Which one of the following is an example of carrying out biological control of pests/diseases using microbes?
- Trichoderma sp. against certain plant pathogens
- Ladybird beetle against aphids in mustard
- Nucleopolyhedrovirus against white rust in Brassica
- Bt-cotton to increase cotton yield
Answer
(1) Trichoderma sp. against certain plant pathogens
Solution
As per NCERT, Trichoderma species are free-living fungi, very common in root ecosystems, that are effective biocontrol agents of several plant pathogens.
Ladybird beetle (an insect, not a microbe) controls aphids (2) is not microbial control.
Nucleopolyhedroviruses (baculoviruses) attack insects and other arthropods, whereas white rust of Brassica is a fungal disease (3) is wrong.
Bt-cotton is a transgenic crop, not a biocontrol agent (4) is wrong.
Answer: (1)