Harmful Effects Of Fungi On Plants | Harmful Effects Of Fungi On Animals

Fungi are microscopic organisms that reproduce through spores. There are over 100,000 species of fungi, and each has its unique characteristics. Some are beneficial, such as mushrooms, while others are harmful, such as mold.

Some fungi produce toxins that can cause illness or death in humans. For instance, the toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus causes aflatoxin contamination of peanuts, corn, and other grains.

Fungi can cause damage to crops and reduce their yield. For example, the fungus called Botrytis cinerea causes grey mold in grapes and apples. The fungus also affects the quality of wine and cider.

Economic Losses Due to Fungi

Some types of fungi cause disease, such as candidiasis, while other types are beneficial.

Harmful Effects Of Fungi On Plants

fungi cause certain diseases in plants, which are enlisted below:

Fungi produce several enzymes that can break down cellulose, lignin, and cutin. Thus fungi cause many serious plant diseases, They can affect all plants.

1. Rust and Smuts: These diseases have caused extensive damage to wheat, com, and rice crops. So it has caused massive displacement, starvation, and death of many people.

2. Powdery mildew on grapes, rose, wheat, etc

3. Ergot of rye

4. Red rot of sugar cane

5. Potato wilt

6. Cotton root rot

7. Apple scab

8. Brown rot in peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries.

Harmful Effects Of Fungi On Animals

Fungi also cause certain animal diseases:

1. Ringworm and Athlete’s foot: These are common infectious diseases of fungi.

These diseases are caused by certain imperfect fungi.

2. Candidiasis or candidosis: These are oral or vaginal thrush. These are caused by Candida albicans.

3. Histoplasmosis: It is a serious infection of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling spores of a fungus. This fungus is common in soil contaminated with bird feces. Sometimes, this infection may spread into the bloodstream and then to other organs. In this case, it may be serious and fatal.

4. Aspergillosis: It is also a lung infection. It is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. This disease is caused only in persons with a defective immune system as AIDS. It may cause death.

5. Aflatoxins: Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin, a toxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Aspergillus contaminates improperly stored grains like peanuts and corn etc, milk, egg, and meat. These infected things may have some traces of aflatoxins.

Ergotism

It is caused by eating bread, made from purple ergot-contaminated rye Hour The poisonous material in the report causes nervous spasms and Convulsions. A psychotic delusion and gangrene (decay of tissues due to stoppage of blood supply On one hand the saprophytic fungi are useful recyclers But on the other hand, the Saprophytic fungi decompose the food, wood brass, and leather and cause severe damage They cause wood rotting.

Fungi destroy living trees and structural wood, Bracket or 15 to 50% of the world’s fruit are lost each year due to fungal attacks shelf fungi damage the stored cut lumber and stands of timber of living trees. Pink yeast (Rhodotorula) grows on shower curtains and other moist surfaces.