Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Ladybird and Dragonflies are useful to get rid of aphids and mosquitoes. Trichoderma fungus are effective bio control agents of several plant pathogens.
Statement II: The biological control of plant diseases and pest can control increasing use of insecticides and pesticides, thus saving our environment from being getting polluted.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
Biocontrol is the use of biological methods, instead of chemicals, to control plant diseases and pests.
Statement I: Ladybird and Dragonflies are useful to get rid of aphids and mosquitoes. Trichoderma fungus are effective bio control agents of several plant pathogens. — Correct. Both are examples of biocontrol: natural enemies used to keep pests down. The ladybird beetle eats aphids, and dragonflies eat mosquitoes. Trichoderma is a free-living fungus of the root ecosystem; it acts against several fungi that cause plant diseases, so it is an effective biocontrol agent.
Statement II: The biological control of plant diseases and pest can control increasing use of insecticides and pesticides, thus saving our environment from being getting polluted. — Correct. Chemical pesticides are toxic and pollute the environment. Biocontrol reduces our dependence on them.
NCERT Extract:
Microbes as Biocontrol Agents – “Biocontrol refers to the use of biological methods for controlling plant diseases and pests. In modern society, these problems have been tackled increasingly by the use of chemicals – by use of insecticides and pesticides. These chemicals are toxic and extremely harmful, to human beings and animals alike, and have been polluting our environment (soil, ground water), fruits, vegetables and crop plants. … The very familiar beetle with red and black markings – the Ladybird, and Dragonflies are useful to get rid of aphids and mosquitoes, respectively. … Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that are very common in the root ecosystems. They are effective biocontrol agents of several plant pathogens.”