Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyCell Theory & Discovery
Who were the scientists who proposed the original cell theory in the 19th century?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann)
Matthias Schleiden (German botanist, 1838) and Theodor Schwann (German zoologist, 1839) originally formulated the classical Cell Theory, stating that all living organisms are composed of one or more cells and that the cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life.
Q2
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyMolecular Genetics & DNA
What field of study experienced exponential growth after Watson and Crick's discovery in 1953?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Nucleic acid biochemistry)
The discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 catalyzed exponential growth in nucleic acid biochemistry and molecular genetics, laying the foundation for modern biotechnology and recombinant DNA technology.
Which of the following statements about starch is true?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (It is a storage polysaccharide made of glucose units.)
Starch is the principal energy storage polysaccharide in plants. It is composed of D-glucose monomers linked by alpha-glycosidic bonds, existing as two components: linear amylose (alpha-1,4 linkages) and branched amylopectin (alpha-1,4 linkages with alpha-1,6 branch points).
Which of the following are examples of homopolysaccharides? I. Starch II. Cellulose III. Glycogen IV. Chitin V. Inulin Choose the correct option:
💡Correct Answer: Option B (I, II, III, IV, and V)
All five compounds are homopolysaccharides (polymers consisting of a single repeating monosaccharide unit): - Starch, Cellulose, and Glycogen are homopolymers of D-glucose. - Chitin is a homopolymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). - Inulin is a homopolymer of D-fructose. Therefore, I, II, III, IV, and V are all correct.
Which of the following is not a structural polysaccharide?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Starch)
Starch is an energy storage polysaccharide in plants. In contrast, cellulose, hemicellulose, and chitin are structural polysaccharides that provide physical rigidity and mechanical strength to cell walls and fungal/arthropod exoskeletons.
Chitin is a structural polysaccharide made up of repeating units of:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (N-acetyl glucosamine)
Chitin is a long-chain unbranched nitrogenous polysaccharide consisting of repeating units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (an amide derivative of glucose) joined by beta-(1->4) glycosidic bonds.
The shikimate pathway is a 7-step metabolic route used by bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants for the biosynthesis of folates and aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan). It is completely absent in animals, making these amino acids essential dietary nutrients for them.
Which of the following is not an example of an alkaloid?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Starch)
Starch is a carbohydrate (polysaccharide). Caffeine (purine alkaloid), reserpine (indole alkaloid from Rauwolfia), and morphine (isoquinoline/phenanthrene alkaloid from Papaver) are typical nitrogenous secondary plant metabolites known as alkaloids.
Q9
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyPlant Water Relations
What is the symplastic pathway in plants?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Movement of water through plasmodesmata from one cell to another)
The symplastic pathway (symplast) involves the continuous movement of water and dissolved solutes through the living protoplasm of interconnected plant cells via cytoplasmic bridges called plasmodesmata. (Movement through cell walls and intercellular spaces is the apoplastic pathway).
Q10
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyPlant Water Relations
Which of the following is not an example of an antitranspirant?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Glucose)
Antitranspirants are materials applied to plant foliage to reduce water loss via transpiration without hindering photosynthesis. Film-forming antitranspirants include colorless plastic films, silicone oils, and waxes. Glucose is a primary carbohydrate solute and nutrient, not an antitranspirant.
Besides vitamin C, citrus fruits are an important dietary source of:
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Folate)
Citrus fruits (such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons) are renowned for high concentrations of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and are also a rich dietary source of Folate (Vitamin B9), potassium, and soluble dietary fiber (pectin), while having negligible fat and protein.
In which year was the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) launched?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (2015)
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched on 1st July 2015 with the overarching vision of extending irrigation coverage ('Har Khet Ko Pani') and improving water use efficiency ('More Crop Per Drop').
Spongy tissue disorder is specifically found in which variety of mango?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Alphonso)
Spongy tissue is a major, specific physiological ripening disorder that severely affects the prized 'Alphonso' (Hapus) mango variety, caused by convective heat emitted from the soil during high summer, leading to non-edible sour, spongy pulp breakdown around the stone.
Q14
Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest TechnologyPomology & Fruit Cultivars
The Cox Orange Pippin is a variety of which fruit?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Apple)
Cox's Orange Pippin is an English heritage dessert apple (Malus domestica) cultivar, first raised from seed in 1825 by Richard Cox in Buckinghamshire, prized for its complex, aromatic, and rich flavor.
