Defeating Fungi in Cumin Quiz Quiz

Explore key strategies and facts for managing fungal diseases in cumin crops, covering symptoms, practices, and preventative measures. Enhance your understanding of effective and sustainable cumin disease management methods.

1. Identifying Common Cumin Diseases

   Which fungal disease is most commonly responsible for damaging cumin (Cuminum cyminum) crops in India and other leading producing regions?

   1. Root knot nematode
   2. Bacterial blight
   3. Powdery mildew
   4. Damping-off

   Explanation: Powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe polygoni, is widespread and poses significant threats in cumin-growing areas. While damping-off can affect seedlings, it is less persistent. Root knot nematode is not a fungus and bacterial blight is caused by bacteria, not fungi.

2. Recognizing Symptoms of Powdery Mildew

   What is a characteristic symptom of powdery mildew infection on cumin leaves in the field?

   1. Black angular spots
   2. Water-soaked lesions
   3. White powdery patches
   4. Yellow pustules

   Explanation: White powdery patches on leaves and stems are the hallmark of powdery mildew. Yellow pustules are usually linked to rust, water-soaked lesions indicate bacterial or viral problems, and black angular spots are symptoms of other specific leaf spot diseases.

3. Effective Fungicide Application Timing

   At which crop stage is preventative fungicide spraying most effective in minimizing fungal infections like Fusarium wilt in cumin?

   1. During flowering
   2. After pod development
   3. At harvest
   4. At early seedling stage

   Explanation: Applying fungicide at early seedling stage can prevent initial fungal establishment, giving the crop a healthy start. Spraying after pod development or at harvest is too late for protection, and during flowering may miss early pathogen activity.

4. Cultural Control Strategies

   Which cultural practice best helps minimize the persistence of soil-borne fungal diseases in cumin cultivation?

   1. Over-irrigation
   2. Late sowing
   3. Monocropping
   4. Crop rotation

   Explanation: Crop rotation breaks disease cycles by interrupting the life cycle of soil-borne pathogens. Over-irrigation can aggravate fungal problems, monocropping increases risk of build-up, and late sowing can sometimes increase disease pressure due to unfavorable weather.

5. Role of Disease-Resistant Varieties

   Why is planting disease-resistant cumin varieties considered a sustainable method of disease management?

   1. They guarantee complete immunity
   2. They reduce reliance on chemical fungicides
   3. They increase seed size
   4. They make crops drought-resistant

   Explanation: Disease-resistant varieties help lower the need for repeated fungicide applications, contributing to sustainability. They do not guarantee complete immunity, nor do they directly affect drought resistance or seed size, which are separate breeding traits.