Question:

Given below are two statements
Statement I: Tea Mosquito Bug is a major pest of cashew
Statement II: Mid season/ late season flowering varieties such as Bhaskara are able to escape from the severity of this pest
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below

Show Hint

'Bhaskara' is a highly celebrated cashew variety because of its "pest escape" mechanism. It delays flowering until peak Tea Mosquito Bug populations have naturally declined, demonstrating how phenological escape can serve as an effective biocontrol strategy.
  • Both Statement I and Statement II are true
  • Both Statement I and Statement II are false
  • Statement I is true but Statement II is false
  • Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis antonii) is the most destructive pest of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) in India.
Pest management involves using chemical controls or choosing varieties with specialized flowering behaviors that minimize the overlap between peak pest populations and vulnerable crop stages (flushing and flowering).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us evaluate both statements:
Statement I Analysis: The Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB) nymphs and adults suck sap from tender shoots, inflorescences, and developing nuts, injecting toxic saliva.
This leads to "shoot rot" and "blossom blight," causing up to 30-50% yield loss, making it the absolute major pest of cashew. Thus, Statement I is true.
Statement II Analysis: The population of TMB generally peaks during the early winter months (November to January) in coastal regions, synchronizing with the early flushing and flowering stage of common cashew varieties.
'Bhaskara' is a cashew variety developed by the Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), Puttur, which exhibits mid-season to late-season flowering behavior (flowering begins in January-February).
By flowering late, 'Bhaskara' escapes the peak infestation window of TMB, thereby suffering much lower pest damage compared to early-flowering varieties. Thus, Statement II is true.

Step 3: Final Answer:

Since both Statement I and Statement II are biologically and agronomically accurate, the correct option is (A).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0

Top ICAR AIEEA Horticulture Questions

View More Questions