ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) — Subject 59 Forestry · India · National Testing Agency for ICAR
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 ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF spread across the units of Vegetative Propagation & Forest Biotechnology. Difficulty: 6 easy, 26 medium, 25 hard.
| Tissue culture: media, micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis | 12 | |
| Genetic transformation of forest trees and its regulation | 10 | |
| Biosafety and acceptance of genetically modified trees | 10 | |
| Principles of vegetative propagation | 5 | |
| Rooting of cuttings: hormones, mist chambers, juvenility | 5 | |
| DNA barcoding and timber species identification | 5 | |
| Grafting and budding techniques | 4 | |
| Air layering and other layering methods | 3 | |
| Clonal nurseries and mini-cutting systems | 3 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
Cuttings from side branches of Araucaria grow horizontally like branches for years. This is:
B. Topophysis
Topophysis is the persistence of traits linked to the propagule's position of origin.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
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
IBA is often first dissolved in ethanol or alkali, or used as its potassium salt, because:
B. The acid dissolves poorly in water
IBA has low water solubility; K-IBA is water-soluble.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
For a graft to succeed, the most critical anatomical requirement is:
D. Close contact between the cambia
Callus from both cambia bridges the union and forms new vascular tissue.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Which bacterium is most commonly used to transfer genes into forest trees?
B. Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Its Ti plasmid T-DNA is inserted into the plant genome; Bt supplies insecticidal genes.
Further reading: See the manual sources: Hartmann and Kester; Leakey et al. 1990; George et al.; Xavier et al.; CBOL 2009; FAO 2004
Which international agreement governs transboundary movement of living modified organisms?
D. Cartagena Protocol
Cartagena (2000, in force 2003) under the CBD; Nagoya deals with access and benefit sharing.
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
Most biotechnology used in forestry today, such as tissue culture and molecular markers, is:
D. Not genetic modification
These tools do not alter genomes and are widely accepted.
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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