What is the primary goal of practices that manage plants to influence the disease triangle?

The primary goal of practices that manage plants to influence the disease triangle focuses on creating an environment that minimizes disease occurrence and impact. The disease triangle consists of three components: the pathogen, the host plant, and the environment. By starting with disease-free plants, pruning diseased parts, and removing infected plants, you are effectively addressing all three components of the triangle.

Using disease-free plants reduces the initial presence of pathogens, which decreases the likelihood of disease development. Pruning diseased parts helps to reduce the pathogen load and can prevent further spread within the plant. Removing infected plants eliminates a potential source of infection for healthy nearby plants. This integrated approach not only helps in managing existing diseases but also creates a healthier environment for plants to thrive, which is critical in disease management.

The other options do not align with the objectives of effective plant disease management. Introducing new pathogen strains would likely increase disease risks, promoting the growth of diseased plants contradicts the goal of disease prevention, and ensuring the use of fertilizer does not directly address the relationship between the pathogen, the host, and environmental conditions essential for disease management.