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

The term that describes the changes in a plant that indicate it is suffering from diseases or disorders, such as wilting or color changes, is known as "plant symptoms." Symptoms are the observable effects on a plant as it responds to an underlying issue, whether that be a pathogen, environmental stressor, or nutritional deficiency. In the context of plant health, recognizing symptoms is crucial for diagnosing issues and determining appropriate management strategies.

Visible signs, on the other hand, refer to physical evidence of a specific pathogen, such as fungal fruiting bodies or insect presence, which are distinct from the symptoms that the plant exhibits. Phytopathological indicators is a more technical term that may refer to various factors in plant pathology but does not specifically pinpoint the observed reactions of the plant itself. Stress markers typically denote broader plant health concerns and may not directly relate to visible changes indicating disease. Therefore, plant symptoms is the most accurate term for the observable effects on the plant resulting from diseases or disorders.