Panthera pardus, Queen of the Savanna
Marie Toorians
Category: Plants, Algae, & Fungi
From Friend to Foe
Isidora Silva-Valderrama
It is interesting to see how microorganisms that were once friendly and supportive with their hosts, can suddenly shift to a highly destructive state. The fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea (in yellow) is able to infect grapevine plants without producing any symptoms or damage. However, it can quickly change its behavior and overgrow in the xylem vessel pipelines of the plant (in blue), clogging the tubes, and impeding the movement of water and minerals from the soil to the leaves and upper part of the plant.
