As always, such wonderful information. I'll work on absorbing and incorporating it, and look forward to any follow-ups on the classifications, and nutritional effects (at the very least, a starting point for looking at potential organic approaches to the many diseases).
I've included Summer Dormancy on the list because (apart from it being a problem in my chronically high-temp drought area) I'm wondering if there are organic approaches to managing the gardens in ways that would possibly avoid full-out dormancy. For example, if there is research that shows some nutritional levels support better performance in these conditions, if there are any nutritional needs that might show up in tests, what to do (or not do) as foliage burns, ways to avoid the extreme loss of root and fan size from maturity levels by possible organic supplementation, etc.) For now, it'll just be a reminder to myself to hunt around for any pointers. So many gardening conundrums, so little time. So ... your time and thoughtfulness in sharing so much helpful information is really appreciated!
EDIT: Before I forget, I'm just noting here the likely Mr. Gee trail, via Wicked Pedia, from which I think I got the Albugo - > Botrytis - > Oomycete - > obligate biotrophs idea ... but not meant to be a further red-herring distraction, just noting for my own future mulling pleasure on a rainy day ... from the Pathogenicity section, subsection White Blister Rusts, which includes Botrytis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O...
If nothing else, it is a reminder to me of how difficult but important it must be to understand each organism involved in a disease process, especially since the nutritional effects may bump one type of organism and not another. It will help me curb the impulse to whine a bit about dead-language, surname-bound nomenclature, at least for a while longer. :} Too defining to risk scattershot right now.
