Which of the following is NOT a factor in IPM?

• A. Genetic
• B. Cultural
• C. Mechanical
• D. Biological

Answer: (A)

IPM relies on management tactics designed to suppress pests with minimal harm. The main tactics used are cultural controls (like crop rotation, sanitation, adjusting planting dates), mechanical controls (physical barriers, traps, tillage), and biological controls (natural enemies and biocontrol agents). Genetic refers to the crop’s inherited traits and is not a direct IPM tactic you actively manage in the field, so it isn’t counted as an IPM factor in this framing. While using resistant varieties can support pest management, the standard categories of IPM factors are cultural, mechanical, and biological, with chemical controls sometimes added as a last resort. Therefore, the option describing genetic is the one that does not fit as an IPM factor.