NEET Biology: Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production questions with solutions

Q1. Green revolution in India occurred during

1. 1960.s
2. 1970.s
3. 1980.s
4. 1950.s

Answer: 1960.s

The Green Revolution in India began in the 1960s, when high-yield variety seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and modern techniques were introduced on a large scale. This led to a major rise in food grain production, especially wheat.

Q2. In plant breeding programmes, the entire collection of plants/seeds having all the diverse alleles for all genes in a given crop is called:

1. cross-hybridisation among the selected parents.
2. evaluation and selection of parents.
3. germplasm collection
4. selection of superior recombinants.

Answer: germplasm collection

The entire set of plants or seeds carrying the diverse alleles of all genes in a crop is called germplasm. Breeders conserve and use this collection as the source of genetic variation for improvement.

Q3. Breeding of crops with high levels of minerals, vitamins and proteins is called

1. Somatic hybridisation
2. Biofortification
3. Biomagnification
4. Micropropagation

Answer: Biofortification

Biofortification is the process of increasing the nutrient content of crops through breeding or biotechnology. It aims to produce food with higher levels of minerals, vitamins, and proteins to improve human nutrition.

Q4. Himgiri developed by hybridisation and selection for disease resistance against rust pathogens is a variety of

1. chilli
2. maize
3. sugarcane
4. wheat

Answer: wheat

Himgiri is a wheat variety developed through hybridisation and selection to provide resistance against rust pathogens. Rust resistance is a key breeding goal in wheat because these fungal diseases can severely reduce yield.

Q5. Three crops that contribute maximum to global food grain production are

1. Wheat, rice and maize
2. Wheat, rice and barley
3. Wheat, maize and sorghum
4. Rice, maize and sorghum

Answer: Wheat, rice and maize

Wheat, rice, and maize are the three most produced food grains worldwide, so together they contribute the largest share of global grain output. Barley and sorghum are important crops, but their total production is lower than maize and rice.

Q6. Consider the following statements (A-D) about organic farming: (A) Utilizes genetically modified crops like Bt cotton (B) Uses only naturally produced inputs like compost (C) Does not use pesticides and urea (D) Produces vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals Which of the above statements are correct?

1. (B), (C) and (D)
2. (B), (C) and (D) only
3. (B) and (C) only
4. (A) and (B) only

Answer: (B) and (C) only

Organic farming avoids genetically modified crops like Bt cotton and relies on natural inputs like compost. It also avoids synthetic pesticides and urea. While it may improve nutritional quality, the claim about producing vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals is not universally true. Thus, only (B) and (C) are correct.

Q7. In mung bean, resistance to yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew were brought about by:

1. Hybridisation and selection
2. Mutation breeding
3. Biofortification
4. Tissue culture

Answer: Mutation breeding

Resistance to yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew in mung bean was achieved through mutation breeding, which involves inducing mutations to develop desirable traits like disease resistance.

Q8. Jaya and Ratna are two rice varieties associated with India's green revolution.

1. Jaya is identified as IET-723. This rice variety matures in approximately 130 days, producing long, bold, white grains with a yield of 50-60 quintals per hectare.
2. Ratna is identified as IET-1411. It matures in about 130-135 days, yielding long, slender, white grains with a productivity of 45-50 quintals per hectare.
3. ‘Himgiri’ is a wheat variety developed through hybridization and selection for resistance to rust pathogens. It is resistant to leaf rust, stripe rust, and hill bunt.
4. Developing crops with enhanced levels of vitamins and minerals to improve human nutrition is called biofortification, which is a practical approach to addressing health issues.

Answer: Jaya is identified as IET-723. This rice variety matures in approximately 130 days, producing long, bold, white grains with a yield of 50-60 quintals per hectare.

Option A is correct because Jaya and Ratna are indeed two rice varieties developed during the Green Revolution in India, as described in the statement.