secondary symptom

In plant pathology, secondary symptoms are those that arise from the physiological effects of a disease on distant tissues or uninvaded organs. These symptoms are not a direct result of the pathogen's activity on the infected area but rather a consequence of how the disease impacts the plant's overall functioning.1

For example, if a plant has a root disease, a secondary symptom might be wilting or drooping of the leaves, even though the leaves themselves are not directly infected. This occurs because the damaged roots cannot effectively absorb water, leading to dehydration in the above-ground parts of the plant.1

Secondary symptoms are crucial for diagnosis as they indicate a systemic issue within the plant, even if the primary site of infection is not immediately obvious.1