Ornamental and Turf Pest Control ACTUAL
UPDATED Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Dutch Elm Disease - CORRECT ANSWER - a fungal disease of elm trees that is spread
by elm bark beetles. Invades vascular tissue and can transfer through root grafts.
Cerotocystis ulmi
Control: dead limb, remove dying tree, sever root graphs w/ sodium methyl dithiocarbomate. Use
fungicides via pressure injection (costly)
Oak wilt - CORRECT ANSWER - Red and black oaks.
Ceratocystis fagacearum.
Causes trees to wilt and drop leaves early. Brown discoloration in sapwood.
Transmitted from sap feeding beetles.
Control: no cure. Avoid wounding. Prune during late fall or winter when insects are inactive.
Disinfect pruning tools, sever root grafts
Verticillium Wilt - CORRECT ANSWER - Fungus: verticillium albo-atrum. Wide host
range of over 300 plant species.
Fungus inhabits soil, vegetative cuttings, nursery stock. Spreads via contaminated seed, insects
and airborne species.
Symptoms: yellowing of foliage, followed by wilting. Leaves develop reddish cast, drop or hang
abnormally. Invasion is relatively slow. Some can recover but need fert and water.
Internal symptoms: brown discoloration of sapwood, twigs and branches.
,Control: fertilize early spring, water during drought, avoid wounding, prune wilting branches,
remove affected trees, plant resistant trees
Pine Wilt - CORRECT ANSWER - Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (nematode). Colonized
resin canals. Can be transmitted via longhorn beetle monochamus carolinensis. Usually affect
tres over 15 years
Symptoms: grayish green foliage, then f brown. May be dead by end of summer. Prevalent in
scotch and Australian pines.
Control: good sanitation, dead limb and remove tree to soil line. Replace dead pines with
conifers that are more resistant. Don't store pine or diseased wood.
Fungus leaf spot, spot anthracnose, feeding scab or shot hole (fungi) - CORRECT
ANSWER - Leaves have scattered spots or blotches that vary in size, shape and color.
Spots may contain dark speck sized fungus fruiting bodies. Round and gave dark margins. In the
shot holes, centers drop our.
Tar spot - CORRECT ANSWER - Spots are black and shiny
Anthracnose, leaf blight or blotch (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have irregular
dead blotches
Bacterial leaf spot or blight ( bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have dark,
angular spots and blotches that are water soaked at first and have translucent margins
Leaf curl or blister (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have variously colored
blisters and are often partly or entirely puffy, thickened or curled
Botrytis blight or gray mold (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves are spotted or
blighted and later covered with dusty mold growth. Mold is course and tan to gray.
,Powdery Mildew - CORRECT ANSWER - The fungus that causes this plant disease is
most visible outside of its host as a mass of white mycelium and spores
Sooty Mold - CORRECT ANSWER - fungus that appears as a black coating on the
surface of leaves, fruits, branches, and other surfaces. Often found growing on sugary honeydew
excreted by aphids.
Rust (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have yellow, orange, reddish orange,
reddish brown, chocolate brown or black mold raised in pustules
Mosaic (virus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves are mottled with various shades of light
green, dark green and yellow.
Ringspot (virus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have yellow green or reddish brown
rings. Or oakleaf, watermark or line patterns
Leaf scorch (non infectious disease) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves appear scorched at
margins and tips. Often later between the veins
Wilt disease (fungus, bacteria, others) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves wilt, either and
die. One or more branches or entire plant may be affected. Outer sapwood is discolored
Fire blight (bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Foliage appears to be scored by fire. Twig
tips curl downward.
Other causes of leaf wilting - CORRECT ANSWER - Root rot, black knot, canker disease,
Westwood, fire, drought, or excess water, transplant shock, construction damage, soil area that is
restricted, compacted soil, a change in soil grade, girdling of root, rust gall, insect injury, rodents,
nematodes, other animals, pesticide or fertilizer damage, winter and frost injury, high winds
during cold or hot weather, salt damage, lightning , roots in septic tank and sewer lines
, Leaves, branches, twigs: wilt disease (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Twigs and
branches die back, usually starting at the tips. Foliage commonly wilts, withers and dies. Outer
sapwood is discolored
Root Rot (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Outer sapwood has no discoloration.
Fire blight (bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Foliage appears to be scorched by fire.
Twig tips circle downward to form "Shepherds crooks"
Westwood (bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Sap flows down the trunk and branches
from wounds, leaving a gray to white stain
Canker or dieback (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Definitely marked, often sunken,
swollen, flattened or target like areas appear in the bark and outer wood of twigs and branches
Wood Rot (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Wood decays n the branches or trunk.
Bracket, shelf or mushroom fungi may form on the bark surface.
Other possible causes of twigs and branches dying back are : - CORRECT ANSWER -
Injury from fertilizers, pesticides, salt, fire or gas, drought, excess water, lightning injury or
transplant shock, extreme winter weather, excess shade, construction damage, poorly formed
girdling of roots, failure of graft union, damage by insects, rodents or other animals, various
types of mechanical damage, change in soil grade, soil compaction, soil area that is restricted,
shallow, compacted, poor soil, soil nutrient deficiencies
Black knot (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Greatly swollen areas appear on twigs,
branches or trunk. Falls on prunus species are and black in summer. In spring, an olive green
velvety mold forms
Rust gall ( fungus ) - CORRECT ANSWER - Small to large, roundish or spindle shaped
falls form on branches or trunk. They are often covered with yellowish to orange dusty masses in
spring or early summer
UPDATED Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Dutch Elm Disease - CORRECT ANSWER - a fungal disease of elm trees that is spread
by elm bark beetles. Invades vascular tissue and can transfer through root grafts.
