#plant introduction

Plant Breeding 1

Which of the following is a demerit of plant introduction?

Despite expanding gene pools, introduction carries inadvertent adverse consequences representing demerits. Along with desired cultivars, weed seeds such as Phalaris minor, Avena fatua, Parthenium hysterophorus introduced with PL-480 wheat shipments from USA in 1960s became dominant weeds competing for light, nutrients and space, producing allelochemicals like parthenin suppressing crop growth. Pathogens such as coffee rust, potato late blight and diseases like downy mildew also hitchhike as dormant mycelium. Invasive ornamentals outcompete native flora reducing biodiversity index. Economic costs escalate due to increased herbicide use, mechanical weeding and yield losses estimated in billions. Hence strict sampling, seed cleaning, and certification protocols mandatory to minimize ecological disruption accompanying germplasm exchange programs. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs. Additional insights from genomic studies reveal QTL clusters, epigenetic modifications and protein interactions that influence trait expression under varied agro-climatic conditions and management.

Ref: Kohli RK Invasive Alien Species India; NCERT Class XII Biodiversity demerits; CABI Invasive weed Parthenium origin.

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Plant Breeding 1

Which agency is responsible for plant introduction in India?

National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources established in 1976 under Indian Council Agricultural Research functions as nodal sole agency harmonizing all plant introduction activities nationwide. Mandate includes issuance of import permits, post-entry quarantine growing, germplasm conservation in National Genebank at Pusa Campus maintaining over 400,000 accessions, evaluation, documentation and distribution to breeders via Material Transfer Agreements. Its Plant Quarantine Division coordinates with Directorate Plant Protection, customs and regional stations at Shimla for temperate crops, Jodhpur for arid legumes, Thrissur for spices and Shillong for Northeast diversity. Compliance with Plant Quarantine Order and Biodiversity Act enforced. Other organizations like Botanical Survey of India focuses on wild flora taxonomy and Forest Research Institute on timber species, not crop germplasm introduction responsibility. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs.

Ref: NBPGR Official Mandate nbpgr.ernet.in; ICAR Handbook Agriculture; Singh Phundan Plant Breeding Achievements chapter NBPGR.

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Plant Breeding 1

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was introduced to India as:

Water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes is free-floating perennial from Amazon basin with spongy petioles providing aerenchyma buoyancy and showy lavender flowers borne on spikes, rendering it attractive for ornamental ponds. British colonial botanical gardens introduced it to Bengal circa 1890 as decorative aquatic. Biology favors invasion: stolons produce clonal rosettes doubling biomass within 6 to 18 days under eutrophic conditions, seeds remain viable decades in sediment, and high evapotranspiration depletes water. Absence of coevolved biocontrol agents like Neochetina eichhorniae weevils allowed unchecked spread across lakes, rivers and irrigation channels, reducing dissolved oxygen, impeding navigation and increasing mosquito breeding habitat. Thus horticultural introduction turned into aggressive ecological weed, now managed under integrated weed management with mechanical removal and biological agents. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs.

Ref: CABI Invasive Species Compendium Eichhornia; NCERT XII Biology Invasive Alien Species; CSIR Weed review.

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Plant Breeding 1

Assignment of entry numbers during plant introduction is called:

Cataloging systematizes documentation by assigning unique accession numbers to each introduced sample clearing quarantine. NBPGR uses EC prefix for exotic collections from abroad, IC for indigenous germplasm within India, IW for wild relatives and ET for transgenics. Passport information including scientific name, cultivar name, pedigree, country of origin, donor organization, collection site coordinates, morphological descriptors and quarantine clearance date entered into Genebank Information System. This accessioning prevents naming confusion, enables retrieval via searchable database, links physical storage location in medium-term module at 4C or long-term at -20C, and supports benefit-sharing under PGR regulations. Proper cataloging precedes agronomic evaluation, ensuring traceability across multi-location testing and compliance with international descriptor standards from Bioversity International. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs.

Ref: NBPGR Genebank Manual Accessioning; Bioversity Descriptors; Singh BD Plant Breeding Cataloguing step.

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Plant Breeding 1

The main purpose of quarantine in plant introduction is to:

Quarantine imposes enforced isolation and testing to intercept exotic pathogens, nematodes, insects and weed seeds hidden in imported seeds, tubers or cuttings. Legal basis includes Destructive Insects and Pests Act 1914 and Plant Quarantine Order 2003 requiring inspection at seaports, airports and land customs. NBPGR National Quarantine Laboratory performs visual inspection, X-ray for insect damage, blotter test for fungi like Tilletia and Fusarium, washing test for seeds, and serological ELISA and PCR for viruses such as banana bunchy top and potato latent viruses. Suspect samples undergo fumigation with aluminum phosphide, hot water treatment at 52C, or pesticide dip before clearance. Effective quarantine prevented entry of devastating pathogens and preserves ecosystem equilibrium and export credibility of Indian agricultural produce. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs.

Ref: IPPC ISPM Standards; Plant Quarantine Order 2003; e-coursesonline.iasri.res.in Plant Quarantine chapter; NBPGR Quarantine.

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Plant Breeding 1

Which is the first step in plant introduction?

Procurement initiates introduction by identifying, requesting and acquiring desired germplasm along with passport data. Breeder formulates objective for traits like drought tolerance, nutritional quality or disease resistance and submits proforma to NBPGR Plant Exchange Division citing botanical name, gene pool and donor institute. NBPGR consults databases, issues import permit, negotiates Material Transfer Agreement and compliance with Convention on Biological Diversity. Alternatively explorers collect wild relatives, landraces or elite lines during targeted expeditions, preserving herbarium voucher, latitude, altitude and farmer knowledge. Propagules accompanied by phytosanitary certificate confirming freedom from quarantine pests. Without rigorous procurement, duplicate accessions accumulate, narrow diversity captured and risk of contaminated seed lots increases, delaying subsequent quarantine and evaluation stages. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs.

Ref: NBPGR Manual Plant Exchange and Procurement; FAO Genebank Standards; DDUGU Notes Domestication Introduction Procurement.

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Plant Breeding 1

Plant introduction refers to:

Plant introduction represents deliberate movement and establishment of genotypes, cultivars, species or wild relatives into new geographic area where they were not previously cultivated, either internationally or domestically. Procedure encompasses exploration, procurement via correspondence with genebanks such as CIMMYT, IRRI, USDA, quarantine screening for pathogens, cataloging with exotic collection EC or indigenous IC numbers, multi-location evaluation for photoperiod and temperature adaptation, and eventual acclimatization through natural selection shifting allele frequencies. Two categories are recognized: primary introduction where introduced cultivar directly used as commercial variety after selection, exemplified by IR8 rice, and secondary introduction where introduced germplasm serves as donor parent in hybridization for introgression of specific traits like disease resistance encoded by R genes. This method enriches narrow genetic base and complies with ITPGRFA exchange protocols. This understanding supports competitive exam preparation for NEET, GATE and CSIR NET concepts linking genotype with phenotype through molecular pathways involving transcription factors, hormones and metabolic enzymes that regulate development, adaptation and reproductive biology in applied breeding programs.

Ref: Acquaah G. Principles Plant Genetics Breeding Chapter 3; Singh BD Plant Breeding Methods Introduction definition; NCERT Biology.

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