Difference between Tolerance and Resistance

Q:I am ordering vegetable seeds. What is the difference between tolerance and resistance in terms of plant disease?

A: “Tolerance” means the plant can produce vegetables if the disease infection is mild. You might not get as many, but there will be some for you to eat. “Resistance” means the plant actively fights infection by various means. Maybe it has thicker leaves, stronger cell walls, a more open leaf canopy, or a better internal way of detoxifying a fungus. Disease resistance is best but tolerance is not a bad choice either. Research your choices online to get an idea how they will fare.

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