Question

A condition caused due to insect feeding which produces symptoms of a disease in plants is termed as

• A. Toxigenic
• B. Toxicogenic
• C. Phytotoxemia
• D. Phytotogenic

Hint:

Remember the prefixes: "Phyto-" means plant, and "-toxemia" represents a toxic condition. Thus, phytotoxemia is a plant disease condition induced entirely by insect toxins.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Certain sap-sucking insects (such as leafhoppers, aphids, and psyllids) inject toxic salivary secretions into host plant tissues while feeding.
This induces systemic or localized disease-like symptoms in plants without the actual transmission of pathogens (like viruses, phytoplasmas, or bacteria).
Detailed Explanation:
The physiological disorder or disease-like state caused in plants by toxic salivary secretions of insects is termed Phytotoxemia.
Symptoms of phytotoxemia can include leaf curling, yellowing (chlorosis), cell necrosis, gall formation, and severe stunting.
An example of this is "hopperburn" in rice crops, which is caused by the feeding of the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens).
Insects that have the capability of inducing such reactions are referred to as toxicogenic or toxigenic insects.
The response produced specifically within the plant host is called phytotoxemia.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The plant disease-like condition caused by insect salivary toxins is termed Phytotoxemia.