Root diseases from birds

Animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and mites can carry pathogens, like fungal spores, on the outside of their body or in their digestive tract. Nematodes and fungi can also spread viruses and bacteria. Birds may not seem logical vectors for root diseases, but they can carry soil with pathogens in it. Insects such as aphids, whitefly, thrips, beetles and leafhoppers are well-known vectors of viruses. Most insects transfer viruses by feeding on virus-infected plants (which can be weeds) and subsequently feeding on horticultural crops. Plant diseases can be prevented by several actions. One is controlling the vector. This can be controlling the insects that transmit the virus, or even controlling the weeds that host the insects that transmit the virus.