Q15
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionTemperate Fruit Pathology
What is Apple Scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (A fungal disease causing dark, scabby lesions on apple leaves and fruits)
Apple Scab is a destructive fungal disease caused by the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis. It produces dull olive-green to black velvety and scabby lesions on leaves, blossoms, and developing fruits, severely affecting commercial fruit yield and quality in temperate zones like Jammu & Kashmir.
Q16
Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest TechnologyPomology & Origin of Crops
Where is the origin of the banana?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Southeast Asia)
Cultivated bananas (Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana) originated in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Malaysian archipelago, where wild diploid seeded ancestors were first domesticated and selected for parthenocarpy.
The mango hybrid 'Arkapuneet' is developed by crossing which two mango varieties?
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Alphonso x Kesar)
Arka Puneet is a prominent mango hybrid developed at ICAR-IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru) from a cross between Alphonso and Banganapalli (or Alphonso x Kesar parentage lines), yielding regular-bearing fruits free from spongy tissue.
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Pseudomonas solanacearum)
Moko wilt (bacterial wilt of banana) is caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas solanacearum (now classified as Ralstonia solanacearum race 2). Panama wilt is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.
'Black Tip' is a physiological disorder commonly found in which fruit?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Mango)
Black Tip (also called mango necrosis) is a physiological disorder in mango fruits caused by exposure to poisonous fumes (sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ethylene) emanating from brick kilns located within a radius of 1-2 km of the orchard.
'Blossom End Rot' is a physiological disorder commonly observed in which crop?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Tomato)
Blossom End Rot (BER) is a common physiological disorder in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) caused by localized Calcium deficiency in the distal placental tissues of the fruit, exacerbated by irregular soil moisture and rapid vegetative growth.
Q22
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionEntomology & Pest Management
The fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) is a major pest of which crop?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Brinjal)
Leucinodes orbonalis (Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer / BSFB) is the most economically destructive pest of eggplant/brinjal, where larvae bore into tender terminal shoots during vegetative growth and bore into fruits during fruiting.
Cross-pollination in brinjal occurs mainly due to which of the following reasons?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Heteromorphic flower structure and pollination by honey bees and bumble bees)
Although brinjal is predominantly self-pollinated, up to 30-40% cross-pollination occurs due to heterostyly (heteromorphic flower structure with long, medium, pseudoshort, and short styles) and active insect foraging by honey bees and bumble bees.
Which of the following are not cucurbitaceous crops? I. Watermelon II. Pumpkin III. Muskmelon IV. Chow-chow Choose the correct option:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (None of the above)
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), Muskmelon (Cucumis melo), and Chow-chow / Chayote (Sechium edule) ALL belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. Therefore, 'None of the above' are non-cucurbitaceous crops (all are cucurbits).
Match the following scientific names with their common crop names: Scientific Name: i. Pisum sativum ii. Glycine max iii. Cucumis melo var. conomon iv. Phaseolus vulgaris Common Name: 1. French bean 2. Oriental pickling melon 3. Soybean 4. Pea Options:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (i-4, ii-3, iii-2, iv-1)
Correct botanical matches: - i. Pisum sativum = Pea (4) - ii. Glycine max = Soybean (3) - iii. Cucumis melo var. conomon = Oriental pickling melon (2) - iv. Phaseolus vulgaris = French bean (1) This yields the combination: i-4, ii-3, iii-2, iv-1.
💡Correct Answer: Option C (The method of growing crops in soil-less media using nutrient solutions)
Hydroponics is the science and technique of growing plants without soil, utilizing an inert substrate (like gravel, perlite, or rockwool) or liquid culture supplied with a balanced aqueous mineral nutrient solution.
Which one of the following is a perennial vegetable?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Ivy gourd)
Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis / Kundru) is a dioecious, perennial cucurbit vine that remains productive for 4 to 5 years. Tomato, potato, and bitter gourd are cultivated as seasonal annual crops.
Where is the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) located?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
The ICAR - Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) is located at Jakhini, Shahanshahpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It was established to spearhead vegetable research in India.
Q29
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologySpices Breeding & Cultivars
The coriander variety 'Arka Isha' was released from which research station?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore)
Arka Isha is a high-yielding, multi-cut leafy coriander (Coriandrum sativum) variety bred and released by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hessaraghatta, Bengaluru.
The edible economic part of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is the 'Curd', which is a pre-floral fleshy apical meristematic mass. (In cabbage, it is termed the 'Head').
Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) is located at:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Ludhiana)
The ICAR - Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) was established on 29 December 1989 at Ludhiana, Punjab, with an additional campus at Abohar.
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)
APEDA stands for Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, a statutory body established under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry by an Act of Parliament in 1985.
Exposure of potato tubers to natural or artificial light during growth or storage triggers the synthesis of chlorophyll, accompanied by the accumulation of bitter, toxic glycoalkaloids (primarily alpha-solanine and chaconine).
Field heat is the sensible heat contained within freshly harvested horticultural produce immediately upon harvest from the field, which must be rapidly removed by precooling to reduce respiration and spoilage.
Which of the following is not a surface irrigation method?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Typhoon irrigation)
Typhoon irrigation is a localized drip / micro-irrigation system utilizing thin-walled perforated drip tubes (often used for sugarcane or row crops). Furrow, border, and surge irrigation are surface gravity irrigation methods.
Q36
Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest TechnologyPomology & Harvest Indices
Tapka stage (when mature fruits start dropping) is related to:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Mango)
In mango (Mangifera indica), the 'Tapka' stage refers to the stage of tree maturity when ripe fruits naturally begin to drop onto the ground, signaling the optimal harvesting stage for fruit picking.
A Tenderometer is a precision mechanical instrument used to measure the tenderness and maturity of fresh peas and other vegetables by measuring the force required to shear the sample through a grid.
According to food preservation standards (FSSAI / FPO), Class I preservatives are natural preservatives (such as common salt, sugar, dextrose, glucose, wood smoke, spices, vinegar, and honey) which can be added without legal limitation.
Gaseous SO2 is incorporated in food by a process called:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Sulphuring)
Sulphuring refers specifically to the process of exposing solid food products (such as cut fruits, apricots, and raisins) to the fumes of burning elemental sulfur (releasing gaseous SO2) inside a closed chamber. (Dissolving sulfites in liquids is sulphitation).
Which is the most energy efficient and economical cooling method:
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Hydro cooling)
Hydro-cooling is widely recognized as the most energy-efficient, rapid, and economical precooling method for many fruits and vegetables due to water's high thermal conductivity and high specific heat capacity compared to air.
Q41
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyMicrobiology History
Who first observed bacteria under a microscope in the year 1683?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Anton van Leeuwenhoek)
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first observed and accurately documented live bacteria (which he called 'animalcules') from dental scrapings in 1683 using his handcrafted single-lens microscopes.
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Eukaryotic, achlorophyllous organisms)
Fungi are defined as eukaryotic, heterotrophic, achlorophyllous (lacking chlorophyll) organisms with absorptive nutrition and cell walls typically composed of chitin and glucans.
What types of nucleic acids are present in phytoplasma?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Both DNA and RNA)
Phytoplasmas are specialized, wall-less bacterial plant pathogens (class Mollicutes) that inhabit phloem sieve tubes. Like all true cellular prokaryotes, they contain both DNA (circular genomic DNA) and RNA (ribosomal, transfer, and messenger RNA).
Banana Streak Virus (BSV) belongs to which type of virus?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Bacilliform)
Banana Streak Virus (BSV) belongs to the genus Badnavirus (family Caulimoviridae). Badnaviruses are non-enveloped, bacilliform (rod-shaped with rounded ends) viruses with circular double-stranded DNA genomes.
What type of pathogen causes the Bunchy Top disease in banana plants?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Virus)
Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) is caused by the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a single-stranded circular DNA virus (genus Babuvirus, family Nanoviridae), transmitted persistently by the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa.
Q46
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionFungicides & Chemical Control
Which of the following are common trade names of the fungicide Copper Oxychloride (COC)?
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Blitox, Fytolan, Cupravit,)
Blitox 50 WP, Fytolan, and Cupravit are well-known commercial brand names of the broad-spectrum inorganic contact fungicide Copper Oxychloride (COC 50% WP).
Q47
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionFungicide History & Formulations
Match the following: i. Bordeaux Mixture - 1. Singh (1942) ii. Burgundy Mixture - 2. Millardet iii. Cheshunt Compound - 3. Bewley, 1921 iv. Chaubattia Paste - 4. "Soda Bordeaux" Options:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (i-2, ii-4, iii-3, iv-1)
Historical plant pathology matches: - i. Bordeaux Mixture -> Discovered by P.M.A. Millardet in 1885 (2) - ii. Burgundy Mixture -> Prepared with sodium carbonate, known as 'Soda Bordeaux' (4) - iii. Cheshunt Compound -> Formulated by W.F. Bewley in 1921 for damping-off (3) - iv. Chaubattia Paste -> Formulated by U.B. Singh in 1942 in Uttarakhand for wound treatment (1) Thus: i-2, ii-4, iii-3, iv-1.
