What are indicators of a plant being affected by diseases or disorders, such as wilting or color changes, called?

The term that best describes the indicators of a plant being affected by diseases or disorders, like wilting or color changes, is referred to as "plant symptoms." Symptoms are the observable responses of a plant to stress or disease, reflecting changes in health that are often visible, such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or wilting. These symptoms are important as they can help identify the underlying problem affecting the plant.

While the other terms may relate to plant health, they do not specifically capture the concept of the plant’s response. "Visible signs" generally refer to physical characteristics that may indicate a problem but not the plant's specific responses. "Phytopathological indicators" is a more technical term that might be used in a research context but is not as commonly utilized in practical settings. "Stress markers" can refer to broader indicators of plant stress but do not specifically denote the visible symptoms as clearly as "plant symptoms" does.