IBPS AFO

Previous 3 Year
Questions
PLANT BREEDING
AND GENETICS
~Abhishek Singh Kandari
 AFO 2022

The term used to define the variation derived

from any form of the cell or tissue culture is
known as __________

Jens Martensson
1. Genetic Engineering
2. Somaclonal variation 2. Somaclonal variation
3. Genetic Variation
4. Environmental Variation
5. None of the above
2
 Somaclonal variation

 Larkin and Scowcroft (1981) proposed the term somaclone

 Somaclonal variation is genetic diversity emerging in plants regenerated from non-
reproductive somatic cells through tissue culture methods
 Cause: Genetic alterations occur during cell dedifferentiation and reprogramming in tissue
culture, leading to potential mutations.

Jens Martensson
 Traits affected: Varied characteristics can be altered, such as morphology, growth rate,
disease resistance, and biochemical composition.
 Significance: Somaclonal variation is important in plant breeding, offering novel genotypes
with desired traits not present in the original plant.
 Selection and Stability: Careful screening and selection of desired variants are crucial to
ensure stability and heritability of these traits in subsequent generations.

3
 2. Somaclonal variation
 This disease is also known as jaundice or nuclear polyhedrosis.
 Jaundice indicates the yellowish colour of the diseased insect.
Causal agent: Borrelina virus,
Symptoms
• Sluggish movement

Jens Martensson
• Worms restless
• Skin shiny
• Loss of clasping power
• Hang upside down
• Intersegmental swelling
• Skin turns yellowish
• Rectal protrusion
4

• Soiling of anal region

 AFO 2022

The process of removal of stamens or anthers or

killing the pollen of a flower without harming
female reproductive organ is known as

Jens Martensson
1. Emasculation
2. Male sterility 1. Emasculation
3. Self incompatibility
4. Parthenogenesis
5. None of the above
5
 Emasculation

 Removal of stamens or anthers or killing the pollen of a flower without the female
reproductive organ is known as emasculation. In bisexual flowers, emasculation is essential
to prevent of self-pollination.
 In monoecious plants, male flowers are removed. (Castor, coconut) or male inflorescence is
removed (maize)

Jens Martensson
 Hand Emasculation: In species with large flowers, removal of anthers is possible with the
help of forceps
 Suction Method: Useful in species with small flowers.
 Hot Water Treatment: Hot water is generally carried in thermos flask and whole
inflorescence is immersed in hot water. Pollen grains are more sensitive
 Alcohol Treatment: Immersing the inflorescence in alcohol
 Cold Treatment: Cold treatment like hot water treatment kills the pollen grains without
damaging gynoecium
6
 Use of Gametocide: Also known as chemical hybridizing agents (CHA) chemicals which
selectively kills the male gamete without affecting the female gamete
 Somaclonal variation

 Larkin and Scowcroft (1981) proposed the term somaclone

 Somaclonal variation is genetic diversity emerging in plants regenerated from non-
reproductive somatic cells through tissue culture methods
 Cause: Genetic alterations occur during cell dedifferentiation and reprogramming in tissue
culture, leading to potential mutations.

Jens Martensson
 Traits affected: Varied characteristics can be altered, such as morphology, growth rate,
disease resistance, and biochemical composition.
 Significance: Somaclonal variation is important in plant breeding, offering novel genotypes
with desired traits not present in the original plant.
 Selection and Stability: Careful screening and selection of desired variants are crucial to
ensure stability and heritability of these traits in subsequent generations.

7
 AFO 2022

Crossing of the two different pair of alleles,

having different traits is

1. Monohybrid

Jens Martensson
2. Dihybrid
3. Test Cross 2. Dihybrid
4. Back cross
5. Top cross
8
 Emasculation

Monohybrid: Crosses between parents that differed in a single characteristic

 Outcome: Offspring display variations in one specific trait based on the alleles inherited
from the parental generation.
Dihybrid: Cross involving individuals differing in two traits or genes. A di-hybrid cross

Jens Martensson
describes a mating experiment between two organisms that are identically hybrid for two
characters. A hybrid organism is one that is heterozygous, which means that is carries two
different alleles at a particular genetic position, or locus.
 Outcome: Offspring exhibit combinations of traits from both parental generations, showing
variations in two specific traits.
Test Cross: Crossing an organism with a recessive genotype (homozygous recessive) for a
particular trait to determine its genotype.
 Purpose: Reveals the unknown genotype of an organism based on the observed trait
expression in its offspring.
9
Back Cross: Crossing the offspring (hybrid) with one of its parents or an organism with a
similar genotype to one of the parents.
 Purpose: Introduces specific traits from one parent back into the genetic makeup of the
hybrid offspring.

