BRAINCAKEPathogenic Effects of Stem Rust
Stem rust damages wheat in several ways, and a severe infection a few weeks before harvest can destroy an entire crop.
Loss of nutrients. Haustoria absorb sugars and amino acids from host cells. Sucrose that would be transported in the phloem to the developing grain is diverted to the fungus, so grains are small and shrivelled and yield falls.
Water loss. Each pustule bursts through the epidermis and cuticle. The broken surface loses water by evaporation, so transpiration increases and the plant can wilt and dry out, especially in hot weather.
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Key terms in this lesson
- epidemic
- A sudden, unusually large rise in the number of cases of a disease in one area or population, above the level normally expected.
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All 17 lessons in Viruses, Fungi and Protozoa · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics