In pest management, plants under stress are more susceptible to pests. Which implication follows?

In pest management, plants under stress are more susceptible to pests. Which implication follows?

• A. Stress increases vulnerability to insects and disease
• B. Stress decreases pest pressure
• C. Stress eliminates pests
• D. Stress has no effect on pest risk

Answer: (B)

When plants are under stress, their defenses weaken and their tissues become more susceptible to pests and diseases. Drought, heat, cold, nutrient shortages, or salinity can disrupt defensive chemistry and growth, making it easier for insects and pathogens to establish themselves. Stressed plants may emit signals that attract pests, or offer poorer nutrition and weaker barriers, leading to higher pest pressure and greater potential damage. In pest management, this means reducing stress is a key strategy: provide consistent watering and balanced nutrition, protect roots and shoots from extreme temperatures, monitor regularly for early stress signs, and integrate timely cultural practices with monitoring to catch problems before stress and pests compound. The other outcomes—stress reducing pest pressure, eliminating pests, or having no effect—don’t fit because stressed plants tend to be more vulnerable, not less, and pest problems are not naturally eliminated or avoided by stress.

When plants are under stress, their defenses weaken and their tissues become more susceptible to pests and diseases. Drought, heat, cold, nutrient shortages, or salinity can disrupt defensive chemistry and growth, making it easier for insects and pathogens to establish themselves. Stressed plants may emit signals that attract pests, or offer poorer nutrition and weaker barriers, leading to higher pest pressure and greater potential damage.

In pest management, this means reducing stress is a key strategy: provide consistent watering and balanced nutrition, protect roots and shoots from extreme temperatures, monitor regularly for early stress signs, and integrate timely cultural practices with monitoring to catch problems before stress and pests compound. The other outcomes—stress reducing pest pressure, eliminating pests, or having no effect—don’t fit because stressed plants tend to be more vulnerable, not less, and pest problems are not naturally eliminated or avoided by stress.