The ooze test is commonly used in plant pathology to detect which type of pathogen?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Bacterial pathogens)
The bacterial ooze test is a classical rapid diagnostic technique in plant pathology: placing a freshly cut section of infected vascular stem tissue in clean water causes streams of milky white bacterial cells and slime to stream (ooze) out from xylem vessels.
Which of the following is used as a soil fumigant?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Methyl Bromide)
Methyl Bromide is a volatile, heavy gaseous halogenated hydrocarbon used extensively as a broad-spectrum soil fumigant to eradicate soil-borne fungi, nematodes, insects, and weed seeds before planting high-value crops.
Which group of bacteria is identified using the LOPAT test?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Fluorescent Pseudomonas)
The LOPAT scheme (Levan production, Oxidase test, Pectolytic activity on potato, Arginine dihydrolase, and Tobacco hypersensitivity) was devised by Lelliott et al. (1966) to differentiate and classify plant-pathogenic fluorescent Pseudomonas species.
What is called for a naked obtect pupa of a butterfly?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Chrysalis)
The naked, exposed obtect pupa of a butterfly (family Papilionoidea), which lacks a silken protective cocoon and is attached to a substrate by a cremaster and silk girdle, is called a Chrysalis.
Scurvy is a nutritional deficiency disease caused by a severe lack of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is required as a cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase enzymes in collagen synthesis.
Which of the following are byproducts from beehive? I. Beeswax II. Royal Jelly III. Pollen IV. Propolis Choose the correct option:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (All of the above)
Commercial apiculture yields multiple valuable hive products and byproducts: - Beeswax (secreted by abdominal wax glands) - Royal Jelly (secreted by hypopharyngeal glands of nurse bees) - Bee Pollen (collected from flowers) - Propolis (bee glue collected from plant resins) Thus, All of the above are byproducts from a beehive.
Knapsack, Rocker sprayers are examples of which type of sprayer?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (High-volume sprayer)
Knapsack sprayers and Rocker sprayers discharge dilute chemical solutions at high application rates (typically greater than 400 liters per hectare), categorizing them as High-Volume sprayers.
Which type of pesticide is used to kill/control the eggs of insects?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Ovicide)
An ovicide is a chemical agent or pesticide specially formulated to kill or prevent the development of insect or mite eggs.
Q56
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionRodent Control & Chemicals
Zinc phosphide is commonly used as ______:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Rodenticide)
Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) is an acute single-dose inorganic rodenticide widely used in poisoned baits to control field and storage rats, mice, and other rodent pests.
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane)
DDT stands for Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, an organochlorine insecticide first synthesized in 1874 by Othmar Zeidler whose insecticidal action was discovered by Paul Hermann Müller in 1939.
Q58
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionAcarology & Pest Control
Acaricides are pesticides specifically used for the control of:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Mites)
Acaricides (also called miticides) are specialized pesticides designed to kill members of the subclass Acari, which encompasses mites and ticks.
What is the toxicity label color used for highly toxic pesticides in India?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Yellow)
In India, as per the Insecticides Rules (1971) and CIBRC color codes for hazard categorization: - Extremely Toxic: Bright Red (Category I) - Highly Toxic: Bright Yellow (Category II) - Moderately Toxic: Bright Blue (Category III) - Slightly Toxic: Bright Green (Category IV) Thus, the color code for 'Highly Toxic' is Yellow.
In pesticide formulations, the abbreviation "EC" stands for:
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Emulsifiable Concentrate)
In agrochemical pesticide formulations, 'EC' stands for Emulsifiable Concentrate, a liquid homogeneous solution of active ingredient and emulsifier in organic solvent that forms a spontaneous milky emulsion upon dilution with water.
The instrument used for the analysis of micronutrients in soil is:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS))
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) is the standard analytical laboratory instrument used for sensitive, accurate quantification of soil and plant micronutrient cations such as Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), and Copper (Cu).
Q62
Soil Science, Plant Nutrition & Agricultural MeteorologySoil Chemical Analysis
Which indicator is used for Ca (Calcium) analysis in soil?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Murexide)
Murexide (ammonium purpurate) is the specific metallochromic indicator used in EDTA titrations of Calcium alone at high alkalinity (pH 12 to 12.5 achieved with NaOH). Eriochrome Black T is used at pH 10 to measure total Ca + Mg.
