Explore key diseases affecting snake gourd in horticulture and how they impact plant health. This quiz covers symptoms, causes, and management of major snake gourd diseases.
A snake gourd plant displays yellowing leaves, wilting during the day, and brown discoloration inside the stem. Which disease is it most likely suffering from?
Explanation: Fusarium Wilt causes yellowing, daily wilting, and internal browning of the stem due to fungal infection in the vascular tissues. Powdery Mildew usually produces white spots on leaves, Downy Mildew causes yellow patches with fuzzy undersides, and Anthracnose leads to dark lesions but not vascular discoloration.
If a snake gourd's leaves show white, powdery growth on their surface but remain mostly green, which disease is this likely to be?
Explanation: Powdery Mildew is characterized by a white, powdery coating on leaf surfaces, with leaves sometimes staying green. Root Knot Nematode affects roots, Bacterial Wilt involves sudden wilting and bacterial ooze, and Alternaria Leaf Spot causes dark spots rather than powdery coatings.
A gardener notices distorted snake gourd leaves with light and dark green mottling but no obvious fungal growth. Which problem is suspected?
Explanation: Cucumber Mosaic Virus causes mosaic-like mottling, distortion, and stunted growth without visible fungal signs. Anthracnose creates spots, not mottling; Damping-off mainly affects seedlings at soil line; Bacterial Blight presents with water-soaked spots, not mottling patterns.
What is an effective practice to help manage anthracnose in snake gourd crops?
Explanation: Collecting and destroying infected plant material limits the spread of anthracnose spores. Increasing soil salinity can harm plants, heavy irrigation may worsen some diseases, and shade nets have limited impact on this fungal disease.
Which common vector transmits mosaic virus to snake gourd plants in the field?
Explanation: Aphids are efficient vectors for mosaic viruses, swiftly spreading them between plants. Beetles are less involved in virus transmission for snake gourd, nematodes mainly cause root problems, and slugs are not virus vectors.