Vocabulary terms
What is a deficiency?
a) Disease caused by pathogens
b) Plant lacks essential nutrients
c) Shortage or inadequacy of something essential
b) Plant lacks essential nutrients
What is a Macronutirent?
a) Nutrients absorbed from air and sunlight rather than the soil
b) Nutrients absorbed from air and sunlight rather than the soil
c) Elements required in tiny trace amounts for enzyme function and chlorophyll formation
a) Nutrients absorbed from air and sunlight rather than the soil
What is a micronutrient?
a) A nutrient plants need in very small (trace) amounts for growth and metabolic functions
b) A nutrient plants need in large amounts like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
c) A type of soil particle that holds water and nutrients
a) A nutrient plants need in very small (trace) amounts for growth and metabolic functions
A plant shows stunted growth and pale green to yellow older leaves. Which nutrient is most likely deficient?
a) Magnesium
b) Nitrogen
c) Calcium
B) Nitrogen
What is Macronutrient?
a) Plants need large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
b) Nutrients required in small amounts for plant growth
c) Elements plants need in moderate quantities, like iron and zinc
a) Plants need large amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
Which three elements are commonly referred to as the primary macronutrients for plants?
a) Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K)
b) Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn)
c) Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Chlorine (Cl)
a) Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K)
Which micronutrient is essential for chlorophyll production and often causes interveinal chlorosis when deficient?
a) Boron (B)
b) Iron (Fe)
c) Molybdenum (Mo)
b) Iron (Fe)
A tomato plant shows irregular, brown, sunken lesions on the fruit surface with concentric rings; older leaves have yellowing and necrotic spots. What disease is most likely, and what visual symptom on the stem or fruit confirms it?
A. Bacterial spot — water-soaked lesions with yellow halos
B. Early blight (Alternaria) — concentric “target” rings on lesions
C. Blossom end rot — sunken lesions only at fruit bottom
b) Early blight (Alternaria) — concentric “target” rings on lesions
What is pH?
a) A measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution
b) A scale from 0–14 where low values are acidic and high values are basic
c) measures soil acidity/basicity, affecting nutrient availability
c) Measures soil acidity/basicity, affecting nutrient availability
Which macronutrient is most directly responsible for leafy green growth and chlorophyll production?
a) Phosphorus (P)
b) Nitrogen (N)
c) Potassium (K)
b) Nitrogen (N)
Which micronutrient is important for enzyme activation and is involved in protein synthesis and hormone regulation?
a) Zinc (Zn)
b) Calcium (Ca)
c) Nitrogen (N)
a) Zinc (Zn)
A lawn has patches of grass that yellow, then quickly turn brown and collapse; affected areas expand outward overnight during humid weather. Which pathogen and sign are most likely?
A) Nematodes — galls on roots
B) Rust fungus — orange pustules on blades
C) Fungal turf disease (e.g., Rhizoctonia/Pythium) — fuzzy mycelial growth on blades in morning
c) Fungal turf disease (e.g., Rhizoctonia/Pythium) — fuzzy mycelial growth on blades in morning
What is Chlorosis?
a) Yellowing of leaves due to reduced chlorophyll often from nutrient deficiencies
b) Browning and drying of leaf edges caused by waterlogging
c) Rapid, excessive leaf growth from too much fertilizer
a) Yellowing of leaves due to reduced chlorophyll often from nutrient deficiencies
Which macronutrient is crucial for root development and energy transfer (ATP) in plants?
a) Calcium (Ca)
b) Sulfur (S)
c) Phosphorus (P)
c) Phosphorus (P)
A deficiency of which micronutrient commonly leads to poor pollen formation and reduced fruit set?
a) Copper (Cu)
b) Magnesium (Mg)
c) Phosphorus (P)
a) Copper (Cu)
Several young greenhouse seedlings wilt suddenly; stems at soil level are soft and brown, roots are rotted while leaves may remain green at first. What is the disorder and the key visual clue distinguishing it from transplant shock?
A. Damping-off — stem collapse at or below soil line and mushy roots
B. Verticillium wilt — clear vascular browning visible when stem is split open
C. Overwatering stress — uniformly yellowing leaves with firm stems
a) Damping off- Stem collapse at or below soil line and mushy roots
What is Stunting?
a) Reduced overall plant growth and smaller-than-normal leaves or stems due to nutrient shortages
b) Excessive elongation of stems causing weak, leggy plants from too much shade
c) Leaf curling and distortion caused by viral infection
a) Reduced overall plant growth and smaller-than-normal leaves or stems due to nutrient shortages
Which macronutrient helps regulate stomatal opening, water movement, and overall disease resistance?
a) Potassium (K)
b) Nitrogen (N)
c) Magnesium (Mg)
a) Potassium (K)
Which micronutrient is required for nitrogen fixation in legumes and for nitrate reduction in plants?
a) Manganese (Mn)
b) Molybdenum (Mo)
c) Sulfur (S)
c) Sulfur
A cucumber vine has pale, powdery patches on upper leaf surfaces that later coalesce; affected leaves become distorted but veins remain green. Which disease is this and what feature distinguishes it from downy mildew?
a) Bacterial blight — water-soaked angular lesions with ooze
b) Downy mildew — yellow angular lesions on upper surface with underside sporulation
c) Powdery mildew — white powdery surface growth on upper leaf surfaces (no underside sporulation)
c) Powdery mildew— white powdery surface growth on upper leaf surfaces (no underside sporulation)