Which method is used for the estimation of phosphorus (P) in acidic soils?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Bray's Method)
Bray's No. 1 method (extractant: 0.03 N NH4F + 0.025 N HCl) is standardly used for estimating available phosphorus in acidic soils (pH < 6.5). Olsen's 0.5 M NaHCO3 method is used for neutral to alkaline soils.
Which micronutrients are not available in acidic conditions?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Molybdenum and Boron)
Unlike cationic micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) whose solubility and availability increase under acidic conditions, Molybdenum (an anionic micronutrient, MoO4^2-) forms insoluble complexes with iron and aluminum hydrous oxides at low pH, making it unavailable in acidic soils. Boron also suffers leaching losses.
Clay soil has the highest total porosity (typically 50% to 60% total pore space) because of its immense number of minute micropores, whereas sandy soil has a lower total porosity (35% to 45%) despite having larger individual macropores.
Soil texture (the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles smaller than 2 mm) is an inherent, unchangeable, permanent physical property of soil that cannot be significantly modified by ordinary agricultural operations. Moisture, structure, and temperature change continuously.
The extractant used for P analysis in the Olsen method is:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (NaHCO3)
The Olsen method uses 0.5 M Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) solution buffered at pH 8.5 as the extractant to determine plant-available phosphorus in neutral, calcareous, and alkaline soils.
The Flame Photometer is the primary optical instrument used in routine soil testing laboratories for determining available Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) by measuring atomic emission at 766.5 nm upon aspiration into a flame.
Q70
Soil Science, Plant Nutrition & Agricultural MeteorologySoil Water Physics
Capillary water is held in:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Micro pores of soil)
Capillary water is held by surface tension and cohesive forces in the micropores of the soil against gravitational drainage (between field capacity and permanent wilting point), serving as the main source of water absorbed by plant roots.
Choose the correct option for an example of a formal style garden:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (All of the above)
Formal style gardens are characterized by strict symmetry, geometric patterns, straight axial pathways, fountains, canals, and clipped hedges. Mughal gardens, Italian Renaissance gardens, and French formal gardens (like Versailles) are classic examples of formal style.
Q72
Floriculture, Ornamental Gardening & Landscape ArchitectureFloriculture Cultivars
Which of the following is not a variety of Gerbera:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Agnihotri)
'Agnihotri' is a known cultivar of Gladiolus (developed by NBRI). Ruby Red, Savannah, and Golden Gate are standard commercial cultivars of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii).
Match the following: i) Tropical zone orchid - 1. Habenaria ii) Temperate zone orchid - 2. Cymbidium iii) Subtropical zone orchid - 3. Vanda iv) Alpine zone orchid - 4. Bulbophyllum Choose the correct option:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (i-3, ii-4, iii-2, iv-1)
Orchid ecological zone distribution: - i. Tropical zone orchid = Vanda (warm monopodial epiphytes) (3) - ii. Temperate zone orchid = Cymbidium / Bulbophyllum (Cymbidium thrives in cool hills, Bulbophyllum in subtropical/temperate) (4/2) - iii. Subtropical zone orchid = Cymbidium (2) - iv. Alpine / Terrestrial zone orchid = Habenaria (ground terrestrial orchids extending into high alpine meadows) (1) This yields combination: i-3, ii-4, iii-2, iv-1.
India's first and the only Digital Flower Auction Centre is located at:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
India's first and only Digital Flower Auction Centre was established by the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, providing an automated electronic Dutch auction clock system.
Leading country in export and import of floricultural products:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Netherlands)
The Netherlands is the undisputed global hub and leading country in the international floriculture trade, accounting for over 45% of total worldwide exports and imports of cut flowers and potted plants, anchored by the Royal FloraHolland auction.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium / Guldaudi) is traditionally crowned the 'Queen of the East' (as well as 'Autumn Queen'). The Rose is called the 'Queen of Flowers'.
In classical angiosperm taxonomy, Asteraceae (Compositae, the sunflower and daisy family) is the largest and most ecologically widespread family of dicotyledonous flowering plants, comprising over 1,600 genera and more than 32,000 recognized species.
Which of the following is not a principle of design?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Sunlight)
The essential aesthetic principles of landscape and garden design are Balance, Proportion, Scale, Rhythm, Focal Point, and Unity. Sunlight is an environmental/ecological growth factor, not an artistic design principle.
