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APPSC Horticulture Officer study materials
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APPSC Horticulture Officer practice questions

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Question 1General Studies and Mental Ability

The Governor of an Indian State is appointed by the President under which Article of the Constitution?

  1. Article 155 Correct answer.
  2. Article 161
  3. Article 163
  4. Article 153

Explanation

Article 155 states that the Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Article 153 merely says there shall be a Governor for each State, while Article 161 deals with pardon powers and Article 163 with the Council of Ministers aiding the Governor.

Question 2General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the layers of the atmosphere from the Earth's surface upward?

  1. Troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere
  2. Mesosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere
  3. Stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere
  4. Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere Correct answer.

Explanation

The atmosphere is layered by temperature behaviour: the troposphere lies nearest the ground, followed by the stratosphere containing the ozone layer, then the mesosphere where meteors burn up, and finally the thermosphere. Each boundary is marked by a pause where the temperature trend reverses.

Question 3General Studies and Mental Ability

A train 240 m long crosses a platform 360 m long in 30 seconds. What is the speed of the train?

  1. 72 km/h Correct answer.
  2. 60 km/h
  3. 54 km/h
  4. 80 km/h

Explanation

Total distance covered equals train length plus platform length, that is 240 + 360 = 600 m, covered in 30 seconds. Speed is therefore 600/30 = 20 m/s, and multiplying by 18/5 converts it to 72 km/h.

Question 4General Studies and Mental Ability

Which soil order is characterised by the accumulation of iron and aluminium oxides and is typically found in the humid tropics?

  1. Mollisol
  2. Aridisol
  3. Oxisol Correct answer.
  4. Andisol

Explanation

Oxisols are highly weathered soils of humid tropical regions where leaching has removed silica and left behind iron and aluminium oxides. Mollisols are dark grassland soils, Aridisols are desert soils and Andisols form from volcanic ash.

Question 5General Studies and Mental Ability

The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian States?

  1. Nine
  2. Eight Correct answer.
  3. Six
  4. Seven

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer crosses eight Indian States: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. It does not pass through Odisha or Bihar, which is why those names often appear as distractors.

Question 6General Studies and Mental Ability

In a certain code, if PLANT is written as QMBOU, how is SEED written in the same code?

  1. TGFE
  2. RDDC
  3. TFFE Correct answer.
  4. TFEE

Explanation

Each letter is shifted one place forward in the alphabet: P becomes Q, L becomes M, and so on. Applying the same rule, S becomes T, E becomes F, E becomes F and D becomes E, giving TFFE.

Question 7General Studies and Mental Ability

Which fundamental duty was added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976?

  1. To pay taxes honestly
  2. To respect the National Flag
  3. To vote in elections
  4. To protect and improve the natural environment Correct answer.

Explanation

The 42nd Amendment inserted Part IVA (Article 51A) listing fundamental duties, including the duty to protect and improve the natural environment, forests and wildlife. Respecting the National Flag is also a duty, but it was part of the same original list, so the environment duty is the distinctive addition of that amendment.

Question 8General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following is a Kharif crop in Andhra Pradesh?

  1. Mustard
  2. Paddy Correct answer.
  3. Wheat
  4. Barley

Explanation

Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the monsoon and harvested in autumn; paddy is the principal Kharif crop of Andhra Pradesh. Wheat, mustard and barley are Rabi crops grown in the cooler winter season.

Question 9General Studies and Mental Ability

Which Article of the Constitution provides for the establishment of Finance Commissions?

  1. Article 282
  2. Article 275
  3. Article 263
  4. Article 280 Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 280 empowers the President to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to recommend distribution of taxes between the Union and States. Article 275 deals with grants-in-aid, Article 282 with discretionary grants and Article 263 with inter-State councils.

Question 10General Studies and Mental Ability

A sum of money doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. What is the annual rate of interest?

  1. 8%
  2. 12.5% Correct answer.
  3. 15%
  4. 10%

Explanation

For simple interest, doubling means the interest earned equals the principal, so SI = P. Using SI = P*R*T/100 with T = 8 gives P = P*R*8/100, hence R = 100/8 = 12.5 percent per annum.

