TEST OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTION (a) Name the organism which causes the damage observe on each of specimen J (Maize Weevil), K (Yam Beetle), L (Virus) a...

Answer Details

(a) Organisms which cause the damage observed in specimens J,K,L and M

• Specimen J- Maize weevil
• Specimen K- Yam beetle
• Specimen L-Virus
• Specimen M- Fungus

(b) Economic importance of maize weevil

• Causes loss of food/ food shortage/destruction of stored maize
• Destruction of seed viability/ reduced seed germination
• Causes loss of income/ reduced market value
• Increases the cost of production due to the cost of controlling the pest
• It reduces yield/quantity of produce.

(c) Ways of controlling maize weevil, yam beetle, cassava mosaic virus and fruit rot of tomato

Maize weevil;

• Use of dry hot pepper/ use of pepper
• Store in air tight containers
• Use of appropriate insecticide
• Heat treatment/ store on rafters in smoky rooms
• Use of deep freezer/freezing
• Early harvesting of crops
• Fumigating maize in store

Yam beetle;

• Treat yam setts/ seeds yams with appropriate insecticides
• Crop rotation
• Late planting
• Hand-picking and destroying
• Dust yam set with alum dust.

Cassava mosaic virus; 

• Plant resistant varieties
• Uproot and burn infected plants
• Farm sanitation
• Plant clean and disease-free stem cuttings
• Spray insecticides to kill the vectors

Fruit rot fungus;

• Use of resistant varieties
• Remove infected plants
• Staking of tomato plants.
• Treating soil with copper-based fungicide.