Winning Over Wheat Woes Quiz Quiz

Explore effective strategies for managing common wheat diseases and protecting crop yields. This quiz covers identification, prevention, and best practices for wheat disease control in modern agriculture.

1. Leaf Rust Management

   Which strategy is most effective in managing wheat leaf rust caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina?

   1. Delaying sowing until late winter
   2. Applying herbicides during boot stage
   3. Growing resistant wheat cultivars
   4. Increasing nitrogen fertilization

   Explanation: Growing resistant wheat cultivars offers sustainable control of leaf rust by reducing disease development. Increasing nitrogen can boost yield but may enhance disease severity. Delaying sowing might avoid early infection in some cases but is unreliable. Herbicides target weeds, not fungal diseases like leaf rust.

2. Identifying Fusarium Head Blight

   A wheat field shows premature bleaching of spikelets and pinkish fungal growth on heads after humid weather. Which disease is most likely present?

   1. Stripe Rust
   2. Powdery Mildew
   3. Fusarium Head Blight
   4. Take-all

   Explanation: Fusarium Head Blight causes premature bleaching and pinkish fungal growth, especially in humid weather. Powdery mildew appears as white powder on leaves, not spikes. Stripe rust causes yellow stripes on leaves. Take-all affects roots and lower stems, not heads.

3. Wheat Stripe Rust Prevention

   What is a recommended cultural practice to help reduce the risk of wheat stripe rust outbreaks?

   1. Rotating wheat with non-cereal crops
   2. Applying excessive phosphorus fertilizer
   3. Continuous irrigation throughout the season
   4. Double-cropping wheat after wheat

   Explanation: Rotating with non-cereal crops interrupts the disease cycle by removing the host, reducing stripe rust risk. Double-cropping increases disease pressure, while continuous irrigation may worsen fungal growth. Excessive phosphorus does not impact stripe rust incidence.

4. Chemical Control Timing

   For effective control of Septoria leaf blotch in wheat, when should fungicide applications ideally be made?

   1. When disease symptoms first appear on lower leaves
   2. During the full bloom stage
   3. After harvest is complete
   4. Before seed sowing begins

   Explanation: Applying fungicides when symptoms begin on lower leaves can protect upper leaves and minimize disease spread. Treating after harvest is too late, while before sowing is ineffective. The full bloom stage may be too late, as the disease already damages yield potential.

5. Recognition of Common Bunt

   A farmer notices wheat kernels replaced by fishy-smelling, black dusty masses during threshing. What disease is responsible?

   1. Ergot
   2. Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus
   3. Loose Smut
   4. Common Bunt

   Explanation: Common Bunt replaces wheat kernels with foul-smelling, dark bunt balls. Loose smut also infects seeds but forms loose, gray-black masses. Ergot produces hard, dark sclerotia, not dust. Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus causes yellowing but no kernel replacement.