IAS Mains Paper: Agriculture 2001
Paper-II
Section A

Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each:

Discuss the vole of self-incompatibility in plant breeding.

Briefly explain the salient features of cytoplasmic inheritance.

Briefly describe hybrid seed production of bajra.

Explain the role of vernalization in crop production.

Answer the following questions

Describe the method of back cross breeding used for transfer of recessive disease resistance. Can this method improve yield potential? Justify your answer.

Describe the pure-line selection. How far has this method been useful in evolving high yielding varieties of cereal crops?

Discuss the vole of conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources giving examples.

Answer the following questions

Define plant growth regulators. Classify them according to their mode of action, and discuss their use in horticulture.

Describe the role of photo-morphogenesis in plants and explain the influence of light on biomass accumulation in plants.

Describe the temperature-induced injuries in fruits, vegetables and flower crops. Explain the strategies by which these injuries can be avoided.

Justify the above statement with the help of example:

Mutation creates variability needed for evolution.

Improved crop varieties have contributed significantly to green revolution in India.

Adoption of bio-technological techniques in horticulture are quite useful.

Apical dominance has great significance in floriculture and landscape gardening.

Section B

Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each, with examples:

Discuss the relevance of pruning and training of horticultural crops.

Explain the causes of guava wilt and describe its control measures.

Discuss the use of herbicides in agriculture and the hazards from their use.

Discuss the reasons for biennial bearing in fruits, and the measures for its alleviation.

Answer the following questions

Describe the ecological classification of horticultural crops in the country. Discuss the climate requirements for litchi, pineapple and cherry, and name three commercial varieties of each of these fruits.

What is the scope for floriculture in India particularly for export purposes? Discuss the package of practices for the cultivation of roses.

Describe the factors responsible for post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables and the measures to minimise these losses.

Answer the following questions

What are the principles of integrated insect-pest management in agriculture? Describe the methods used for control of pests of citrus fruits.

Discuss the importance and scope of processing of fruits and vegetables. Briefly describe the methods of vegetables preservation with the help of suitable examples.

Differentiate between climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. Explain the changes that occur during maturity and ripening of these fruits.

Explain the above with examples:

Market intelligence and marketing of fruits and vegetables.

Principles of orchard planning.

Role of Apomixis in horticulture.

Use of fungicides for the control of diseases in vegetables crops.