Pests And Diseases Of Agricultural Importance - SS1 Biology Lesson Note

CROP PESTS

Crop pests are organisms that can cause damage and economic losses to agricultural crops. They can be insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, weeds, or other pests that directly or indirectly harm crops. Here are some common types of crop pests:

1.     Insect Pests: Insects are one of the most common types of crop pests. They can feed on plant tissues, sap, fruits, or seeds, causing damage to leaves, stems, flowers, or fruits. Examples of insect pests include aphids, beetles, caterpillars, weevils, leafhoppers, and thrips.

2.     Mite Pests: Mites are tiny arthropods that can damage crops by piercing plant cells and sucking sap. They can cause discoloration, deformation, and stunted growth of leaves and fruits. Common mite pests include spider mites and rust mites.

3.     Nematode Pests: Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that can feed on plant roots, inhibiting water, and nutrient uptake. They can cause wilting, yellowing, and stunting of plants. Root-knot nematodes and cyst nematodes are among the most damaging nematode pests in agriculture.

4.     Fungal Pests: Fungi can infect crops, causing various diseases such as blights, rots, mildews, and rusts. They can damage leaves, stems, fruits, and roots, leading to reduced yield and quality. Common fungal pests include powdery mildew, gray mold, damping-off fungi, and various rust pathogens.

5.     Bacterial Pests: Bacteria can cause diseases in crops, affecting different plant parts. They can lead to rotting, wilting, leaf spots, or cankers. Examples of bacterial pests include bacterial blight, bacterial spot, and crown gall.

6.     Viral Pests: Viruses are pathogens that can infect plants, resulting in diseases that affect growth, yield, and quality. Viral infections can cause mosaic patterns on leaves, stunting, yellowing, or necrosis. Common viral pests include tomato mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, and potato virus Y.

7.     Weed Pests: Weeds are plants that grow in undesirable locations and compete with crops for resources such as nutrients, water, and sunlight. Weeds can reduce crop yield and quality by interfering with growth and harvesting operations.

Figure 84 image from pinterest.com