Question

Assertion (A): Bacillo viruses attack insects and arthropods
Reason (R): They have no negative impact on non-target insects

• A. A and R are Correct and R is the Correct explanation of A
• B. A and R are Correct and R is not the Correct explanation of A
• C. A is Correct but R is incorrect
• D. A is incorrect but R is correct

Hint:

When using biological control measures, understanding the specificity of the agent is crucial to avoid unintended ecological impacts.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Assertion (A) is correct as Baculoviruses specifically target certain insects and arthropods, using them as hosts to replicate and are widely used as biopesticides.
Reason (R) is also correct because these viruses are very host-specific, usually affecting only a few closely related species of insects and hence have minimal impact on non-target species. However, the reason does not explain the mechanism of how baculoviruses target specific insects, which is due to the presence of specific receptors that recognize the viral particles.