Horticulture — Part 1 MCQs with Explanations

Benzyl adenine is not an anti-gibberellin or growth retardant. It is a first-generation synthetic cytokinin that elicits plant growth and development responses, setting blossoms and stimulating fruit richness by stimulating cell division. It is an inhibitor of respiratory kinase in plants. Gibberellin is a plant hormone found in seeds, young leaves and roots that cause excessive growth.

Strawberry is the fruit that starts bearing fruit within one year of planting. It does not take years to bear fruits which means it starts fruiting the year it is planted or grown from seeds. Fruit is typically ready for harvesting 4 - 6 weeks after blossoming. Strawberry fruit is considered an ‘accessory fruit’ and is not a true berry.

Fruits are blanched before canning at 80°C. Blanching foods helps reduce quality loss over time. Blanching is scalding vegetables and fruits in boiling water or steam for a short time. It is typically followed by quick, thorough cooling in very cold or ice water. Blanching stops enzyme actions which otherwise cause loss of flavour, colour and texture.

In 1900, the potato moth came into India (Bombay) from Italy. By the mid 1900s, potato moths became widely distributed in all potato regions in India. A potato moth is scientifically known as Phthorimaea opercula. It is an oligophagous insect that feeds on the plant family Solanaceae. Potato tuber moth larvae are known for feeding on the tubers, roots and foliage of potato plants.

Treatment to get rid of fruit flies in mango is VHT. VHT is the vapour heat treatment system for steadily killing eggs and larvae of fruit flies parasite inside the fruit with vapour and heat without injuring fresh fruits. This machine is capable of sterilization of a large volume of fresh fruit per use.

In India, the black soil is mostly found in Maharashtra state. Black soil is the black coloured soil containing a high percentage of humus (4% - 16%) and high percentages of phosphoric acids, phosphorus and ammonia. These are very fertile soil and can produce high agricultural yields with their high moisture storage capacity.

Jasmine sambac is Arabian jasmine . It is a climbing, evergreen, shrub in the Oleaceae family, native to tropical parts of Asia. It is probably native to India or Southeast Asia where it is a broadleaf evergreen shrub. It is known for its continuous production of fragrant flowers during the warmer months of the year, jasmine plants are popular picks for the home and garden.

The Irish famine was caused by Phytophthora . Irish famine is also known as the Great Irish famine, which occurred in Ireland in 1845 - 49 when the potato crop failed in successive years. The crop failures were caused by late blight, a disease that destroys both the leaves and the edible roots, or tubers, of the potato plant. The causative agent of late blight is the water mold Phytophthora infestans .

Auxin is the plant hormone that promotes the mechanism of apical dominance in plants. It promotes apical dominance by suppressing the activity of lateral buds. Auxins are a group of naturally occurring and artificially synthesized plant hormones and play an important role in the regulation of plant growth. Auxin means ‘to enlarge’ and enhances cell division, elongation and differentiation, embryonic development, apical dominance and transition to flowering.

The pungent flavor in Radish is due to the presence of Isothiocyanates . Isothiocyanates are the chemical group formed by substituting the oxygen in the isocyanate group with a Sulphur. It is the chemical group formed by substituting the oxygen in the isocyanate group with a Sulphur. Naturally, it is produced by enzymatic action and conversion of metabolites called glucosinolates. It is produced in cruciferous vegetables, like bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, kale, etc.

Pusa Uphar is the variety of tomato among the given options that are resistant to fruit borer. The variety developed at IARI, plants are indeterminate, erect thick-stemmed with dark green foliage. Fruit borer is a serious pest of tomato as it reduces yield by up to 40%. The young are greenish to brown, with dark lines about the size of half of the finger. Adult females are yellow moths with dark brown spots on their wings. Larvae feed on the leaves and later make holes in the fruit which can be up to the size of a pea.

Marigold originated in Mexico . Both types of marigold whether it is French or African are indigenous to Mexico and Guatemala. They were discovered in the early 16 th century and brought to Europe and Northern Africa in the late 16 th century where they were quickly adopted into gardens. Marigold was originally flowers of the calendula family, also brightly colored in shades of orange and yellow.

Diara's method of cultivation is followed in Cucurbits vegetable crops. The Cucurbitaceae, also called the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera. Squash, Pumpkin, Zucchini, etc. belongs to this family. Diara land farming or riverbed cultivation is the very old practice of growing vegetables on the bank or basin of the river after when flood level receded. The Diara lands are formed and subjected to alluvion and diluvion action.

Riceyness is a premature initiation of floral buds in cauliflower characterized by riceyness. In this case, the peduncle elongates and the curd becomes granular and loose. Curds of the flowers become loose, velvety, appearance, elongation of pedicel and formation of small white flower bud at the curdling stage. the main factor responsible for this is the fluctuation of temperature.

