Beat the Purple Fungus! Chickpea Health Quiz Quiz

Challenge your agricultural knowledge on chickpea disease management strategies, symptoms, and best practices to maintain healthy crops. Explore effective ways to identify, prevent, and control common chickpea diseases.

1. Identifying Ascochyta Blight

   Which visible symptom is most characteristic of Ascochyta blight in chickpea plants growing in wet conditions?

   1. Galls forming on the roots
   2. Yellowing of lower leaves without spots
   3. Circular brown lesions with dark margins on leaves and stems
   4. Powdery white coating on the upper leaf surface

   Explanation: Ascochyta blight typically shows as circular brown lesions with dark margins on leaves and stems. Yellowing of lower leaves without spots is more typical of nutrient deficiency, not disease. Galls on roots are usually caused by nematodes. Powdery white coating suggests powdery mildew, a different fungal disease.

2. Importance of Crop Rotation

   Why is crop rotation recommended in managing chickpea soil-borne diseases like Fusarium wilt?

   1. It speeds up chickpea seed germination
   2. It prevents insect attacks on chickpeas
   3. It reduces buildup of disease-causing pathogens in the soil
   4. It increases chickpea yield by improving soil pH

   Explanation: Crop rotation interrupts the life cycle of many soil-borne pathogens by depriving them of their preferred host, reducing their population in the soil. While rotation may incidentally improve yield, the direct benefit is on lowering pathogen buildup. It does not primarily prevent insects or speed up germination.

3. Seed Treatment Strategies

   Which seed treatment is most effective for controlling seed-borne fungal diseases in chickpeas before planting?

   1. Treating seeds with a recommended fungicide
   2. Washing seeds with tap water
   3. Drying seeds in sunlight only
   4. Soaking seeds in salt solution overnight

   Explanation: Applying a fungicide to seeds helps eliminate seed-borne pathogens and reduces early infection. Washing with tap water, salt soaking, or just sun drying does not provide adequate protection against most fungi, making them less reliable preventive measures.

4. Foliar Disease Management

   A farmer observes purple blotches on chickpea leaves during humid weather. What is the recommended first response?

   1. Spray with a strong insecticide
   2. Increase field irrigation to wash leaves
   3. Apply nitrogen fertilizer immediately
   4. Remove and destroy affected plants and avoid overhead irrigation

   Explanation: Removing infected plants and reducing leaf wetness are key steps to limit foliar disease spread. Nitrogen fertilization and extra irrigation may worsen disease. Insecticide usage does not target fungal pathogens and is ineffective in this scenario.

5. Chickpea Variety Selection

   When choosing chickpea seeds for planting in a region with a history of root rot, which approach helps reduce disease risk?

   1. Prefer seeds with larger size for higher yield
   2. Pick only light-colored seeds
   3. Choose seeds harvested earlier in the season
   4. Select disease-resistant chickpea varieties

   Explanation: Planting disease-resistant varieties is an effective way to minimize root rot risk as they are bred to withstand specific pathogens. Seed size, harvest timing, and color do not directly influence susceptibility to root rot.