Q79
Floriculture, Ornamental Gardening & Landscape ArchitectureFlower Arrangement Art
Name of Japanese art of flower arrangement:
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Ikebana)
Ikebana (literally 'making flowers alive' or 'arranging flowers') is the disciplined traditional Japanese art of floral arrangement, emphasizing line, minimalism, and harmony with nature. (Bonsai is dwarfing of trees).
Brown patch is a common and destructive foliar disease of turfgrass lawns caused by the soil-borne rhizoctonia fungus Rhizoctonia solani, particularly active during hot, humid summer conditions.
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Drosophila melanogaster)
Pseudoalleles (closely linked genes that mimic alleles by having similar phenotypic effects but can be recombined by rare crossing over, such as the lozenge and bithorax loci) were discovered and extensively studied in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Q82
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyHistory of Genetics
The term gene was coined by:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Wilhelm Johannsen)
Danish botanist and geneticist Wilhelm Johannsen coined the terms 'Gene' (1909), 'Genotype', and 'Phenotype' to replace Mendel's term 'element' or 'factor'.
In which year was IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) created?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (1972)
IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, now IFOAM - Organics International) was founded on 5 November 1972 in Versailles, France, during an international conference convened by Roland Chevriot.
Who is known as the father of plant tissue culture?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Gottlieb Haberlandt)
Austrian botanist Gottlieb Haberlandt is universally regarded as the 'Father of Plant Tissue Culture' because in 1902 he first conceived the concept of cellular totipotency and cultivated isolated vegetative plant cells in synthetic media.
Q85
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyPlant Tissue Culture Media
Which is the most extensively used basal media in plant tissue culture?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Murashige and Skoog medium)
Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, formulated by Toshio Murashige and Folke K. Skoog in 1962 during tobacco tissue culture research, is by far the most widely used basal nutrient medium in plant micropropagation due to its high concentration of inorganic salts.
Balbiani rings are found in which of the following:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Polytene chromosomes)
Balbiani rings are exceptionally large, active RNA-synthesizing chromosomal puffs found on giant polytene chromosomes (salivary gland chromosomes) of dipteran insects such as Chironomus and Drosophila, first described by Édouard-Gérard Balbiani in 1881.
Climate refers to the long-term statistical pattern, mean, and variability of weather conditions in a given region over an extended period of time (conventionally standardized as 30 years or more by WMO), whereas weather describes short-term daily conditions.
Principles of mercury barometers was discovered by:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Torricelli)
Italian physicist and mathematician Evangelista Torricelli invented the mercury barometer in 1643, demonstrating that atmospheric air exerts pressure capable of supporting a 76 cm column of mercury in an inverted tube.
Instrument used for measuring wind velocity is known as:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Anemometer)
An Anemometer (specifically a cup anemometer) is an instrument used to measure wind speed and velocity. (Pyranometers measure solar radiation; altimeters measure altitude; hydrometers measure liquid specific gravity).
National Horticulture Mission (NHM) was started in:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (2005-06)
The National Horticulture Mission (NHM), a centrally sponsored scheme to promote the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, spices, and flowers, was launched in the financial year 2005-06 during the 10th Five-Year Plan.
Q91
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologySoil & Water Conservation
What are the components of a water harvesting system?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (All of the above)
A complete water harvesting system integrates four key functional components: the catchment area (which captures and produces surface runoff), conveyance systems, a storage facility (tank, pond, or underground cistern), and the command / recharge area (where harvested water is utilized).
💡Correct Answer: Option A (The process of using living organisms to clean up or reduce environmental pollution.)
Bioremediation is a sustainable biotechnology process that uses living biological organisms (primarily bacteria, fungi, or green plants) to neutralize, degrade, or remove hazardous environmental pollutants and toxic contaminants from soil, water, and waste sites.
Q93
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologySoil & Water Conservation
Contour bunding is adopted in areas having a slope up to:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (6%)
In soil and water conservation engineering, contour bunding (constructing narrow earthen embankments along contours) is recommended for agricultural lands in low to moderate rainfall areas with land slopes up to 6%. For steeper slopes, graded bunding or bench terracing is practiced.
Q94
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologyIrrigation Systems & Engineering
Which method of irrigation is most suitable for sandy soil and shallow land where land levelling is not possible?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Sprinkler irrigation)
Sprinkler irrigation is the most suitable method for undulating, rolling topography and highly permeable sandy soils where surface land leveling is impractical or would strip topsoil, as it applies water uniformly in the form of spray mimicking natural rainfall.
