Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Statement (I) and other labelled as Statement (II):
Statement (I) : Tomato suffers from a number of physiological disorders. Catface is one such disorder.
Statement (II) : It is so called because fruits affected by it have large cavities when cut open.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Statements are correct.
• B. Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
• C. Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.
• D. Both Statements are incorrect.

Hint:

To remember tomato disorders easily, associate the visual symptom directly with the name:
- Catface = Scarred and deformed blossom-end (resembling a puckered face).
- Puffiness = Hollow cavities inside the fruit (like a puffed-up empty shell).
- Blossom-end rot = Dark, leathery sunken spot at the bottom of the fruit (due to calcium deficiency).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Tomato crops are highly susceptible to various physiological disorders caused by environmental stresses, nutritional imbalances, and improper water management.
Key disorders include blossom-end rot, fruit cracking, puffiness, and catface.
Each disorder has a unique set of symptoms and etiology.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Statement (I) states that tomato suffers from physiological disorders and catface is one of them.
This statement is correct. Catface is a well-known physiological disorder in tomatoes.
It is characterized by gross deformity, curling, puckering, dimpling, and deep scars at the blossom end of the fruit.
This disorder is primarily caused by low temperatures (below $15^\circ\text{C}$) during flower bud development and pollination, which leads to abnormal development of the pistil.
Statement (II) states that catface is so called because the affected fruits have large cavities when cut open.
This statement is incorrect.
The name "catface" refers to the distorted, puckered appearance of the fruit's blossom end, which resembles the face of a cat.
Fruits with large internal cavities (empty locules) when cut open suffer from a different physiological disorder known as Puffiness or Hollowness.
Puffiness is caused by poor pollination, extreme high or low temperatures, or excessive nitrogen fertilization, resulting in incomplete development of seeds and locular gel.
Therefore, Statement (I) is correct and Statement (II) is incorrect.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (B).