Fungus Fighters: Cumin Crop Edition Quiz

Explore effective disease management strategies for cumin crops, focusing on fungal threats and their solutions. This quiz covers practical scenarios and diagnostic insights for maintaining healthy cumin yields.

1. Identifying Cumin Wilt Symptoms

   A cumin farmer notices sudden wilting and yellowing of seedlings even though the field has adequate moisture. Which fungus is most likely responsible for this damping-off in cumin crops?

   1. Alternaria alternata
   2. Powdery mildew
   3. Rhizoctonia solani
   4. Fusarium oxysporum

   Explanation: Fusarium oxysporum is a common cause of wilt and damping-off in cumin, often resulting in yellowing and wilting even with sufficient moisture. Alternaria alternata typically causes leaf spots, not wilt. Powdery mildew presents as white powdery growth, not wilting. Rhizoctonia solani causes damping-off, but is less common in cumin than Fusarium species.

2. Effective Disease Control Measures

   To reduce the risk of Fusarium wilt in a cumin field with a history of infection, what is the best integrated management strategy?

   1. Plant seeds closer together
   2. Implement crop rotation with non-host crops
   3. Increase nitrogen fertilizer application
   4. Apply excess irrigation

   Explanation: Crop rotation with non-host crops minimizes carryover of Fusarium in the soil, lowering disease risk. Increasing nitrogen and excess irrigation can worsen disease incidence, and closer seed spacing promotes humidity and disease spread.

3. Recognizing Powdery Mildew in Cumin

   Which visual symptom best indicates powdery mildew infection in cumin plants during the flowering stage?

   1. Brown root lesions
   2. White powdery patches on leaves and stems
   3. Wilting without leaf spots
   4. Dark circular leaf spots

   Explanation: Powdery mildew manifests as white, powdery growth on above-ground plant parts. Dark circular spots are more typical of Alternaria or Cercospora. Wilting without spots and brown root lesions are more indicative of Fusarium wilt or root rot, not powdery mildew.

4. Appropriate Fungicide Use

   When managing downy mildew (caused by Peronospora species) in cumin, what timing is most effective for fungicide application?

   1. Once during seed sowing only
   2. Immediately after harvest
   3. At the first sign of disease symptoms
   4. After plant maturity

   Explanation: Timely application at the first sign of symptoms helps limit disease spread for downy mildew. Application after plant maturity or post-harvest is too late to be effective, and applying only at sowing does not address diseases that emerge later in the crop cycle.

5. Cultural Practices for Disease Suppression

   How does ensuring adequate plant spacing help manage fungal diseases in cumin fields?

   1. Creates shade to protect roots
   2. Increases soil nutrient concentration
   3. Improves air circulation, reducing humidity around plants
   4. Prevents seed predation by birds

   Explanation: Good plant spacing promotes air flow, lowering leaf wetness and humidity that favor fungal disease development. It does not prevent seed predation, increase soil nutrients, or create shade for root protection.