Introduction:

Watch the introductory video from Darrin Kimbler, Horticulture and Agriculture Educator for UW-Madison, Division of Extension Iron County.

Plant pathology is the study of diseases of plants and the disease-causing organisms (pathogens). This module will help you learn about how plants, pathogens and environmental conditions interact to cause disease, and how these factors can be managed to prevent diseases from occurring. All of these concepts can be applied to anywhere you grow plants, indoors and out. Disease diagnosis is not an easy process, and most require the assistance of an expert, such as the UW-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.

Objectives:

After completing the reading in the manual, online module, and class activities, you will:

• Identify the five major causes of plant diseases;
• Identify the three factors needed for plant disease to occur and how this affects disease management (IPM);
• Differentiate between a disease sign and a disease symptom;
• Recognize that most disease diagnosis requires the help of a trained professional.

Read:

• Chapter 6: Plant Pathology (Diseases), Pages 105-114

Watch:

• Presenter: Dr. Brian Hudelson, UW-Madison, Director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.
• FYI: These videos were created for Master Gardener Volunteer Training and are used with permission for Foundations in Horticulture.
• There is one required video, for a total view time of approximately 6 minutes.

Practice:

Supplemental Materials:

UW-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic – The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic (PDDC) provides assistance in identifying plant diseases and offers educational information on plant diseases and their control.

Additional Videos: There are seven additional videos you can choose to watch for this module. These videos explain different disease causing organisms.