1. To study meiosis in plants, the best part would be
(a) shoot apex
(b) root apex
(c) anthers
(d) leaf cells
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (c) anthers
- To learn about meiosis in plants, the best part to look at is the anthers.
- Pollen is produced after meiosis, which is an immature male gametophyte.
- Stamens are the male reproductive organs and carpels are the egg-bearing female organs.
|
2. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?
1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (c) 1 and 3 only
- Vegetative propagation is a type of asexual reproduction which allows new plants to develop from specialized parts (such as bulbs, corms, tubers, cuttings, buds and apomictic seeds) without needing to involve pollination or fertilization.
- Statement 1 is true because viruses can be transferred from plant to plant through these vegetative parts. However, statement 2 is false because viruses do not spread through vegetative propagation. Statement 3 is true because vegetative propagation can be done year-round.
|
3. The practice of gootee in plants is used for the purpose of :
(a) Control of insects
(b) For vegetative propagation
(c) Germination of seeds
(d) Weed control
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (b) For vegetative propagation
- Gootee is a way of growing plants from cuttings taken from the stems of a parent plant. It is also known as air layering, marcotting, pot layerage, marcottage and circumposition.
|
4. With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements:
1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settlings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main fi eld.
2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with singlebudded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) 1 and 4 only
- The ‘bud chip’ method of planting sugarcane is more affordable and simpler than the traditional way of planting two or three buds.
- It also leads to more returns and a saving of seed material. When setts are planted directly, many-budded setts have a better germination rate than single-budded setts, and large setts have a better chance of survival in bad weather.
- Planting material for sugarcane growth can come from whole cane, setts of single or multiple buds, nursery setts, or tissue culture. Therefore, only statements 1 and 4 are correct.
|
5. With reference to crop rotation, which of the following
statement is/are correct?
1. Deep rooted crops should be followed by the same
type of crop.
2. Legume must be followed by a non-legume.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
Code :
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (b) Only 2
- Crop rotation involves growing different plants in turns in line with the changing seasons. This helps to get the most out of soil nutrients and water, and also helps with pest and weed control.
- The crops chosen for a rooftop garden should fit well with the space, sunlight and soil available.
- There are some general rules to follow when it comes to crop rotation:
- legumes should be followed by non-legumes; plants with tap roots (dicots) should come after those with fibrous root systems (monocots); slow-growing crops which are more prone to weeds should be grown after a weed-suppressing crop; closely related species should not be grown one after the other as they can be hosts for insects, pests and diseases; crops with deep roots should be followed by plants with shallow roots; and crops that are susceptible to soil-borne pathogens and parasitic weeds should be followed by crops that are more tolerant.
|
6. Clonal selection can be used in –
(a) Groundnut
(b) Mustard
(c) Wheat
(d) Potato
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (d) Potato
- Clonal selection is the way that is used to choose plants for asexual reproduction.
- This process is used when making potatoes and involves taking the chosen plants and using them to make clones.
|
7. Embryo is found in –
(a) Flowers
(b) Leaves
(c) Seeds
(d) Buds
[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (c) Seeds
- The embryo and other cells from the parent plant join together to form the seed for the next generation.
- When this seed is planted, it grows into a new plant.
|
8. Plants are formed like parent plant from –
(a) Seeds
(b) Stem cut
(c) None of these
(d) Both of these
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (b) Stem cut
- Vegetative propagation is a kind of reproduction where only one plant is involved and the new plant is genetically the same as the parent.
- It produces a new organism from a part of the parent (e.g. root, stem, leaf).
- It is not possible to keep the purity of plants in sexual reproduction, but it is possible in vegetative propagation. Common methods used to do this artificially include stem cutting, grafting, and layering.
|
9. Stem cutting is done generally to grow –
(a) Banana
(b) Sugarcane
(c) Mango
(d) Cotton
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (b) Sugarcane
- Sugarcane belongs to a group of plants called the Andropogonae tribe that is part of the Gramineae family.
- Sugarcane plants are grown by taking pieces of the stem and planting them. Mango and cotton plants usually grow from seeds, while banana plants are usually grown from suckers, which come from the roots.