Cymbopogon flexuosus is East Indian lemongrass or Malabar grass. It is a perennial grass native to India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand. Its essential oil is produced by steam distillation of the freshly cut leaves, or it can be extracted using alcohol. Its oil is believed to possess therapeutic properties.

Pragati is the variety of brinjal developed crossing between Vaishali and Manjari Gota released in 1988. It is an improved version of Vaishali. Plant type is semi-erect and bushy, fruit colour is purple and shape oval. Plants are hardy and resistant to lodging. Duration is 180 - 190 days and the average yield is 350 quintals per hectare.

Gerbera variety suitable for cultivation under open conditions is Arka Krishika. It has a stalk length of 39 cm and produces yellow colored double types, 3 - 6 flowers per plant. It is suited for open-grown conditions and used for cut flowers and flower decoration. Gerbera flowers are extensively distributed at heights of 1300 to 3200 meters. They grow well in states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and other Himalayan regions.

The yellow colour in the onion is due to the pigment Quercetin . Quercetin is the pigment that adds colour to many fruits and vegetables. It is found mainly in the skins and leaves of the plant. Its production is stimulated by the impact of light. It is a powerful antioxidant. The total content of quercetin in Onion is 300 mg/kg, which is considerably higher than in many other fruits and vegetables.

Blue mold rot in Citrus fruits is caused by Penicillium italicum . The species that most commonly cause postharvest spoilage of citrus fruit. The fungi gain entry if the fruit is damaged during handling and storage and then decay can spread from fruit to fruit. Blue mold and green mold are the primary post-harvest pathogen of citrus, and there are few effective control measures for sour rot, sour rot could be controlled by a low-temperature environment, but the chilling injury still causes major bottlenecks.

Panama disease of bananas is prevented by the application of lime to the soil. Panama disease is a wilting disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum . The pathogen is resistant to fungicides and its control is limited to phytosanitary measures. Panama disease is one of the most destructive plant diseases of modern times.

Plant Anupama, Arka Komal and Blue Lake are the varieties of French beans. French bean is one of the most popular and widely grown vegetables in India. The green immature pods are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The French bean varieties are classified into two groups that are, Dwarf or bush types and climbing or pole types. Arka Komal is the variety mostly grown in hilly as well as the plain region of Tamil Nadu. Plants are erect and bushy. Plant Anupama was obtained through selection in germplasm lines maintained at GBPUAT, Pantnagar. The plants are dwarf with dark green foliage.

The edible part of the onion is bulb shaped is a modified stem. It is a hardy cool-season biennial but usually grown as an annual crop. Garlic is a clove which means one bulb is made up of many individual lobes that are also covered in papery skin, and each lobe is a clove of garlic. The edible part of sweet potato is the root which is also called a tuber, storage root of the plant, or an enlarged lateral root. The edible part of cauliflower is the white flesh head part but that is known as curd. Curd is composed of a white inflorescence meristem.

A naturally sourced anti-biotic used in canning is NISIN. Nisin is used in canned foods mainly for the control of thermophilic spoilage. It is a natural preservative for many food products. This Bacteriocin is mainly used in dairy and meat products. It inhibits pathogenic food-borne bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes and many other Gram-positive food spoilage microorganisms.

Vaccum cooling is chiefly employed in Leafy vegetables. Vaccum cooling is a rapid cooling technique for any porous product that has free water and works on the principle of evaporative cooling. Vaccum cooling is generally used for cooling food products having a high water content and large porosities, due to its efficacy in losing water from both within and outside the products.

India is the prime producer of fenugreek in the world. The production of fenugreek in India is marked by its dominant position in world production and export. Rajasthan alone produces more than 80% fenugreek of the country followed by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttaranchal. In Rajasthan, which accounts for a significant majority of India's output, the crop is mainly grown during the winter season. It is cultivated in more than 1.57 lakh hectares area with a production of 1.9 lac tonnes.

Cleavage type of polyembryony is seen in Coconut . The separation of embryonal cells is followed by the development of each of them into potential embryos. Cleavage polyembryony occurs when a young embryo or zygote divides into two or more units. This is known as cleavage of zygote or budding. These units eventually develop or mature into independent embryos. It is common in gymnosperms and comparatively rare in angiosperms.

Pusa Phalguni, Pusa Barsati, Pusa-do fasli and Pusa Rituraj are the improved varieties of Cowpea . It is an annual herbaceous legume and is an important crop in semi-arid regions. The crop is mainly grown for its seeds, which are high in protein and also for forage. Pusa phalguni is the Dwarf variety that matures in 60 days. It is suitable for February- March sowing. Its yield is 5-10 t/ha. Pusa barsati is suitable to grow in the rainy season and the yield is 9 - 9.5 t/ha. Pusa Dofaslu is photosensitive and its yield is 7.5 - 8 t/ha. Pusa Rituraj is a Bushy variety with 22 - 25 cm long and thin pods. Its yield is 8 - 10 t/ha.