Question 11General Studies and Mental Ability

The 'Green Revolution' in India is most closely associated with which crop and technology?

  1. Wheat and high-yielding varieties with irrigation Correct answer.
  2. Oilseeds and drip irrigation
  3. Pulses and dryland farming
  4. Rice and organic farming

Explanation

The Green Revolution of the late 1960s centred on semi-dwarf high-yielding wheat varieties, fertilisers and assured irrigation, especially in Punjab and Haryana. It transformed wheat output and made the country largely self-sufficient in food grains.

Question 12General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following best explains why the stratosphere is warmer at its top than at its base?

  1. Nitrogen undergoes exothermic reactions
  2. Water vapour condenses releasing latent heat
  3. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation and releases heat Correct answer.
  4. Air pressure increases with altitude

Explanation

Ozone in the upper stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and converts that energy into heat, warming the layer from above. This produces the temperature inversion that makes the stratosphere stable and limits vertical mixing.

Question 13General Studies and Mental Ability

A candidate must answer 8 questions out of 12. In how many ways can this be done if 3 particular questions must always be included?

  1. 126 Correct answer.
  2. 56
  3. 220
  4. 84

Explanation

If 3 particular questions must be included, the candidate needs 5 more from the remaining 9 questions. The number of ways is the combination 9C5, which equals 126.

Question 14General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following is the most important function of the Reserve Bank of India in relation to agriculture?

  1. Distributing certified seeds to farmers
  2. Regulating agricultural commodity exchanges
  3. Fixing minimum support prices for crops
  4. Setting priority sector lending targets for banks Correct answer.

Explanation

The RBI prescribes priority sector lending norms, under which agriculture receives a defined share of bank credit, thereby influencing rural credit flow. Minimum support prices are decided by the government on the recommendation of the CACP, not by the RBI.

Question 15General Studies and Mental Ability

The term 'demographic dividend' refers to which of the following?

  1. Economic growth potential from a rising share of working-age population Correct answer.
  2. An increase in the dependency ratio
  3. The migration of rural labour to cities
  4. A decline in the birth rate below replacement level

Explanation

A demographic dividend arises when the working-age population grows faster than the dependent population, creating a favourable ratio of earners to dependents. Realising this potential requires adequate employment, education and health investment.

Question 16General Studies and Mental Ability

Pointing to a photograph, a man says, 'She is the daughter of my grandfather's only son.' How is the woman in the photograph related to the man?

  1. Sister Correct answer.
  2. Aunt
  3. Niece
  4. Cousin

Explanation

The man's grandfather's only son must be the man's own father. The daughter of the man's father is therefore his sister, assuming the speaker and the subject share the same father.

Question 17General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following is the correct order of soil particle sizes from largest to smallest?

  1. Sand, silt, clay Correct answer.
  2. Silt, sand, clay
  3. Clay, silt, sand
  4. Sand, clay, silt

Explanation

Soil texture is classified by particle diameter: sand particles are the coarsest, silt intermediate and clay the finest. This is why sandy soils drain quickly while clayey soils hold water and nutrients strongly.

Question 18General Studies and Mental Ability

The Panchayati Raj system was given constitutional status by which amendment?

  1. 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
  2. 74th Amendment Act, 1992
  3. 44th Amendment Act, 1978
  4. 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 Correct answer.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 inserted Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule, giving constitutional recognition to rural local self-government. The 74th Amendment dealt with urban local bodies, and the 42nd and 44th Amendments covered other matters.

Question 19General Studies and Mental Ability

In a class of 60 students, 60 percent play cricket and 45 percent play hockey, while 10 percent play neither. How many students play both games?

  1. 15
  2. 6
  3. 9 Correct answer.
  4. 12

Explanation

Since 10 percent play neither, 90 percent play at least one game, that is 54 students. Using inclusion-exclusion, cricket plus hockey minus both equals at least one: 36 + 27 - both = 54, so both equals 9.

Question 20General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following statements about the Indian monsoon is correct?

