Which term describes the destruction of a disease that has become established in a crop?

The term that accurately describes the destruction of a disease that has become established in a crop is eradication. This term refers specifically to the complete elimination of the disease-causing pathogen from a given area or crop system. Eradication is typically pursued when a disease is identified early and control measures can effectively lead to its total removal.

In agricultural contexts, particularly with crop diseases, eradication methods can include various strategies such as the use of fungicides, implementing sanitation practices, or even destroying infected plants to prevent further spread. The goal is to remove the disease completely rather than just managing it or reducing its impact.

Other terms like exclusion, therapy, and protection refer to different approaches in managing diseases in crops. Exclusion focuses on preventing the introduction of diseases, therapy pertains to managing and treating existing diseases, and protection generally involves preventative measures to shield crops from potential diseases. Each of these strategies plays a significant role in integrated pest management but does not specifically capture the concept of completely destroying an established disease.