Pests And Diseases Of Plants
Pests and diseases of plants have increased in recent years. The big problem is that they threaten food security and can lead to heavy losses for farmers. What are the most common?
The spread of pests and diseases of plants has increased in recent years and has, in fact, reached epidemic dimensions. Although this is a problem that receives more and more attention, sufficient strategies have not yet been developed to reduce the impact it generates on an economic and environmental level.
Epidemics and pests are responsible for huge losses of crops and pastures in many countries. Therefore, they also became great enemies of farmers and, moreover, they managed to be classified as a threat to the food security of thousands of people.
What are the most common? We tell you about it in this article.
Basic guide to plant pests and diseases
Talking about plant pests and diseases can seem long and difficult to understand. Fortunately, today we have a wide variety of information about the pests, insects, viruses, fungi and bacteria that can affect orchards.
This information was essential in knowing how they attack and what is the best way to control them. So, in today’s article, we want to share a basic guide to the most common pests and diseases that can affect the plants in our orchards and gardens. Do not miss this information!
Aphid
It is the most famous parasite and there are several species. Usually, they have a sucking beak that allows them to pierce the leaves and stems of plants to feed on their sap.
They are linked to problems with deformation and curling of shoots and leaves. They often affect crops of beans, cabbage, potatoes and peas, among others.
White fly
They are easy to identify because they have a very particular whitish color. They usually inhabit the back of the leaves of crops and fly when you move the leaves by hand.
Its presence can cause premature damage to the leaves and their yellowing. They are common in crops of tomatoes, beans, peppers, onion and cabbage, among others.
Red spider
Its scientific name is Tetranychus urticae . They are very small red spiders that usually shelter the back of the leaves. Its damage is recognizable to the naked eye, as it produces yellowish spots on the leaves. In addition, when the pest spreads, the leaves wither and fall.
We can find this pest on a wide variety of crops, including fruit trees, garden plants, or food crops such as potatoes, squash, beans, and almond trees.
Thrips
They are tiny insects that can attack any part of the plant. When they proliferate, they make the fruits, leaves and stems acquire a very particular grayish-metallic color. They often damage the flowers as well. The most affected crops are:
- The tomato plant.
- Bean plants.
- And eggplants.
Nematodes
They are very common pests in orchards, especially when the soils are very wet. They can damage the roots and therefore also kill the plant.
Sometimes it is difficult to recognize them because the symptoms are similar to a lack of water or nutrients. They frequently affect eggplants, potatoes and onions.
Olive mold
It is a type of fungus associated with molasses, a sweet substance that can be secreted by aphids or whiteflies. It can be identified by the appearance of a black powdery coating both on the fruit and on the stem.
In general, they can cause loss of production because they affect the vigor of the plant. They are common in potatoes, peas, cabbage, zucchini, and peppers.
Rust
This is another variety of fungus that can cause red pustules to appear on the backs of plant leaves. These pustules can deteriorate the leaves until they eventually fall off. They often proliferate in beans, peas and beans.
Soft rot
Caused by the genus of bacteria Erwinia , it initially appears as an opaque, damp spot on the surface of the fruit. As it progresses, the spot spreads and the fruit eventually rots completely. It affects a multitude of crops, including potatoes and peppers.
Bacterial canker
It is one of the pests and diseases of plants that damage both stems and shoots, as well as fruits. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Clavibacter, which produce elongated spots on the stems and circular spots on the fruits. The most sensitive crops are peppers and tomatoes.
Tomato mosaic virus
To end this list of plant pests and diseases, we highlight the tomato mosaic virus. Its name comes from the spots it causes on the tomato leaves, which resemble a mosaic in green tones. It can also affect pepper crops.
Did you know about these pests and diseases of plants? If you identify them in your garden, find out how to control them. Now keep in mind that pests should only be eradicated when they damage plants and crops. Don’t forget to protect nature!
