Description:
This session will present an overview of the major causes of abiotic and biotic plant disorders in North American woody stemmed plants. Biotic plant problems are caused by living organisms,such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and animals. Abiotic disorders are caused by nonliving factors, such as drought stress, sunscald, freeze injury, wind injury, chemical drift, nutrient deficiency, or improper cultural practices, such as overwatering or planting too deeply.Unfortunately, the damage caused by these various living and non-living agents can appear very similar. A systematic approach to the identification of environmental, fungal, and bacterial causes of plant disorders and diseases will be considered along with common sense approaches to their control. This course carries 5.5 CEUs for ISA certified arborists (S=3, P=1, M=1.5).