Ace the 2025 PCA Plant Pathogens Exam – Unleash Your Inner Pest Buster!

Sclerotium and Rhizoctonia are both classified within the kingdom of fungi, which makes the classification correct. Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that can be unicellular or multicellular and are characterized by their chitin cell walls, heterotrophic mode of nutrition, and reproduction through spores.

Both of these genera are well-known pathogens that can affect plants, causing diseases in a variety of crops, and they exhibit a range of lifestyles, from saprophytic to pathogenic. Their ability to form structures such as sclerotia and mycelium is typical of fungal organisms, which allows them to survive in adverse conditions and to infect host plants efficiently.

Understanding this classification is crucial for effective pest management strategies, as methods for controlling fungal pathogens can differ significantly from those employed against prokaryotic pathogens or protozoa.