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Right choice is (B) Any part of a PLANT TAKEN out and grown in a test tube

To elaborate: It was learnt by scientists, during the 1950s, that whole plants could be regenerated from explants, i.e., any part of the plant taken out and grown in a test tube, under sterile conditions in a special nutrient MEDIUM.

Correct answer is (d) Skoog

To explain I would say: FORMATION of embryoids or somatic EMBRYOS was discovered by Steward, Halperin and Wetherell by using young ANTHERS of Datura. Skoog and Miller found that growth and MORPHOGENESIS were controlled by hormones such as auxin and cytokinin.

Correct choice is (b) Haberlandt

Easiest explanation: Tissue CULTURE technique was first PRACTISED by Haberlandt and Hanning in 1902. Harrison developed this technique. The first successful ATTEMPT was MADE by White in CASE of Tomato root.

Right choice is (a) The technique of in vitro MAINTAINING and growing cells

To elaborate: Plant tissue culture is the technique of in vitro maintain and growing cells, TISSUES, organs, etc.; and their differentiation on artificial MEDIUM under aseptic conditions INSIDE SUITABLE containers.

Right answer is (a) Atlas 66

The explanation: Wheat variety, Atlas 66, having a high protein content, has been USED as a donor for improving cultivated wheat. Also, it has been possible to DEVELOP an iron-fortified rice variety containing over five times as much iron as in commonly CONSUMED VARIETIES.

Correct choice is (B) 2000

Explanation: In 2000, MAIZE HYBRIDS that had twice the amount of the amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, COMPARED to existing maize hybrids were developed.

The correct answer is (C) Increasing soil content

For explanation: Breeding for IMPROVED nutritional quality is UNDERTAKEN with the objectives of improving-

i. PROTEIN content and quality

ii. Oil content and quality

iii. Vitamin content

iv. MICRONUTRIENT and mineral content

The CORRECT choice is (d) Biofortification

Easy explanation: Biofortification is breeding of CROPS with HIGHER LEVELS of vitamins and minerals, or higher protein and healthier fats. It is the most practical means to IMPROVE public health.

Right answer is (a) Glowing skin

Best explanation: Diets lacking essential micronutrients- particularly iron, VITAMIN A, IODINE and zinc- increase the risk for diseases, reduce LIFESPAN and reduce mental ABILITIES. More than 840 million PEOPLE in the world do not have adequate food to meet their daily food and nutritional requirements.

Correct CHOICE is (b) 3 billion

The best explanation: Three billion people in the world suffer from MICRONUTRIENT, protein and VITAMIN deficiencies or hidden hunger because they cannot afford to buy enough FRUITS, VEGETABLES and legumes, fish and meat.

The correct OPTION is (a) brassica

For explanation: Pusa Gaurav is the variety of Brassica CROP. Brassica is also known as rapeseed mustard. The varieties of FLAT BEAN, Okra and Cauliflower include Pusa Sem 2, Pusa Sawani and Pusa Shubhra respectively.

Right answer is (d) Shoot

Best explanation: Flat BEAN crops are resistant to Jassids, Aphids and FRUIT borers. Sources of insect-pest resistance GENES may be CULTIVATED varieties, germplasm collections of the crop or WILD relatives.

Correct answer is (b) False

The best explanation: In wheat, solid STEMS lead to non-preference by the stem SAWFLY. Smooth LEAVES and nectar-less cotton VARIETIES do not ATTRACT bollworms. These are some of the morphological and physiological characteristics of insect-resistant plants.

Right option is (d) Solid stem

Explanation: The various biochemical CHARACTERISTICS of insect resistance in HOST crop plants include high aspartic acid, low nitrogen and sugar CONTENT, for example; in maize, leads to resistance to maize stem borers.

The correct answer is (c) INSECT and pest infestation

To explain: Another MAJOR cause for large scale destruction of crop PLANTS and crop produce is insect and pest infestation. Breeding methods for insect pest resistance involves the same STEPS as those for any other agronomic trait such as yield or quality.

