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18th September 2014, 08:32 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Re: ARS NET Agricultural Science Exam study material

YACs, binary vectors, expression vectors. Gene cloning and sub-cloning strategies,
chromosome walking, genetic transformation, Basis of animal cloning. Biology. Risk
assessment and IPR.
Unit 8: Molecular Biology

Ribosome structure and function. Protein biosynthesis in prokaryotes and ekaryotes.
Post-translational modification. Gene regulation, RNA processing and Post
transcriptional modifications. Bioprospecting, biofortification, gene pryrimiding and
gene fusion, nbozyme technology.
Unit 9: Plant Molecular Biology
Photoregulation and phytochrome regulation of nuclear and chloroplastic gene
expression. Molecular mechanism of nitrogen fixation. Molecular biology of various
stresses, viz. abiotic stresses like drought, salt, heavy metals and temperature; and
biotic stresses like bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Signal transduction and its
molecular basis, molecular mechanism of plant hormone action mitochondrial control
of fertility, structure, organization and regulation of nuclear gene concerning storage
proteins and starch synthesis.
Unit 10: Tissue Culture
Basic techniques in cell culture and somatic cell genetics. Regulation of cell cycle and
cell division.. Clonal propagation. Concept of cellular totipotency. Anther culture,
somaclonal and gametoclonal variations. Hybrid embryo culture and embryo rescue,
somatic hybridization and cybridization. Application of tissue culture in crop
improvement. Secondary metabolite production. In vitro, mutagenesis,
cryopreservation and plant tissue culture repository.
Unit 11: Plant Genetic Engineering
Isolation of genes of economic importance. Gene constructs for tissue-specific
expression. Different methods of gene transfer to plants, viz. direct and vectormediated.
Molecular analysis of transformants. Potential applications of plant genetic
engineering for crop improvement, i.e. insect-pest resistance (insect, viral, fungal and
bacterial disease resistance), abiotic stress resistance, herbicide resistance, storage
protein quality, increasing shelf-life, oil quality, Current status of transgenics,
biosafty norms and controlled field trials and release of transgenics (GMOs).
Unit 12: Molecular Markers and Genomics
DNA molecular markers: Principles, type and applications; restriction fragment length
polymorphism (RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), randomly
amplified polymorphic DNA sequences (RAPD), Simple sequence repeats (SSR), Single
nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Structural and functional genomics, gene mapping,
genome mapping, gene tagging and comparative genomics and application of
genomics.

02. AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY
Unit 1: Systematics
History and development of Entomology, Evolution of insects, position of insects in
the animal world, characteristics of phylum Arthropoda, structural features of
important arthropod groups such as Trilobita, Chelicerata and Mandibulata,
structural features of important classes of phylum Arthropoda viz. Arachnida,
Crustacea, Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Hexapoda. Classification of insects up to order
level, habits, habitats and distinguishing features of different Order and important
Families.
Unit 2: Morphology
Body wall, its structure, outgrowths, endoskeleton, Body regions, segmentation,
sclerites and sutures. Head and head appendages, types of mouth parts, antennae,
their structure and types. Thorax structure, thoracic appendages and their
modification. Wings, their modification and venation, Abdomen; structure, abdominal
appendages both in Pterygota and Apterygota. External genitalia, general structure
and modification in important insect orders.
Unit 3: Embryology, Internal Anatomy and Physiology
Embryonic and post embryonic development, types of metamorphosis, physiology of
ecdysis. General features and types of larvae and pupae. Structure, function and
physiology of Digestive, Circulatory, Respiratory, Reproductive, Nervous and
Excretory systems, Sense Organs; structure and types. Insect food and nutrition;
minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, lipids, vitamins and their role in
growth and development, artificial diets.
Unit 4: Ecology
Concept of ecology, Environment and its components-biotic and abiotic factors and
their effects on growth, development, population dynamics, distribution and
dispersal. Principle of biogeography and insects biodiversity. Biotic potential and
environmental resistance. Ecosystems, agroecosystems analysis, their characteristics
and functioning. Intra and inter specific relationship; competition, predator-prey and
host-parasite interactions, ecological niche. Life table studies, population models.
Food chain and food web. Arthropod population monitoring, pest forecasting.
Diapause and causes of pest out breaks.
Unit 5: Biological Control
Importance and scope of biological control, history of biological control: Biocontrol
agents-parasites, predators and insect pathogens. Important entomophagous insect
Orders and Families. Ecological, biological, taxonomic, legal and economic aspects of
biological control, phenomena of multiple parasitism, hyperparasitism,
superparasitism and their applied importance. Principles and procedures of using
exotic biocontrol agents. Utilization of natural biocontrol agents: conservation, habitat
management and augmentation. Mass multiplication techniques and economics.
Effective evaluation techniques, Biocontrol organizations in world and India.
Successful cases of biological control of pests.
Entomophilic pathogens: bacterial, fungi, viruses, rickettsiae, Protozoan and
nematodes, Modes of transmission, methods of uses, symptoms of infection.

Microbial insecticides and their formulation. Merits and demerits of microbial control.
Role of biocontrol agents and microbial insecticides in Integrated Pest Management.
Unit 6: Chemical Control and Toxicology
History, scope and principles of chemical control. Insecticides and their classification.
Formulations of insecticides. Susceptibility of insects to the entry of insecticides.
Physical, chemical and toxicological properties of different groups of insecticides:
chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids,
chlordimeform, chitin synthesis inhibitors, avermectins, nitroguandines,
phenylpyrrozzoles, botanicals (natural pyrethroids, rotenone, neem products,
nicotine, pongamia spp. etc). Combination insecticides. Problems of pesticide hazards
and environmental pollution. Safe use of pesticides, precautions and first aid
treatments. Insecticides Act 1968, registration and quality control of insecticides.
Evaluation of toxicity, methods of toxicity testing, determination of LD 50, LT 50, RL 50
etc. Pesticides residues in the environment and their dynamics of movements,
methods of residue. Pharmacology of insect poisons. Mode of action of different
groups of insecticides; neuroactive (axonal and synaptic) poisons, respiratory poisons,
chitin synthesis inhibitors. Metabolism of insecticides; activative and degradative
metabolism, detoxification enzymes and their role in metabolism. Selectivity of
insecticidal actions; insecticide resistance; mechanism, genetics and management of
insecticide resistance.
Unit 7: Host Plant Resistance
Chemical ecology: mechano and chemo receptors. Host plant selection by
phytophagous insects. Secondary plant substances and their defenses against
phytophagous insect. Basis of resistance (Antixenosis, Antobiosis, Tolerance).
Biotypes development and its remedial measures. Tritrophic interactions, induced
resistance. Breeding for insect resistant plant varieties. Resistance development and
evaluation techniques. Genetics of Resistance: vertical resistance, horizontal
resistance, oligogenic resistance, polygenic resistance. Biotechnological approaches
and development of transgenic insect resistant plants, its advantages and limitations.
Case histories. Insect resistance to transgenic plants and its management.
Unit 8: Innovative Approaches in Pest Control
Behavioral control: pheromones-types and uses, advantages and limitations.
Hormonal control: types and function of insect hormones, insect hormone mimics,
advantages and limitations. chemosterilants, antifeedants, attractants, repellents;
their types, method of applications, advantages and limitations. Genetic control:
concepts and methods, case histories, advantages and limitations. Potentialities of
IPM.
Unit 9: Integrated Pest Management
History, concept and principles of IPM. Components of IPM: Host plant resistance,
agronomic manipulations, mechanical and physical methods, chemical methods,
biocontrol agents utilization, genetic and behavioral control strategy etc. IPM
strategies for field and horticultural crops. IPM case histories. Concept of damage
levels- Economic threshold levels (ETL), Economic injury levels (EIL) and their
determination. System approach, Agro ecosystem and cropping system vs. IPM.
Constraints and Strategies of IPM implementation.
Unit 10: Pesticide Application Equipments

Types of appliances: sprayers, dusters, fog generators, smoke generators, soil
injecting guns, seed treating drums, flame throwers, etc. Power operated sprayers
and dusters. Types of nozzles and their uses. Maintenance of appliances. Aerial
application of pesticides, principles of aerial application, factors affecting the
effectiveness of aerial application. Equipments for aerial applications. Advantages and
disadvantages of aerial application.
Unit 11: Pests of Field Crops and their Management
Distribution, host range, biology and bionomics, nature of damage and management
of arthropod pests of cereals, Oilseed, pulses and fibre crops, sugarcane and tobacco.
Polyphagous pests: locusts, termites, hairy catepillars, cut worms and white grubs.
Unit 12: Pests of Horticultural Crops and their Management
Distribution, host range, biology and bionomics, nature of damage and management
of arthropod pests of vegetables, fruits and plantation crops, spices, condiments and
ornamentals.
Unit 13: Pests of Stored Products and their Management
Fundamentals of storage of grains and grain products. Storage losses, sources of
infestation/infection, factors influencing losses, insect and non-insect pests, their
nature of damage and control. Microflora in storage environment and their control.
Storage structures, bulk storage and bag storage, their relative efficacy and demerits.
Grain drying methods and aeration. Non-insect pests (rodents, birds, mites) of stored
products and their control. Integrated management of storage pests.
Unit 14: Arthrpod Vectors of Plant Diseases
Common arthropod vectors viz., aphids, leaf hoppers, plant hoppers, whiteflies,
thrips, psylids, beetles, weevils, flies, bees and mites and their relationship with the
plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma. Mechanism of pathogen
transmission : Active mechanical transmission, biological transmission. Toxicogenic
insects, mites and phytotoxemia. Some important arthropod vector transmitted
diseases and their epidemiology in India. Management of vector and its effect on
control of diseases.
Unit 15: Honey Bees and Bee-keeping
Honey bees and their economic importance. Bee species, their behaviour, habit and
habitats. Bee Keeping: bee pasturage, hives and equipments, seasonal management.
Bee enemies including diseases and their control.
Unit 16: Silkworms and Sericulture
Silkworm species, their systematic position and salient features. Rearing techniques
of mulberry-muga-eri and tassar silkworms. Nutritional requirements of silkworms.
Sericulture: rearing house and appliances, silkworm breeds, principles of voltism and
nioultism, seed production and its economics. Enemies and diseases of silkworms
and their management. Sericulture organization in India.
Unit 17: Lac Insect
Lac insect, its biology, habit and habitats. Host Trees: pruning, inoculation, lac
cropping techniques, and harvesting. Enemies of lac insect and their control.
Unit 18: Other Useful Insects

