AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    Rose black spot can be treated by using fungicides and/or removing and…

    Full specification wording

    Fungal diseases: Rose black spot can be treated by using fungicides and/or removing and destroying the affected leaves.

    This statement describes two practical control measures for rose black spot, a fungal disease that produces purple-black spots on rose leaves and causes them to drop early.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 4 of 4
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    This statement describes two practical control measures for rose black spot, a fungal disease that produces purple-black spots on rose leaves and causes them to drop early. A fungicide is a chemical that kills or inhibits the fungus growing in the plant tissue, so it reduces the disease and protects new growth. Removing affected leaves takes away infected tissue, which lowers the number of spores released to reinfect the plant. Destroying the removed leaves, for example by burning or binning them rather than adding them to compost, prevents those spores returning to the rose. The two methods can be combined. Gardeners also improve air flow and avoid overhead watering to reduce spread, but the specification focuses on fungicides and leaf removal.

    What earns the marks

    • Fungicides are chemicals applied to kill or inhibit the rose black spot fungus.
    • Removing affected leaves physically removes infected tissue and reduces spore production.
    • Destroying removed leaves, such as by burning, prevents spores from reinfecting the plant.
    • Using both methods together can control the disease more effectively than either alone.
    • Reducing spore numbers limits further spread to healthy leaves and nearby roses.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying that removing leaves cures the whole plant instantly.

      Put it right: It reduces the source of spores and limits spread but does not remove fungus already inside other tissues.

    • Thinking that affected leaves can be composted safely.

      Put it right: They must be destroyed so spores are not released back into the environment.

    • Confusing fungicide with pesticide or herbicide.

      Put it right: A fungicide acts against fungi, not insects or weeds.

    Exam tips

    • Give both treatments and explain the purpose of each rather than just naming them.
    • Use the word 'destroy' when describing disposal of affected leaves, not simply 'remove'.
    • Link each treatment to reducing spore numbers or spread to show understanding of the mechanism.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Fungal diseases: Rose black spot can be treated by using fungicides and/or removing and destroying the affected leaves. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which two methods are used to treat rose black spot?

    Listen

    This statement describes two practical control measures for rose black spot, a fungal disease that produces purple-black spots on rose leaves and causes them to drop early. A fungicide is a chemical that kills or inhibits the fungus growing in the plant tissue, so it reduces the disease and protects new growth. Removing affected leaves takes away infected tissue, which lowers the number of spores released to reinfect the plant. Destroying the removed leaves, for example by burning or binning them rather than adding them to compost, prevents those spores returning to the rose. The two methods can be combined. Gardeners also improve air flow and avoid overhead watering to reduce spread, but the specification focuses on fungicides and leaf removal. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Fungicides are chemicals applied to kill or inhibit the rose black spot fungus. Removing affected leaves physically removes infected tissue and reduces spore production. Destroying removed leaves, such as by burning, prevents spores from reinfecting the plant. Using both methods together can control the disease more effectively than either alone. A common slip: Saying that removing leaves cures the whole plant instantly. Instead, it reduces the source of spores and limits spread but does not remove fungus already inside other tissues. Exam tip: Give both treatments and explain the purpose of each rather than just naming them.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. At the top is a node labelled Rose black spot, which branches into two treatment nodes: Fungicides and Remove affected leaves. Fungicides leads to a node reading Kill or inhibit the fungus. Remove affected leaves leads to two nodes: Reduce spore production, and Destroy removed leaves. Destroy removed leaves leads to a node reading Prevent spores reinfecting the plant. The nodes Kill or inhibit the fungus, Reduce spore production and Prevent spores reinfecting the plant all lead to a final node reading Control the disease.
    Two treatments for rose black spot, fungicides and removing and destroying affected leaves, and how each helps control the disease.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Fungicides

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Removing affected leaves

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Destroying removed leaves

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Fungicides
    Chemicals applied to kill or inhibit the rose black spot fungus growing in the plant tissue.
    Removing affected leaves
    Physically removing infected tissue, which lowers the number of spores released to reinfect the plant.
    Destroying removed leaves
    Disposing of removed leaves, for example by burning or binning them rather than adding them to compost, so spores do not return to the rose.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. At the top is a node labelled Rose black spot, which branches into two treatment nodes: Fungicides and Remove affected leaves. Fungicides leads to a node reading Kill or inhibit the fungus. Remove affected leaves leads to two nodes: Reduce spore production, and Destroy removed leaves. Destroy removed leaves leads to a node reading Prevent spores reinfecting the plant. The nodes Kill or inhibit the fungus, Reduce spore production and Prevent spores reinfecting the plant all lead to a final node reading Control the disease.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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