Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement I : Moko wilt of banana caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is not reported in India so far
Statement II : Wheat blast caused by species of Magnaporthe is confined only in South America
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate 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 correct but Statement II is false
• D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is true

Hint:

Moko disease of banana is not reported in India. Wheat blast spread from South America to Bangladesh in 2016.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Quarantine pathogens and transboundary disease distributions dictate domestic phytosanitary surveillance.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Statement I is correct: Moko disease of banana, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Race 2 (phylotype II), is an exotic bacterial wilt quarantine pathogen prevalent in Central/South America and the Caribbean, and has not established or been officially reported in India.
2. Statement II is false: Wheat blast (caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum), originally discovered in Paraná, Brazil in 1985 in South America, escaped geographically to South Asia (Bangladesh epidemic in 2016) and Africa (Zambia in 2018), and is no longer confined solely to South America.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Hence, Statement I is correct but Statement II is false.