Consider the following:
1. Birds
2. Dust blowing
3. Rain
4. Wind blowing
Which of the above spread plant diseases?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2018 Prelims Part A

Answer 1

The Correct Answer is 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Birds moving through crops 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.