Which of the following is NOT a symptom of injury caused by equipment?

• A. Powdery residue on leaves.
• B. Leaf scorching.
• C. Wilting.
• D. Dieback.

Answer: (A)

Damage from equipment shows up as physical injury to plant tissues. When machinery rubs, bites, or crushes leaves and stems, the affected areas often become necrotic or desiccate, leading to symptoms like leaf scorching from localized tissue damage, wilting due to disrupted water transport, and dieback where growing tips or stems are severely injured. These signs reflect direct injury to the plant’s tissues and their function.

Powdery residue on leaves, on the other hand, is not a result of mechanical injury. It’s typically caused by a pathogen such as powdery mildew or by external deposits on the leaf surface, rather than tissue damage from contact or abrasion.