ABSTRACT
Soilborne fungus-like oomycetes and fungal pathogens have to interact with both biotic and abiotic factors that significantly influence their development and ability to infect susceptible host plant species. The fungal pathogens have innate capacity to either adapt to the adverse environmental conditions, or to produce resistant propagules for their survival and subsequent perpetuation, until the return of favorable conditions. The soilborne fungal pathogens produce various types of spores during asexual and sexual phases of their life cycles for dispersal to other plants in the same location or to other locations and for perpetuation through subsequent generations. Root infection by soilborne fungal pathogens can be inferred by loss of turgidity and yellowing of foliage. Synchytrium endobioticum, incitant of potato wart disease, is a biotrophic, soilborne, quanrantine pathogen and infection of potato tubers may result in unmarketable tubers and even complete loss in yield. Soilborne fungi require some conditions that favor initiation of infection and establishment in the susceptible plants.