Pollinators, biocontrol agents of weeds, soil fertility improving agents, scavengers. Use
of insects and insect products in medicines. Usefulness of insects in scientific
investigations, insects as food.
Unit 19: Statistics and Computer Application
Frequency distribution, mean, mode and median. Standard, normal, bionomial and
Poisson’s distribution, Sampling methods and standard errors. Correlation and
regression: Partial and multiple, tests of significance; t, F, chi- square, Duncan’s
multiple range tests. Design of experiments: Principles of Randomized block design,
Completely r
andomized block design, Latin square design, Split-plot designs. Probit analysis. Use
of soft ware packages like SPSS, SAS, etc. for the above tests and designs of
experiments for analysis.
7
03. AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY
Unit 1: History of Microbial World
History, development and scope of microbiology, evolution of microbial life. Theory of
spontaneous generiation. Prokaryotes, archaebacteria and eukaryotes. Techniques
used in identification and classification of bacteria. Important groups of prokaryotes –
photosynthetic bacteria, blue green algae, chemoautotrophic bacteria, spore forming
bacteria, mycoplasma, viruses, bacteriophages and actinomycetes. Heterotrophic
bacteria nitrobacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and cyanabacteria, lactic acid bacteria,
halophiles, thermophiles acidophiles and methanogens. Structure and classification
of viruses, growth of viruses, lytic and lysogenic cycles, plant viruses, viroids.
Unit 2: Microbial Ecology and Physiology
Principles of microbial ecology, Microbiology of ecosystems - soil, rhizosphere,
phyllosphere, water - fresh and marine, and air. Microbial interactions - symbiosis,
synergism, commenalism, parasitism, amensalism, antagonism and predation,
adoption of micro-organisms to various ecosystems. Microbial growth curve.
Mathematical expression of growth -continuous and batch cultures. Diauxic and
synchronous growth. Microbial nutrition. Bacterial metabolism - aerobic and
anaerobic respiration, electron transport chain, microbial photosynthesis, oxidative
and substrate level photo-phosphorylation. Biosynthesis of cell wall, protein
breakdown by microbes.
Unit 3: Soil Microbiology
Soil microorganisms: major groups, decomposition of organic matter, soil health. Root
exudates and rhizosphere effects. Manipulation of rhizosphere microflora in plant
productivity. Microbial biomass. Nitrogen cycle: ammonification, nitrification and
denitrification. Biological nitrogen fixation–symbiotic and asymbiotic. Biochemistry
and genetics of nitrogen fixation. Microbial transformations of phosphorus, sulphur
and minor nutrients. Role of bio-fertilizers in agriculture and forestry. Bioremediation
of problem soils, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and their mode of action.
Formation and composition of soil organic matter: fulvic acid and humic acid.
Unit 4: Environmental Microbiology and Basic Microbiological Techniques
Isolation and preservation of different types of microorganisms. Methods of
sterilization and disinfection. Microscopy: Optical, phase contrast, fluorescent, dark
field and electron. Microbial assay of vitamins, enzymes and antibiotics, Pollution of
soil, water and air, Role of microorganisms in pollution, sources of pollution and their
impact on environment, microbiology of sewage and industrial effluents and their safe
disposal, management of solid and liquid organic wastes, composting, biogas, water
purification, sewage treatment, water-borne diseases and effluent management.
Unit 5: Microbial Biotechnology
Industrial production of metabolites - organic acids, alcohols, antibiotics. Fermentor
designs and types. Control of fermentation process - batch, feed batch and
continuous. Downstream processing in fermentation industry. Production of single
cell proteins and probiotics, hormones, biofertilizers, biopesticides. Phytoremediation.
Microbiology of raw and processed foods. Fermented food – vinegar, wine
saucrkraut, pickles, cheese, yogurt. Food preservation, contamination and spoilage,
food-borne illness and intoxication. Food as substrate for micro-organism, microflora

of meat, fish, egg, fruits, vegetables, juices, flour, canned foods; bio- degrading
microbes, single cell protein for use as food and feed, bioactive food / probiotics

04. ECONOMIC BOTANY & PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
Unit 1 : Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics
Nomenclature, purpose, principles and systems of classification; Taxonomy of higher
plants, floras, manuals, monographs, index, catalogues and dictionaries, herbaria;
Concepts of biosystematics, evolution and differentiation of species; Biosystematic
and taxonomic tools; Origin, evolution and biosystematics of selected crops (rice,
wheat, rape seed & mustard, cotton).
Unit 2 : Economically important plants –I
Origin, history, domestication, botany, genetic resource activities, cultivation, production
and use of:
Cereals: Wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet and minor millets.
Pulses: Pigeon pea, chickpea, black gram, green gram, cowpea, soyabean, pea, lentil,
horsegram, lab-lab bean, ricebean, winged bean, French bean, lima bean, sword
bean.
Oilseeds: Groundnut, sesame, castor, rape seed, mustard, sunflower, safflower, niger,
oil palm, coconut and linseed.
Unit 3 : Economically important plants –II
Origin, distribution, cultivation, production and utilization of economic plants of
following groups such as Fibres: cotton, silk cotton, jute, sunnhemp, agave, flax and
mesta (kenoff); Sugars: sugarcane, sugarbeet, sugarpalm and sweet sorghum;
Fodders and green manure crops: Plantation crops: coconut, cocoa, tea; root and
tuber crops-: potato, sweet potato, tapioca, aroids etc.
Unit 4 : Economically important plants –III
Origin, distribution, classification, production and utilization of Fruits: mango,
banana, citrus, guava, grapes and other indigenous fruits; apple, plum, pear, peach,
cashewnut and walnut; Vegetables: tomato, brinjal, okra, cucumber, cole crops,
gourds etc.; Fumigatories and masticatories: tobacco, betelvine, areacanut; medicinal
and aromatic plants: sarpagandha, belladonna, cinchona, nux-vomica, vinca, mentha
and glycirrhiza, plantago etc.; Narcotics: cannabis, datura, gloriosa, pyrethrum and
opium; Dye-, tannin-, gum- and resin- yielding plants; Plant of agro-forestory
importance: multipurpose trees/shrubs, subabool, Acacia nilotica, poplar, sesbania,
neem etc.; non-traditional economic plants: jojoba, guayule, jatropha, carcus etc.
Unit 5 : Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources (PGR)
Biosphere and biodiversity; plant species richness and endemism; concept and
importance of plant genetic resources and its increasing erosion; Centres of origin
and diversity of crop plants, domestication, evaluation, bioprospecting; National and
International organizations associated with PGR; Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), recent issues related to access and ownership of PGR, IPR,. PBRs, farmers
rights, sui-generis system etc.
Unit 6 : Germplasm Augmentation
History and importance of germplasm collection, ecogeographical distribution of
diversity, logistics of exploration and collection, use of flora and herbaria, random
and selective sampling, genepool sampling in self and cross pollinated species;
Concept, importance and ecogeographical considerations of introduction and
exchange of plant germplasm; prerequisites conventions and achievements of PGR
exchange.

Unit 7 : Germplasm Conservation
Principles and methods of conservation, in situ and ex situ methods, on – farm
conservation; Gene banks: short-medium- and long-term conservation strategies;
seed physiology and seed technology in conservation; seed storage behaviour
(orthodox, recalcitrant), field genebanks, clonal respositories. Gene bank
management, gene bank standard for various crops, ISTA, AOSA, IPGRI guidelines,
documentation of information in gene bank.
Unit 8 : Biotechnology in PGR
Plant conservation biotechnology, biotechnology in plant germplasm acquisition;
plant tissue culture in disease elimination, in vitro conservation and exchange;
cryopreservation, transgenics – exchange and biosafety issues; biochemical and
molecular approaches to assessing plant diversity.
Unit 9 : Plant Quarantine
Principles, objectives and relevance of plant quarantine; Regulations and plant
quarantine set up in Indai; economic significance of seed borne pests, pathogens and
weeds; detection and post entry quarantine operations, salvaging of infested/infected
germplasm, domestic quarantine.
Unit 10 : Germplasm characterization, evaluation, maintenance and
regeneration
Principles and strategies of PGR evaluation, approaches in germplasm
characterization and diversity analysis, concept of core collection, descriptors and
descriptor states for data scoring; maintenance of working and active collections of
self-cross-pollinated and vegetatively propagated crops, perennials and wild relatives;
principles and practices of regeneration in relation to mode of reproduction, concept
of genetic integrity, genetic shift, genetic drift and optimum environment; postharvest
handling of germplasm; PGR data base management.

