Epidemiology and Public Health

Plant Disease Epidemiology

The study of disease in plant populations is known as plant disease epidemiology. Plant diseases, like human and animal diseases, are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes, phytoplasmas, protozoa, and parasitic plants. Plant disease epidemiologists work to understand the causes and effects of disease and to devise strategies to intervene when crop losses occur. Plant diseases are detected using both destructive and non-destructive methods. Understanding the immune system responses in plants will also help to benefit and limit crop loss. Depending on the crop value, successful intervention will usually result in a low enough level of disease to be acceptable.