| There are many hazards associated with growth | | | | in tropical forest ecosystems also plays a |
| among tropical trees. Tropical Trees are just | | | | role in disease. A genetic diversity stems |
| as susceptible to disease as any other living | | | | from a large portion of fungal parasites. A |
| organism. One graphic concern here, though, | | | | close cousin to the fungal ground-dweller is |
| is that tropical trees, in case you haven't | | | | known as telluric diseases. Telluric diseases |
| noticed, are an endangered species. So the | | | | grow on trees and cause infection, a slow |
| study of common diseases that inflict many of | | | | wasting-away of tree development. |
| these trees is a worthwhile endeavor. It's | | | | |
| not just for the tree's sake, either. | | | | Telluric refers to rotting away. Here, the |
| Historically speaking, countless vaccines and | | | | rotting away occurs due to a change in the |
| other homeopathic remedies were born in | | | | tissue structure of many root systems. These |
| tropical rainforests. If rainforest trees die | | | | tissues, known as the cortical and ligneous |
| off due to common diseases, then our human | | | | tissues, formed in the roots leading first to |
| existence, too, will suffer the | | | | wilting and the eventual death of a tropical |
| consequences-not to mention other human | | | | tree. Rigidoporus lignosus, another fungal |
| interferences such as logging and | | | | parasite housed in the root system of a large |
| de-forestation that are killing trees. | | | | number of forest trees, causes decay. |
| | | | |
| Tropical trees and their rainforest habitat | | | | During the closing pages of the 19th century, |
| must fend off against a variety of diseases. | | | | bacterial diseases were uncovered in the |
| There are some common diseases associated | | | | world of tropical tree crops. One of the |
| with the sickness of many tropical trees. | | | | first bacteria discovered was what caused |
| Without going into detail on how to cure | | | | citrus-greening disease. Scientists believed |
| these tree ailments, a discussion on diseases | | | | its formation was attributed with the |
| among trees will help shed some light on a | | | | presence of phytoplasmas (MIO, |
| small portion of the tree population's | | | | mycoplasma-like organisms). |
| struggle to survive, co-habitat with | | | | |
| humanity. | | | | Notwithstanding the relevance associated with |
| | | | environmental factors in ecosystems, |
| Virus infections cover a group of diseases, | | | | scientists realize that the pathogen, along |
| tree-born illnesses that were discovered, | | | | with its variability and susceptibility to |
| decades ago, due to the use of electron | | | | change, constitutes one of the key |
| microscopes. The microscopes helped to | | | | ingredients that intervene in host-parasite |
| visualize the growth of biochemical and | | | | relationships. |
| biophysical methods scientists and | | | | |
| bio-diversity scholars. | | | | In a large number of diseases, evolution |
| | | | plays a role in forming the symptoms which |
| For one, Marchitez disease, a disease found | | | | may, in effect, lead to the ultimate demise |
| in the oil palm of coconut trees has led to | | | | of trees, even to the extent of killing off |
| the discovery of other plant pathogens. | | | | wide areas of rainforests. To some extent, |
| Nematode, a pathogen, causes disease in many | | | | these diseases are simply a part of the |
| tropical tree crops, some of which are | | | | ecosystem. Yet, with the development of |
| lethal. | | | | logging, our trees face dire circumstances |
| | | | beyond the normal evolutionary tract of |
| The underworld-like fungal population living | | | | birth, growth, and death through disease. |