A turf disease is most likely to become lethal to plants when which occurs?

A turf disease is most likely to become lethal to plants when which occurs?

• A. Pathogen mycelium attack and parasitize crown tissue
• B. The disease remains confined to leaves
• C. The grass enters dormancy
• D. The soil becomes waterlogged but healthy

Answer: (A)

The most lethal scenario is when the pathogen attacks and parasitizes crown tissue. In turf, the crown is the growing point where leaves, roots, and stolons originate and where energy reserves are stored. If the crown tissue is damaged or destroyed, the plant cannot produce new growth or access its stored resources, leading to rapid decline and death even if other parts of the plant remain intact.

If the disease stays confined to leaves, the plant can often continue to photosynthesize and survive as long as the crown remains healthy. Dormancy reduces metabolic activity and makes the plant less vulnerable in the short term, and soil that is waterlogged but healthy can stress the plant without directly killing it if the crown is unaffected. Therefore, crown-targeted infection is the scenario most likely to be lethal.