Question

Given below are two statements
Statement I: Thrips tabaci infest onion plants in field as well as bulbs during storage
Statement II: Thrips feeding and oviposition cause laceration of leaves
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are true
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are false
• C. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
• D. Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Hint:

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) damage onion crops both in the field and in storage. Their rasping-sucking feeding action produces distinctive silvery streaks on the leaves.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) are major pests of onions and other allium crops.
They damage crops through both their feeding activity and their egg-laying behavior.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate both statements:
- Statement I: Thrips tabaci infests onion crops in the field, feeding on the leaves.
When onions are harvested and stored, the thrips can remain on the bulbs, continuing to feed and breed under storage conditions. This can cause significant weight loss and secondary microbial decay in storage. Thus, Statement I is true.
- Statement II: Thrips possess unique rasping-sucking mouthparts.
They rasp (lacerate) the leaf epidermis and suck the exuded sap, which leads to characteristic silvery streaks or patches on the leaves.
Additionally, the female inserts her eggs into the leaf tissues using a saw-like ovipositor, which also contributes to localized tissue damage and laceration. Thus, Statement II is true.
Therefore, both Statement I and Statement II are true.

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