host index

botany

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

A host plant is a plant that an organism, such as an insect or mildew, lives on and gets nourishment from. Plant diseases can be identified using host indexes, which are lists of diseases known to affect specific plants in certain areas. These diseases can be caused by various infectious agents like viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, or parasitic plants. Bacteria, which are single-celled microorganisms, can cause numerous plant diseases. Some bacterial diseases are difficult to control due to the speed at which bacteria invade plants.123

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plant disease
Classification of plant diseases by causal agent
Host indexes (lists of diseases known to occur on certain hosts in regions, countries, or continents) are valuable in diagnosis. When an apparently new disease is found on a known host, a check into the index for the specific host often leads to identification of…
Read More
Host indexes (lists of diseases known to occur on certain hosts in regions, countries, or continents) are valuable in diagnosis. When an apparently new disease is found on a known host, a check into the index for the specific host often leads to identification of…
Read More