Question

The most common bioinsecticide in present world for protection of cotton and mustard is

• A. Pyrethrin
• B. Bt
• C. Rotenone
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B Bt

Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) a common soil bacterium. Bt produces a protein that paralyzes the larvae of some harmful insects. When ingested by the larva of the target insect, the Bt protein is activated in the guts alkaline condition and punctures the mid-gut leaving the insect unable to eat. The insect dies within a few days. Scientists have taken the Bt gene responsible for the production of the insecticidal protein from the bacterium and incorporated it into the genome of plants. Thus, these plants have a built-in mechanism of protection against targeted pests. The protein produced by the plants does not get washed away, nor is it destroyed by sunlight. The plant is thus protected from the cotton bollworm or the corn borer round the clock regardless of the situation. Insect-protected Bt crops provide the farmer with season-long protection against several damaging insect pests, and reduce or eliminate the need for insecticide sprays. This eliminates the yield loss that results from less than optimal pest control by applied farm insecticides.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.