Fungal diseases

Like animals and plants, fungi are eukaryotic organisms, so they have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. However, unlike plants and animals, fungi can be either unicellular or multicellular. For example:

  • Yeast is a single-celled (unicellular) fungus that is used to make bread and alcoholic beverages
  • Mushrooms are multicellular fungi, so they are typically much larger

Fungi are often made up of long thread-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae can spread across and penetrate the surfaces of plants and animals, causing disease. Hyphae can also produce spores that can easily spread to other organisms and grow into new fungi.

Rose Black Spot

Rose black spot is a fungal disease that causes black or purple spots to appear on the leaves of plants. This disease causes leaves to turn yellow and fall off, which reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. Rose black spot typically reduces the growth of infected plants.

SymptomsHow it spreadsTreatment and prevention
• Purple-black spots on rose plant leaves

• Reduces the leaf area for photosynthesis, which impacts the plant’s growth


• Leaves turn yellow and drop off early
The spores of the fungus are spread in either water or wind• By using fungicides

• By removing and destroying the infected leaves