  1. The southwest monsoon arrives in Kerala around the first week of June Correct answer.
  2. The monsoon withdraws from northwest India by early September
  3. The Bay of Bengal branch reaches Punjab before the Arabian Sea branch
  4. The northeast monsoon brings most rainfall to the Konkan coast

Explanation

The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala around 1 June, marking the official onset of the rainy season. The northeast monsoon later supplies winter rain to Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Question 21General Studies and Mental Ability

A farmer applies a fertiliser that supplies nitrogen in the form of ammonium. Which process converts this ammonium to nitrate in well-aerated soil?

  1. Ammonification
  2. Denitrification
  3. Nitrogen fixation
  4. Nitrification Correct answer.

Explanation

Nitrification is the microbial oxidation of ammonium to nitrite and then nitrate, carried out by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter in aerobic soils. Nitrate is the form most readily absorbed by crop roots.

Question 22General Studies and Mental Ability

Consider the sequence 2, 6, 12, 20, 30. What is the next term?

  1. 42 Correct answer.
  2. 40
  3. 44
  4. 36

Explanation

The differences between successive terms are 4, 6, 8 and 10, increasing by 2 each time. The next difference should therefore be 12, giving 30 + 12 = 42.

Question 23General Studies and Mental Ability

Which of the following combinations of soil and crop is agronomically most appropriate for the black cotton soils of the Deccan?

  1. Saline coastal soils with cotton and brackish water
  2. Lateritic soils with cotton in high rainfall zones
  3. Sandy loams with cotton under heavy irrigation
  4. Deep vertisols with cotton under rainfed conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

Black cotton soils, or vertisols, are clay-rich, moisture-retentive soils formed from basalt and are well suited to rainfed cotton. Their high swelling clay content holds moisture through dry spells, supporting the crop without heavy irrigation.

Question 24General Studies and Mental Ability

A bill introduced in a State Legislature is reserved by the Governor for the consideration of the President. Under which provision is this done?

  1. Article 200 Correct answer.
  2. Article 167
  3. Article 213
  4. Article 356

Explanation

Article 200 deals with assent to Bills and allows the Governor to reserve certain Bills for the President's consideration. Article 213 covers ordinances, Article 167 concerns duties of the Chief Minister and Article 356 deals with President's Rule.

Question 25General Studies and Mental Ability

In a village, the ratio of irrigated to unirrigated land is 3:5. If 40 percent of the irrigated land and 20 percent of the unirrigated land are under paddy, what fraction of the total land is under paddy?

  1. 7/40
  2. 11/40 Correct answer.
  3. 3/10
  4. 1/4

Explanation

Take irrigated land as 3 units and unirrigated as 5 units, giving 8 units total. Paddy area is 0.4 times 3 plus 0.2 times 5, that is 1.2 + 1.0 = 2.2 units, and 2.2/8 equals 11/40.

Question 26General Studies and Mental Ability

Under the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, which body is constituted at the intermediate level of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system?

  1. Gram Panchayat
  2. District Rural Development Agency
  3. Mandal Praja Parishad Correct answer.
  4. Zilla Praja Parishad

Explanation

The Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 establishes a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Mandal Praja Parishad at the intermediate (mandal) level, and Zilla Praja Parishad at the district level. The Mandal Praja Parishad is thus the intermediate-tier body, functioning as a link between the village and district tiers. The District Rural Development Agency is a separate society for rural development schemes, not a tier of Panchayati Raj.

Question 27General Studies and Mental Ability

A farmer applies a fertiliser that supplies nitrogen in the form of ammonium. Which process converts this ammonium to nitrate in the soil?

  1. Denitrification
  2. Ammonification
  3. Nitrogen fixation
  4. Nitrification Correct answer.

Explanation

Nitrification is the microbial oxidation of ammonium to nitrite and then to nitrate, carried out by bacteria such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. This process makes nitrogen available to plants in the nitrate form. Denitrification converts nitrate to nitrogen gas, ammonification releases ammonium from organic matter, and nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

Question 28General Studies and Mental Ability

Under the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966, a farmer who sells paddy in a notified market yard must pay which of the following charges to the Market Committee?

  1. A stamp duty on the sale invoice
  2. A market fee levied on the value of the notified agricultural produce Correct answer.
  3. A professional tax on agricultural income
  4. A land revenue surcharge collected by the Revenue Department

Explanation

The AP (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966 empowers Market Committees to levy a market fee on the sale value of notified agricultural produce transacted in the notified market area. This fee funds yard maintenance, weighing, grading and other amenities. Land revenue, professional tax and stamp duty are governed by entirely separate statutes and are not Market Committee levies.

