Which symptom is caused by nematodes resulting in irregularly shaped root balls?

Which symptom is caused by nematodes resulting in irregularly shaped root balls?

• A. Blight
• B. Root Knot
• C. Canker
• D. Die Back

Answer: (B)

Root problems caused by certain nematodes are being tested here. Root-knot nematodes invade the roots and trigger abnormal cell growth, forming galls or knots along the rooting network. These swellings distort the normal root architecture, so the root system becomes irregular and knobby instead of smooth and uniform. This disruption reduces the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients, leading to poorer growth and vigor. The other conditions listed describe issues that affect leaves, stems, or general tissue death, not the galled, knobby roots produced by root-knot nematodes, so they don’t explain irregular root balls.

Root problems caused by certain nematodes are being tested here. Root-knot nematodes invade the roots and trigger abnormal cell growth, forming galls or knots along the rooting network. These swellings distort the normal root architecture, so the root system becomes irregular and knobby instead of smooth and uniform. This disruption reduces the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients, leading to poorer growth and vigor. The other conditions listed describe issues that affect leaves, stems, or general tissue death, not the galled, knobby roots produced by root-knot nematodes, so they don’t explain irregular root balls.