05. Genetics & Plant Breeding
Unit 1: General Genetics and Plant Breeding
Mendelian inheritance. Cell structure and division, Linkage, its detection and
estimation. Epistasis. Gene concept, allelism and fine structure of gene. Extra
chromosomal inheritance. DNA – structure, function, replication and repair. Genetic
code. Gene- enzyme relationship. Replication, Transcription and Translation. Gene
regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Nuclear and cytoplasmic genome
organization. Spontaneous and induced mutations and their molecular mechanisms.
Crop domestication, evolution of crops and centres of diversity. Emergence of
scientific plant breeding. Objectives and accomplishments in plant breeding and the
role of National and International institutes. Gametogenesis and fertilization. Modes
of sexual and asexual reproduction and its relation to plant breeding methodology.
Apomixes, incompatibility and male sterility systems and their use in planr breeding.
Unit 2: Economics Botany and Plant Breeding Methods
Origin, distribution, classification, description and botany of cereals (wheat, rice,
maize, sorghum, pearl millet, minor millets); pulses (pigeonpea, chickpea, black gram,
green gram, cowpea, soyabean, pea, lentil, horse gram, lab-lab, rice bean, winged
bean, lathyrus, Lima bean; oilseeds (groundnuts, sesamum, castor, rapeseed
mustard, sunflower, Niger, linseed); fibers and sugar crops, fodder and green
manures; Breeding methods for self-pollinated, cross-pollinated and clonally
propagated crops.Component, recombinational and transgressive breeding. Single
seed descent. Populations, their improvement methods and maintenance, Hybrid
breeding and genetic basis of heterosis. Ideotype breeding. Mutation breeding.
Unit 3: Genome organization and Cytogenetics of Crop Plants
Chromosome structure, function and replication. Recombination and crossing over.
Karyotype analysis. Banding techniques. In situ hybridization. Special types of
chromosomes. Chromosomal interchanges, inversions, duplications and deletions.
Polyploids, haploids, aneuploids and their utility. Wide hybridization and
chromosomal manipulations for alien gene transfer. Pre-and post- fertilization
barriers in wide hybridization. Genome organization and cytogenetics of important
crop species- wheat, maize, rice, Brassica, cotton, Vigna, potato and sugarcane.
Principles and procedures of genome analysis. Cytogenetic techniques foe gene
location and gene transfer, Construction and use of molecular marker based
chromosome maps. Comparative mapping and genome analysis.
Unit 4: Quantitative and Biometrical Genetics
Quantitative characters. Multiple factors inheritance. Genetic control of polygenic
characters. Genetic advance and types of selection and correlated response. Hardy
Weinberg law. Linkage disequilibrium. Genetic load. Polymorphism. Breeding value,
heritability. Response to selection, correlated response. Estimates of variance
components and covariance among relatives. Mating designs with random and inbred
parents. Estimation of gene effects and combing ability. Effects of linkage and
epistasis on estimation of genetic parameters. Maternal effects. Genotypeenvironment
interactions and stability of performance. Heterosis and its basis.
Mating system and mating design- diallel, line X tester, NC-1, NC-II and NC-III
designs, approaches to estimate and exploit component of self and cross pollinated
crops. Genotype X environment interaction and stability analysis.
Unit 5: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnological Tools in Plant
Breeding

Somatic hybridization, micropropagation, somachonal variation in vitro mutagenesis.
Artificial synthesis of gene. Genetic and molecular markers, generations of molecular
markers and their application in genetic analyses and breeding. Molecular markers in
genetic diversity analysis and breeding for complex characters. Gene tagging, QTL
mapping and marker aided selection. Genome projects and utilization of sequence
formation. Vectors. DNA libraries, DNA fingerprinting, DNA sequencing. Nuclei acid
hybridization and immunochemical detection. Chromosome walking, Recombinant
DNA technology, Gene cloning strategies. Genetic transformation and transgenics.
Antisense RNA, RNAi and micro RNA techniques in crop improvement.
Unit 6: Plant Breeding for Stress Resistance and Nutitional Quality
Genetic basis and breeding for resistance to diseases and insect-pests. Breeding for
vertical and horizontal resistance to diseases. Genetic and physiological basis of
abiotic stress tolerance. Breeding for resistance to heat, frost, flood, drought and soil
stresses. Important quality parameters in various crops, their genetic basis and
breeding for these traits. Role of molecular markers in stress resistance breeding:
MAS, MARS and MABB.
Unit 7: Plant Genetic Resources and their Regulatory System; Varietal Release
and Seed Production
Plant exploration, germplasm introduction, exchange, conservation, evaluation and
utilization of plant genetic resoures. Convention on Biological Diversity and
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Intellectual
Property Rights. Biodiversity Act. Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Act.
System of variety release and notification. Types of seeds and seed chain. Seed
production and certification.
Unit 8: Statistical Methods and Field Plot Techniques
Frequency distribution. Measures of central tendency, probability theory and its
applications in genetics. Probabaility distribution and tests of significance.
Correlation, linear, partial and multiple regression. Genetic divergence. Multivariate
analysis. Design of experiments- basic principles, completely randomized design,
randomized block design and split plot design. Complete and incomplete block
designs. Augmented design, Grid and honeycomb design. Hill plots, unreplicated
evaluation. Data collection and interpretation.

06. NEMATOLOGY
Unit 1: History and Economic Importance
History and economic importance of nematology; Diseases caused by plant-parasitic
nematodes-symptomatology, biology, distribution and management of plant parasitic
nematodes of economic importance (Pratylenchus, Radopholus, Hirschmanniella,
Meloidogyne, Heterodera, Globodera, Rotylenchulus, Tylenchulus, Ditylenchus,
Anguina, Aphelenchoides, Tylenchorhynchus, Helicotylenchus, Hoplolaimus,
Scutellonema,
Paratylenchus, etc.). Entomopathogenic nematodes.
Unit 2 : Nematode Taxonomy and Morphology
Principles and concepts of taxonomy. Rules of nomenclature. Nematode phylogeny
and systematics. Classification of soil and plant -parasitic nematodes and their
relationships with other related phyla. Detailed classification of plant - parasitic
nematodes up to generic level with emphasis on genera of economic importance.
General morphology and anatomy of nematodes. Various systems: digestive,,
excretory, nervous, reproductive etc., developmental biology of nematodes.
Unit 3 : Nematological Techniques
Methods of extraction of nematodes from soil and plant material. Microscopy -
principles and types including electron microscopes. Methods of killing, fixing,
preserving, staining, mounting and measuring of nematodes. Techniques for
histopathology and culturing of nematodes - plant parasitic, entomophilic and
saprophytic including axenic methods. Experimental techniques for proving
pathogenicity, estimation of crop losses, nematicide screening, screening and
evaluation for nematode resistance in crops. Molecular technique for nematode
diagnostics. Techniques for mass culturing of nematode antagonistic bioagents.
Unit 4 : Nematode Ecology
Ecological classification and distribution of nematodes. Mode of nematode dispersal.
Adaptations to parasite mode of life. Soil as environment for nematodes. Effect of
biotic and abiotic factors on nematode survival, activity and reproduction. Nematode
population dynamics. Nematode -induced plant damage and modeling. Community
analysis.
Unit 5 : Plant Nematode Relationships
Types of parasitism in nematodes. Nature of damage caused by various groups of
plant parasitic nematodes and mechanisms involved. Pathotypes in nematodes.
Mechanism of nematode resistance and tolerance in plants and its assessment.
Physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants due to nematode
infections.
Unit 6 : Nematode Physiology and Cytology
Chemical composition of nematodes. Principles of nematode physiology. Physiological
functions of cell; organelles. Physiology of respiration, digestion, excretion,
reproduction, growth and development. Physiology of muscular, nervous and sensory
responses. Physiology of moulting, hatching and nematode survival. Chemoreception
in nematodes. Nematode as biological models - Caenorhabditis elegans. Cytological
changes in plants due to infection including syncytia, giant cell formation and their
modification etc.

Unit 7 : Nematode Management
Principles and methods of nematode management - physical, cultural biological,
chemical and legislative, Nematicides (including those of biological origin) - history,
classification, formulations, application and mode of action. Host resistance for
nematode management. Integrated nematode management. Role of biotechnology in
nematode management.
Unit 8 : Interactions of Nematodes with Soil Organisms
Importance of interactions (interrelationships) of nematodes with soil organisms.
Interactions of nematodes with bacteria, fungi, viruses, mycorhizae and other
nematodes. Nematodes as vectors of viruses and other microorganisms.
Unit 9 : Statistics
Frequency distribution. Measures of central tendency and dispersion: mean, median,
mode, standard deviation etc. Population distributions : normal, binomial and
poisson. Correlations: partial and multiple. Tests of significance: t, F and Chi square
and randomized block, Latin square and split plot designs, their analysis and
interpretation.

07. PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY
Unit 1: Basic Biochemistry and Biomolecules
Scope and importance of biochemistry and molecular biology in plants. Structural
and functional organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, viruses and
bacteriophages, cell organelles function and their fractionation. Chemical bonding in
biological systems, pH and buffers. Thermodynamics and bioenergetics- concept of
entropy, and free energy changes in biological reactions, Redox reactions, Role of high
energy phosphates. Biomembranes. Classification structure, chemistry, properties
and function of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Components of
immune system, Prostaglandins.
Unit 2: Intermediary Metabolism
Anabolism, catabolism and their regulation. Metabolism of carbohydrates – glycolitic
pathway, HMP pathway, TCA cycle, glyoxylate pathway and gluconeogenesis.
Biological oxidation- electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation. Lipid
metabolism, degradation and biosynthesis of fatty acids, ketogenesis and causes of
ketosis. Biosynthesis of sterols and phospholipids. Amino acid metabolism –
catabolism of amino acids, transamination and deamination, urea cycle, biosyntheisis
of amino acids. Conversion of amino acids into bioactive compounds. Metabolism of
nucleic acids-degradation and biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines and nucleotides.
Integration of carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism. Signal transduction
mechanisms. Role of G-proteins, cyclic nucleotides and calcium in transduction.
Disorders of lipid, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, amino acid metabolism. Inborn errors
of metabolism. Secondary metabolites, biotransfermation and over expression.
Unit 3: Enzymes, Vitamins and Hormones
Major classes of enzymes, general properties, kinetics, active site and its mapping,
activation energy and transition state. Mechanisms of enzyme action, inhibition and
activation. Coenzymes and cofactors. Isoenzymes and immobilized enzymes.
Regulation of enzyme activity, allosteric regulation. Multi substrate reactions, kinetic
experiments to determine the mechanism of multi substrate reactions. Isolation,
purification and measurement of enzyme activity. Enzyme units. Enzyme engineering.
Role of enzymes in agriculture, industry, and medicine. Structure, mode of action and
metabolic functions of vitamins. Deficiency diseases associated with vitamins.
General description of nature hormones and disorders associated with endocrine
glands, viz. pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas and gonads. Peptide and steroid
hormones. Phyto hormones – auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid
and new plant bio-regulators like SA, Brassino of .
Unit 4: Molecular Biology
Structure of DNA and RNA Replication, transcription and translation. Posttranscriptional
and translational modifications. Transcriptional and translation
control of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Features of genetic code in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes. Gene expression - operon model, induction and repression, control of
gene expression in prokaryotes and eykaryotes. Chloroplant and Mitochondrial
genomes. Replication of viruses. Mutagens, oncogenes and carcinogenesis. General
principles of recombinant DNA technology, restriction enzymes. Methods of gene
transfer-plasmid and viruses as vectors, DNA and protein sequence analysis,
oligonucleotide synthesis, genomic and cDNA library construction, site-directed
mutagenesis, transposon tagging, chromosome walking. Basics of genome
organization and mapping, functional genomics. Gene silencing. Methods for the
development of transgenic organisms. Computer application in molecular biology,

primer designing, sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Benefits of gene
manipulation in agriculture, nanobiotechnology, bio-chips.
Unit 5: Techniques in Biochemistry
Principles of optical, phase contrast, fluorescence and electron microscopy,
spectrophotometry, UV and VIS, fluorimetry, turbidometry and atomic absorption
spectrophotometry. Radioisotopic techniques – scintillation counters and
autoradiography and their application in biological sciences. Flectrophoresis - general
principles and application, gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, pulsed field gel
electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis. Chromatographic techniques - paper, thin
layer, column chromatography, GC and HPLC. Centrifugation - principles of
sedimentation in various rotors, differential centrifugation, density gradient
centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. Cell tissue and organ culture.
Cryopreservation, PCR and application of RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, microsatellite and
mitochondrial and ribotyping techniques. Southern, Northern and Western blotting,
ELISA. Microarray and DNA chips. Preliminary methods of statistical analysis as
applied to agricultural data – standard deviation, standard error, ANOVA, correlation
and regression.
Unit 6: Biochemistry of Food-grains, Fruits and Vegetables
Fundamentals of nutrition, concept of balanced diet. Nutritional quality of protein
and its evaluation. Dietary fibre. Vitamins- biochemical functions and deficiency
diseases. Fats and lipids-types of fatty acids and their significance in health.
Biochemical composition and food value of various food grains (including cereals,
pulses, oil seeds), fruits and vegetables. Biochemistry of fruit ripening, biochemical
aspects of post harvest technology, storage and preservation. Biochemical basis of
quality improvement of food grains, vegetables and fruits. Antioxidants, nutraceticals.
Food toxins and anti-metabolites, food additives, storage proteins.
Unit 7: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis – photosynthetic pigments, light reactions, photosystems.
Photophosphorylation, dark reactions: C3, C4 and CAM pathways. Regulation of
Rubisco. Chemisomotic coupling. Carbon cycle and its regulation, Ion fluxes and
conformational changes during photosynthesis. Photorespiration. Relationship
between photosynthesis, photorespiration and crop productivity. Chloroplasm
morphology, structure and biochemical anatomy. Cytosolic and organelle
interactions. Nature and exchange of metabolites through translocators. Seed reserve
biosynthesis.
Unit 8: Plant Metabolic Processes
Uptake and metabolism of mineral nutrients in plants. Sulphur metabolism. Nitrogen
cycle, nitrate and nitrite reduction, denitrification, symbiotic and non-symbiotic
nitrogen fixation. Biochemical and physiological role of hydrogenase.
Chemoautrotrophy in rhizobia and nitrifying bacteria. Cell cycle. Growth regulation in
plants. Signal transduction and phytohormones. Molecular mechanisms of plant
growth, hormone action. Role of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in cellular
metabolism. Metabolism of cyanogenic glycosides and glucosinolates.
Unit 9: Plant Molecular Biology
General organization of nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. Genomics
and functional genomics. Tissue specific expression of genes. Molecular biology of
various stresses – drought, salinity and temperature. Signal transduction and its
molecular basis: molecular mechanism of plant hormone action. Structure,
organization and regulation of nuclear genes. Genes involved in photosynthesis and

nitrogen fixation. Regulation of chloroplast gene expression. Mitochondrial control of
fertility. Molecular markers in plants and their uses.
Unit 10: Plant Biotechnology / Genetic Engineering
Totipotency, application of tissue culture for plant improvement, cryopreservation.
Protoplasm fusion. General principles of gene cloning. Isolation and characterization
of plant genes and promoters. Different methods of gene transfer –direct and
vectormediated. Gene silencing. Site directed mutagenesis. Molecular analysis of
transformants. Potential applications of plant genetic engineering for crop
improvement – insect-pest resistance (insect, viral, fungal and bacterial diseases).
Abiotic stress tolerance, herbicide resistance, storage protein quality improvement,
increasing shelf- life, oil quality. Biosafety and IPR issues.
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08. PLANT PATHOLOGY
Unit 1: History and Principles of Plant Pathology
Milestones in phytopathology with particular reference to India. Major epidemics and
their social impacts. Historical developments of chemicals, legislative, cultural and
biological protection measures including classification of plant diseases. Physiologic
specialization, Koch’s postulates. Growth, reproduction, survival and dispersal of
plant pathogens. Factors influencing infection, colonization and development of
symptoms.
Unit 2: Laboratory and Analytical Techniques
Preparation and sterilization of common media. Methods of isolation of pathogens
and their identification. Preservation of microorganisms in pure culture. Methods of
inoculation. Measurement of plant disease. Molecular detection of pathogens in seeds
and other planting materials: Nucleic acid probes, Southern, Northern and Western
hybridization, ELISA, ISEM and PCR. Laboratory equipment and their use: autoclave,
hot air oven, laminar flow, spectrophotometer, electrophoresis, light and electron
microscopy, incubator, ultracentrifuge, ELISA Reader.
Unit 3: Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology
Altered metabolism of plants under biotic and abiotic stresses. Molecular
mechanisms of pathogenesis: recognition phenomenon, penetration, invasion,
primary disease determinant. Enzymes and toxins in relation to plant disease.
Mechanisms of resistance. Phytoalexins. PR proteins. Antiviral proteins. SAR. HR and
active oxygen radicals. Tissue culture. Somoclonal variation and somatic
hybridization. Elementary genetic engineering. Management of pathogens through
satellite, antisense - RNA. Ribozymes, coat protein, hypovirulence cross
protection/useful genes and promoter technology biosafety and bioethics.
Unit 4: Mycology
Classification of fungi. Economic mycology, edible fungi and entomogenous fungi.
Mycorrhizal associations. Cell organelles, their morphology, functions and chemical
composition.
Unit 5: Plant Bacteriology
Identification and classification of bacteria. morphology, ultrastructure and chemical
composition of prokaryotic cell in relation to function. Growth curve, nutrition and
auxotrophic mutants. Resting cells in prokaryotic, elementary bacterial genetics and
variability: transformation, conjugation, transduction. Biology of extra chromosomal
elements: plasmid borne genes and their expression: avr, her, vie and pat genes.
Bacteriophages: lytic and lysogenic cycles. Prokaryotic inhibitors and their mode of
action. Economic uses of prokaryotes. Morphology, biochemical characteristics,
reproduction and life cycle of phytoplasma and other fastidious prokaryotes.
Unit 6: Plant Virology
Nature, composition and architecture of viruses and viroids. Properties of viruses.
Variability in viruses. Satellite viruses and satellite RNA. Assay of plant viruses
including biological, physical, chemical, serological and molecular methods.
Conventional and biotechnological techniques used in detection and diagnosis.
Behaviour of viruses in plants including infection, replication and movement.
Histopathological changes induced by viruses in plants, inclusion bodies.

