and homeowner. You should make sure that plants you
bring into your fields, gardens or homes are healthy and
free of insects and disease.
 Even after a disease has invaded a plant, it can be eradi-
cated from the planting by removing the diseased parts or
the whole plant. The diseased plant or plant parts should be
carefully disposed of by burning or burying. This practice is
an effective way of preventing reinfection and will reduce
the number of disease-causing agents that are available to
infect other plants.
 Loss of crops can also be prevented by using varieties of
plants that are resistant or tolerant to a specific disease.
There are many varieties of plants which have been devel-
oped which are resistant or tolerant to specific diseases.
Resistance involves the use of plants that are not susceptible
(easy to get disease) to a disease. There are many varieties of
field crops which are resistant or tolerant to specific
diseases. The timing of planting crops when disease is less
likely to occur will also aid in preventing diseases. For exam-
ple, planting seeds in wet soil generally increases seedling
diseases. Thus, you may (in some cases) want to avoid
planting seeds during periods of heavy rains. Early planted


 Apply manure
Proper watering or fertilizer


and quick-maturing varieties may escape diseases and other
pests before they become well established.
 Some plants have natural barriers such as hairs and thick
cuticles, which prevent the entry of disease-causing agents.
However, most plants do not have these characteristics and
must be protected from disease or organisms. Protection
involves the use of a protective barrier, usually a chemical,
between the plant and the disease-causing agent. These
chemicals must be applied before the disease organism is
present on the plant. Farmers who are aware or informed of
conditions favorable for disease development (for example,
moisture, temperature, etc.) may apply a fungicide to
protect the plants from the predicted disease.
 It must be noted that these preventive measures will not
eliminate or control all diseases from the farm or home
garden. Spores (small seeds that cause disease) are brought
into the planting by means of which we have no control, for
example, by wind currents, animals, birds and insects.
Others are carried by man (unaware), machinery, tools and
other implements. However, the preventive measures
given will result in a noticeable reduction in crop loss
attributed to diseases. E


Pull up weeds which harbor
diseases and pests


Remove dead or
diseased parts
 Healthy plant


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