Question

Cindy and Ken were at a local arboretum when one of the workers there told them two of the trees recently developed a disease. Ken tells Cindy that as long as everyone stays away from those two trees the disease will not spread any further, but Cindy disagrees, saying that the disease could still spread to all the other trees in the arboretum. Who is correct? Ken, tree diseases can only spread through human contact. Ken, the disease will only spread if a human or animal has contact with the diseased tree and a healthy tree. Cindy, the disease will spread further unless the arboretum covers the trunks of both trees. Cindy, the disease could spread from tree to tree through the wind.

Answer 1

Cindy is correct, the disease could still spread to all the other trees in the arboretum through various mechanisms. Tree diseases can spread through fungi carrying diseases and attracting disease-carrying insects. In addition, diseases can cross from animals to humans and vice versa through different pathways. The correct answer is option: Cindy, the disease will spread further unless the arboretum covers the trunks of both trees.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cindy is correct, the disease could still spread to all the other trees in the arboretum. Tree diseases can spread through various mechanisms, including fungi carrying diseases and attracting disease-carrying insects.

In the case of the apple trees in the orchard, it was found that the necrotic ring spots were caused by horizontal transmission. This means that the disease spread from one tree to another without the need for human or animal contact.

In addition, the emergence of new diseases in humans is often linked to the disturbance of ecosystems and interactions with wildlife. Diseases can cross from animals to humans through hunting, butchering, and consumption, as seen with diseases like monkeypox, malaria, HIV, and Ebola. Therefore, it is possible for diseases to spread from tree to tree through windborne particles or other natural means.