Transmission of viruses: virus - vector relationships. Nomenclature and classification
of viruses.
Unit 7: Plant Disease Epidemiology
Concepts in epidemiology. Development of disease in plant population. Monocyclic
and polycyclic pathogens. Role of environment and meteorological factors in the
development of plant disease epidemics. Survey, surveillance (including through
remote sensing), and prediction and forecasting of diseases. Epidemic analysis and
prediction models. Crop loss assessment: critical and multiple point models.
Unit 8: Phanerogamic parasites and Non-parasitic Diseases
Diseases caused by Phanerogamic parasites and their management. Diseases due to
unfavourable soil environment, drought and flooding stress etc. Nutritional
deficiencies. Primary /secondary air pollutants and acid rain.
Unit 9: Fungal Diseases of Crop Plants
Fungal diseases of cereals, millets, oilseeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables, plantation,
fiber, spices and ornamental crops with special reference to etiology, disease cycle,
perpatuation, epidemiology and management. Post harvest diseases in transit and
storage; aflatoxins and their integrated management.
Unit 10: Bacterial and Viral Diseases of Crop Plants
Crop diseases of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, plantation and fiber
crops caused by bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas and other fastidious
prokaryotes. Mode of transmission and pathogen vector relationships. Epidemiology
and management.
Unit 11: Management of Plant diseases
General principles of plant quarantine. Exotic pathogens and pathogens introduced
into India. Sanitary and phytosanitary issues under WTO, TRIPS and PRA. Genetic
basis of disease resistance and pathogenicity: gene for gene hyphothesis; parasite
mediated frequency -dependent selection concept of QTL mapping; breeding for
disease resistance. Production of disease free seeds and planting materials. Seed
certification. Chemical nature and classification of fungicides and antibiotics: their
bioassy and compatibility with other agricultural chemicals; resistance to fungicides/
antibiotics; effect on environment. Spraying and dusting equipments, their care and
maintenances. Important cultural practices and their role in disease management,
solarization, integrated disease management. Microorganisms antagonistic to plant
pathogens in soil, rhizosphere and phyllosphere and their use in the control of plant
diseases; soil fungistasis. Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria.

09. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Unit 1: Cell Organelles and Water Relations
Cell organelles and their physiological functions Structure and physiological
functions of cell wall, cell inclusions. Cell membrane structure and functions. Water
and its role in plants, properties and functions of water in the cell, water relations,
water potential of plant cells. Mechanism of water uptake by roots transport in roots,
movement of water in plants, water loss from plants, energy balance, solar energy,
input energy dissipation at crop canopy level. Evapotranspiration, plant factors
influencing transpiration rate. Stomata, structure function - Mechanism of stomatal
movement, antitranspirants. Physiology of water high temperature and salinity stress
in plants. Influence of water stresses at cell, organ, plant and canopy levels. Indices
for assessment of drought resistance.
Unit 2: Metabolic Processes and growth Regulation
Energy and work, free energy and chemical potential, redox reactions and
electrochemical potential. Enzyme classification and mechanism of action, factors
affecting enzyme action. Gene expression and protein turnover. Photosynthesis,
translocation and respiration as key processes regulating carbon metabolism and
plant growth. Photosynthesis and bioproductivity. Photochemical process-
Chloroplast, its structure, CAM plants and their significance. Rubisco structure and
regulations, Photorespiration and its significance, CO2 fixation as a diffusive process,
effect of environmental factors on photosynthetic rates. Synthesis of sucrose, starch,
oligo and polysaccharides. Translocations of photosynthates and its importance in
sink growth. Mitochondrial respiration, growth and maintenance respiration, cyanide
resistant respiration and its significance. Nitrogen metabolism. Inorganic nitrogen
species (N2, N03, NH3) and their reduction, protein synthesis, nucleic acids. Sulphate
uptake and reduction. Lipid metabolism- storage, protective and structural lipids.
Secondary metabolites and their significance in plant defence mechanism. Growth
and differentiation, hormonal concept of growth and differentiation, plant growth
hormones (auxins, gibberellins, cyctokinins, ABA, ethylene etc.), biosynthesis of
growth hormones and their metabolism, synthetic growth regulators, growth
retardant, apical dominance, senescence, fruit growth, abscission, photomorphogenesis,
photo-receptors, phytochrome, physiology of flowering,
photoperiodism and vernalisation.
Unit 3: Crop Productivity and Modeling
Role of crop physiology in agriculture, crop growth and productivity, crop growth
models describing yield (Duncan/Passioura), phenology-crop productivity, growth
factors related to biomass - concept of growth rates- canopy photosynthesis (leaf area
and net assimilation rates as determining factors). Light interception as a major
function of leaf area-index, LAD canopy architecture- Light extinction coefficient
relative growth rate. Net assimilation rate. Biomass and yield relations. Assimilate
partitioning, yield and yield structure analysis. Concept of source and sink, factors
influencing source and sink size and productivity. Environmental factors determining
crop growth. Light, temperature and VPD, effect of photoperiod and thermoperiod on
duration of growth stages. Ideotype concept-selection- indices for improving crop
productivity.
Unit 4: Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants
Abiotic stresses affecting plant productivity. Basic principles of a crop improvement
programme under stress, interactions between biotic and abiotic stresses. Drought

characteristic features, water potential in the soil-plant-air continuum. Development
of water deficits, energy balance concept, transpiration and it’s regulation – stomatal
functions/VPD. Physiological process affected by drought. Drought resistance
mechanisms: Escape, dehydration postponement (Drought avoidance), Dehydration
tolerance, and characteristics of resurrection plants. Osmotic adjustment
Osmoprotectants, stress proteins. Water use efficiency as a drought resistance trait.
Molecular responses to water deficit stress perception, expression of regulatory and
function genes and significance of gene products. Stress and hormones-ABA as a
signaling molecule – Cytokinin as negative signal. Oxidative stress: reactive oxygen
species (ROS) – role of scavenging systems (SOD, catalase etc.). High temperature
stress: tolerance mechanisms- role of membrane lipids in high temperance tolerance.
Functions of HSPs chilling stress; effects on physiological processes. Crucial role of
membrane lipids. Salinity: species variation in salt tolerance. Salinity effects at
cellular and whole plant level, tolerance mechanisms. Breeding for salt resistance.
Heavy metal stress: aluminum and cadmium toxicity in acid soils. Role of
phytochelatins (heavy, metal binding proteins).
Unit 5: Plant Growth Regulators and Plant Development
Plant growth regulators – Hormones, endogenous growth substances and synthetic
chemicals. Endogenous growth regulating substances other than hormones.
Brassinosteriods, triacontanol, phenols polyamines, jasmonates, concept of death
hormone. Classification, site of synthesis, biosynthetic pathways and metabolism and
influence on plant growth and development by auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins,
abscisic acid and ethylene. Concept of hormone action - hormone receptors and
signal transduction Hormone mutants. Hormonal regulation of gene expressions at
various developmental stages of plant-flowering, seed maturity, seed dormancy.
Action of hormones on cellular functions: Auxins- cell elongation, retardation of
abscission of plant parts, gibberellins – stem elongation, germination of dormant
seeds, cytokinins- cell division, retardation of senescence. Abscisic acid- stomatal
closure and induction of drought resistance, ethylene- fruit ripening, acceleration of
senescence of leaves. Interaction of hormones in regulation of plant growth and
development processes. Synthetic growth regulators, growth retardants, apical
dominance, senescence, fruit growth, abscission. Growth and differentiation,
hormonal concept of growth and differentiations. Rooting of cuttings- flowering- physiological and molecular aspects of control of reproductive growth. Apical
dominance, senescence and abscission. Fruit growth and development, physiological
and molecular aspects of ripening processes and improving post harvest life of fruits.
Induction and breaking dormancy in seeds and buds. Synthetic growth regulators.
Practical utility in agriculture and horticulture. Herbicides, classification and their
mode of action.
Unit 6: Mineral Nutrition
Importance of mineral nutrition in plant growth. Classification and essentiality
criteria. General mechanisms - concept of apparent free space and nature of biomembranes.
Dual mechanism and other concepts of ion uptake. Short distance
transport-pathway from external solution (Apoplasm) to sieve across the root cortical
cells-factors contributing to xylem loading. Long distance transport in xylem and
phloem, xylem unloading in leaf cells. Uptake and release of mineral nutrients by
foliage. Rhizosphere and root biology, root growth, influence of micro-organism in
nutrient acquisition, release and uptake by plant roots. Yield and mineral nutritionconcept
of nutrient use efficiency, Mineral nutrition under adverse soil situations- drought, salinity, acidity etc. Heavy metal toxicity and concept of phytoremediation.
Interaction of phytohormones and nutrients. Molecular aspects- uptake and

