Rohan Kumar Rohan Kumar Asked 6 months ago

Can plants develop cancer?

I was watching a science documentary and it made me wonder about diseases in plants. Do plants also get something similar to what we call cancer? I'm curious about the biological aspect.

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10 answers

Savitri Devi Savitri Devi Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago
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Yes, plants can get abnormal growths or tumors, often caused by bacteria or fungi. In our gardens, we usually prune those parts off and apply neem oil or turmeric paste on the cut to protect the plant from further infection.

Rohan Deshmukh Rohan Deshmukh Joined Jan 2026 6 months ago

Just like humans, abnormal growths in plants shouldn't be ignored. I once left a strange gall on my mango tree thinking it was nothing, and it eventually weakened the whole branch. It is always better to inspect and treat plant diseases early.

Harbhajan Singh Harbhajan Singh Joined Jan 2026 6 months ago

Beta, nature has its own struggles. Plants do get woody tumors or galls from infections, but unlike us, they don't spread to other parts because plant cells are fixed. Keeping the soil healthy with compost helps them stay strong.

Karan Mehra Karan Mehra Joined Jan 2026 6 months ago

It is interesting, plants can actually get tumors, but because they don't have a blood circulatory system, the mutated cells can't travel or metastasize. It is a good reminder of how vital a healthy system is for overall survival.

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Consult a radiation oncologist

Anita Roy Anita Roy Joined Jan 2026 6 months ago

Yes, I have seen crown gall disease on my roses which is essentially plant cancer caused by bacteria. The best way to deal with it is to prune the infected area with sterilized tools and destroy the infected parts so it doesn't spread to neighboring plants.

Meenakshi Iyer Meenakshi Iyer Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Hello! Yes, plants can develop tumor-like growths called galls, usually triggered by viruses, bacteria, or insects. While it looks scary, it rarely kills the plant. Regular pruning and maintaining good soil drainage usually keeps your garden healthy.

Aditya Verma Aditya Verma Joined Mar 2026 6 months ago

Yeah, they do get tumors! I saw this massive woody lump on a tree in my backyard and looked it up. It is basically plant cancer, but since their cells don't move around, they can survive with it for years without any issue.

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Shanti Prasad Shanti Prasad Joined May 2026 6 months ago

Haan babu, ped-paudhon mein bhi bimaari lagti hai jisse unme gaanth ban jaati hai. Humare yahan jab aisa hota hai, toh hum uss daal ko kaat kar alag kar dete hain aur mitti badal dete hain taaki naya pauda kharab na ho.

Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Joined May 2026 5 months ago

It is fascinating how cellular abnormalities can happen in any living being. Just like we need regular health checkups and blood tests to monitor our thyroid or other issues, keeping a regular eye on your garden plants can catch these growths early.

Siddharth Nair Siddharth Nair Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Biologically speaking, plants do get tumors, but they are very different from human cancers. If you are researching this for agricultural purposes or a biology project, it is best to consult an agricultural specialist or botanist for accurate scientific guidance.

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