Jens Martensson
Top Cross: Cross inbred line and an open pollinated variety
 Purpose: Enhances certain desirable traits in the hybrid offspring by combining the
strengths of the hybrid with the desired trait from the true-breeding parent.

10
Jens Martensson
11
 AFO 2022

Consider the following statements and choose the

incorrect statement regarding
sexual reproduction

1. Propagated through seeds

Jens Martensson
2. Pollen gets transferred to the stigma the male
gametes from pollen grains
release and fuse with the egg 5. All are correct
3. Pollen contains the male gametes
4. It helps in evolution of species
5. All are correct 12
 AFO 2021

Which of the following method is not related to

direct gene transfer?

1. DNA Transmission

Jens Martensson
2. Particle Bombardment
3. Tissue culture 3. Tissue culture
4. Micro injection
5. Electroporation
13
 Direct gene Transfer

Particle bombardment / gene gun method/ biolistic method / micro projectile

 Particle bombardment or biolistic or gene gun is the most important and effective direct
gene transfer method in regular use. In this technique, tungsten or gold particles are coated
with the DNA that is to be used to transform the plant tissue. The particles are propelled at
high speed into the target plant material, where the DNA is released within the cell and can

Jens Martensson
integrate in to the genome.
Microinjection
 Mostly used for animal cells, DNA solution is directly injected into the nucleus of the cell
Electroporation
 The Electroporation of cells can be used to deliver DNA into plant cells and protoplasts.
The vectors used can be simple plasmids.
Other methods:
 Macroinjection, liposome mediated transformation, ultra sound mediated DNA transfer, 14
DNA transfer via pollen etc
 AFO 2021

Movement of plant towards sunlight is known as

1. Photosynthesis
2. Photorespiration

Jens Martensson
3. Phototropism
4. Photoperiodism 3. Phototropism
5. Photophosphorylation

15
 AFO 2021

Minimum isolation distance of okra in certified

seed (metre)

1. 1000

Jens Martensson
2. 400
3. 600 5. 200
4. 50
5. 200
16
 AFO 2021

Minimum isolation distance of okra in certified

seed (metre)

1. 1000

Jens Martensson
2. 400
3. 600 5. 200
4. 50
5. 200
17
Isolation Distance (minimum)required for different crops

Jens Martensson
18
Jens Martensson
19
 AFO 2021

When plant is propagated by small tissue or part

of a plant then that particular technique is
termed as

Jens Martensson
1. Hybridization
2. Somatic hybridization 4. Micro-propagation
3. Sexual propagation
4. Micro-propagation
5. None of these
20
 Micro-propagation
Tissue culture technique helps to propagate plants of economic importance such as orchids and
other ornamental plants in large numbers by their meristem culture or by other in vitro
methods.
This provides them virus-free plantlets, Propagation of valuable economic plants through
tissue culture based on the principle of totipotency (every cell within the plant has potential to
regenerate into a whole plant).

Jens Martensson
21
 Micro-propagation

Jens Martensson
Note:
 A cell from any part of the plant like shoot apex, bud, leaf, mesophyll cells, pollen, fruit
etc., when inoculated in a suitable medium can able to differentiate and multiply.
22
 This results into the formation of an amorphous mass of cells known as callus
 AFO 2021

Which of the following is not a major pigment of

photosynthesis?

1. Chlorophyll a

Jens Martensson
2. Chlorophyll b
3. Carotene 3. Carotene
4. Both A and B
5. All of these

23
 Pigments
The important pigments associated with photosynthesis include:
 Chlorophyll: It is a green-colored pigment that traps blue and red light. Chlorophyll is
subdivided into, "chlorophyll a", "chlorophyll b", and "chlorophyll c". "Chlorophyll a"
is widely present in all photosynthetic cells
 Carotenoids: These are yellow, orange, or red-colored pigments that absorb bluish-
green light. Xanthophyll and carotenes are examples of carotenoids.

Jens Martensson
 Phycobilins: These are present in bacteria and red algae. These are red and blue
pigments that absorb wavelengths of light that are not properly absorbed by carotenoids
and chlorophyll.

