ARS Mains Examination Previous Year Question Paper GPB - 2001

1. Describe different types of male sterility in plants. How cytoplasmic genetic male sterility has been utilized / give suitable examples.

2. Explain the various hypothesis of heterosis. Which of the hypothesis is more widely accepted and why?

3. Compare the efficiency of different schemes for population improvement in cross pollinated crops. Which scheme do you prefer and why?

4. Describe the types of chromosomal variations in crop plants. How these variations are useful for a crop breeding programme?

5. (a) Why multi-location testing is necessary in varietal improvement programme?
   (b) Discuss the techniques and methods for increasing accuracy of field experiments in plant breeding?

6. In relation to crop improvement discuss the importance of conservation of biodiversity and also support how in situ and ex-situ conservation of genetic resources are useful for crop improvement.

7. Write short notes on the following:
   (a) Genetic transformation in plants
   (b) Cryopreservation bank
   (c) Vertical and horizontal resistance
   (d) Regression
   (e) F-test

8. Write short note on:
   (a) Plant breeders right
   (b) Incomplete block design(c) Line × tester analysis

(d) Apomixes
(e) Recurrent selection

9. Give significance of host plant resistance to insects. Outline breeding methodology for host plant resistance.
10. Describe the usefulness of biotechnology in agriculture. Give specific crops where this technique has been used to introduce traits of economic importance.