UPSC Mains AGRICULTURE-PAPER-II 2016

Elaborate Mendel's law of 'independent assortment' by giving suitable example.

Define 'pure lines' along with their characteristics. How are they used in crop improvement?

Explain Intellectual Property Rights. Give the present status of IPR in relation to agriculture.

Explain the mechanism of absorption of salts. Give potassium, calcium and iron deficiency symptoms in plants.

Discuss sterility systems used in hybrid seed production. Briefly mention chemically induced male sterility.

Define 'general combining ability'. Explain the genetic basis and methods for estimating SCA in diallel mating system.

What are the genetic consequences of self- and cross-pollination?

Discuss the sui generis protection of traditional knowledge.

How is water absorbed by land plants? Explain various external conditions affecting water absorption by roots.

Explain oxidative decarboxylation citing suitable example.

Give evidences supporting translocation of organic solutes in phloem. Explain Ringing experiment.

Given the seed from a male sterile line of corn, how would you determine if the sterility is genetic or cytoplasmic?

Discuss the importance of gene pyramiding and gene introgression in developing disease-resistant cultivars.

Discuss the practical applications of mutations in wheat, rice and barley. Name two varieties of wheat released by the use of induced mutations in India.

Give an account of mechanism of protein synthesis. Compare it with prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Explain formal and informal seed supply systems in India.

Differentiate between transpiration and guttation. Why permanent wilting takes place?

What are the important new varieties of carnation? Explain the importance of pinching operation for producing quality carnation.

Explain the connection between anaerobic and aerobic respiration.

Compare the inoculative and augmentative releases of natural enemies for biological control of pests.

Discuss the strength and weakness of public distribution system in the country.

Describe the procedure of tissue culture for multiplying new cultivars of gladiolus.

What are the special schemes for providing food grains to underprivileged, destitutes and malnourished populations?

Explain the production technology for commercial cultivation of marigold and aster flowers.

Why are the concepts of economic threshold and economic injury levels important in IPM?

Explain the phenomenon of passive absorption and give the factors affecting the rate of absorption of water.

How does maturity control the post-harvest quality and storage life of fruits? Give maturity indices for some fruits and vegetables.

Explain the present status of food and nutrition security in India.

Discuss plant disease occurrence, epidemics and IDM.

Explain the effect of concentration of enzyme on its activity. Give different methods for regulating the enzymic activity.

Horizontal and vertical resistance

Ionizing radiations and insect control

Vascular wilt and xylem wilt

Red flour beetle and Angoumois grain moth