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| Plant-Microbe
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Unfortunately, when most people think of microbes, or microorganisms, they think of
"germs." And they look for ways to kill them. (Witness the popularity of
antibacterial everything....hand soaps, cleaners, dish and laundry detergents.) And of
course it’s true that microbes—bacteria, fungi, viruses, and others—are the
culprits in many deadly diseases and debilitating illnesses. Gardeners may first associate microbes with the diseases affecting
their plants. There are all sorts of wilt diseases, rust diseases, diseases that cause
leaf spots, root rot, and mushy fruit, and diseases that seem to come from nowhere and
kill our favorite plants. And, yes, most of these diseases are caused by microbes.
But it is not an overstatement to say that life
could not go on without the presence of microbes. They are everywhere!
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