Silkworm Nutrition

• Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus):
• is true: Transmitted in nature in a persistent, circulative manner by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci).
• is true: The characteristic diagnostic initial symptom is intense vein clearing followed by brilliant yellow network of veins contrasting with green interveinal areas.
• is false: YVMV is a bipartite or monopartite begomovirus with satellite DNA that is not mechanically (sap) transmissible under normal field conditions.
• is false: While late-infected plants produce small yellowish fruits, infected plants are not necessarily 'severely stunted' unless infected at the earliest seedling stage.
• Conclusion: Statements (A) and (B) only are true (Option 3).

Correct option: (3) (A) and (B)

• Status of Indian Wildlife and Fauna:
• Statement (I) is true: The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is an omnivorous bird feeding on seeds, grains, and insects whose populations have declined rapidly due to urbanization, pesticide use, and lack of nesting sites, prompting nationwide conservation efforts (e.g., State Bird of Delhi, World Sparrow Day).
• Statement (II) is evaluated: Nilgai or Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is the largest Asian antelope. In the examination key, Statement II was marked incorrect because it is an antelope rather than a member of the domestic cattle/cow genus (Bos).
• Conclusion: Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect (Option 3).

• Oviposition and Parasitization of Cereal Stem Borers:
• Statement (I) is correct: The spotted stem borer (Chilo partellus) lays its flat, scale-like oval eggs in overlapping clusters/patches (resembling fish scales, 20–50 eggs per batch) on the underside of maize and sorghum leaves.
• Statement (II) is correct: Eggs of the pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens) laid beneath the leaf sheath are heavily parasitized by scelionid egg parasitoid wasps (genus Telenomus, family Scelionidae).
• Conclusion: Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct (Option 1).