transport, role of transporter genes, genetics of nutrient uptake, identification and
transfer of genes for tolerance to nutrient deficiencies, etc.
Unit 7: Climate and Climate Change
Climate- Analytical methods to determine long term changes in environment- Tree
ring, cellulose, stable carbon isotope discrimination, stable 18O discrimination for
hydrological changes. Likely changes in climate in future and its impact on crop and
ecosystems. The greenhouse gases and global warning. CO2 as an important
greenhouses gas, global carbon deposits, fluxes in the sinks and sources. Approaches
to contain atmospheric CO2 level. Effect of elevated CO2 on plant growth and
development. Methane as a greenhouse gas. Prediction on global warming, GCA
models, effects on climate and biota. High temperature and CO2 interaction on plant
growth and productivity, ionising radiation UV-B chlorofluro carbon (CFC)– their
impact on ozone layer- ozone hole and alteration in UV-B radiation. Effects of UV-B
radiation on plant ecosystem, repair and acclimation to UV-B damage. Carotenoids
and their role in membrane stabilization. Air pollution, SO2, NO, methane, ozone,
peroxy acetyl nitrate and their effect on ecosystem. Industrial and domestic effluent- their effect, on aquatic ecosystem, plant growth and development.
Unit 8: Seed Physiology
Structure of seeds and their storage. Seed development patterns and source of
assimilates for seed development. Pathway of movement of assimilates in developing
grains of monocots and dicots. Chemical composition of seeds. Storage of
carbohydrates, proteins and fats in seeds. Hydration of seeds. Physiological
processes. Seed respiration, mitochondrial activity Mobilization of stored resource in
seeds. Chemistry of oxidation of starch, proteins and fats. Utilization of breakdown
products by embryonic axis. Control processes in mobilization of stored reserves. Role
of embryonic axes. Gibberellin and α-amylase and other hydrolytic activity. Seed
maturation phase and desiccation damage, role of LEA proteins. Seed viability. Seed
dormancy. Means to overcome seed dormancy.
Unit 9: Physiology of Flowering and Reproduction
Evolutionary history of flowering plants (angiosperms). Semelparous and iteroparous
reproduction, monocarpic and perennial life etc. Flowering phenomenon, effect of
plant age, juvenility- transition to flowering. Flowering nature and classification of
plants. Photoperiodic responses and the mechanisms in short and long day plants.
Theories related to flowering. Endogenous substances and flowering. Gene expression
in flowering. Control of flowering. Thermoperiodism - photo and thermo-period
interactions.Vernalization-mechanism. Photomorphogenesis, photoreceptors,
phytochrome, cryptochrome, physiology of flowering, photoperiodism and
vernalization. Optimization in flowering response-to environmental features (light,
temperature, stress) etc. plant reproductive physiology. Mating strategy in plants,
molecular techniques to understand mating patterns, self-incompatibility responses,
physiological processes mediating fertilization (pollen-stigma interactions), seed and
fruit development, seed and fruit abortion and means to overcome it. Molecular
biology of seed development, physiological basis of cytoplasmic male sterility and
fertility restoration. Physiology of heterosis.
Unit 10: Physiology of Horticultural and Plantation Crop species
Growth and development of horticultural and plantation crop species. Juvenility,
shoot growth, types of shoots, patterns of shoot growth, cambial growth and its
regulation. Physiological aspects of pruning and dwarfing. Growth measurements.
Water relations of tree species. Water uptake and transport. Concepts of transpiration
rate and water use efficiency. Sexual and asexual propagation. Rootstock and scion

interactions. Physiology of flowering in perennial species, photoperiodism and
thermoperiodism. Physiological aspects of fruit crops: mango, banana, grapes, citrus,
papaya and pineapple etc. Physiological aspects of plantation crops: tea, coffee,
cardamom, coconut, and blackpepper.
Unit 11: Post-Harvest Physiology
Senescence and ageing in plants. Ethylene – the senescence hormone, leaf
senescence. Monocarpic plant senescence. Biochemistry and molecular biology of
flower senescence. Gene expression during senescence. Concept of physiological
maturity of seeds - post harvest changes in biochemical constituents in field crops -
loss of viability, loss of nutritive value, environmental factors influencing post-harvest
deterioration of seeds. Physiological and biochemical changes during fruit ripening
and storage. Senescence and post harvest life of cut flowers. Physical, physiological
and chemical control of post - harvest deterioration of fruits, vegetables and cut
flowers and its significance during storage and transport. Molecular approach in
regulation of fruit ripening. Transgenic technology for improvement of shelf-life.
Edible vaccine
Unit 12: Morphogenesis, Tissue Culture and Plant Transformation
Morphogenesis; the cellular basis of growth and morphogenesis; polarity in tip
growing cells and diffusive growing cells. Control of cell division and differentiation,
phyto-chromes, different forms, physiological effects and gene regulation, and cellular
totipotency, physiology and biochemistry of differentiation, in organ cell, tissue and
cultures, micropropagation strategies, application of tissue culture in agriculture,
horticulture, forestry and industry: plant transformation; transformation vectors,
concept of selectable and scorable markers. Agrobacterium mediated transformation,
binary vectors, biolistics. Electroporation, selection of putative transgenic plants,
genetic analysis. PCR, Southern analysis evaluation of transgenic plants.

10. SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Unit 1 : Seed Biology
Floral biology, mode of reproduction, sporogenesis, pollination, fertilization,
embryogenesis, fruit and seed development. Apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony
and somatic embryoids and synthetic seeds. Seed structure of monocot and dicot.
Seed maturation and longevity in orthodox and recalcitrant seed. Chemical
composition of seed. Seed dormancy - types, causes and mechanisms of induction
and release, factors affecting, methods to overcome dormancy and its significance in
agriculture. Seed germination - requirements, imbibition pattern, physiological and
biochemical changes, and role of hormones.
Unit 2 : Seed Production
Introduction to crop breeding methods. Variety testing, release and notification.
Genetic purity concept and factors responsible for deterioration of varieties.
Maintenance breeding. General system of seed multiplication. Seed production
agencies. Identification of seed production areas and factors affecting it. Compact
area approach in seed production. Seed production planning, equipment, input and
manpower requirement. Factors affecting pollination and seed set viz., temperature,
humidity, wind velocity, insect pollinators, and supplementary pollination. Male
sterility, self-incompatibility and their role in hybrid seed production. Principles and
methods of seed production of varieties and hybrids of cereals like wheat, paddy,
sorghum, pearl millet and maize; pulses like chickpea, pigeon pea, green gram, black
gram, soybean and cowpea; oilseeds like groundnut, brassica, sesame, sunflower and
castor; fibre crops like cotton and jute; vegetables crops like tomato, brinjal, okra,
chilli, important cole and cucurbitaceous
crops; important forage legumes and grasses and seed crop management, time of
harvesting and threshing/extraction methods. Seed production technology of
plantation crops like coffee, tea, rubber, cocoa, cardamom and pepper. Disease free
clonal propagation of crops like potato, sugarcane sweet potato, tapioca, colocasia,
betel vine, fruit crops like mango, citrus, banana, guava, sapota, pineapple, grape,
apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot and seed production and clonal propagation of
annual and perennial flowers like rose, gladiolus, chrysanthemum, marigold, dahlia,
flox and petunia. Clonal standards and degenerations. Micro propagation.
Unit 3 : Seed Processing
Principles of seed processing. Seed drying principles and methods. Precleaning,
grading, treatment, pelleting and packaging. Seed invigoration and enhancement
treatment and their applications. Seed processing machines like cleaner cum grader,
specific gravity separator, indented cylinder, seed treater, weighing and bagging
machines, their operation and maintenance. Seed quality maintenance during
processing.
Unit 4: Seed Quality Control
Seed legislation - Seeds Act 1966, Seed Rules 1969 and New Seed Bill 2004, Seed
Law Enforcement. Seed certification – history, concept, organization, phases and
minimum certification standards. Field inspection principles and methods. Inspection
at harvesting, threshing and processing. Pre-and post quality testing or genetic
purity. Seed Certification Schemes, concepts and procedures. Seed Testing concepts
and objectives, its role in seed quality control. Seed sampling, seed moisture testing,
purity analysis, germination testing, tolerance tests and equipment. Seed testing

procedures for principal agri horticultural crops. Quick viability tests. Seed vigour, its
significance and testing methods. Testing for genuineness of varieties – principles and
methods based on seed, seedling and plant characters, biochemical techniques
namely electrophoresis of proteins and isoenzymes and DNA fingerprinting.
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), its role in development of seed testing
procedures, rules and seed quality assurance for international seed trade.
Unit 5 : Seed Storage
Requirements and types of seed storage. Factors affecting seed storage and role of
moisture, temperature, RH and moisture equilibrium. Viability nomographs. Seed
deterioration causes and methods of control. Physiological, biochemical and
molecular changes in seed ageing. Seed drying and Packaging needs. Storage
structures. Methods of stacking and their impact. Short and medium term storage.
Controlled storage. Germplasm storage. Cryo preservation. Design features of short,
medium and long-term seed storage buildings. Operation and management of seed
stores.
Unit 6 : Seed Health
Significance of seed health. Mode and mechanism of transmission of microorganisms
- fungi, bacteria and viruses. Procedures for seed health test and rules. Externally
and internally seed - borne pathogens, mode of infection, development and spread,
methods of detection of seed borne diseases. Important seed-borne diseases of
cereals, oilseeds, pulses, fibre crops, vegetables and their control measures.
Quarantine and International procedures of phytosanitary certificates. Important
storage pests, their identification, monitoring and detection. ET value, nature and
extent of damage, natural enemies and management. Use of pesticides, botanicals,
mycotoxins for seed treatments. Carry over infestation, principles of fumigation and
safe use of fumigants.
Unit 7: Seed Industry Development and Marketing
Trends in National and International seed industry development. International Seed
Trade Federation (ISF) and Indian seed associations. Economics of seed production.
Market survey, demand forecasting, pricing policies, marketing channels, planning
and sales promotion. Buyer behavior and role of Government, semi Government, cooperative
and private sectors in seed trade. Responsibilities of seed companies and
dealers in Seed Act. Seed import and export.
Unit 8 : Protection of Plant Varieties
Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and its significance. Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers’ Right Act, 2001, its essential features. International Union for the Protection
of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and its role in development of Plant breeders Rights
and Seed Industry Development. Impact of PVP on seed supply system. DUS testing
principles and application. Biodiversity Act. Criteria for protection of Essentially
Derived Varieties (EDVs) and Genetically modified (GM) varieties.