Question 29General Studies and Mental Ability

A farmer in Rayalaseema wants to insure his groundnut crop under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Which statement correctly describes his premium share for the Kharif season?

  1. He pays 1.5 percent of the sum insured, with the balance shared by the Centre and the State
  2. He pays 2 percent of the sum insured, with the balance shared by the Centre and the State Correct answer.
  3. He pays 5 percent of the sum insured, with the balance shared by the Centre and the State
  4. He pays the full actuarial premium, which is later refunded by the State government

Explanation

Under PMFBY, the farmer's premium share is capped at 2 percent of the sum insured for Kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5 percent for Rabi crops, and 5 percent for annual commercial and horticultural crops. The difference between this capped amount and the actuarial premium is subsidised equally by the Central and State governments. Groundnut is a Kharif oilseed, so the 2 percent cap applies.

Question 30General Studies and Mental Ability

In a village, 40 percent of the farmers cultivate paddy, 30 percent cultivate cotton, and 10 percent cultivate both. What percentage of farmers cultivate neither paddy nor cotton?

  1. 30 percent
  2. 40 percent Correct answer.
  3. 20 percent
  4. 10 percent

Explanation

Using the inclusion-exclusion rule for two overlapping sets, the share cultivating at least one crop is 40 + 30 - 10 = 60 percent. The remaining share cultivating neither is therefore 100 - 60 = 40 percent. Subtracting the overlap once prevents double counting of farmers who grow both crops.

Question 31Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In mango, the phenomenon in which fruit development is triggered without fertilization, producing seedless fruits, is termed:

  1. Dichogamy
  2. Polyembryony
  3. Apomixis
  4. Parthenocarpy Correct answer.

Explanation

Parthenocarpy is the development of fruit without fertilization, giving seedless fruits such as in certain mango and banana cultivars. Polyembryony refers to multiple embryos in one seed, while apomixis is asexual seed formation. Dichogamy is the temporal separation of male and female maturity within a flower or plant.

Question 32Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The characteristic 'papaya ring spot' symptoms on papaya are caused by a virus that is transmitted in the field mainly by:

  1. Soil-borne nematodes
  2. Thrips in a semi-persistent manner
  3. Whiteflies in a persistent manner
  4. Aphids in a non-persistent manner Correct answer.

Explanation

Papaya ringspot virus is a potyvirus transmitted non-persistently by several aphid species during brief probing. Non-persistent transmission means the aphid acquires and inoculates the virus within seconds, so vector control is difficult. Whiteflies, thrips and nematodes transmit other viruses but not PRSV.

Question 33Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In banana cultivation, the practice of 'sword sucker' selection is preferred for planting because sword suckers:

  1. Bear flowers before rooting and give the highest bunch weight
  2. Have a slender leaf blade with a well-developed rhizome and establish vigorously Correct answer.
  3. Are broad-leaved water suckers that fruit earliest
  4. Are produced only on tissue-cultured plants

Explanation

Sword suckers have narrow, sword-shaped leaves and a large, well-developed corm with many roots, so they establish quickly and produce healthy plants. Water suckers have broad leaves and a small corm and are weaker planting material. Selecting sword suckers improves uniformity and vigour of the plantation.

Question 34Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The 'June drop' in apple orchards refers to:

  1. The shedding of mature leaves before winter dormancy
  2. Premature shedding of young fruitlets due to competition and insufficient resources Correct answer.
  3. Defoliation caused by scab infection after monsoon onset
  4. Abscission of flower buds induced by gibberellic acid sprays

Explanation

June drop is the natural thinning of young apple fruitlets about four to six weeks after bloom, when developing seeds compete for limited carbohydrates and hormones. Growers often regulate it with chemical thinners to improve fruit size. It is not related to leaf fall or disease defoliation.

