Fungal diseases

Just like animals and plants, fungi are eukaryotic organisms, so they have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. However, unlike plant and animal cells, fungi can be 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 surface of plants and animals, which causes 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 which causes black or purple spots to appear on the leaves of plants. This disease makes leaves turn yellow and drop off, which reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesise. So, rose black spot typically reduces the growth of infected plants.

SymptomsHow it spreadsTreatment and prevention
• Purple black spots on leaves of rose plants

• Reduces the area of the leaf available for photosynthesis, which reduces 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