Root Rot Rescue Quiz Quiz

Challenge your understanding of wheat diseases, focusing on root rot and related threats to crop health. Explore symptoms, causes, and management strategies valuable to modern agriculture.

1. Identifying Common Symptoms

   Which symptom is most characteristic of wheat affected by take-all root rot in a field?

   1. Circular leaf spots with yellow halos
   2. Sticky honeydew on stems
   3. Darkened roots with black lesions
   4. Yellow powder on leaves

   Explanation: Darkened roots with black lesions are typical of take-all root rot caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis. Yellow powder on leaves suggests rust diseases. Circular leaf spots with yellow halos are more typical of leaf blotch or spot diseases. Sticky honeydew, meanwhile, is characteristic of aphid or certain fungal infestations, not root rot.

2. Fungal Pathogens and Wheat

   Which fungus is most commonly associated with causing Fusarium crown rot in wheat?

   1. Alternaria alternata
   2. Ustilago tritici
   3. Puccinia triticina
   4. Fusarium pseudograminearum

   Explanation: Fusarium pseudograminearum causes Fusarium crown rot, a significant root and crown disease in wheat. Puccinia triticina causes leaf rust. Alternaria alternata is linked to leaf spot diseases. Ustilago tritici is responsible for loose smut, not root or crown rot.

3. Environmental Influences

   Which environmental condition increases the risk of Rhizoctonia root rot in wheat fields?

   1. Cool and moist soils with poor drainage
   2. Frequent frost events in spring
   3. Extended drought during flowering
   4. High soil nitrogen levels

   Explanation: Cool, moist soils with poor drainage support Rhizoctonia root rot development. Extended drought affects plant growth broadly but doesn't favor root rot. Frequent frost events cause cold injury, not root rot specifically. High soil nitrogen levels can impact plant health but are less directly related to Rhizoctonia onset.

4. Managing Soil-Borne Diseases

   Which crop management practice helps reduce the incidence of common wheat root rots?

   1. Rotating wheat with non-host crops
   2. Delaying harvest until full maturity
   3. Applying extra phosphorus fertilizer
   4. Using sprinkler irrigation frequently

   Explanation: Crop rotation with plants that are not hosts of the root rot pathogen interrupts the disease cycle and lowers disease pressure. Extra phosphorus can improve plant nutrition but does not control root rot directly. Delaying harvest may increase other risks and does not reduce root rot. Frequent sprinkler irrigation can worsen conditions for some root rots.

5. Diagnosing Similar Diseases

   How can take-all root rot be visually distinguished from Fusarium crown rot in wheat?

   1. Both diseases always cause black powdery spores on leaves
   2. Take-all causes shiny black root lesions, while Fusarium crown rot shows pinkish discoloration at the stem base
   3. Fusarium crown rot creates sticky residue on grains
   4. Take-all produces orange pustules on leaves

   Explanation: Take-all root rot causes shiny black lesions on roots, whereas Fusarium crown rot typically presents pinkish discoloration at the stem base. Orange pustules are signs of rust diseases, not root rots. Sticky residue is not a symptom of Fusarium crown rot in wheat. Neither disease consistently produces black powdery spores on leaves.