Battling the Purple Fungus: Cumin Crop Quiz Quiz

Explore practical aspects of managing common diseases in cumin, focusing on strategies, symptoms, and preventive methods to help farmers protect their crops from fungal threats.

1. Identifying Wilt in Cumin

   Which symptom typically indicates the presence of Fusarium wilt in cumin crops during early growth stages?

   1. Sudden yellowing and drooping of seedlings
   2. Sticky honeydew on stems
   3. Formation of powdery white patches on leaves
   4. Brown circular spots on pods

   Explanation: Sudden yellowing and drooping of seedlings is a key symptom of Fusarium wilt, as the fungus attacks the plant's vascular system. Powdery white patches suggest powdery mildew, brown spots on pods often relate to blight, and sticky honeydew indicates possible aphid infestation rather than fungal wilt.

2. Cultural Controls for Disease Prevention

   Which cultural practice can effectively reduce the risk of fungal diseases like cumin blight in a field with a history of infection?

   1. Using plastic mulch exclusively
   2. Crop rotation with non-host species
   3. Applying high-nitrogen fertilizer only
   4. Flood irrigation throughout the season

   Explanation: Crop rotation helps interrupt disease life cycles by denying pathogens their preferred host, making it effective against soil-borne fungi. High-nitrogen fertilizers and flood irrigation can worsen fungal issues, while plastic mulch alone does not address pathogen persistence in the soil.

3. Application Timing for Fungicides

   When is the most appropriate time to apply a recommended fungicide to protect cumin against Alternaria blight?

   1. After harvest is completed
   2. During cold dormant months
   3. At the first sign of leaf spots
   4. Only at sowing of seeds

   Explanation: Applying fungicide at the first sign of symptoms like leaf spots helps control disease progression early. Treating after harvest is ineffective, during dormant months is unnecessary, and application only at sowing doesn't protect plants during their vulnerable stages.

4. Recognizing Purple Fungus Infections

   What is the most distinctive sign of 'purple stain' disease (caused by Alternaria burnsii) in cumin?

   1. Water-soaked lesions on stem base
   2. Deep purple spots on seeds and umbels
   3. Downy white fluff under leaves
   4. Twisted growing tips with gall formation

   Explanation: Deep purple spots on seeds and umbels are characteristic of 'purple stain' or Alternaria burnsii infection. Downy white fluff suggests downy mildew, twisted tips with galls points to nematode damage, and water-soaked lesions are found in some root rots but not in purple stain.

5. Sanitation Practices in Disease Management

   Which sanitation practice best limits the spread of fungal diseases in cumin cultivation?

   1. Storing harvested seeds in unclean bags
   2. Leaving crop residues as green mulch
   3. Removing and destroying infected plant debris after harvest
   4. Applying herbicides to control weeds only

   Explanation: Removing and destroying infected debris reduces sources of fungal inoculum, interrupting the disease cycle. Herbicides manage weeds, not pathogens; leaving residues may harbor fungi; and using unclean storage bags increases risk of seed-borne infections.