Brainlag PlusSpotting and identifying plant disease, nitrate and magnesium deficiency, and the physical, chemical and mechanical defences of plants.
Spotting disease
Signs: stunted growth, spots on leaves, areas of decay, growths, malformed stems or leaves, discolouration, and pests such as aphids, which can carry viruses.
To find the cause: check a gardening manual or website, send samples to a laboratory, or use a testing kit containing monoclonal antibodies.
Not every problem is a pathogen. A plant short of nitrate ions cannot make proteins, so its growth is stunted. Short of magnesium ions it cannot make enough chlorophyll, so the leaves yellow (chlorosis).
The rest of this lesson and its 10 practice questions are in Plus.
Screen 1 of 3, free to read.
- 10 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
- Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards