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).