Mastering Mustard Maladies Quiz Quiz

Explore key strategies and concepts for managing diseases in mustard crops, focusing on practical identification, prevention, and control methods relevant to modern agriculture.

1. Alternaria Blight in Mustard

   Which of the following practices is most effective in reducing the incidence of Alternaria blight in mustard fields?

   1. Increasing irrigation frequency
   2. Applying nitrogen-rich fertilizers exclusively
   3. Crop rotation with non-cruciferous crops
   4. Growing mustard in the same field every season

   Explanation: Crop rotation helps break the disease cycle of Alternaria blight by preventing the buildup of pathogen inoculum in the soil. Increasing irrigation frequency can create favorable conditions for disease development. Applying only nitrogen-rich fertilizers does not address pathogen control. Growing mustard repeatedly in the same field increases disease risk.

2. White Rust Symptoms

   When scouting mustard plants, which visible symptom is most typical of an early White Rust infection?

   1. White pustules on the underside of leaves
   2. Circular brown spots with concentric rings
   3. Yellowing between leaf veins only
   4. Black streaks running down the stem

   Explanation: White pustules are a hallmark of early White Rust infection in mustard. Black streaks are more indicative of Sclerotinia stem rot. Yellowing between veins occurs for various reasons but is not specific to White Rust. Circular brown spots with rings are characteristic of Alternaria blight.

3. Disease-Resistant Varieties

   Why is planting disease-resistant mustard varieties recommended for disease management?

   1. They always yield less than susceptible varieties
   2. They reduce dependence on chemical fungicides
   3. They are more attractive to pests
   4. They require more irrigation than regular varieties

   Explanation: Disease-resistant varieties help lower the need for chemical sprays, making management more sustainable. They do not universally have lower yields or higher irrigation requirements; modern resistant varieties are bred for yield and adaptability. There is no evidence that they are inherently more attractive to pests.

4. Timing of Fungicide Application

   For effective control of Sclerotinia stem rot in mustard, when should fungicides generally be applied?

   1. At the onset of flowering stage
   2. After all pods have matured
   3. Only during seedling emergence
   4. Right before harvest

   Explanation: Applying fungicides at the onset of flowering targets the period when infection risk is highest. Late application, such as after pod maturity or before harvest, is too late to prevent the disease. Treating only at seedling emergence misses the critical infection period.

5. Field Sanitation Practices

   Which field sanitation practice directly helps minimize the carryover of mustard diseases to the next season?

   1. Removing and destroying crop residues post-harvest
   2. Delaying field preparation until late winter
   3. Applying foliar micronutrient sprays late in the season
   4. Flooding the fields for a week

   Explanation: Removing and destroying crop residues eliminates sources of fungal spores and pathogens for the next season. Delaying field preparation and applying micronutrients do not effectively reduce pathogen survival. Flooding fields is not a widely recommended practice for mustard disease management.