Cerotocystis ulmi
Control: dead limb, remove dying tree, sever root graphs w/ sodium methyl dithiocarbomate. Use
fungicides via pressure injection (costly)
Oak wilt - CORRECT ANSWER - Red and black oaks.
Ceratocystis fagacearum.
Causes trees to wilt and drop leaves early. Brown discoloration in sapwood.
Transmitted from sap feeding beetles.
Control: no cure. Avoid wounding. Prune during late fall or winter when insects are inactive.
Disinfect pruning tools, sever root grafts
Verticillium Wilt - CORRECT ANSWER - Fungus: verticillium albo-atrum. Wide host
range of over 300 plant species.
Fungus inhabits soil, vegetative cuttings, nursery stock. Spreads via contaminated seed, insects
and airborne species.
Symptoms: yellowing of foliage, followed by wilting. Leaves develop reddish cast, drop or hang
abnormally. Invasion is relatively slow. Some can recover but need fert and water.
Internal symptoms: brown discoloration of sapwood, twigs and branches.
,Control: fertilize early spring, water during drought, avoid wounding, prune wilting branches,
remove affected trees, plant resistant trees
Pine Wilt - CORRECT ANSWER - Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (nematode). Colonized
resin canals. Can be transmitted via longhorn beetle monochamus carolinensis. Usually affect
tres over 15 years
Symptoms: grayish green foliage, then f brown. May be dead by end of summer. Prevalent in
scotch and Australian pines.
Control: good sanitation, dead limb and remove tree to soil line. Replace dead pines with
conifers that are more resistant. Don't store pine or diseased wood.
Fungus leaf spot, spot anthracnose, feeding scab or shot hole (fungi) - CORRECT
ANSWER - Leaves have scattered spots or blotches that vary in size, shape and color.
Spots may contain dark speck sized fungus fruiting bodies. Round and gave dark margins. In the
shot holes, centers drop our.
Tar spot - CORRECT ANSWER - Spots are black and shiny
Anthracnose, leaf blight or blotch (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have irregular
dead blotches
Bacterial leaf spot or blight ( bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have dark,
angular spots and blotches that are water soaked at first and have translucent margins
Leaf curl or blister (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have variously colored
blisters and are often partly or entirely puffy, thickened or curled
Botrytis blight or gray mold (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves are spotted or
blighted and later covered with dusty mold growth. Mold is course and tan to gray.
,Powdery Mildew - CORRECT ANSWER - The fungus that causes this plant disease is
most visible outside of its host as a mass of white mycelium and spores
Sooty Mold - CORRECT ANSWER - fungus that appears as a black coating on the
surface of leaves, fruits, branches, and other surfaces. Often found growing on sugary honeydew
excreted by aphids.
Rust (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have yellow, orange, reddish orange,
reddish brown, chocolate brown or black mold raised in pustules
Mosaic (virus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves are mottled with various shades of light
green, dark green and yellow.
Ringspot (virus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves have yellow green or reddish brown
rings. Or oakleaf, watermark or line patterns
Leaf scorch (non infectious disease) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves appear scorched at
margins and tips. Often later between the veins
Wilt disease (fungus, bacteria, others) - CORRECT ANSWER - Leaves wilt, either and
die. One or more branches or entire plant may be affected. Outer sapwood is discolored
Fire blight (bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Foliage appears to be scored by fire. Twig
tips curl downward.
Other causes of leaf wilting - CORRECT ANSWER - Root rot, black knot, canker disease,
Westwood, fire, drought, or excess water, transplant shock, construction damage, soil area that is
restricted, compacted soil, a change in soil grade, girdling of root, rust gall, insect injury, rodents,
nematodes, other animals, pesticide or fertilizer damage, winter and frost injury, high winds
during cold or hot weather, salt damage, lightning , roots in septic tank and sewer lines
, Leaves, branches, twigs: wilt disease (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Twigs and
branches die back, usually starting at the tips. Foliage commonly wilts, withers and dies. Outer
sapwood is discolored
Root Rot (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Outer sapwood has no discoloration.
Fire blight (bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Foliage appears to be scorched by fire.
Twig tips circle downward to form "Shepherds crooks"
Westwood (bacteria) - CORRECT ANSWER - Sap flows down the trunk and branches
from wounds, leaving a gray to white stain
Canker or dieback (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Definitely marked, often sunken,
swollen, flattened or target like areas appear in the bark and outer wood of twigs and branches
Wood Rot (fungi) - CORRECT ANSWER - Wood decays n the branches or trunk.
Bracket, shelf or mushroom fungi may form on the bark surface.
Other possible causes of twigs and branches dying back are : - CORRECT ANSWER -
Injury from fertilizers, pesticides, salt, fire or gas, drought, excess water, lightning injury or
transplant shock, extreme winter weather, excess shade, construction damage, poorly formed
girdling of roots, failure of graft union, damage by insects, rodents or other animals, various
types of mechanical damage, change in soil grade, soil compaction, soil area that is restricted,
shallow, compacted, poor soil, soil nutrient deficiencies
Black knot (fungus) - CORRECT ANSWER - Greatly swollen areas appear on twigs,
branches or trunk. Falls on prunus species are and black in summer. In spring, an olive green
velvety mold forms
Rust gall ( fungus ) - CORRECT ANSWER - Small to large, roundish or spindle shaped
falls form on branches or trunk. They are often covered with yellowish to orange dusty masses in
spring or early summer
