Living organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses are classified as what type of factor in plant disease?

Living organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses are categorized as biotic factors in plant disease because they are biological entities that can harm plants. Biotic factors are any living components or organisms that influence the health and growth of plants. In the context of plant diseases, these organisms can act as pathogens, causing various ailments, disrupting plant functions, and leading to symptoms such as wilting, discoloration, and decay.

Understanding the role of biotic factors is essential for pest control and disease management strategies, as it allows for targeting specific pathogens and employing appropriate control measures. Recognizing these organisms as biotic factors helps differentiate them from abiotic factors, which are non-living elements in an ecosystem, such as temperature, light, water, and soil characteristics, that can also affect plant health but do so through different mechanisms.