CDFA Pest Prevention Plant Regulation Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT quarantined due to oak wilt?

1. Chestnut trees

2. Acorns

3. Oak seedling plants

4. Chinquapin trees

The correct answer is: Acorns

The choice of acorns as the option that is not quarantined due to oak wilt is accurate because acorns themselves do not pose a risk for spreading the disease. Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease affecting oak trees, primarily through the root system and through insect vectors such as beetles that are attracted to the sap of infected trees. Acorns are the seeds of oak trees and, although they can produce new oak seedlings, they do not directly carry or transmit the pathogen responsible for oak wilt. In contrast, other options, such as oak seedlings and certain tree species like chinquapin and chestnut trees, can be susceptible to oak wilt or are typically included in quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Quarantine regulations aim to limit movement and planting of infected or potentially infected plant materials to control the spread of oak wilt, with the understanding that healthy acorns do not contribute to transmission. This distinction is critical for managing and preventing the impact of oak wilt in affected regions.