In which type of area is sub-irrigation most suitable?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Areas with high water table)
Sub-irrigation (subsurface irrigation) operates by artificially raising and regulating the groundwater table beneath the plant root zone, requiring an impermeable subsurface layer and an area with a naturally high water table and flat topography.
Q96
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologyCrop Water Requirements
The quantity of irrigation water required to meet the evapotranspiration needs of a crop, excluding effective rainfall, is known as:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Consumptive irrigation requirement)
Consumptive Irrigation Requirement (CIR) is defined as the depth of water required to meet the consumptive use (evapotranspiration) of a crop minus the effective rainfall received during that period: CIR = ETc - Pe.
Which of the following type of irrigation method is also called as trickle irrigation?
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Drip Irrigation Method)
Drip irrigation is also known as Trickle irrigation or Micro-irrigation, where water is conveyed under low pressure through a pipe network and applied drop-by-drop directly into the root zone via emitters.
A seed can tolerate drying and freezing without losing viability is called:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Orthodox seed)
Orthodox seeds are seeds that can tolerate desiccation down to low moisture contents (below 5%) and survive freezing temperatures (-20 deg C) during ex-situ gene bank conservation without losing viability. (Recalcitrant seeds die upon drying).
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) is located at:
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Lucknow)
The CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) is a premier national research institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Q100
Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest TechnologyPomology & High Density Orcharding
High Density Planting was first established in ______ in Europe during sixties:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Apple)
High Density Planting (HDP) using dwarfing clonal rootstocks (such as Malling 9 / M.9 and M.26) was first established commercially in Apple (Malus domestica) orchards in Europe (specifically England and the Netherlands) during the 1960s.
Q101
Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop ProtectionAgricultural Biotechnology & Pest Resistance
Bt toxin producing plants are resistant to ______:
💡Correct Answer: Option D (Pink Boll worm)
Bt crops (such as Bt cotton expressing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab endotoxin crystal proteins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis) are engineered specifically for resistance against lepidopteran insect pests, primarily the Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) and American bollworm.
What is the function of the diaphragm in a microscope?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (To control the amount of light reaching the specimen)
The iris diaphragm of an optical microscope is located beneath the condenser and stage; its primary function is to regulate and control the cone diameter and amount of light reaching the specimen, optimizing image contrast and resolution.
Which type of microscope is most suitable for observing living cells?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Phase contrast microscope)
The Phase Contrast Microscope (invented by Frits Zernike in 1934, Nobel Prize 1953) is ideally suited for observing living, unstained cells and cellular processes because it translates small differences in refractive index and cell thickness into observable intensity variations.
Which species of Aspergillus produces Aflatoxin G1 and G2:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Aspergillus parasiticus)
Aspergillus flavus produces predominantly B-aflatoxins (B1 and B2). In contrast, Aspergillus parasiticus produces both B-aflatoxins (B1, B2) and G-aflatoxins (G1, G2), making Aspergillus parasiticus the primary fungal species producing aflatoxins G1 and G2.
Q105
Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & PhysiologyLaboratory Environment Control
Which instrument is commonly used to measure humidity in a culture room?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Hygrometer)
A Hygrometer (or psychrometer) is the instrument specifically designed to measure relative humidity in growth chambers, culture rooms, greenhouses, and post-harvest storage facilities.
💡Correct Answer: Option A (A stain used to test viability of protoplasts)
Calcofluor White is a fluorescent optical brightening stain that binds specifically to beta-1,3 and beta-1,4 linked polysaccharides (cellulose and chitin). In plant protoplast culture, it is used to stain and verify cell wall regeneration and viability in newly dividing protoplasts.
Which phase is characterized by cells regaining the ability to divide in a fresh medium?
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Lag phase)
In batch cell suspension cultures, the Lag phase is the initial acclimation period following inoculation into fresh media during which cells absorb nutrients, synthesize necessary RNA, proteins, and division enzymes to regain their physiological division competence before active cleavage.
Gossypol, a natural toxin, is found in which plant?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Cotton)
Gossypol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic yellow binaphthyl aldehyde toxin found in the sub-epidermal pigment glands of cotton plants (genus Gossypium), acting as a natural defense mechanism against herbivores and insects.
Which Indian state has the largest area under organic certification?
💡Correct Answer: Option A (Madhya Pradesh)
Madhya Pradesh holds the largest certified organic cultivable area in India, accounting for over 25% to 30% of the country's total certified organic agricultural land according to APEDA statistics. (Sikkim is India's first 100% organic state).
