Which is a recommended practice when dealing with crown gall disease?

Which is a recommended practice when dealing with crown gall disease?

• A. Remove and destroy heavily infected plants
• B. Plant resistant varieties
• C. Prune infected tissue
• D. Use broad-spectrum insecticides

Answer: (A)

When dealing with crown gall, the priority is to reduce the amount of disease-causing bacteria in the growing area and prevent spreading to healthy plants. Removing and destroying heavily infected plants is the best practice because these plants harbor high levels of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which acts as a primary source of inoculum in the environment. By taking out and disposing of those severely affected plants, you lower the bacterial load in the soil and on tools, making it less likely that new plants will become infected. Pruning infected tissue might seem helpful, but crown gall bacteria can be present in the plant’s vascular system beyond what you can see, and pruning can spread the bacteria to healthy plants or wounds through tools. Planting resistant varieties can help in the long term, but if heavy infection is already present, removing the diseased plants is the more immediate and effective action. Using broad-spectrum insecticides won’t control a bacterial disease like crown gall.

When dealing with crown gall, the priority is to reduce the amount of disease-causing bacteria in the growing area and prevent spreading to healthy plants. Removing and destroying heavily infected plants is the best practice because these plants harbor high levels of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which acts as a primary source of inoculum in the environment. By taking out and disposing of those severely affected plants, you lower the bacterial load in the soil and on tools, making it less likely that new plants will become infected.

Pruning infected tissue might seem helpful, but crown gall bacteria can be present in the plant’s vascular system beyond what you can see, and pruning can spread the bacteria to healthy plants or wounds through tools. Planting resistant varieties can help in the long term, but if heavy infection is already present, removing the diseased plants is the more immediate and effective action. Using broad-spectrum insecticides won’t control a bacterial disease like crown gall.