UPSC Mains BOTANY-PAPER-I 2015

Briefly describe the following in not more than 150 words each: Role of microbes in soil nutrient cycling

Algae as bioindicators

Concept of Progymnosperms

Chemical nature of viroids and their transmission in plants

Evolution of sexual reproduction in fungi

Describe the range of vegetative structures with suitable diagrams in volvocales and their phylogenetic relationships.

Describe the disease symptoms, causal organism and the control measures of the loose smut of wheat.

Draw well labelled diagram of the L.S. of Anthoceros sporophyte. Discuss the evolutionary significance of Anthoceros also.

Draw well labelled diagram of the T.S. of Teleutosorus of Puccinia and give a brief description of the same.

Describe the symptoms, causal organism and the control measures of white rust of crucifers.

Discuss the distribution of living Gymnosperms in India and their economic importance.

Give the name of the causal organism, disease symptoms and disease control measures of the following: Red rot of sugarcane and Late blight of potato

Give an account of sexual fruiting bodies in Ascomycetes.

Describe the method of vegetative reproduction in Bryophytes.

Describe the following in about 150 words each: Mycotoxins

Concept of totipotency in higher plants

Dye yielding plants

Ethnobotanical knowledge and beliefs in species conservation

Use of somaclonal variations in crop improvement

Write an account of the following families with respect to floral structures. Give the botanical names of three important plant species belonging to each of the families and specify their uses : Ranunculaceae and Fabaceae

Discuss the components of a full-fledged Botanical garden.

Give an account of micropropagation and its utility towards ex-situ conservation of rare and endangered plants.

Describe the oil yielding plants of India and their economic importance.

Distinguish the Androecium of Malvaceae, Asteraceae and Asclepiadaceae from each other.

Somatic hybrids can be characterized by a variety of methods." Substantiate the above statement.

Compare the floral characters of the family Solanaceae and Malvaceae.

Give an account of Vavilov's "Centres of Origin" of the cultivated plants.

Describe the method of production of Androgenic haploids.

Describe the anomalous secondary growth in monocots with suitable diagram.