- Some farmers also use tissue culture to grow banana seedlings. Rhizomes and peepers are other ways to grow banana plants.
|
10. Consider the following plants :
1. Bougainvillea 2. Carnation
3. Cocoa 4. Grapes
Which of these plants are propagated by stem cuttings ?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
- Using pieces of stems is the most common way to grow plants like shrubs and decorative plants, as well as for house plants.
- Examples of plants that can be grown this way are Sugarcane, grapes, Rose, Cocoa, Carnation, Duranta, and Bougainvillea. Cocoa can also be grown from seeds.
|
11. Consider the following statements:
1. Sweet orange plant is propagated by grafting technique.
2. Jasmine plant is propagated by layering technique.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (c) Both 1 and 2
- Layering is a method of growing new plants, like Jasmine, without taking cuttings. Basically, you bury part of a stem or branch in the soil and the plant will create new roots and shoots.
- Grafting is another technique used in horticulture which involves attaching the tissue of one plant to another so the two plants can connect. Sweet oranges are usually propagated this way.
|
12. The most important part of the plant in term of its life cycle is–
(a) Flower
(b) Leaf
(c) Stem
(d) Root
[47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (a) Flower
- The flower is essential for a plant’s life cycle. Its purpose is to help the male and female parts of the plant join together to make seeds.
- This starts with pollination, which is followed by fertilization, and ends with the seeds being spread out.
|
13. Which of the three circumstances among these are most necessary in the germination of single seed plants?
(a) Soil, water, oxygen
(b) Water, proper temperature, oxygen
(c) Proper temperature, oxygen, CO2
(d) Temperature, oxygen, light.
[Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (b) Water, proper temperature, oxygen
- Water, temperature, and oxygen are necessary for a seed to sprout, but sunlight is not.
- There are two ways a seed can sprout in plants – epigeal and hypogeal.
|
14. Which one is not required for the germination of seed?
(a) Light
(b) Humidity
(c) Proper temperature
(d) Oxygen
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
Ans. (a) Light
- Water, temperature, and oxygen are essential for a seed to sprout, but sunlight is not necessary.
- There are two ways for a plant to germinate: epigeal and hypogeal.
|
15. Censer mechanism of dispersal of seeds is found in :
(a) Pea
(b) Poppy
(c) Cotton
(d) Maize
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (b) Poppy
- Seeds are spread away from the parent plant by dispersal.
- Plants cannot move around, so they need other things to carry their seeds, like the wind or animals.
- Poppy plants use a special way of spreading their seeds.
|
16. Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to stigma of another flower of the same plant is called
(a) Autogamy
(b) Geitonogamy
(c) Xenogamy
(d) None of the above
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (b) Geitonogamy
- When pollen moves from the anther to the stigma of a different flower on the same plant, it is called geitonogamy. It is a kind of self-pollination.
|
17. Consider the following kinds organisms –
1. Bat 2. Bee
3. Bird
Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 2
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Pollination is the process of taking pollen from the male part of a flower (the anther) and transferring it to the female part (the stigma).
- This is necessary for fertilization, which helps the flower develop fruits and seeds. Bees are the main pollinators, and they usually visit flowers that bloom during the day.
- Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that are bright colours like red, yellow, and orange. Bats also pollinate some flowers, but there are fewer of these flowers, mainly in the southern hemisphere.
|
18. Seed that is changed every year is known as –
(a) Breeder seed
(b) Certified seed
(c) Foundation seed
(d) Hybrid seed
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (d) Hybrid seed
- Every year, plants that are pollinated with other plants create hybrid seed. This type of seed is widely used in both farming and home gardening.
|
19. In a bisexual flower, if androecium and gynoecium mature at different times, the phenomenon is known as :
(a) Dichogamy
(b) Herkogamy
(c) Heterogamy
(d) Monogamy
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (a) Dichogamy
- In a bisexual flower, when the male and female parts mature at different times, it is called dichogamy.
- There are two types: protandry (male parts mature first) and protogyny (female parts mature first).
|
