What secondary fungal growth commonly develops on the surfaces coated by aphid honeydew?
Answer
Sooty mold
Although honeydew itself is not inherently toxic to the plant, its presence creates an ideal environment for secondary fungal proliferation. The most common organism to thrive in this sugar-rich coating is sooty mold. Sooty mold manifests as a dark, often black, powdery layer on the affected surfaces of the plant. This dark coating is problematic because it actively blocks incoming sunlight, thereby interfering significantly with the plant's crucial ability to perform photosynthesis.
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