Which disease-management concept involves establishing barriers to infection, using mechanical or chemical methods, and is often used in nurseries?

Which disease-management concept involves establishing barriers to infection, using mechanical or chemical methods, and is often used in nurseries?

• A. Exclusion
• B. Reduction to a nonthreatening level
• C. Protection
• D. Resistance

Answer: (C)

Protection focuses on preventing infection by creating barriers to pathogens and using mechanical or chemical methods, which is why it’s commonly used in nurseries. In practice this means sanitary practices that block pathogens from reaching plant tissue—cleaning and sterilizing tools, containers, and benches; disinfecting irrigation water; and maintaining good hygiene throughout nursery operations. It also includes applying protective treatments, such as fungicides or barrier coatings, that stay on plant surfaces to block pathogen entry as environmental conditions favor infection. This approach targets preventing disease before it starts, rather than simply preventing entry into the site (exclusion), reducing disease levels after some infection has occurred (reduction), or relying on the plant’s own genetics to resist infection (resistance).

Protection focuses on preventing infection by creating barriers to pathogens and using mechanical or chemical methods, which is why it’s commonly used in nurseries. In practice this means sanitary practices that block pathogens from reaching plant tissue—cleaning and sterilizing tools, containers, and benches; disinfecting irrigation water; and maintaining good hygiene throughout nursery operations. It also includes applying protective treatments, such as fungicides or barrier coatings, that stay on plant surfaces to block pathogen entry as environmental conditions favor infection. This approach targets preventing disease before it starts, rather than simply preventing entry into the site (exclusion), reducing disease levels after some infection has occurred (reduction), or relying on the plant’s own genetics to resist infection (resistance).