Tennessee Category 3 Pesticide Certification Exam 2026 – Complete Practice Test Guide

A small, discolored, water-soaked spot on a limb is most commonly associated with the early stages of a canker. Cankers are localized areas of diseased tissue that may appear as sunken, often brown or discolored spots on plant stems or trunks. They are caused by pathogens such as fungi or bacteria that invade the plant through wounds or natural openings, leading to decay in the tissue. The initial water-soaked appearance can suggest that the tissue is unhealthy and unable to transport water and nutrients effectively, which is typical of canker development.

Other options, while they may show signs of distress in plants, do not specifically correlate with the symptoms described. Leaf gall refers to abnormal growths on leaves rather than stems, root rot primarily affects the root system rather than visible end limbs, and while fungal growth can impact the bark, it typically presents differently than the smooth, water-soaked areas indicative of canker formation.