FRI Deemed University — M.Sc. admission · India · Forest Research Institute (Deemed to be) University, Dehradun
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersThe genetics of forest trees and how breeding programmes select, test and deploy better trees: provenance trials, plus trees, seed orchards, progeny tests, clonal forestry and genetic gain.
In the exams: IFoS Forestry Paper I Section B (tree improvement and seed technology); ICAR AICE-JRF 59 Unit 3; ICAR AIEEA-PG Group 09 (forest genetics and tree improvement)
ICAR AIEEA-PG — Forestry/Agroforestry & Silviculture; FRI Deemed University M.Sc. admission
Recall of definitions (provenance, plus tree, CSO, SSO, half-sib, full-sib, heritability), examples of hybrids and exotics, and simple numericals on gain.
How our questions for FRI Deemed University spread across the units of Forest Genetics & Tree Improvement. Difficulty: 16 easy, 9 medium, 1 hard.
| Selection of plus trees and seed production areas | 3 | |
| Clonal forestry: merits, risks and deployment | 3 | |
| Variation in natural populations and its causes | 2 | |
| Basics of forest genetics: inheritance, Hardy-Weinberg, drift, gene flow | 2 | |
| Mating systems and pollination biology of forest trees | 2 | |
| Provenance and seed source; provenance testing | 2 | |
| Seed orchards: clonal and seedling, layout and management | 2 | |
| Progeny tests and field designs | 2 | |
| Heritability, selection differential and genetic gain | 2 | |
| Exotics, land races and species introduction | 2 | |
| Hybridisation and polyploidy in trees | 2 | |
| Molecular markers and genomic selection in trees | 2 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
The megagametophyte of a conifer seed is useful in genetic studies because it is:
A. Haploid and genetically identical to the egg
The haploid megagametophyte carries the maternal gametic genotype.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
Most conifers, with male and female cones on the same tree, are:
B. Monoecious
Pines, spruces and firs are monoecious.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
A provenance is:
A. The geographic origin of seed
Provenance means place of origin.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
In the comparison-tree method of plus-tree selection, the candidate is compared with:
A. The best neighbouring dominant trees of the same age on the same site
Commonly about five comparison dominants nearby.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
A seed production area is:
D. An upgraded good stand
SPAs give quick, modest gains.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
A clonal seed orchard is established with:
C. Grafts or cuttings of plus trees
CSOs propagate plus trees vegetatively.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
A polycross mating design means each parent is:
A. Given a pollen mixture
Polycrosses estimate GCA efficiently.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
Which markers are codominant, highly variable and widely used for fingerprinting clones?
A. Microsatellites, or SSRs
SSRs are codominant; RAPD and AFLP are dominant.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
Markers are used in seed orchards to measure:
B. Pollen contamination
Paternity analysis reveals outside pollen and selfing.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
Clonal plants can be produced by:
B. Rooted cuttings or tissue culture
Vegetative propagation produces clones; crossing and orchards produce seedlings.
Further reading: White, Adams & Neale, Forest Genetics (2007); Zobel & Talbert, Applied Forest Tree Improvement (1984); Falconer & Mackay, Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (4th ed., 1996)
Ten here, 26 in the app. The Laisha app has every practice question we have written to FRI Deemed University in this subject, marked as you go, with timed papers, a jump-to-unanswered list and a certificate when you pass at 70 per cent.
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