Plant cancer
Tumors on a root caused by Agrobacterium tumifaciens
Plant cancer is a plant disease caused mostly by parasitic bacteria and fungi. Tissue growths form on the infected areas, which reduce the flow of water and nutrients and can ultimately lead to the death of the plant.
causes
- The soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers genetic information in the form of TI plasmids into the plant cell, which is then transformed into a tumor cell.
- Viruses of the genus Phytoreovirus cause so-called wound tumors .
- Ascent fungi of the genus Nectria penetrate wounds and cause fruit tree cancer . They grow through the bark tissue, which is thereby distended and destroyed. Signs of an infection are spherical swellings on branches and trunks and progressive death of the leaves and shoot tips (tip drought).
- The apple aphid causes what is known as blood lice cancer .
- In some interspecific hybrids , such as cabbage , thorn apple , lily or tobacco , so-called genetic tumors have been observed. It is assumed that this is due to an incompatibility of chromosomes in the interspecific crossing .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c plant tumors. In: Lexicon of Biology. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, 1999, accessed on November 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Fruit tree cancer. In: Lexicon of Biology. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, 1999, accessed on November 15, 2017 .
- ↑ Woolly Apple Aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann). Virginia Tech, Department of Entomology, accessed November 15, 2017 .