Phytopathogen

Phytopathogen [ Botany - Agronomy - Phytopathology ]
Adjective: Phytopathogenic

Dictionary of botanic terminology
index of names

A plant pathogen, an agent causing disease in plants.

The term phytopathogen include any physical, chemical, or biological factor able to induce disease in plants, but it is usually referred to microbial organism or virus that benefits from an interaction with a plant, and has a negative effect on that plant.

Pesticides and antimicrobials are not really a good way to combat phytopathogens because they can be expensive and detrimental to the environment and to humans. They also can lead to the development of resistant bacterial and fungal strains.

Phytopathogenic = Term applicable to a microorganism that can incite disease in plants.

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Holdfast roots [ Botany ]
Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

Some species of climbing plants develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place.

Climbing plants, like the poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place. Usually the Holdfast roots die at the end of the first season, but in some species they are perennial. In the tropics some of the large climbing plants have hold-fast roots by which they attach themselves, and long, cord-like roots that extend downward through the air and may lengthen and branch for several years until they strike the soil and become absorbent roots.

Major references and further lectures:
1) E. N. Transeau “General Botany” Discovery Publishing House, 1994