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Plant diseases: TMV, crown gall disease and barley powdery mildew

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can describe examples of common diseases in plants, how they spread, and ways to reduce the spread.

Key learning points

  1. Tobacco mosaic virus is an example of a disease in plants caused by a virus.
  2. Crown gall disease is an example of a disease in plants caused by a bacterium.
  3. Barley powdery mildew is an example of a disease in plants caused by a fungus.
  4. Ways in which plant diseases can be spread, and ways in which the spread can be reduced.
  5. Impacts of plant diseases, including on biodiversity and human food security.

Keywords

  • Virus - A non-living infectious agent that replicates inside a host cell.

  • Fungus - A eukaryotic, spore-producing organism that feeds on organic matter.

  • Food security - A measure of the quantity and quality of food available to support households and whole communities.

  • Biodiversity - Variety of living organisms within an ecosystem.

Common misconception

Only human and other animals can catch diseases. Plant diseases are not important.

This lesson explores examples of plant diseases, the pathogens that cause them and how they are spread, and their devastating impacts.

Teacher tip

Symptoms of plant diseases will be visible in many local plants all year round.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which cell is from a plant?

A cell with a nucleus, but without a cell wall.
Correct answer: A cell with a nucleus and a cell wall.
A cell with no nucleus, which stores its DNA in the cytoplasm.

Q2.
A calcium deficiency can cause which disease in humans?

anaemia
scurvy
Correct answer: rickets

Q3.
Water and minerals enter a plant through its ...

Correct Answer: roots, root, roots., root.

Q4.
Which plant organelle carries out photosynthesis?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: chloroplast, chloroplasts

Q5.
What are the products of photosynthesis?

carbon dioxide
Correct answer: glucose
Correct answer: oxygen
water
nitrogen

Q6.
Match the human disease to the type of pathogen.

Correct Answer:athlete's foot,fungus

fungus

Correct Answer:malaria,protist

protist

Correct Answer:gonorrhoea,bacteria

bacteria

Correct Answer:measles,virus

virus

6 Questions

Q1.
A microorganism that causes disease is called a ...

gamete.
particle.
Correct answer: pathogen.
plant.
symptom.

Q2.
Which of the following are examples of microorganisms that can cause disease?

ash
Correct answer: bacteria
barley
Correct answer: fungi
Correct answer: virus

Q3.
What are the symptoms of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)?

growth of a tumour
Correct answer: discoloured leaves
discoloured stem
Correct answer: leaves that curl up

Q4.
How is crown gall spread?

Correct answer: contaminated soil
water splashes
wind
Correct answer: contaminated garden tools

Q5.
is the variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.

Correct Answer: biodiversity

Q6.
Who gives the best description of food security?

Jun: Food security means you can buy everything you need from the supermarket.
Correct answer: Sam: It's the quality and quantity of food available to everyone in a community.
Izzy: Food security means most people can afford to buy enough food.

To help you plan your 10 combined science lesson on: Plant diseases: TMV, crown gall disease and barley powdery mildew, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...