National Postgraduate Entrance Exam (考研) — 0907 Forestry · China · Ministry of Education / CHSI and admitting universities
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersProducing trees without seed and using biotechnology in forestry: cuttings, grafting, layering, tissue culture, and the molecular tools used in tree breeding and timber identification.
In the exams: IFoS Forestry Paper I Section A (methods of propagation, grafting); ICAR AICE-JRF 59 Unit 3 (vegetative propagation, tissue culture, growth substances); ICAR AIEEA-PG Group 09 (forest biotechnology)
How our questions for National Postgraduate Entrance Exam spread across the units of Vegetative Propagation & Forest Biotechnology. Difficulty: 0 easy, 13 medium, 17 hard.
| Biosafety and acceptance of genetically modified trees | 7 | |
| Tissue culture: media, micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis | 6 | |
| Genetic transformation of forest trees and its regulation | 5 | |
| Principles of vegetative propagation | 3 | |
| Rooting of cuttings: hormones, mist chambers, juvenility | 3 | |
| Grafting and budding techniques | 2 | |
| Air layering and other layering methods | 2 | |
| DNA barcoding and timber species identification | 2 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
A difficult-to-root species fails with every IBA dose tested on crown cuttings. What should be tried first?
D. Juvenile, hedged stock material
Stock plant maturation is usually the limiting factor; rejuvenated material roots far better.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
In adventitious root formation on a cutting, the correct sequence of phases is:
A. Induction, initiation, emergence
Cells are first induced, then root primordia initiate near vascular tissue, then roots emerge.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Natural layering is an important regeneration mode for which trees?
A. Treeline spruces and firs
Low branches touching the ground root, forming clonal clumps where seed production is poor.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Which route of regeneration gives the highest clonal fidelity?
A. Axillary shoots from existing meristems
Callus phases increase somaclonal variation; existing meristems keep the genotype stable.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Which tree was the first to have its genome sequenced, making it the model forest tree?
A. Black cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa genome was published in 2006.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Barcoding fails to separate some closely related rosewood species because:
D. Their plastid DNA is near-identical
Recent divergence and hybridisation leave little plastid variation; more markers are needed.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Which strategy aims to prevent spread of transgenes from GM plantations?
A. Engineered sterility
Sterility blocks pollen and seed; longer rotations and nearby relatives increase risk.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Surveys suggest public support for GM trees is generally highest for which purpose?
A. Restoring species hit by pests
Restoration uses, such as blight-tolerant chestnut, are seen as public benefits.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
A culture gives 3 usable shoots per explant every 4-week subculture. Starting from one explant, how many weeks until at least 10,000 shoots are available, assuming no losses?
B. 36 weeks
Shoots after n cycles = 3ⁿ. 3⁸ = 6,561 (not enough); 3⁹ = 19,683, so 9 cycles × 4 weeks = 36 weeks. 32 weeks stops at 8 cycles; 9 weeks confuses cycles with weeks.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Under a product-based regulatory approach, a gene-edited tree containing no foreign DNA is judged mainly on:
B. The traits of the final plant, not the technique used to make it
Product-based systems regulate the characteristics of the organism; process-based systems regulate because a GM technique was used. Countries differ on which approach they follow for gene-edited plants.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
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