Potato Fungus Fighter Quiz Quiz

Explore key strategies and knowledge for managing major fungal diseases in potato crops. Assess your understanding of effective agricultural practices for healthier yields.

1. Identifying Late Blight Symptoms

   A potato farmer notices dark, water-soaked lesions on potato leaves that quickly spread during cool, wet weather. What is the most likely cause?

   1. Early blight
   2. Late blight
   3. Verticillium wilt
   4. Scab

   Explanation: Late blight is characterized by dark, water-soaked spots that develop rapidly, especially in cool, moist conditions. Early blight causes small, dark lesions with a concentric ring pattern. Scab appears as rough patches on tubers, not leaves. Verticillium wilt leads to gradual yellowing and wilting of leaves, not water-soaked lesions.

2. Choosing Resistant Varieties

   When planning to plant potatoes in an area with a history of fungal outbreaks, what should a grower do to reduce disease risk?

   1. Use tubers stored at warm temperatures
   2. Plant resistant potato varieties
   3. Apply excess nitrogen fertilizer
   4. Increase irrigation frequency

   Explanation: Planting disease-resistant varieties is one of the most effective ways to minimize the risk of fungal diseases. Increasing irrigation can worsen conditions for fungal growth. Excess nitrogen promotes lush foliage, which may be more susceptible to infection. Tubers stored at warm temperatures could carry more pathogens.

3. Understanding Fungicide Application

   A producer wants to control early blight and follows label instructions for fungicide application. Why is it important to rotate products with different modes of action?

   1. To prevent pathogen resistance
   2. To decrease labor costs
   3. To enhance foliar growth
   4. To increase the spray volume

   Explanation: Rotating fungicides with different modes of action helps slow the development of pathogen resistance, making fungicides more effective over time. Using different sprays does not inherently increase spray volume or enhance foliar growth. While resistance management is crucial, rotating products does not directly impact labor costs.

4. Cultural Control Methods

   Which cultural practice best helps lower potato fungal disease pressure in the next growing season?

   1. Applying synthetic growth regulators
   2. Harvesting potatoes before full maturity
   3. Planting at very high densities
   4. Practicing crop rotation with non-host plants

   Explanation: Crop rotation breaks disease cycles by removing host plants for pathogens, reducing inoculum for future crops. Harvesting early does not control soil-borne pathogens. Growth regulators are unrelated to fungal control. High planting densities can increase humidity and disease spread.

5. Post-Harvest Disease Management

   After harvest, what storage condition is most effective at limiting the spread of fungal diseases on potato tubers?

   1. Warm, humid, and sealed storage
   2. Cool, dry, and well-ventilated storage
   3. Direct sunlight exposure
   4. Stacking tubers in airtight plastic bags

   Explanation: Cool, dry, and well-ventilated storage conditions help prevent most fungal pathogens from developing on potato tubers. Warm, humid, and sealed spaces encourage fungal growth. Sunlight exposure can damage tubers and does not control disease. Airtight bags create a moist environment favorable to fungi.