The diagram below illustrates a tomato fruit infested by a field pest. a) Identify the pest. b) State two ways in which the pest is economically important. c) State three cultural ways of controlling

Here are the answers to your questions:

15. The diagram below illustrates a tomato fruit infested by a field pest.

    • a) Identify the pest. (1 mk)

      • American Bollworm (also known as African bollworm or cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera), or Tomato fruitworm.

    • b) State two ways in which the pest is economically important. (2 mks)

      • i) It causes direct damage to the fruits, leading to significant yield losses and reduced market value.
      • ii) It increases production costs for farmers due to the need for pest control measures (e.g., pesticides, labor).

    • c) State three cultural ways of controlling pest. (3 mks)

      • i) Hand picking and destroying visible larvae.
      • ii) Field sanitation (e.g., removing and burning infested plant residues).
      • iii) Crop rotation with non-host crops.
      • (Other valid answers include timely planting, proper spacing, regular weeding to remove alternative hosts).

16. The diagram below shows a weed.

    • a) Identify the weed. (1 mk)

      • Nut grass (or Nut sedge, Cyperus rotundus).

    • b) Using the features in the diagram, give two reasons why it is difficult to eradicate the above weed. (2 mks)

      • i) It has an extensive and deep underground system of rhizomes and tubers (nutlets), which makes it difficult to remove completely, as even small fragments can regrow.
      • ii) It reproduces rapidly both by seeds (from the flowering head shown) and vegetatively through its numerous underground tubers and rhizomes.