Consider the following :
- 1.Birds
- 2.Dust blowing
- 3.Rain
- 4.Wind blowing
Which of the above spread plant diseases ?
Show answer
Answer: D. Plant diseases spread through many carriers: birds carry seeds and spores, dust and wind carry fungal spores, and rain splash spreads bacteria and fungi. So all four.
Watch for: Students forget that dust and rain splash carry spores as well.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because dust and wind also spread diseases.
- B. Wrong because birds and dust also spread diseases.
- C. Wrong because rain also spreads diseases.
Source to check: G.N. Agrios, 'Plant Pathology' (5th ed., 2005), chapter on dissemination of pathogens
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.