What is a plant disorder?

• A. Damage or injury caused by a noninfectious agent.
• B. Infection by a plant pathogen.
• C. A beneficial symbiotic relationship.
• D. A normal variation in plant size.

Answer: (A)

Plant disorders are abnormal conditions in plants that come from noninfectious factors rather than living pathogens. They result from things like mineral deficiencies or toxicities, drought or overwatering, extreme temperatures, chemical injury, or salinity stress. Because these issues are not caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other organisms, they’re classified as disorders rather than diseases. In contrast, an infection by a plant pathogen would be termed a disease, while a beneficial symbiotic relationship or a normal variation in size isn’t a disorder.