Beat the Wheat Nematodes Quiz Quiz

Explore best practices for managing nematode pests in wheat agriculture with these scenario-based questions. Strengthen your understanding of nematode control and crop health strategies.

1. Nematode Identification

   Which nematode species is most commonly associated with serious yield losses in wheat fields worldwide?

   1. Heterodera avenae
   2. Globodera pallida
   3. Pratylenchus penetrans
   4. Meloidogyne incognita

   Explanation: Heterodera avenae, the cereal cyst nematode, is a key pest of wheat globally, causing significant yield reductions. Meloidogyne incognita primarily affects vegetables, Pratylenchus penetrans is more common in root crops, and Globodera pallida mainly targets potatoes.

2. Symptoms on Wheat

   A farmer observes stunted wheat plants with yellow patches developing in irregular patterns. Which nematode-related problem is most likely?

   1. Fungal leaf rust
   2. Cereal cyst nematode infestation
   3. Iron deficiency
   4. Bacterial leaf blight infection

   Explanation: Cereal cyst nematode infestations often produce stunted and yellow-patched growth in wheat. Bacterial leaf blight and fungal rust affect leaves rather than plant vigor, and iron deficiency typically causes uniform yellowing, not patches.

3. Cultural Control

   Which cultural practice helps suppress nematode populations in wheat fields over multiple seasons?

   1. Increasing fertilizer applications
   2. Continuous monoculture of wheat
   3. Flooding the field every spring
   4. Rotating cereals with non-host crops

   Explanation: Rotating with non-host crops reduces nematode populations by interrupting their life cycle. Monoculture allows nematodes to persist, more fertilizer does not control nematodes, and flooding is rarely practical or effective for wheat nematodes.

4. Biological Control

   Which approach best exemplifies biological control of nematodes in a wheat crop?

   1. Applying nematode-parasitic fungi to the soil
   2. Burning wheat residues after harvest
   3. Spraying synthetic insecticides
   4. Deep tilling the soil

   Explanation: Nematode-parasitic fungi attack or inhibit nematodes and are a biological approach. Insecticides target insects, not nematodes. Tilling and burning are physical or cultural methods, not biological controls.

5. Resistant Varieties

   Why are nematode-resistant wheat varieties favored in integrated pest management programs?

   1. They always yield more than susceptible varieties
   2. They eliminate all pests including insects
   3. They require no irrigation management
   4. They reduce the need for chemical nematicides

   Explanation: Resistant varieties lower nematode risk, decreasing reliance on nematicides. They may not always yield more, do not affect insect pests, and still require proper water management like any wheat crop.