Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Crop	Disease
(a) Paddy	– Wilt disease
(b) Maize	– Safeda disease
(c) Gram	– Stem rot
(d) Wheat	– Karnal bunt

1. A

   Paddy – Wilt disease

2. B

   Maize – Safeda disease

3. C

   Gram – Stem rot

4. D

   Wheat – Karnal bunt

Appeared in: UPPSC 2017

Explanation

• The pairing of Wheat and Karnal bunt is correct as Karnal bunt is a major fungal disease specifically affecting wheat crops.
• It is caused by the pathogen Tilletia indica and was first reported from Karnal in Haryana, India.
• The disease is known for reducing grain quality by converting parts of the kernel into a black, powdery spore mass that gives off a fishy smell, rendering the flour unfit for consumption.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Wilt disease, typically caused by Fusarium fungi, is not a primary disease of Paddy (rice).
• Option B: Safeda disease, also known as white rust (Albugo candida), primarily affects plants of the cruciferous family, not maize.
• Option C: While stem rot can affect gram (chickpea), it is not considered one of its most prominent or defining diseases.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Knowing Identification of common diseases affecting major agricultural crops helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
• This topic is relevant for the General Knowledge/Awareness section of competitive exams, including those for nursing positions.
• Understanding major crop diseases is important in a country like India where agriculture is a primary economic sector and food security is a major concern.
• Knowledge of mycotoxins (fungal toxins) from diseases like Karnal bunt or Ergot is relevant to public health, as contaminated grains can lead to food poisoning.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the core task: find the one correctly matched pair of a crop and its specific disease from the four options.
• Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of agriculture and botany.
• Consider Option A: Paddy (rice) is primarily known for blast and blight, not wilt disease.
• Consider Option B: 'Safeda' or white rust is a classic disease of mustard, not maize.
• Consider Option C: Gram (chickpea) is most famously affected by wilt and blight, making 'stem rot' a less likely correct primary match.
• Consider Option D: Karnal bunt is a well-documented and specific fungal disease of wheat, first identified in Karnal, India. This strong, specific association makes it the most likely correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Identification of common diseases affecting major agricultural crops.
• Stem keywords: Crop, Disease, Paddy, Maize, Gram, Wheat
• Lead-in keywords: correctly matched

Question ID

QhjR64AtveRazhByJMQGHi

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 194-196