Consider the following:
- Birds
- Dust blowing
- Rain
- Wind blowing
Which of the above spread plant diseases?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
- Birds can carry pathogens from one infected plant to another plant.
- Some plant pathogenic bacteria are carried to short distance by wind.
- Some bacteria are often disseminated by splashing of raindrops, as in case of Citrus canker disease.
- In some places, rain seems to be more important than insects in disseminating the fire blight bacteria, by its washing or splattering effect of rain.
- Soil and field operations also disseminate the diseases as they result in dust blowing
