Model Question Paper for M.Sc. (Agri.) Qualifying Examination GPB GKVK

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, GKVK, Bangalore – 560 065

Written Qualifying Examination (I Semester – 2015–16)
Master’s Degree Programme: Genetics and Plant Breeding
Duration: 3½ Hours  Maximum Marks: 100

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I. Define / Explain the Following (Any 10)

(1 × 10 = 10 marks)

1. Multiple allelism

2. Epistasis

3. Epigenetic control

4. Cytogenetics

5. Heterobeltiosis

6. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL)

7. Diallel cross

8. Quantitative traits

9. Heterosis

10. Polyembryony

11. Apomixis

12. Bulk segregant analysis

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II. Answer the Following (Any 10 out of 12)

(2 × 10 = 20 marks)

1. Mention the dominance hypothesis.

2. Define Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.

3. Write a note on population and gene frequency.

4. State the limitations of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.

5. What is a Multi-Cloning Site (MCS)?

6. Define self-incompatibility.

7. Differentiate between male sterility and self-incompatibility.

8. Differentiate between aneuploidy and polyploidy.

9. Write a note on cytoplasmic inheritance.

10. Polyembryony.

11. Differentiate between ionizing and non-ionizing radiations.

12. What are somatic hybrids and how are they formed?

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III. Write Short Notes on the Following (Any 10 out of 15)

(3 × 10 = 30 marks)

1. Duplication and deletion

2. Polyploidy

3. Euploidy

4. Autopolyploid vs. Allopolyploid

5. Epi-dominance vs. Heterodominance

6. Detection of polyploids in higher organisms

7. Tissue culture

8. Bioinformatics

9. Heritability and genetic advance

10. Achievements of mutation breeding in six crops

11. Mass selection

12. Recurrent selection

13. Synthetics and composites

14. Gene action

15. Quantitative inheritance

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IV. Answer the Following (Any 8 out of 12)

(5 × 8 = 40 marks)

1. Explain the law of segregation with Mendel’s and pseudo-Mendelian ratios.

2. Explain the concept of crossing over and its application in crop improvement.

3. Write the procedure of combining ability analysis for crop improvement.

4. Discuss various cytological evidences supporting the chromosomal theory of inheritance.

5. Explain the role of linkage and recombination in crop improvement.

6. Define and discuss epistasis in plants, with examples.

7. Explain different methods of heterosis exploitation in self- and cross-pollinated crops.

8. Discuss the cytogenetic basis of male sterility and its significance in hybrid seed production.

9. Define and discuss polyploidy. Explain its role in crop evolution.

10. Differentiate between alloploidy and autoploidy with examples.

11. Explain the various applications of tissue culture in plant breeding.

12. Write the important differences between male sterility and self-incompatibility in crop plants.