Diagnosing plant disease is essential to meet the world’s growing food demand, which is expected to increase with a population of 9.1 billion by 2050. Diseases can reduce crop yields by 20-40% , so ...

Let’s talk about two of the main classifications of plant diseases — biotic and abiotic — and the differences between them. The term “abiotic” means “without life.” Examples include damage from the ...

BROOKINGS, S.D. — Understanding your plant’s health is vital to having a successful farming operation. The South Dakota State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic helps producers, gardeners and ...

Fungi are the most common causal agent of plant disease. Of the more than 2 million species of fungi worldwide, 8,000 are known to be detrimental to plants. These microscopic organisms cause symptoms ...

Plant diseases occur in most gardens. Many happen on a yearly basis, others sporadically. Why disease occurs often is dependent on weather. In fact, there are three conditions that must exist for a ...