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Yes, but the disease does not kill the plants, although it can harm their development. Plant tumors are often called galls and can be caused by organisms such as lichens, bacteria, viruses, and insects. One of the most common types is induced by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which lives in the soil and affects common plants in our diet, such as tomatoes, beans and potatoes. The bacteria comes into contact with the plant through wounds in the collar region: between the root and the stem. Afterwards, it induces the cells to increase the production of hormones that stimulate cell proliferation. “This hormonal imbalance causes the cells to multiply uncontrollably, giving rise to tumors in different parts of the plant”, says biologist Sônia Perez, from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR).
These tumors can make the infected plant smaller or less productive – otherwise there is no risk. “There is no possibility of the disease passing to animals or humans if they consume the plant as food”, says agronomist Jorge Vega, from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp).