Kansas General Pesticide Application Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-In-One Guide to Exam Success!

Bacteria play a significant role in pest management by acting as pathogens that target and infect pests. Specific strains of bacteria, such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), produce toxins that can harm insects, effectively reducing their populations. When these bacteria infect pests, they disrupt their normal biological processes, leading to death or impaired reproduction. This biological control method is an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, providing an effective means to manage pest populations while minimizing harm to non-target organisms and the environment.

While bacteria can also contribute to soil fertility and enhance crop growth, these roles are less directly related to pest management. Controlling weed populations typically involves different biotic and abiotic strategies that may not focus on bacterial action. Thus, the correct answer highlights the specific function of bacteria in pest control through their pathogenic abilities.