Which of the following statements best explains why sugarcane is vulnerable to the cane beetle?

• A. Sugarcane produces toxins that attract cane beetles to its leaves.
• B. Sugarcane lacks chlorophyll, making it an easy target for cane beetles.
• C. Cane beetles pollinate sugarcane flowers, leading to increased pest populations.
• D. The cane beetle larvae feed on the roots of sugarcane, damaging the plant and reducing yield.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. The question is asking why sugarcane is vulnerable to the cane beetle. This requires analyzing the relationship between sugarcane and the cane beetle, focusing on biological interactions such as feeding habits or other ecological factors.
2. Step 2: Evaluate the provided options. Each option suggests a different reason for the vulnerability of sugarcane to cane beetles. Carefully consider the biological plausibility of each statement based on your knowledge of plant-insect interactions.
3. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. For example, sugarcane producing toxins to attract cane beetles is unlikely because toxins typically deter pests. Similarly, sugarcane lacking chlorophyll is not a valid reason for pest vulnerability, as chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis and unrelated to pest attraction. Lastly, cane beetles do not pollinate sugarcane flowers; they are pests, not pollinators.
4. Step 4: Focus on the correct explanation. The cane beetle larvae feed on the roots of sugarcane, which damages the plant and reduces its yield. This is a direct biological interaction where the larvae harm the plant by consuming its roots, leading to reduced growth and productivity.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is based on the feeding behavior of cane beetle larvae, which directly impacts the health and yield of sugarcane plants. This highlights the importance of understanding pest-plant interactions in agricultural biology.