Why study plant viruses ?
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In plants, the symptoms observed are generally easier to relate to a group of organisms than for human diseases. The diseases caused by viruses are quite different from other diseases, but the identification of the pathogenic agent responsible can only be identified through the use of diagnosis methods.
Studying viruses then means studying the diseases they cause through an improvement of these methods. This, in order to protect the crops through the elaboration of efficient control methods.
It is important to note that plant virus diseases are very sensitive to the influence of the environment. Nutrition, lighting and humidity influence independently or in synergy to modify and increase the disease’s symptoms. It is therefore necessary to study the different parameters which can increase or generate diseases in order to protect crops more efficiently.
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