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