Question

Earias fabia is a serious pest of
A. Pulses
B. Cotton
C. Wheat
C. Sugarcane

Answer 1

Hint:- Biotechnology is the technique in which biopharmaceuticals and biologicals are produced on an industrial scale by using genetically modified microbes, fungi, plants and animals. The applications of biotechnology include therapeutics, diagnostics, genetic modification of crops for agriculture, food processing, bioremediation, treatment of waste and production of energy.
In agricultural practices biotechnology is employed to form genetically modified crops. This increases the yield and also reduces the dependence on pesticides and fertilisers.

Complete Answer:-
Production of pest-resistant plants decreases the use of pesticides. For example, Bt cotton.
Specific toxin genes were isolated from specific bacterial strains into several crop plants. Once the insect ingests the toxin, it destroys the cells of the organism and eventually causes the death of the insect.
Some of these genes control bollworms, some control corn borers and many other types of toxin genes are discovered that can control serious pest infestations in the plants.
Earias Fabia is a bollworm that attacks the cotton plant. They actually destroy the growing cotton boll and its seed. These pests lay their eggs on the leaves of the plant and the adult form developed will ultimately feed on the cotton bolls, thus destroying them.
These bollworms if not stopped can reduce the yield of the crop which is very harmful to the farmers.
Biotechnology helps in the production of pest-resistant plants by genetically modifying a plant by introducing a specific type of toxic gene into it.

Thus the correct answer is option B.

Note:- Genetic modification has made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses like cold, drought, salt and heat. It reduced reliance on chemical pesticides by producing pest-resistant plants. It helped to reduce post-harvest loss. It also increased the efficiency of mineral usage by the plants, this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of the soil. It enhanced the nutritional value of foods.