Question 35Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In grape, the technique of 'girdling' (ringing) on the vine is practised mainly to:

  1. Induce root initiation on the trunk
  2. Increase the number of dormant buds per cane
  3. Improve berry size and set by retaining carbohydrates above the ring Correct answer.
  4. Control downy mildew infection of the bunch

Explanation

Girdling removes a ring of bark and phloem, blocking basipetal carbohydrate transport so assimilates accumulate above the cut. This improves fruit set and berry size in varieties prone to poor set. The ring must be narrow to heal within the season, otherwise vine vigour declines.

Question 36Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The recommended practice for harvesting green chillies meant for distant markets is to pick fruits at:

  1. Over-ripe stage with shrivelled skin
  2. Mature green stage with firm texture Correct answer.
  3. Half-red turning stage
  4. Full ripe red stage

Explanation

Green chillies for long-distance transport are harvested at the mature green stage when fruits are firm and fully sized, which gives better shelf life. Over-ripe or red fruits soften quickly and are damaged in transit. Careful picking with a short stalk reduces water loss.

Question 37Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In tomato, the physiological disorder 'blossom-end rot' is primarily associated with:

  1. Calcium deficiency aggravated by irregular moisture supply Correct answer.
  2. Boron deficiency during flowering
  3. Viral infection transmitted by whiteflies
  4. Excess nitrogen causing excessive vegetative growth

Explanation

Blossom-end rot appears as a sunken, leathery dark patch at the distal end of the fruit and results from localised calcium deficiency in the fruit tissue. It is worsened by fluctuating soil moisture, high salinity and rapid growth, which impair calcium transport. Managing irrigation and calcium nutrition reduces its incidence.

Question 38Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The 'Kharif' onion crop in India is generally considered inferior for storage because it is harvested during:

  1. Late summer with low humidity
  2. Spring when temperatures rise gradually
  3. Cool dry winter months
  4. Rainy and humid conditions leading to poor curing Correct answer.

Explanation

Kharif onions are transplanted in the monsoon and harvested in the rainy, humid period, which makes curing difficult and predisposes bulbs to neck rot and sprouting. Rabi onions harvested in the dry season store far better. Proper curing and dry storage partly compensate but cannot fully match rabi quality.

Question 39Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In potato, 'dehaulming' is carried out about 10-15 days before harvest mainly to:

  1. Increase tuber number per plant
  2. Reduce the seed rate required per hectare
  3. Induce flowering for seed production
  4. Harden the skin and prevent late blight spread to tubers Correct answer.

Explanation

Dehaulming removes the foliage before harvest so that tuber skins harden and virus-carrying aphids are removed, reducing late blight infection of tubers. It also helps produce healthy seed tubers. It does not increase tuber number or alter seed rate.

Question 40Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The 'French' system of planting vegetables, in which plants are arranged on both sides of raised beds with paths between beds, is primarily adopted to:

  1. Reduce irrigation frequency to once per fortnight
  2. Eliminate the need for manures
  3. Maximise plant population per unit area with easy interculture Correct answer.
  4. Grow only perennial crops

Explanation

The French system places rows on both sides of a raised bed with a path between beds, giving high plant density and convenient access for weeding, spraying and harvesting. It suits intensive vegetable cultivation. It does not reduce water requirement or eliminate manuring.

Question 41Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In cucurbits, the practice of hand pollination is commonly recommended because:

  1. Hand pollination increases the number of male flowers
  2. Fruit set and shape improve when pollen is transferred to the stigma at the right time Correct answer.
  3. It prevents powdery mildew infection
  4. Natural pollinators are always absent in India

Explanation

Many cucurbits bear separate male and female flowers and depend on bees; when pollinator activity is low, hand transfer of pollen improves set and uniform fruit shape. Timing matters because stigma receptivity is short. It does not change flower sex ratio or control fungal disease.

Question 42Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The 'pinching' operation in chrysanthemum cultivation is done to:

  1. Remove the growing tip to encourage lateral branching and more flowers Correct answer.
  2. Cut back the plant to the ground after flowering
  3. Remove faded flowers to prolong bloom
  4. Disbud the plant to obtain a single large bloom

Explanation

Pinching removes the apical growing point, breaking apical dominance and promoting lateral shoots that bear more flower heads. It is usually done once or twice depending on the cultivar and market requirement. Disbudding, in contrast, removes side buds to produce large single blooms.

