Castor Crop Fungus Fighters Quiz Quiz

Challenge your understanding of castor crop disease management with questions on identification, prevention, and control techniques for fungal threats. Enhance your agricultural expertise through realistic scenarios and best practices.

1. Identifying Wilt in Castor

   A castor farmer notices sudden yellowing and wilting in parts of his field during the rainy season. Which fungal disease is most likely responsible?

   1. Fusarium wilt
   2. Powdery mildew
   3. Sclerotinia rot
   4. Alternaria blight

   Explanation: Fusarium wilt is characterized by yellowing, wilting, and often rapid plant death, usually during wet conditions. Powdery mildew causes white powdery spots, not wilting. Alternaria blight results in leaf spots, and Sclerotinia rot typically involves white mold and stem rot rather than wilting.

2. Optimal Timing for Fungicide Application

   When is the best time to apply prophylactic fungicides to protect castor crops from soil-borne fungal infections?

   1. During seed harvesting
   2. At sowing
   3. Immediately after wilting appears
   4. At full maturity

   Explanation: Applying fungicides at sowing helps protect seedlings from early soil-borne infections. Seed harvesting and full maturity are too late for preventive application. Treating after symptoms appear is less effective than prevention.

3. Cultural Practice for Disease Control

   Which cultural practice best reduces the risk of fungal leaf spot diseases in castor crops?

   1. Crop rotation
   2. Excessive watering
   3. Late harvesting
   4. Dense planting

   Explanation: Crop rotation interrupts disease cycles by reducing the buildup of fungal pathogens in the soil. Excessive watering and dense planting increase humidity, favoring disease onset. Late harvesting does not directly reduce leaf spot incidence.

4. Symptoms of Powdery Mildew

   What is a characteristic symptom of powdery mildew infection in castor plants?

   1. White, powdery coating on leaves
   2. Sunken brown fruit lesions
   3. Black streaks on roots
   4. Yellow dots on stems

   Explanation: Powdery mildew presents as a white, powdery growth on leaf surfaces. Yellow dots on stems are not typical, and black root streaks or brown fruit lesions are symptoms of other diseases.

5. Resistant Varieties in Integrated Management

   How does cultivating resistant castor varieties assist in managing fungal diseases?

   1. They reduce plant susceptibility to infection
   2. They inhibit beneficial soil microbes
   3. They accelerate spore development
   4. They increase natural humidity

   Explanation: Resistant varieties are less likely to become infected, offering effective disease management. Increasing humidity or spore development would worsen disease, and inhibiting beneficial microbes is undesirable for crop health.