A variety of gladiolus developed by Irradiation mutation is Shobha . This variety is released by IIHR, Bangalore. It is an induced mutant of var. 'Wild Rose'. It is an early flowering variety, which flowers 60 days after planting. The effect of gamma irradiation on growth and floral characters of gladiolus varieties during winters.

Pusa Meghdoot is the cultivar among the following that belongs to bottle gourd. This variety of Bottle gourd can be grown in a wide range of soils. But it thrives well in sandy loam soils. The land or main field should be prepared thoroughly by six to seven ploughings and the pH range in soil should be from 6.5 to 7.5 in bottle gourd cultivation. It requires good drainage with a hot and moist climate for its cultivation.

Pyrethrin is extracted from flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium . The pyrethrins are a class of organic compounds normally derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium that have potent insecticidal activity by targeting the nervous systems of insects. Pyrethrin naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers and is often considered an organic insecticide when it is not combined with piperonyl butoxide or other synthetic adjuvants.

Jobner Green is a high-yielding variety of Indian Spinach (beet leaf). This was developed at the Jobner campus of the University of Udaipur by selection from a spontaneous mutation detected in a local collection. It produces green, large, thick and tender leaves with a strong flavour having an entire margin. It is a high yielder and gives an average yield of 30 tonnes/ha.

The sex form in betel vine is Dioecious which means both male and female clones are cultivated based on local preference. Sex determination in this crop is not readily possible as flowering in both sexes is observed in specific regions of the country. It is a perennial evergreen creeper.

Seed longevity is defined as seed viability after seed dry storage and therefore describes the total seed life span. This storability period includes both the dormant and non-dormant states. Seed longevity of lettuce is 6 years. Seed longevity of cucumber is 5 years. Seed longevity of onion is 1 year. Seed longevity of okra is 2 years.

Vitamin abundantly found in rose hips is Vitamin C . Rosehip is part of the fruit that grows on the blossom of a wild rose called Rosa canina. This rose grows mostly in Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. Rosehips are packed full of vitamin C, E and other antioxidants, minerals and polyphenols. This pseudo fruit exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and antiobesogenic activities.

Sylvia is a variety of an edible-podded variety of Pea. It is an introduced variety from Sweden. Plants are tall; the first blossom appears at the 14 th to 16 th node after 60 days of sowing. Pods are borne singly, yellowish in colour, long (12 cm) and curved without parchment-type pericarp. Pods are sweet and have the general appearance of a medium-sized French bean pod.

Pusa Urmi and Pusa Shreya are the latest varieties of Ash gourd grown for commercial cultivation. Both of these varieties are developed at IARI, New Delhi and are tolerant to cucumber mosaic virus and watermelon mosaic virus. The fruits of Pusa Urmi are oblong-ellipsoid with greenish-white rind and white flesh. The average fruit weight is 10 kg and the average number of fruits per plant is 4.6 with an average yield of 47.5 tonnes/ha. The fruits of Pusa Shreyali are elliptical-oval with green rind and the average fruit weight is 9 kg and 4.10 fruits per plant with an average yield of 41.6 tonnes/ha.

The Netherlands is the country that ranked 1 st in the export of floricultural products in the world. It is the major flower exporter on the world market. The top ten major flower-producing countries in the world in 2018 are The Netherland (52%), Columbia (15%), Ecuador (9%), Kenya (7%), Belgium (3%), Ethiopia (2%), Malaysia, Italy, Germany, Israel (1%) of global market share. Floriculture is a specialized branch of horticulture that deals with the commercial production of cut flowers, loose flowers, cut greens, seeds, bulbs, landscape plants, their marketing and production of value-added products from them.

Potatoes are low in protein, ranging from 1 - 2% when fresh and 8 - 9% by dry weight. The major protein found in protein is Patatin, also known as tuberin. Potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum ) are characterized by a large starch content, which supplies energy and by the presence of many nutritionally beneficial components such as proteins, fibres, vitamins and organic acids.

Azad P-1, Azad P-3 and Chanchal are varieties of pea whereas Madhu is the variety of musk melon. Peas are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin E and protein. It requires a cool season that cannot survive in a hot climate in India. Azad P-3 is one of the best varieties of peas. Azad P-1 is highly susceptible to powdery mildew, it shows desirable pod characteristics like medium, long and lush-green.

In 1883 late blight of potato was advertently introduced in India from Europe. Irish famine also known as the Great Irish famine, occurred in Ireland in 1845 - 49 when the potato crop failed in successive years. The crop failures were caused by late blight, a disease that destroys both the leaves and the edible roots, or tubers, of the potato plant. The causative agent of late blight is the water mold Phytophthora infestans .