Fight the Fungus: Cumin Protection Quiz Quiz

Sharpen your knowledge of managing diseases affecting cumin crops with practical, scenario-based questions. Learn about symptoms, pathogens, and safe control strategies to safeguard yields.

1. Identifying Cumin Wilt Symptoms

   Which visual symptom most commonly indicates cumin wilt in the field?

   1. Round water-soaked lesions with concentric rings
   2. Sudden yellowing and wilting of foliage
   3. Powdery white coating on upper leaf surfaces
   4. Abnormally elongated stems with purple streaks

   Explanation: Sudden yellowing and wilting is characteristic of cumin wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum, as the pathogen blocks water flow in the plant. Water-soaked lesions with rings are more typical of blight diseases. Powdery coatings indicate powdery mildew. Purple streaks and stem elongation are rare in cumin and associated with different disorders.

2. Major Cumin Disease Pathogen

   Which pathogen is primarily responsible for causing powdery mildew in cumin crops?

   1. Rhizoctonia solani
   2. Erysiphe polygoni
   3. Alternaria alternata
   4. Fusarium oxysporum

   Explanation: Erysiphe polygoni is the main agent of powdery mildew in cumin, producing characteristic white fungal growth. Alternaria alternata causes leaf spots, not powdery mildew. Fusarium oxysporum is responsible for wilt. Rhizoctonia solani generally causes root rot, not powdery mildew.

3. Best Practice for Fungicide Application

   What is an important step when applying fungicides to control cumin blight?

   1. Mix fungicides with herbicides always
   2. Spray only during rainy days
   3. Rotate fungicides with different modes of action
   4. Use higher than recommended doses for quick results

   Explanation: Rotating fungicides helps prevent the development of pathogen resistance. Using higher doses is unsafe and unnecessary. Spraying during rainy days reduces efficacy because of wash-off. Mixing fungicides with herbicides isn't always recommended due to compatibility issues.

4. Cultural Disease Management

   Which cultural practice most effectively reduces the risk of soil-borne cumin diseases?

   1. Selecting late-maturing cumin varieties
   2. Increasing seed sowing density
   3. Practicing crop rotation with non-host crops
   4. Applying extra irrigation frequently

   Explanation: Crop rotation helps reduce build-up of soil-borne pathogens by interrupting their life cycles. Extra irrigation can worsen some diseases. Late-maturing varieties aren't always disease-resistant. Higher sowing densities can promote disease spread rather than reduce it.

5. Safe Use of Biocontrol Agents

   When aiming to manage cumin wilt, how should biological control agents like Trichoderma spp. be applied for maximum effect?

   1. Apply only after disease signs appear
   2. Mix with chemical fertilizers just before harvest
   3. Spray on fully grown plants only
   4. Incorporate them into soil at sowing time

   Explanation: Applying Trichoderma to the soil at sowing allows early colonization and suppression of pathogens. Spraying on mature plants is less effective for soil diseases. Mixing at harvest is too late for disease prevention. Waiting until symptoms develop misses the preventive benefits.