A plant disease is an impairment of the normal state of a plant, as it modifies or interrupts its vital functions. Crop diseases are common on farms and are often difficult to identify.
Students are encouraged to collect specimens of these diseases and preserve them for better understanding. Disease symptoms appear at various stages of plant growth and development, which eventually affect the productivity of the crop.
A disease photo album should provide the name of the disease, the crop it affects, the causal organism, and possible control measures.
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Procedure for Preparing A Crop Disease Album
1. Obtain/collect the disease specimen: Each specimen should consist of a stem with attached leaves and, if possible, flowers and/or fruits. Roots of herbaceous plants should also be included.
For large trees, shrubs, or vines, select portions that clearly show the plant’s overall characteristics and variation in flowers, leaves, and other structures.
2. Assign a collection number: Data for each specimen should be entered in a field notebook. The collection number should be written on the folded paper containing the specimen. Relying on memory for this information is discouraged.
3. Press the specimen to remove moisture: The aim of pressing is to eliminate moisture quickly while preserving the plant’s morphology.
A plant press typically consists of a wooden frame for rigidity, corrugated cardboard ventilators for airflow, blotter paper for moisture absorption, and folded newspaper to hold the plant material. The press is tightened with straps and buckles or bolts with wing nuts.
4. Preserve in a cool, dry place: Arrange plant parts carefully during pressing to retain diagnostic features such as leaves and flowers. Fruits should be spread out to prevent overlapping and allow visibility from multiple angles.
Advantages of A Disease Album In Agriculture
1. Supports better study and control of plant diseases: Enables proper observation and understanding of disease symptoms and control strategies.
2. Helps farmers assess crop damage: Provides visual evidence of crop damage and the intervention measures applied.
3. Serves as a reference material: Useful for future disease identification and management.
Disadvantages of Disease Album Preparation
1. The process is tedious and time-consuming: Requires careful collection, preparation, and documentation.
2. Preservation can be expensive: Maintaining the natural form of the diseases may involve high costs, especially under long-term storage.
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Worked Example of Disease Album Content
Below are sample entries for collection, preservation, and identification of plant diseases commonly found in the field:
1. Blight: Potato leaf infected with fungal blight.
2. Potato scab: Common scab observed on potato tubers.
3. Tobacco mosaic virus: Tomato leaves showing puckering and blisters.
4. Nematode infestation: Soybean roots with cysts or tiny nodes containing nematode eggs.
5. Cassava mosaic disease: Cassava plant visibly damaged by the virus.
6. Cassava brown streak disease: Damage seen on cassava storage roots.
7. Cassava green mite: Cassava leaf showing characteristic spots from mite attack.
Practical Task on Disease Album Development
Select three crops that are common in the locality and identify the prevailing diseases affecting them. Prepare a disease album for the selected crops, ensuring the inclusion of disease name, affected crop, causal organism, symptoms, and control measures.
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