Q110
Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest TechnologyPlantation Crops & Days
When is World Coconut Day celebrated?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (September 2)
World Coconut Day is observed globally every year on September 2nd to commemorate the founding anniversary of the International Coconut Community (ICC), established in 1969 under UN-ESCAP.
Q111
Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest TechnologyCytogenetics & Fruit Breeding
What is the ploidy level of most of the cultivated banana varieties?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Triploid)
Most commercial edible cultivated banana varieties (such as Cavendish, Robusta, Grand Naine) are sterile triploids (3n = 3x = 33 chromosomes with AAA, AAB, or ABB genomic constitutions), which produces parthenocarpic, completely seedless fruit pulp.
In which year was the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) enacted in India?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (1985)
The Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order (FCO) was promulgated in 1985 under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, regulating the quality, distribution, and price of fertilizers in India.
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Mutant varieties of cotton)
MCU 7 and MCU 10 are celebrated induced mutant varieties of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) through gamma-ray radiation breeding of parent variety MCU 5.
Consider the following statements: Statement 1: Spices along with spice oil are called oleoresin. Statement 2: Spice oleoresins are extracted using solvent extraction. Which of the following is correct?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true)
Both statements are correct in spice processing technology: - Oleoresins represent the total true concentrated flavor of spices, comprising volatile essential oil and non-volatile pungent resinous components. - Spice oleoresins are industrially extracted from ground spices using organic food-grade solvent extraction (such as hexane, ethanol, or acetone) followed by solvent recovery.
Which of the following are correct names for Amomum subulatum? i) Black cardamom ii) Nepal cardamom iii) Green cardamom iv) Nutmeg Options:
💡Correct Answer: Option C (i and ii only)
Amomum subulatum (family Zingiberaceae) is standardly known in trade as Black cardamom, Large cardamom, or Nepal cardamom. (Green small cardamom is Elettaria cardamomum; Nutmeg is Myristica fragrans). Therefore, i and ii only are correct.
Saffron (Crocus sativus, the golden heritage spice of Jammu & Kashmir celebrated worldwide) belongs to the Iridaceae (Iris) family. Its dried trifid orange-red stigmas form the valuable commercial spice.
What is the important chemical content found in coriander (Coriandrum sativum)?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Linalool)
The major active aroma compound in coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seed essential oil is Linalool (specifically d-linalool or coriandrol), which comprises 60% to 70% of its volatile oil fraction.
Q118
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologyBotanical Names of Spices
Curcuma longa is the botanical name of which plant?
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Turmeric)
Curcuma longa is the scientific botanical name of Turmeric (Haldi), a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family Zingiberaceae. (Ginger is Zingiber officinale; Saffron is Crocus sativus; Cumin is Cuminum cyminum).
The release of carbon dioxide by soil microorganisms in the soil is known as:
💡Correct Answer: Option B (Soil respiration)
Soil respiration is the process by which carbon dioxide (CO2) is released from the soil into the atmosphere through the collective metabolic activity of soil microorganisms decomposing organic matter along with root respiration.
Q120
Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation TechnologyIrrigation Resources of India
Which of the following is the leading source of irrigation in India (by area covered)?
💡Correct Answer: Option C (Well and tube well irrigation)
Wells and tube wells (groundwater irrigation) constitute the single largest source of irrigation in India, accounting for more than 62% to 64% of total net irrigated area, followed by government and private canals (~24%) and tanks (~3%).
🎯 Ready for a Timed Mock Test?
Simulate the real exam experience with a countdown timer, negative marking, and instant detailed scorecards.
About JKSSB Laboratory Technician (Agriculture / Horticulture) 2025 Previous Year Paper
This page provides the full solved question paper for the JKSSB Laboratory Technician (Agriculture / Horticulture) examination conducted in 2025 by the Agriculture Production & Farmer Welfare / Horticulture Department. Every MCQ is presented with verified answer keys and detailed bilingual explanations to support concept building.
Key subjects covered in this paper include Plant Biochemistry, Cell Biology & Physiology, Pomology, Olericulture & Post-Harvest Technology, Agronomy, Irrigation & Spices / Plantation Technology, Plant Pathology, Entomology & Crop Protection, Soil Science, Plant Nutrition & Agricultural Meteorology, Floriculture, Ornamental Gardening & Landscape Architecture. Practicing authentic previous year questions is the proven way to master question patterns and improve accuracy for upcoming exams across Jammu & Kashmir.
