A bacterium is a micro-organism, which means that it cannot be seen with the human eye. Bacteria have a very thin cell wall. This allows them to multiply rapidly through cell division. There are both good and bad bacteria. Where bad bacteria have negative consequences for a crop and are difficult to control, good bacteria can protect a crop against fungi and insect pests. An example of a good bacteria is Mycorrhiza.

A virus consists of genetic material and, just like a bacterium, cannot be seen with the naked eye. A virus has a shell in which the genetic material is trapped. This shell is called the protein mantle. The protein mantle therefore forms the protective layer of the actual virus. Only when the genetic material leaves the protein mantle can it infect other cells with the virus. Unlike bacteria, viruses do not multiply by cell division. A virus can only multiply through the cells of humans, animals, or plant cells.

Both viruses and bacteria are difficult to combat when they are not detected in time. When you do know how to detect viruses and bacteria in time, you can fight them by using crop protection products and / or disinfectants.

If you want to fight a virus with the help of a disinfectant, consider a longer exposure time. Killing a virus takes longer than killing a bacterium, because a disinfectant must first penetrate the protein mantle before the virus can be eliminated.

A bacterium does not have a protein mantle. Therefore, a disinfectant only needs to penetrate the cell wall to eliminate the bacteria. This is much easier and therefore faster than penetrating a protein mantle. That is why a disinfectant needs a longer exposure time for killing viruses than for killing bacteria. This also means that, for example, an alcohol solution on the hands is often well able to destroy bacteria quickly, but that it is too quick to kill viruses effectively. Many agents that work only briefly and aggressively (think of hydrogen peroxide or chlorine) lose their power too quickly to effectively eliminate the virus. Precisely then drugs are needed that soak well and retain their power for a long time, think of Menno florades.

Of course, prevention is better than cure. That is why you should perform a disinfection scan occasionally to see what needs to be improved in terms of hygiene.  

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