Though fungi cause more diseases than bacteria, bacterial diseases are generally more difficult to control. Again, bacteria are not plants. They are one-celled microorganisms, requiring good, powerful light microscopes to be seen. Though some bacteria produce resistant spores, no plant pathogenic bacteria do so. Details of bacteria are best seen at the very high magnifications of electron microscopes.
Bacteria depend on outside agents for dispersal.
They do not spread on the wind as many fungi do. Splashing water is the number one means by which bacteria are disseminated, as in this picture showing overhead sprinkler irrigation of a farmer's tomato plants. 10-A. Overhead sprinkler irrigation. Many bacterial diseases can be spread readily simply by touching an infected plant and then by touching a healthy plant. Like human bacteria, plant pathogenic bacteria are extremely contagious.