult, and often requires an expert. County Ag extension agents are trained in this (pathology) and their sub agents or Master Gardeners may be able to help. The only real way to find out definitively is to submit samples to a plant pathologist, but by then it is usually too late for a specific plant. Too true. Plus, we tend to pull the plant apart to diagnose it. We suspect root rot if we see wilting on one side of the plant. To be sure, we look for brown streaks in the xylem, which can only be seen by carving up the trunk. Then we culture and if we come up with a root rot pathogen, we tell you what to spray to save the *currently healthy* remainder of your plants. We never try to save the plant brought in as a sample!!! Remember that if you call Cooperative Extension. For the bonsaist, it makes sense to assume that repotting will solve the problem. Either you will, or you won't. Nina. |
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