24
 AFO 2020

Which of the following chemical is used in

polyploidy?
3. Colchicine
1. IAA

Jens Martensson
2. NAA  As microtubules function in chromosome segregation,
3. Colchicine colchicine induces polyploidy by preventing the
segregation of chromosomes during meiosis that results
4. Gibberellins into half of the gametes (sex cells) containing double
5. Cytokinin the chromosome number than usual.
25
 AFO 2020

Which of the following chemical is used in

polyploidy?
3. Colchicine
1. IAA

Jens Martensson
2. NAA  As microtubules function in chromosome segregation,
3. Colchicine colchicine induces polyploidy by preventing the
segregation of chromosomes during meiosis that results
4. Gibberellins into half of the gametes (sex cells) containing double
5. Cytokinin the chromosome number than usual.
26
 Colchicine
 As microtubules function in chromosome
segregation, colchicine induces polyploidy by
preventing the segregation of chromosomes

Jens Martensson
during meiosis that results into half of the
gametes (sex cells) containing double the
chromosome number than usual.

27
 AFO 2020

Progeny of Breeder seed which should maintain

certain germination standards and should be
approved by certification
agency?

Jens Martensson
1. Foundation Seed
2. Certified Seed 1. Foundation Seed
3. Nucleus Seed
4. Truthfully Labelled
5. Registered seed 28
 AFO 2020

Superiority of F1 hybrid over both the parents in

terms of yield and some other characters is known
as? 3. Heterosis

Jens Martensson
1. Dominance  It is defined as the superiority of F1 hybrid over both
2. Hybrid Vigour the parents in terms of yield or some other characters.
 The term heterosis was first used by Shull in1914.
3. Heterosis  Hybrid vigour describes only superiority of hybrids
4. Inbreeding over the parents. The few cases where F1 hybrids are
inferior to their parents may also be regarded as cases
5. Pure Line of hybrid vigour in the negative direction.
29
 AFO 2020

Scratching, Rubbing and softening seed coat to

make it permeable for water?

1. Scarification

Jens Martensson
2. Stratification
3. Both A and B 1. Scarification
4. None of the above
5. All of these
30
 Scarification

Scarification is a process to weaken seed coats, crucial for certain seeds like Malvaceae
and Leguminaceae.
Methods:
i. Acid scarification:

Jens Martensson
 Use concentrated H2SO4 (100 ml/kg) for 2-3 mins to overcome dormancy in seeds.
 Duration varies based on seed type (e.g., tree crops 1-3 hours, rose seeds partial acid
treatment + warm stratification).
ii. Mechanical scarification:
 Rub seeds on sandpaper or use a mechanical scarifier to enhance moisture absorption.
 Puncture seed coat with a needle for this purpose

31
 Stratification

When seed dormancy is due to embryo factor, seeds can be subjected to stratification
treatments.
a) Cold Stratification:
 Incubate seeds at 0-5°C over a moist substrate for 2-3 days to several months,

Jens Martensson
depending on seed nature and dormancy (e.g., cherry, oil palm seeds).
b) Warm Stratification:
 Expose seeds to 40-50°C for a few days (e.g., paddy) or 2 months for oil palm seeds to
break dormancy.
 Maintain seed moisture below 15% during treatment.

32
 AFO 2020

Parallel and non parallel strands in DNA helix is

connected by which bond?

1. Phosphate Bond

Jens Martensson
2. Covalent Bond
3. Phosphodiester Bond 4. Hydrogen Bond
4. Hydrogen Bond
5. None of the above
33
 DNA

4 nitrogen bases, namely Purine(Adenine – A and thymine- T), and Pyrimidines(Cytosine -

C and Guanine- G),
Bonds:
1. Phosphodiester bonds: Between nucleotide monomers in a DNA

Jens Martensson
2. Hydrogen Bonds: Nucleotides from each DNA strand are connected by noncovalent
bonds, called hydrogen bonds. A with T and C with G
The pitch of each helix is 3.4 nm. Hence, the distance between two consecutive base pairs
is 0.34 nm.

34
DNA Structure

Jens Martensson
35
 AFO 2020

The process of scratching, rubbing and softening

of seed coat to make it permeable
is known as

Jens Martensson
1. Stratification
2. Scarification 2. Scarification
3. Vernalization
4. Rouguing
5. None of the above
36
 AFO 2020

When a variety is developed through the

protoplasmic fusion of two different
species and varieties?

Jens Martensson
1. Inter specific hybridization
2. Inter generic hybridization
3. Somatic hybridization
3. Somatic hybridization
4. Tissue culture  Somatic hybridization involves the in vitro fusion of
5. Genetic engineering protoplasts to form a hybrid cell and culturing the
hybrid cell to form a hybrid plant.
37
Jens Martensson
38
Thank
You
agrimentorschandigarh@gmail.com