Schaderreger

Schaderreger is a German term used to designate organisms or factors that cause damage or disease in living organisms, especially in plants and crops. The word combines Schaden (damage) and Erreger (pathogen, causative agent). In agricultural and horticultural contexts, Schaderreger refers to biotic agents that induce plant diseases, rather than abiotic damage factors such as drought, frost, salinity, or chemical injury.

Categories of Schaderreger include fungi, bacteria, viruses, oomycetes, nematodes, phytoplasmas, and parasitic plants. They may invade tissues, destroy cells, produce toxins, or disrupt normal metabolism, leading to symptoms such as lesions, rots, wilting, stunting, or reduced yield and quality. Abiotic factors causing harm are usually described separately as Schadfaktoren.

Detection relies on field observations and laboratory diagnostics, including microscopy, molecular tests, and isolation of the causal agent. Management is typically based on integrated plant protection: the use of resistant varieties, crop rotation, sanitation, quarantine, certified seed and planting materials, timely chemical controls where appropriate, and biological or ecological methods to reduce inoculum and spread.

Schaderreger are subject to regulatory controls aimed at preventing their introduction and spread, including surveillance, reporting, and containment measures at national and international levels. These regulations support plant health, trade, and environmental protection by reducing the risk of new diseases and pests establishing in new areas.

Examples of notable Schaderreger include Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia graminis, Xanthomonas campestris, and Meloidogyne species. The term emphasizes the causative role of these agents in harm to crops and other plants, guiding diagnosis, prevention, and control strategies.