Correct answer is (b) False

The BEST explanation: In MUNG bean, resistance to yellow mosaic virus and POWDERY mildew were induced by mutations. This process involves the SOURCE of resistance genes that are in the same crop species, which has to be bred for disease resistance, or in a RELATED wild species.

Correct choice is (a) Radiations

The explanation is: It is possible to induce mutations artificially in plants through the use of chemicals or radiations (GAMMA radiations), and SELECTING and using the plants that have the DESIRED character as a source of breeding. This process is known as mutation breeding.

Right OPTION is (d) Change in BASE sequence within genes

The EXPLANATION: Mutation is the process by which genetic variations are created through changes in the base sequence within genes resulting in the CREATION of a new character or trait not found in the PARENTAL type.

Correct answer is (a) True

The explanation: Conventional breeding is OFTEN constrained by the availability of a limited number of disease resistance genes that are present and identified in various crop varieties or wild relatives. INDUCING mutations in plants through DIVERSE means and then screening the plant MATERIALS for resistance SOMETIMES leads to desirable genes being identified.

The CORRECT option is (c) Chilli

The best I can EXPLAIN: Chilli crop is resistant to chilly mosaic virus, TOBACCO mosaic virus and leaf curl disease. Cowpea is resistant to bacterial blight. Cauliflower is resistant to black ROT and curl blight black rot disease. Brassica is resistant to white rust disease.

Correct choice is (a) PUSA Swarnim

Easiest explanation: Himgiri is the variety of Wheat crop. Pusa Swarnim, Pusa SHUBHRA and Pusa Komal are the varieties of Brassica, Cauliflower and COWPEA RESPECTIVELY.

Right choice is (a) Harvesting crops

To explain: The various sequential STEPS of breeding disease resistance crop are screening GERMPLASM for resistance sources, hybridisation of selected parents, selection and EVALUATION of the hybrids and TESTING and release of NEW varieties.

The CORRECT choice is (b) REDUCE the DEPENDENCE of fungicides

For explanation: When there are crop losses, then breeding and development of cultivars resistant to DISEASE enhance food PRODUCTION. This also helps reduce the dependence on the use of fungicides and bacteriocides.

Right option is (c) By studying the genetic CONSTITUTION of the PLANT

To ELABORATE: Resistance of the host plant is the ability to prevent the pathogen from CAUSING disease and is determined by the genetic constitution of the host plant. Before breeding is undertaken, it is important to know about the CAUSATIVE organism and the mode of transmission.

Right ANSWER is (d) Susceptible HOST

Easy explanation: The term susceptible host is used for those organisms which are not resistant to the PATHOGENS but are attacked and HARMED by pathogens. The susceptible individuals in which a disease is caused by a pathogen is called as host.

Correct choice is (d) Earthworm

To elaborate: A WIDE range of fungal, bacterial and viral PATHOGENS, affect the yield of cultivated crop species, ESPECIALLY in tropical climates. Crop losses can often be significant, up to 20-30 per cent, or SOMETIMES EVEN total.

Right choice is (d) Jaya

Easy explanation: HYBRID maize, jowar and BAJRA have been successfully developed in INDIA. Hybrid breeding has led to the DEVELOPMENT of several HIGH yielding varieties resistant to water stress.

The correct answer is (a) SACCHARUM barberi

The explanation is: Saccharum barberi was ORIGINALLY grown in North India, but had poor sugar content and yield. TROPICAL canes grown in South India Saccharum officinarum had thicker stems and higher sugar content but did not GROW well in South India.

Correct OPTION is (d) Norman E. Borlaug

Easiest explanation: Nobel laureate Norman E. Borlaug, at International Centre for Wheat and Maize Improvement in MEXICO, DEVELOPED semi-dwarf wheat VARIETIES.