Question 43Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In rose, the rootstock 'Rosa multiflora' is valued mainly because it:

  1. Is resistant to all foliar diseases
  2. Produces large showy flowers of its own
  3. Confers vigour and good anchorage with easy budding compatibility Correct answer.
  4. Reduces the need for pruning of the scion

Explanation

Rosa multiflora is widely used as a rootstock because it gives vigorous, well-anchored plants and takes budding readily. Rootstocks are chosen for root characteristics, not for their own flowers. No rootstock gives complete disease resistance or removes the need for pruning.

Question 44Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The 'Crown bud' and 'Hedgehog' systems are methods of training and pruning in:

  1. Carnation
  2. Gladiolus
  3. Jasmine
  4. Rose Correct answer.

Explanation

Crown bud and hedgehog are training systems used in rose to manage plant frame and flowering shoots. They differ in the number and arrangement of main stems retained. Gladiolus and carnation are managed by other cultural practices such as disbudding and staking.

Question 45Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In jasmine, the species most valued for its high essential oil content used in perfumery is:

  1. Jasminum auriculatum
  2. Jasminum sambac
  3. Jasminum grandiflorum Correct answer.
  4. Jasminum humile

Explanation

Jasminum grandiflorum (Spanish jasmine) yields the concrete and absolute prized in perfumery because of its rich fragrance. Jasminum sambac is important for garlands and religious use, and J. auriculatum for loose-flower trade. Oil content and quality differ markedly among species.

Question 46Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In coconut, the 'root (wilt)' disease is characterised by:

  1. Sudden wilting of the crown with reddish-brown spindle
  2. Flaccidity and bending of leaflets with yellowing of fronds and poor yield Correct answer.
  3. White root rot with no foliar symptoms
  4. Water-soaked lesions on nuts only

Explanation

Coconut root (wilt) disease causes flaccidity, drooping and marginal yellowing of leaflets, along with reduced bunch size and yield. It is a phytoplasma-associated disease prevalent in parts of southern India. Management relies on integrated nutrient and cultural measures since no curative treatment exists.

Question 47Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In black pepper, the 'silver leaf' disease is caused by:

  1. Piper yellow mottle virus
  2. Radopholus similis
  3. Phytophthora capsici
  4. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Correct answer.

Explanation

Silver leaf disease of black pepper is caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, producing silvery-grey lesions on leaves with shot-hole symptoms. Phytophthora causes quick wilt, a far more destructive disease of vines. Nematodes and viruses cause different syndromes.

Question 48Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The 'Katte' disease of cardamom, causing mosaic-like chlorotic streaks and stunting, is transmitted by:

  1. Whiteflies persistently
  2. Banana aphid in a semi-persistent manner Correct answer.
  3. Soil fungi through roots
  4. Aphids in a non-persistent manner

Explanation

Katte disease of cardamom is caused by Cardamom mosaic virus, a potyvirus transmitted by the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa in a semi-persistent manner. Roguing infected clumps and managing the vector are the main control measures. It is not seed-borne in field spread.

Question 49Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

In turmeric, the 'mother' and 'primary' rhizomes are used as seed material; the recommended seed rate for planting is approximately:

  1. 250-300 kg per hectare
  2. 2500-3000 kg per hectare Correct answer.
  3. 50-100 kg per hectare
  4. 1000-1200 kg per hectare

Explanation

Turmeric requires about 2500-3000 kg of seed rhizomes per hectare because whole or split mother rhizomes are planted at close spacing. The high seed rate is a major cost of cultivation. Lower rates are typical of crops with smaller seed pieces such as ginger at 1500-2500 kg per hectare.

Question 50Horticultural Sciences (Pomology, Olericulture, Floriculture, Plantation Crops and Spices)

The characteristic 'bean-like' odour of cardamom is mainly due to the presence of:

  1. Curcumin and turmerone
  2. Capsaicin and piperine
  3. Eugenol and cinnamaldehyde
  4. Cineole and terpinyl acetate Correct answer.

Explanation

Cardamom volatile oil is dominated by 1,8-cineole and alpha-terpinyl acetate, which give its characteristic camphoraceous, sweet-spicy aroma. These compounds are used to grade oil quality. Capsaicin, curcumin and eugenol are markers of other spices.