Structural Pest Control Applicator Practice Exam

Of the two types of fungicides, _______ prevent plant diseases and ___________ cure plant diseases.

1. Eradicants, protectants

2. Protectants, eradicants

3. Fungicides, herbicides

4. Contact, systemic

The correct answer is: Protectants, eradicants

The correct answer is that protectants prevent plant diseases while eradicants cure them. Protectants are fungicides that create a barrier on plant surfaces to guard against fungal infections before they can take hold. They are typically applied preventively and help ensure that a plant remains healthy by warding off potential pathogens. Eradicants, on the other hand, are used to treat existing infections. These types of fungicides work by penetrating the plant tissue and targeting the fungus that is already causing disease. Therefore, they are essential for managing and controling infections that have already occurred. The other options do not accurately describe the roles of the fungicide types. Fungicides and herbicides describe two different classes of chemicals targeting fungi and weeds, respectively. Contact and systemic refer to how these chemicals interact with the plant; contact fungicides function only on the surface, while systemic fungicides are absorbed and can work throughout the plant but do not specifically categorize them by their functions of prevention or cure. Thus, protectants for prevention and eradicants for cure appropriately define the relationship between the two types of fungicides.