(a) Discuss maize smut disease under the…

Question 1 Report

(a) Discuss maize smut disease under the follow-ing headings:

(i) causal organism (ii) mode of trans-mission (iii) two symptoms (iv) two cultural control measures

(b) Enumerate four forest management oractices in West Africa

Answer

Answer Details

(a) Maize smut disease:

(i) Causal organism: A fungus, Ustilago maydis (also called Ustilago zeae).
(ii) Mode of transmission: By wind-borne spores (teliospores) and by soil, infected seeds and crop residues carrying the spores from one plant/season to another.
(iii) Two symptoms:
- Large greyish-white galls/swellings (boils) on the cob, tassel, leaves and stem.
- The galls later burst to release a mass of black, powdery spores, and infected plants become stunted with distorted grains.
(iv) Two cultural control measures:
- Practise crop rotation and plant certified, disease-free seeds/resistant varieties.
- Remove and burn infected plants (galls) and practise good field sanitation.

(b) Four forest management practices in West Africa:

(c)(i) Four classes of farm animals based on their uses and (ii) an example of each:

Class (based on use)	Example
Dairy/milk animals	White Fulani (Bunaji) cattle
Beef/meat animals	N'Dama cattle (or broiler chicken)
Egg-producing animals	Layer (for example White Leghorn fowl)
Work/draught animals	Bull/ox (or donkey)

(a) Discuss maize smut disease under the follow-ing headings: (i) causal organism (ii) mode of trans-mission (iii) two symptoms (iv) two cultural control me...