GPB Qualifying Examination ( Semester of 2014–15)

Written Qualifying Examination: I Semester of 2014-15

Master’s Degree programme: Genetics and Plant Breeding
Marks: 100
Duration: 3 ½ hrs

---

1. Define/Answer in brief (Any 10)

10 × 1 = 10

1. Autoploid/Autopolyploid

2. Crossing over

3. Synthetic

4. Self incompatibility

5. GCA

6. Qualitative traits

7. Physical mutagens

8. Micro mutation

9. Three line hybrid seed production

10. RILs

11. Sex-linked genes

12. Fibre line selection

---

2. Substantiate the following (Any 10)

2 × 10 = 20

1. No selection is practiced upto F₅ in bulk method of breeding

2. Epistatic variances are not fixable

3. RILs are better than F₂ and BC populations for QTL analysis

4. Standard heterosis is more relevant in commercial breeding than other types of heterosis

5. Selection is not effective in purelines (C × Oₘ × GCA)

6. Selection in segregating generation is not possible at all environments

7. Selection in M₂ is not feasible

8. Mutations increase the scope of variability

9. Marker assisted backcross breeding is more useful in transfer of recessive genes

10. AMMI model is more informative than Eberhart and Russell model of stability

11. Recessive epistasis does not express over suppressors

12. Presence of sex-linked traits provides evidence of physical basis of heredity

---

3. Write short notes on the following (Any 10)

3 × 10 = 30

1. Meiosis stages with diagram

2. Biochemical basis of red color in sorghum

3. Describe third and higher order statistics

4. Sex-linked, sex-influenced and sex-limited traits

5. Triple test cross

6. Role of vectors in cloning

7. Participatory plant breeding

8. Backcross breeding for recessive traits

9. Generation mean analysis

10. Development of RILs

11. Single marker analysis

12. Recurrent selection method of breeding

13. Lampbrush chromosome

14. Gene action and its implication in cross and self-pollinated crops

---

4. Answer the following with appropriate example (Any 8)

5 × 8 = 40

1. Allopolyploid and autopolyploid in crop improvement with example

2. Gene transfer using amphidiploids with example

3. Self incompatibility and their uses in plant breeding with example

4. Various stages of cultivar development, testing and release

5. Describe Mahalanobis D² analysis

6. Describe AMMI model of stability analysis

7. Write about elements of variability

8. Write about gene pyramiding (recessive breeding) with an example

9. Explain steps involved in marker assisted selection (MAS) for pyramiding genes governing resistance to biotic stress

10. Write about commercial success and its uses related to commercial crops