Symptom

Record visible symptoms such as spots or discolouration on leaves, stunted growth, rotting tissue, or leaves that have fallen. Look at which parts are affected and whether pests are visible. For example, Chalara ash dieback is a fungal disease that can cause leaf loss and lesions—damaged patches—on the bark.

The pathogen may damage cells, take nutrients from the host or disrupt normal processes, producing disease and its symptoms. Humans and plants can both be hosts.

A disease damages cells or prevents part of an organism from functioning properly. This can compromise health and produce symptoms—changes experienced by the affected person, such as pain, tiredness or a high temperature.