Question

A wheat variety resistant to hill bunt disease is
A.Pusa Shubra
B.Himgiri
C.Pusa Gaurav
D.Pusa Sawani

Answer 1

Hill blunt disease or common bunt disease is caused by a fungal infection on wheat. The fungi that cause this disease are called Tilletia tritici.

Complete answer:
Bunt disease is also known as stinking smut or covered mut. It affects both winter wheat and spring wheat. The symptoms of this disease do not show up until the plant is mature. When affected by this disease healthy kernels are replaced by masses of spores which appear like powdery chunks called smuts. During the time of harvest, these smuts will pop open and affect the other kernels and they will also remain in the soil till the next harvest and affect them too.
Genetically modified plants have been developed using hybridisation and selection for various purposes such as increased yield, disease resistance, pest resistance etc. These types of crops can make disease resistant by selecting parents with desirable qualities. Now lets analyse the options to find out the wheat variety that is resistant to hill bunt disease.

Option A) Pusa shubhra is a hybrid variety of cauliflower which belongs to the third maturity group. Its is non leafy with compact curds.Therefore this is an incorrect option
Option B) Himgiri is a wheat variety that is resistant to hill bunt disease. It is developed through hybridisation.Therefore this is the correct option
Option C) Pusa gaurav is a variety of mustard. It is characterised by resistance to aphids,which are small sap-sucking insects. Therefore this is an incorrect option
Option D) Pusa sawani is a variety of okra. They are resistant to insects like fruit borer. Therefore this is an incorrect option

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: Himgiri is also known as HS 375 and it is developed by IARI.It is widely popular in the Indian agricultural sector. Along with disease resistance,it is also immune against leaf and stripe rust such as yellow rust. It is a crop which is suitable for places where irrigation is dependent on rainfall and crops are timely sown. It yields 26-30qtls/ha.