Fungal Diseases (AQA GCSE Biology: Combined Science)

• Few fungal diseases that affect humans, one example is athletes' foot. This is spread by contact with surfaces that have been touched by an infected person, such as shower room floors
• Often the fungus is unicellular, as in the case of yeast, but can have a body made up of thread-like structures called hyphae
  • The hyphae can grow and penetrate the surface of plants and animals causing infections
  • The hyphae can produce spores, which can spread the infection to other organisms

• Fungal infections are more common in plants and can destroy a crop or plant

• Rose black spot is a fungal disease of plants where purple or black spots develop on leaves, which often turn yellow and drop early
• It affects the growth of the plant as photosynthesis is reduced
• It is spread in the environment by water or wind
• Rose black spot can be treated by using fungicides and/or removing and destroying the affected leaves

Rose black spot table