What term describes the sudden death of a plant part?

What term describes the sudden death of a plant part?

• A. Wilt
• B. Blight
• C. Rot
• D. Scorch

Answer: (B)

Blight describes the sudden death of a plant part. It means rapid necrosis and discoloration of tissue—often leaves or stems—that appears quickly and spreads, driven by certain pathogens or stresses. This is different from wilt, which is a loss of turgor causing drooping but not immediate tissue death; rot, which is tissue decay that progresses as microbes break down cells; and scorch, which is tissue death from heat or chemical injury. Because blight captures the idea of rapid, widespread death of plant tissue in a short time, it’s the best fit.

Blight describes the sudden death of a plant part. It means rapid necrosis and discoloration of tissue—often leaves or stems—that appears quickly and spreads, driven by certain pathogens or stresses. This is different from wilt, which is a loss of turgor causing drooping but not immediate tissue death; rot, which is tissue decay that progresses as microbes break down cells; and scorch, which is tissue death from heat or chemical injury. Because blight captures the idea of rapid, widespread death of plant tissue in a short time, it’s the best fit.