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The Sick Seeds: Black Seed Rot and Slash Pines (Spanish)

  • Article
  • Middle School
  • 1 Classroom Period
  • Black Seed Rot
  • Fungus
  • Germination
  • Seeds
  • Slash Pine
PDF preview of the Spanish version of "The Sick Seeds"
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Just like you and me, trees can get sick. This can happen in many different ways. One way trees become ill is through an infestation of insects or fungi. This is what happens to a certain type of tree called slash pine. In this case, though, it is not the actual tree which is affected, but the seeds. The scientists in this study decided to investigate why black seed rot occurs and what its effects are.

This is the Spanish-language version of this article.

The Sick Seeds: Black Seed Rot and Slash Pines (Spanish)

Part Of

Spring 1999 - Spanish

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Glossary

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  • colonize

    (kä lǝ nīz): To multiply in or on a host or an inanimate object or surface.

  • fungus

    (fǝŋ gǝs): (plural: fungi or funguses) Any of a kingdom of living things (such as molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, and mushrooms) that lack chlorophyll, are parasitic or live on dead or decaying organic matter, and were formerly considered plants.

  • germination

    (jǝr mǝ nā shǝn): The process of beginning to grow, sprout, or develop.

  • infestation

    (in fǝ stā shǝn): The presence of organisms that spread or swarm in or over an area in a troublesome manner.

  • moisture content

    (mȯis chǝr kän tent): The amount of water present in a substance.

  • organic matter

    (ȯr ga nik mat ǝr): A substance that is made from living things.

  • seed orchard

    (sēd ȯr chǝrd): A place where trees are planted for the purpose of harvesting seeds.

  • specimen

    (spes (ǝ) mǝn): A part or a single thing that shows what the whole thing or group is like.

  • Dr. Stephen Fraedrich standing on a rocky cliffside.

    Stephen Fraedrich

    Plant Pathologist

    I greatly enjoy my work as a research scientist with the Forest Service.  As a Plant Pathologist I have been able to conduct research on disease problems that affect production...
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Standards addressed in this Article:

Social Studies Standards

Social Studies Standards are educational guidelines outlining the essential knowledge, skills, and concepts students should learn in subjects such as history, geography, civics, and economics, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of societal structures, historical events, and global perspectives.
  • Science, Technology, and Society

Note To Educators

The Forest Service's Mission

The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.

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What Is the Natural Inquirer?

Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.

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You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.


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Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer

  • Just like you and me, trees can get sick. This can happen in many different ways. One way trees become ill is through an infestation of insects or fungi. This...

    The Sick Seeds: Black Seed Rot and Slash Pines

    • Article
    • Middle School
    • 1 Classroom Period
    • Black Seed Rot
    • Fungus
    • Germination
    • Seeds
    • Slash Pine
    Just like you and me, trees can get sick. This can happen in many different ways. One way trees become ill is through an infestation of insects or fungi. This...
    Explore Article Download Article (PDF)
    Explore Article Download Article (PDF)

    Part Of

    Spring 1999 - Vol. 1 No. 2

  • Test your knowledge about fungi, seed germination, and research design with this word search.

    Word Search – The Sick Seeds

    • Activity
    • Middle School
    • Less than 30 minutes
    • Fungus
    • Germination
    • Seeds
    • Vocabulary
    Test your knowledge about fungi, seed germination, and research design with this word search.
    Explore Activity Download Word Search (PDF) Answer Key (PDF)
    Explore Activity Download Word Search (PDF) Answer Key (PDF)

    Part Of

    The Sick Seeds: Black Seed Rot and Slash Pines


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