Chapter 40, Problem 1Q

Why is the disease called soft rot?

Summary Introduction

To write:

The reason for calling the disease soft rot.

Introduction:

Soft rot is an infectious condition in plants generally caused by gram-negative bacteria, namely, Pseudomonas, Pectobacterium and Erwinia. The bacteria are capable of infecting almost all the genera of a plant family. It may either infect the plant through any wound or infecting the seed.

Explanation of Solution

The pathogens work by secreting enzymes that can decompose the structures like the cell wall that results in the altered texture of plant tissue. Consequently, the plant tissue becomes watery and soft that helps the bacteria in consuming the nutrient from the plant tissue. Fleshy vegetables like tomato, squash, eggplant, carrot, and potato, are the most common targets of these bacteria. Control of the soft rot is not very effective, but the spreading of this disease can be controlled to some extent by following sanitation practices in processing, storing and producing the crop plant.

Conclusion

The causative agent of soft rot works by releasing enzymes that decompose the cell wall and destroy the plant tissue texture which results in the conversion of the plant tissue into a liquidy mush. Therefore, the disease is called soft rot.