Texas Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

When are eradicant fungicides typically used?

1. When protectants are too expensive

2. Before planting

3. In the early spring

4. Only for flowering plants

The correct answer is: When protectants are too expensive

Eradicant fungicides are specifically designed to eliminate active infections of plant diseases and are typically applied after the disease has been detected. Although cost considerations can influence the choice between using protectants versus eradicants, the primary factor for using eradicant fungicides lies in their ability to treat existing infections rather than prevention or cost. When protectants are ineffective or when diseases manifest in a crop, eradicant fungicides can be applied to manage the situation. Their timing is crucial; they are used once symptoms appear or when there is a high likelihood of infection based on environmental conditions and disease history. Thus, the use of eradicant fungicides is fundamentally tied to the need to actively manage existing plant pathogens rather than simply cost concerns. The other options do not accurately reflect the specific situation in which eradicant fungicides are employed. They are not typically applied before planting, in early spring as a routine measure, or limited exclusively to flowering plants, since their application is determined by the presence of diseases, regardless of the plant type or growth stage.