Rooting Out Fungus Quiz Quiz

Explore the key diseases affecting cumin roots, their symptoms, and management practices. This quiz examines causes, identification, and preventive strategies relevant to cumin cultivation.

1. Identifying Wilt in Cumin

   A cumin farmer observes sudden yellowing and drooping of young cumin plants, followed by plant death; what is the most likely disease?

   1. Root knot nematode
   2. Downy mildew
   3. Fusarium wilt
   4. Powdery mildew

   Explanation: Fusarium wilt causes yellowing, wilting, and eventual death due to fungal infection of the vascular system. Powdery mildew and downy mildew present white or grayish growth on leaves, not sudden wilt. Root knot nematodes cause swelling on roots but less dramatic wilting in initial stages.

2. Causal Agent of Cumin Root Rot

   Which pathogen is most commonly responsible for root rot in cumin crops, especially in poorly drained fields?

   1. Macrophomina phaseolina
   2. Alternaria alternata
   3. Ascochyta rabiei
   4. Ustilago tritici

   Explanation: Macrophomina phaseolina is a primary cause of cumin root rot, favoring warm, poorly drained soils. Alternaria alternata mainly causes leaf spots, not root diseases. Ascochyta rabiei affects chickpeas. Ustilago tritici is known for wheat smut, not cumin.

3. Symptoms of Root Knot Nematodes

   If cumin plants display stunted growth and knobby swellings on the roots, which pest is likely responsible?

   1. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
   2. Fusarium oxysporum
   3. Root knot nematodes
   4. Aphids

   Explanation: Root knot nematodes cause characteristic galls or swellings on roots, hindering nutrient uptake and stunting plants. Aphids do not damage roots and usually infest stems and leaves. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum leads to white mold, not root galls. Fusarium oxysporum causes wilt, not knots.

4. Key Prevention Method

   What is one effective agronomic practice to reduce the incidence of root diseases in cumin fields?

   1. Increasing plant density
   2. Water logging
   3. Crop rotation
   4. Late sowing

   Explanation: Crop rotation helps break disease cycles by alternating hosts, reducing root disease pressure. Water logging increases disease risk. High plant density can promote disease spread. Late sowing may expose plants to adverse growing conditions, rather than prevent disease.

5. Environmental Factor for Disease Spread

   Which environmental condition most strongly promotes the spread of root rot fungi in cumin cultivation?

   1. Cool, dry weather
   2. Low nighttime humidity
   3. Poor drainage
   4. Sandy soils with rapid drainage

   Explanation: Poor drainage creates conditions favorable for root rot fungi, as excess moisture supports their growth. Low humidity and dry, cool weather deter most fungal pathogens. Sandy soils with rapid drainage reduce root rot risk rather than enhance it.