Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The minimum number of propagules of a parasite required for infection of an organism to take place under favourable conditions (E. Gaiimann, Principles of plant infection, 1950, London, Crosby Lockwood). The term implies that some minimum number of propagules must be present before infection occurs; however, some parasites have an NTI of 1, e.g. Botrytis…

A modified form of a pathogenic microorganism that is unable to elicit a severe pathological response in its host is known as “attenuated”. This term is favored over “avirulent” due to its ability to avoid any verbal confusion with the virulent form of the pathogen.  

A substance produced by an organism that can cause toxic effects in a variety of different organisms is known as a metabolic toxin. These toxins are generally non-specific in terms of both their effects and the range of organisms they can affect. One example of an established toxin is fusaric acid, also known as n-butylpicolinic…

An organism of minuscule proportion that does not possess the capability to instigate an ailment in a plant. It is imperative to note that the designation cannot be employed interchangeably with saprophyte since both terms pertain to distinct characteristics of the aforementioned being.  

The act of delineating or labeling symptoms is an action that is markedly distinct from assigning a moniker to the disease itself. Although illnesses are commonly identified based on their primary symptomatic indicators, such as discoloration, decay, or withering, the label of a symptom should not insinuate any corollary causal agent or underlying processes related…

The act of delineating or labeling symptoms is an action that is markedly distinct from assigning a moniker to the disease itself. Although illnesses are commonly identified based on their primary symptomatic indicators, such as discoloration, decay, or withering, the label of a symptom should not insinuate any corollary causal agent or underlying processes related…

The taxonomic monikers assigned to extant (and extinct) beings are genuinely cosmopolitan labels and the traditions controlling their shape, publication, culling and implementation are regulated by universal systems of nomenclature. Names of plant pathogens are subject to four independent worldwide regulations. The scientific appellations of vegetation (including mycota) are directed by the International Code of…

Viral illnesses are commonly denoted by a moniker that corresponds to a distinguishing indication and the prevailing designation of the primary host species in which the infection was initially identified. As an illustration, the nomenclature “tobacco mosaic” is employed to label a specific disease caused by a virus.