Question

In an experiment, freshly hatched larvae of Khapra beetle were reared on basal diet with increasing amount of cholesterol as shown in the graph.
The graph indicates

• A. Cholesterol is an essential dietary requirement
• B. Growth of beetle is directly proportional to cholesterol concentration
• C. Cholesterol concentration of $2\mu g/g$ diet is optimum
• D. Growth is inhibited when cholesterol concentration exceeds $2\mu g/g$ of diet

Answer 1

The correct option is A Cholesterol is an essential dietary requirement

• The graph indicates that cholesterol is an essential dietary requirement of khapra beetle because the weight of insect larva increases with the increase in the amount of cholesterol and weight becomes static at 6 $\mu$g cholesterol/g basal diet.
• If the growth rate would have been directly proportional to the cholesterol concentration then the graph would have been a straight line. Hence, Option A is correct.