Assess your understanding of groundnut leaf spot disease management techniques, including identification, prevention, and control practices. This quiz covers common groundnut fungal diseases and effective strategies for minimizing crop loss.
When groundnut plants display small, circular brown spots with yellow halos on their leaves, which disease is most likely present?
Explanation: Early leaf spot causes small brown patches with yellow halos on groundnut leaves. Late blight usually affects potatoes and tomatoes, wilt is characterized by drooping plants, and powdery mildew creates white powdery residue, not brown spots.
Which cultural practice best helps limit the spread of fungal leaf spot diseases in groundnut fields?
Explanation: Crop rotation breaks disease cycles by removing host plants, reducing fungal inoculum. Overhead irrigation increases leaf wetness and disease risk, late planting can expose crops to more pathogen pressure, and dense planting enhances humidity, promoting fungal growth.
Which type of fungicide is most commonly recommended to control leaf spot diseases in groundnuts?
Explanation: Chlorothalonil is a broad-spectrum fungicide effective against leaf spots in groundnuts. Glyphosate and atrazine are primarily herbicides, not fungicides, and imidacloprid is an insecticide, not used for fungal diseases.
How does using a leaf spot-resistant groundnut variety contribute to disease management?
Explanation: Resistant varieties hinder pathogen development, lowering disease severity. They do not increase susceptibility or humidity, and resistance does not eliminate the need to manage weeds.
Why is removing and destroying infected groundnut plant debris important after harvest?
Explanation: Destroying plant debris eliminates sources of infective fungal spores. It does not directly affect soil nitrogen, acidity, or waterlogging, which are managed by other agronomic practices.