Severe famine of west Bengal of 1942-43 was due to destruction of rice crop by a fungus called

Options

A. Penicillium
B. Helminthosporium
C. Rhizopus
D. Puccinia

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Identify the Event**: The question refers to the severe famine that occurred in West Bengal during the years 1942-43.

2. **Determine the Cause**: The famine was caused by the destruction of rice crops.

3. **Identify the Organism Responsible**: The organism responsible for the destruction of the rice crops is a fungus.

4. **Name the Specific Fungus**: The specific fungus that caused the destruction of rice crops during this period is called *Helminthosporium oryzae*.

5. **Understand the Impact**: This fungus led to the rice brown spot epidemic, which resulted in the starvation of millions of people in West Bengal.

6. **Differentiate from Other Fungi**: Other fungi mentioned, such as *Paxinia*, *Rhizopus*, and *Penicillium*, do not relate to the rice crop destruction in this context. *Paxinia* causes rust disease in wheat, *Rhizopus* is a bread mold, and *Penicillium* produces the antibiotic penicillin.

7. **Conclude the Answer**: Therefore, the answer to the question is that the severe famine of West Bengal in 1942-43 was due to the destruction of rice crops by the fungus *Helminthosporium oryzae*.