11. FLORICULTURE AND LANDSCAPING
Unit 1. BREEDING
Principles -- Evolution of varieties, origin, distribution, genetic resources, genetic
divergence- Patents and Plant Variety Protection in India; Genetic inheritance -- of
flower colour, doubleness, flower size, fragrance, post harvest life; Breeding methods
suitable for sexually and asexually propagated flower crops and ornamental plants--
introduction, selection, domestication, polyploid and mutation breeding for varietal
development, Role of heterosis, Production of hybrids, Male sterility, incompatibility
problems, seed production of flower crops; Breeding constraints and achievements
made in commercial flowers - rose, jasmine, chrysanthemum, marigold, tuberose,
crossandra, carnation, dahlia, gerbera, gladioli, orchids, anthurium, aster, heliconia,
liliums, nerium; Breeding constraints and achievements made in ornamental plants –
petunia, hibiscus, bougainvillea, Flowering annuals (zinnia, cosmos, dianthus, snap
dragon, pansy) and ornamental foliages– Introduction and selection of plants for
waterscaping and xeriscaping.
Unit 2. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF CUT FLOWERS :
Scope of cut flowers in global trade, Global Scenario of cut flower production, Varietal
wealth and diversity, area under cut flowers and production problems in India-
Patent rights, nursery management, media for nursery, special nursery practices;
Growing environment, open cultivation, protected cultivation, soil requirements,
artificial growing media, soil decontamination techniques, planting methods,
influence of environmental parameters, light, temperature, moisture, humidity and
CO2 on growth and flowering; Flower production – water and nutrient management,
fustigation, weed management, rationing, training and pruning, disbudding, special
horticultural practices, use of growth regulators, physiological disorders and
remedies, IPM and IDM, production for exhibition purposes; Flower forcing and year
round flowering through physiological interventions, chemical regulation,
environmental manipulation; Cut flower standards and grades, harvest indices,
harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling, Pre-cooling, pulsing, packing, Storage
& transportation, marketing, export potential, institutional support, Agra Export
Zones; Crops: Cut rose, cut chrysanthemum, carnation, gerbera, gladioli, tuberose,
orchids, anthodium, aster, lilies, bird of paradise, helicon, alstroemeria, alpinia,
ornamental ginger, bromeliads, dahlia, gypsophilla, limonium, statice, stock, cut
foliages.
Unit 3. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY FOR LOOSE FLOWERS
Scope of loose flower trade, Significance in the domestic market/export, Varietal
wealth and diversity, propagation, sexual and asexual propagation methods,
propagation in mist chambers, nursery management, pro-tray nursery under
shadenets, transplanting techniques; Soil and climate requirements, field
preparation, systems of planting, precision farming techniques; Water and nutrient
management, weed management, rationing, training and pruning, pinching and
disbudding, special horticultural practices, use of growth regulators, physiological
disorders and remedies, IPM and IDM; Flower forcing and year round flowering,
production for special occasions through physiological interventions, chemical
regulation; Harvest indices, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling and
grading, packing and storage, value addition, concrete and essential oil extraction,
trasportation and marketing, export potential, institutional support, Agri Export
Zones: Crops- Jasmine, scented rose, chrysanthemum, marigold, tuberose,

crossandra, nerium, hibiscus, barleria, celosia, gomphrena, non-traditional flowers
(Nyctanthes, Tabernaemontana, ixora, lotus, lilies, tecoma, champaka, pandanus).
Unit 4. LANDSCAPING
Landscape designs, Styles of garden, formal, informal and free style gardens, types of
gardens, English, Mughal, Japanese, Persian, Spanish, Italian, Vanams, Buddha
garden; Urban landscaping, Landscaping for specific situations, institutions,
industries, residents, hospitals, roadsides, traffic islands, damsites, IT parks,
corporates; Garden plant components, arboretum, shrubbery, fernery, palmatum,
arches and pergolas, edges and hedges, climbers and creepers, cacti and succulents,
herbs, annuals, flower borders and beds, ground covers, carpet beds, bamboo groves;
Production technology for selected ornamental plants; Lawns, Establishment and
maintenance, special types of gardens, vertical garden, roof garden, bog garden,
sunken garden, rock garden, clock garden, colour wheels, temple garden, sacred
groves; Bio-aesthetic planning, eco-tourism, theme parks, indoor gardening,
therapeutic gardening, non-plant components, water scaping, xeriscaping,
hardscaping;
UNIT 5. PROTECTED FLORICULTURE
Prospects of protected floriculture in India; Types of protected structures –
Greenhouses, polyhouses, shade houses, rain shelters etc., Designing and erection of
protected structures; Low cost/Medium cost/High cost structures – economics of
cultivation; Location specific designs; Structural components; Suitable flower crops
for protected cultivation; Environment control – management and manipulation of
temperature, light, humidity, air and CO2; Heating and cooling systems, ventilation,
naturally ventilated greenhouses, fan and pad cooled greenhouses, light regulation;
Containers and substrates, soil decontamination, layout of drip and fertigation
system, water and nutrient management, weed management, physiological disorders,
IPM and IDM; Crop regulation by chemical methods and special horticultural
practices (pinching, disbudding, deshooting, deblossoming, etc.); Staking and netting,
Photoperiod regulation; Harvest indices, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling
techniques, Precooling, sorting, grading, packing, storage, quality standards.
Unit 6. VALUE ADDITION
Prospects of value addition, National and global scenario, production and exports,
Women empowerment through value added products making, supply chain
management;
Types of value added products, value addition in loose flowers, garlands, veni, floats,
floral decorations, value addition in cut flowers, flower arrangement, styles, Ikebana,
morebana, free style, bouquets, button-holes, flower baskets, corsages, floral wreaths,
garlands, etc.; Selection of containers and accessories for floral products and
decorations;
Dry flowers– Identification and selection of flowers and plant parts; Raw material
procurement, preservation and storage; Techniques in dry flower making – Drying,
bleaching, dyeing, embedding, pressing; Accessories; Designing and arrangement –
dry flower baskets, bouquets, pot-pourri, wall hangings, button holes, greeting cards,
wreaths; Packing and storage; Concrete and essential oils; Selection of species and
varieties (including non-conventional species), extraction methods, Packing and
storage, Selection of species and varieties, Types of pigments, carotenoids,
anthocyanin, chlorophyll, betalains; Significance of natural pigments, Extraction
methods; Applications.
Unit 7. TURFING AND TURF MANAGEMENT

Prospects of landscape industry; History of landscape gardening, site selection, basic
requirements, site evaluation, concepts of physical, chemical and biological properties
of soil pertaining to turf grass establishment; Turf grasses - Types, species, varieties,
hybrids; Selection of grasses for different locations; Grouping according to climatic
requirement-Adaptation; Turfing for roof gardens; Preparatory operations; Growing
media used for turf grasses - Turf establishment methods, seeding,
sprigging/dibbling, plugging, sodding/turfing, turf plastering, hydro-seeding, astroturfing;
Turf management – Irrigation, nutrition, special practices, aerating, rolling,
soil top dressing, use of turf growth regulators (TGRs) and micronutrients, Turf
mowing -- mowing equipments, techniques to minimize wear and compaction, weed
control, biotic and abiotic stress management in turfs; Establishment and
maintenance of turfs for playgrounds, viz. golf, football, hockey, cricket, tennis,
rugby, etc.
Unit 8. Computer Aided Designing (CAD) FOR OUTDOOR AND INDOORSCAPING
Exposure to CAD (Computer Aided Designing) – Applications of CAD in landscape
garden designing, 2D drawing by AUTOCAD, 3D drawing by ARCHICAD, 3D drawing
by 3D MAX software, Creating legends for plant and non-plant components, Basics of
Photoshop software in garden designing; 2D drawing methods, AUTOCAD Basics,
Coordinate systems in AUTOCAD LT 2007, Point picking methods, Toolbars and
Icons, File handling functions, Modifying tools, Modifying comments, Isometric
drawings, Drafting objects; Using patterns in AUTOCAD drawing, Dimension
concepts, Hyperlinking, Script making, Using productivity tools, e-transmit file,
making sample drawing for outdoor and indoor garden by AUTOCAD 2D Drawing
techniques, Drawing web format design, Making layout; 3D drawing methods,
ARCHICAD file system, Tools and Infobox, modification tools, structural elements,
GDL objects (Grid Dimensional Linking), Creation of garden components through
ARCHICAD; ARCHICAD organization tools, Dimensioning and detailing of designs,
Attribute settings of components, Visualization tools for landscape preview, Data
management, plotting and accessories for designing, Inserting picture using
Photoshop, Making sample drawing for outdoor and indoor gardens.