Right choice is (a) 1960-2000

Best EXPLANATION: During the period 1960-2000, wheat production increased from 11 MILLION tonnes to 75 million tonnes while RICE production went up from 35 million tonnes to 89.5 million tonnes. This was due to the development of semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and rice.

The correct answer is (c) HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES

To explain I would say: HYV STANDS for High Yielding Varieties. A GREEN revolution occurred in India with the introduction of HYVs of wheat and rice from outside. Continually, new HVYs are bring added so that there is a continuous increase in crop output.

The correct option is (c) Harvesting them

The EXPLANATION is: The newly selected lines are EVALUATED for their yield and other agronomic traits of QUALITY, disease resistance, etc. This evaluation is done by growing these in the research fields and RECORDING their performance under ideal fertiliser application, IRRIGATION, and other crop management practices.

Correct option is (a) True

For explanation: Selection and TESTING of superior RECOMBINANTS consist of selecting, among the progeny of the HYBRIDS, those plants that have the desired character combination. The selection PROCESS is crucial to the success of the BREEDING objective and requires careful scientific evaluation of the progeny. This step yields plants that are superior to both of the parents.

Correct choice is (B) Removal of male parts from the future female plant

Explanation: EMASCULATION is the removal of male parts from the future female plants in the young STATE so as to avoid chances of contamination from their pollen. In the CASE of unisexual plants, the male plants are not allowed to grow NEAR the female plants.

Correct choice is (B) Selection of parents

Best explanation: Hybridisation is the crossing of two or more types of plants for bringing their TRAITS together in the PROGENY. The various STEPS involved in hybridisation are Emasculation, Bagging, Crossing or Artificial Pollination, the DESIRED combination of variations, backcrossing.

Right answer is (c) Diseased varieties

The best I can explain: The entire COLLECTION of plants or seeds having all the diverse alleles for all genes in a given crop is called as GERMPLASM collection. It consists of all present-day improved varieties, OLD improved varieties no longer in cultivation, local varieties of all areas, pure lines maintained by PLANT breeders, wild relatives and RELATED species.

The CORRECT option is (b) Cross hybridisation among the diseased PARENTS

Explanation: The main steps in breeding a NEW genetic variety of a CROP are-Collection of variability, Evaluation and selection of parents, cross hybridisation among the selected parents, selection and testing of SUPERIOR recombinants; testing, release and commercialisation of new cultivars.

Correct option is (a) Genetic variability

For explanation: Genetic variability is the root of any breeding PROGRAMME. In many crops, pre-existing genetic variability is AVAILABLE from wild RELATIVES of the crop. COLLECTION and PRESERVATION of all the different wild varieties, species and relatives of the cultivated species is a pre-requisite for effective exploitation of natural genes available in the population.

Right choice is (a) Decreased tolerance to environmental stresses

For explanation I WOULD say: Traits or characters that the breeders have tried to incorporate into crop plants are INCREASED crop YIELD, improved quality, increased tolerance to environmental stresses (salinity, extreme temperatures, DROUGHT), RESISTANCE to pathogens (viruses, fungi and bacteria) and increased tolerance to insect pests.

The correct CHOICE is (c) Government institutions

The best explanation: Plant breeding PROGRAMMES are carried out in a systematic way worldwide in government institutions and commercial companies. With advancements in GENETICS, molecular biology and tissue culture, plant breeding is now increasingly being carried out by using molecular genetic tools.

Right OPTION is (d) Molecular biology

The explanation is: Classical plant BREEDING involves CROSSING or hybridisation of pure lines, followed by artificial selection to produce plants with desirable traits of higher yield, nutrition and resistance to diseases. With ADVANCEMENTS in genetics, molecular biology and tissue culture are also being carried out.

The correct answer is (d) Not suited for CULTIVATION

The explanation is: Plant breeding is the purposeful manipulation of the plant SPECIES in order to create desired plant types that are BETTER suited for cultivation, give better yields and are disease resistant. Plant breeding as TECHNOLOGY has helped increase yields to a very LARGE extent.