12. FRUIT SCIENCE
Unit 1. TROPICAL AND DRY LAND FRUIT PRODUCTION
Commercial varieties of regional, national and international importance,
ecophysiological requirements, recent trends in propagation, rootstock influence,
planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient
management, water management, fertigation, role of bioregulators, abiotic factors
limiting fruit production, physiology of flowering, pollination fruit set and
development, honeybees in cross pollination, physiological disorders- causes and
remedies, quality improvement by management practices; maturity indices,
harvesting, grading, packing, storage and ripening techniques; industrial and export
potential, Agri. Export Zones(AEZ) and industrial supports.
Crops: Mango and Banana, Citrus and Papaya, Guava, Sapota and Jackfruit,
Pineapple, Annonas and Avocado, Aonla, Pomegranate and Ber, minor fruits of
tropics.
Unit 2. SUBTROPICAL AND TEMPERATE FRUIT PRODUCTION
Commercial varieties of regional, national and international importance,
ecophysiological requirements, recent trends in propagation, rootstock influence,
planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient
management, water management, fertigation, bioregulation, abiotic factors limiting
fruit production, physiology of flowering, fruit set and development, abiotic factors
limiting production, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality
improvement by management practices; maturity indices, harvesting, grading,
packing, precooling, storage, transportation and ripening techniques; industrial and
export potential, Agri Export Zones(AEZ) and industrial support. Crops: Apple, pear,
quince, grapes, Plums, peach, apricot, cherries, Litchi, loquat, persimmon, kiwifruit,
strawberry, Nuts- walnut, almond, pistachio, pecan, hazelnut, Minor fruits- mangosteen, carambola, bael, wood apple, fig, jamun, rambutan, pomegranate.
Unit 3. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
Biodiversity and conservation; issues and goals, centers of origin of cultivated fruits;
primary and secondary centers of genetic diversity; Present status of gene centers;
exploration and collection of germplasm; conservation of genetic resources –
conservation in situ and ex situ. Germplasm conservation- problem of recalcitrancy -
cold storage of scions, tissue culture, cryopreservation, pollen and seed storage;
inventory of germplasm, introduction of germplasm, plant quarantine; Intellectual
property rights, regulatory horticulture. Detection of genetic constitution of
germplasm and maintenance of core group; GIS and documentation of local
biodiversity, Geographical indication.
Crops: Mango, sapota, citrus, guava, banana, papaya, grapes, jackfruit, custard,
apple, ber, aonla, malus, Prunus sp, litchi, nuts, coffee, tea, rubber, cashew, coconut,
cocoa, palmyrah, arecanut, oil palm and betelvine.
Unit 4. CANOPY MANAGEMENT IN FRUIT CROPS
Canopy management - importance and advantages; factors affecting canopy
development; Canopy types and structures with special emphasis on geometry of
planting, canopy manipulation for optimum utilization of light. Light interception and
distribution in different types of tree canopies; Spacing and utilization of land area -
Canopy classification; Canopy management through rootstock and scion; Canopy
management through plant growth inhibitors, training and pruning and management
practices; Canopy development and management in relation to growth, flowering,

fruiting and fruit quality in temperate fruits, grapes, passion fruits, mango, sapota,
guava, citrus and ber.
Unit 5. BREEDING OF FRUIT CROPS
Origin and distribution, taxonomical status – species and cultivars, cytogenetics,
genetic resources, blossom biology, breeding systems, breeding objectives, ideotypes,
approaches for crop improvement – introduction, selection, hybridization, mutation
breeding, polyploid breeding, rootstock breeding, improvement of quality traits,
resistance breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses, biotechnological interventions,
achievements and future thrust in the following selected fruit crops.
Crops: Mango, banana and pineapple, Citrus, grapes, guava and sapota, Jackfruit,
papaya, custard apple, aonla, avocado and ber,Mangosteen, litchi, jamun, phalsa,
mulberry, raspberry, kokam and nuts,Apple, pear, plums, peach, apricot, cherries
and strawberry.
Unit 6. POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY
Maturity indices, harvesting practices for specific market requirements, influence of
pre-harvest practices, enzymatic and textural changes, respiration, transpiration;
Physiology and biochemistry of fruit ripening, ethylene evolution and ethylene
management, factors leading to post-harvest loss, pre-cooling; Treatments prior to
shipment, viz., chlorination, waxing, chemicals, biocontrol agents and natural plant
products. Methods of storage- ventilated, refrigerated, MAS, CA storage, physical
injuries and disorders; Packing methods and transport, principles and methods of
preservation, food processing, canning, fruit juices, beverages, pickles, jam, jellies,
candies; Dried and dehydrated products, nutritionally enriched products, fermented
fruit beverages, packaging technology, processing waste management, food safety
standards.
Unit 7. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Growth and development- definition, parameters of growth and development, growth
dynamics, morphogenesis; Annual, semi-perennial and perennial horticultural crops,
environmental impact on growth and development, effect of light, photosynthesis and
photoperiodism vernalisation, effect of temperature, heat units, thermoperiodism;
Assimilate partitioning during growth and development, influence of water and
mineral nutrition during growth and development, biosynthesis of auxins,
gibberellins, cytokinins, abscissic acid, ethylene, brasssinosteroids, growth inhibitors,
morphactins, role of plant growth promoters and inhibitors; Developmental
physiology and biochemistry during dormancy, bud break, juvenility, vegetative to
reproductive interphase, flowering, pollination, fertilization and fruit set, fruit drop,
fruit growth, ripening and seed development; Growth and developmental process
during stress - manipulation of growth and development, impact of pruning and
training, chemical manipulations in horticultural crops, molecular and genetic
approaches in plant growth development.
Unit 8. BIOTECHNOLOGY OF FRUIT CROPS
Harnessing bio-technology in horticultural crops, influence of plant materials,
physical, chemical factors and growth regulators on growth and development of plant
cell, tissue and organ culture; Callus culture - types, cell division, differentiation,
morphogenesis, organogenesis, embryogenesis; Use of bioreactors and in vitro
methods for production of secondary metabolites, suspension culture, nutrition of
tissues and cells, regeneration of tissues, ex vitro, establishment of tissue cultured
plants; Physiology of hardening - hardening and field transfer, organ culture –
meristem, embryo, anther, ovule culture, embryo rescue, somaclonal variation,
protoplast culture and fusion; Construction and identification of somatic hybrids and

cybrids, wide hybridization, in vitro pollination and fertilization, haploids, in vitro
mutation, artificial seeds, cryopreservation, rapid clonal propagation, genetic
engineering and transformation in horticulture crops, use of molecular markers. In
vitro selection for biotic and abiotic stress, achievements of biotechnology in
horticultural crops.
Unit 9. PROTECTED FRUIT CULTURE
Greenhouse – World scenario, Indian situation: present and future, Different agroclimatic
zones in India, Environmental factors and their effects on plant growth;
Basics of greenhouse design, different types of structures – glasshouse, shade net,
poly tunnels - Design and development of low cost greenhouse structures; Interaction
of light, temperature, humidity, CO2, water on crop regulation - Greenhouse heating,
cooling, ventilation and shading; Types of ventilation- Forced cooling techniques -
Glazing materials - Micro irrigation and Fertigation; Automated greenhouses,
Microcontrollers, waste water recycling, Management of pest and diseases – IPM.

13. SPICES, PLANTATION, MEDICINAL & AROMATIC PLANTS
Unit 1. PRODUCTION OF PLANTATION CROPS
Role of plantation crops in national economy, export potential, IPR issues, clean
development mechanism, classification and varietal wealth. Plant multiplication
including in vitro multiplication, systems of cultivation, multitier cropping,
photosynthetic efficiencies of crops at different tiers, rainfall, humidity, temperature,
light and soil pH on crop growth and productivity, high density planting, nutritional
requirements, physiological disorders, role of growth regulators and macro and micro
nutrients, water requirements, fertigation, moisture conservation, shade regulation,
weed management, training and pruning, crop regulation, maturity indices,
harvesting. Cost benefit analysis, organic farming, management of drought, precision
farming. Crops: Coffee and tea,Cashew and cocoa,Rubber, palmyrah and oil palm,
Coconut and arecanu, Wattle and betel vine.
Unit 2. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF SPICE CROPS
Introduction, importance of spice crops-historical accent, present status - national
and international, future prospects, botany and taxonomy, climatic and soil
requirements, commercial varieties/hybrids, site selection, layout, sowing/planting
times and methods, seed rate and seed treatment, nutritional and irrigation
requirements, intercropping, mixed cropping, intercultural operations, weed control,
mulching, physiological disorders, harvesting, post harvest management, plant
protection measures and seed planting material and micro-propagation, precision
farming, organic resource management, organic certification, quality control,
pharmaceutical significance and protected cultivation of: Black pepper, cardamom,
Clove, cinnamon and nutmeg, allspice, Turmeric, ginger and garlic, Coriander,
fenugreek, cumin, fennel, ajowain, dill, celery, Tamarind, garcinia and vanilla.
Unit 3. AGRONOMY OF MEDICINAL, AROMATIC AND UNDER-UTILIZED CROPS
Importance of medicinal and aromatic plants in human health, national economy and
related industries, classification of medicinal and aromatic plants according to
botanical characteristics and their uses, export potential and indigenous technical
knowledge; Climate and soil requirements; cultural practices; yield and important
constituents of medicinal plants (Mulhati, Isabgol, Rauwolfia, Poppy, Aloe vera,
Satavar, Stevia, Safed Musli, Kalmegh, Asaphoetida, Nux vomica, Rosadle etc);
Climate and soil requirements; cultural practices; yield and important constituents of
aromatic plants (Citronella, Palmarosa, Mentha, Basil, Lemon grass, Rose, Patchouli,
Geranium); Climate and soil requirements; cultural practices; yield of under-utilized
crops (Rice bean, Lathyrus, Sesbania, Clusterbean, French bean, Fenugreek, Grain
Amaranth, Coffee, Tea and Tobacco); Post harvest handling –drawing, processing,
grading , packing and storage, value addition and quality standards in herbal
products.
Unit 4. BREEDING OF PLANTATION CROPS AND SPICES
Species and cultivars, cytogenetics, survey, collection, conservation and evaluation,
blossom biology, breeding objectives, approaches for crop improvement, introduction,
selection, hybridization, mutation breeding, polyploid breeding, improvement of
quality traits, resistance breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses, molecular aided
breeding and biotechnological approaches, marker-assisted selection, bioinformatics,
IPR issues, achievements and future thrusts. Crops: Coffee and tea,Cashew and
cocoa,Rubber, palmyrah and oil palm,Coconut and arecanut,Black pepper and
33


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