Explanation

• Maize (corn) completes its life cycle in one year, from sowing to harvest.
• It grows, flowers, produces seeds, and dies within a single season.

Additional information:

• Biennial crops: Take two years to complete life cycle (e.g., carrot, beetroot).
• Perennial crops: Live and produce for multiple years (e.g., apple, sugarcane).

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Reducing the oxygen level around stored fruits slows down respiration and ripening, increasing shelf life.
• This method is used in controlled atmosphere storage.

Additional information:

• Increasing CO₂ can also slow ripening but must be carefully controlled.
• High oxygen accelerates ripening and spoilage.

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Fiber crops are grown for their fibers used in textiles and ropes.
• Main fiber crops include jute and cotton.

Additional information:

• Cotton: Used for clothing and industrial fabrics.
• Jute: Used for making bags, ropes, mats, and carpets.
• Other fiber crops: Flax, Hemp, Coir.

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Protandry is a condition in plants where male flowers mature before female flowers to prevent self-pollination.
• Commonly found in maize (corn).

Additional information:

• In maize, tassels are male flowers and silks are female flowers.
• Helps in cross-pollination and genetic diversity.

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Club root disease affects plants in the Cruciferae family, especially cabbage and turnip.
• It is caused by the soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae, leading to swollen and distorted roots.

Additional information:

• Symptoms: Stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and club-shaped roots.
• Common in acidic soils and can persist for many years in the soil.

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Witches’ broom disease affects plants, causing abnormal clustering of branches like a broom.
• It is caused by a virus that disrupts normal growth patterns.

Additional information:

• Commonly affects cacao, citrus, and some ornamental plants.
• Symptoms: Dense, bushy growth, stunted leaves, reduced fruit yield.

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• The physical appearance of an organism, such as height, color, or shape, is called phenotype.
• It is the result of the interaction between genotype (genetic makeup) and the environment.

Additional information:

• Examples: Eye color, hair color, leaf shape in plants, body size in animals.
• Genotype refers to the genetic code, not visible traits.

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Soy sauce is produced by the fermentation of soybeans.
• Microorganisms like Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae are used in the process.
• It is widely used as a flavoring condiment in Asian cuisine.

Additional information:

Other Ingredients in Soy Sauce (5):

1. Wheat (for flavor)
2. Salt
3. Water
4. Lactic acid bacteria
5. Yeast

Types of Soy Sauce: Light, Dark, Tamari

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• The primary step of soil erosion is caused by raindrop impact, known as splash erosion.
• Rain drops dislodge soil particles, starting the erosion process.
• It eventually leads to sheet erosion and rill erosion if uncontrolled.

Additional information:

Factors Increasing Erosion (5):

1. Heavy rainfall
2. Bare soil
3. Slope gradient
4. Deforestation
5. Poor soil structure

Last verified on 19-01-2026

Explanation

• Scarification is the process of breaking seed dormancy by scratching, nicking, or softening the seed coat.
• It helps water and gases penetrate the seed, promoting germination.
• Commonly used for seeds with hard or impermeable coats.

Additional information:

Examples of Scarification (5):

1. Tamarind
2. Acacia
3. Lotus
4. Eucalyptus
5. Morning Glory

Stratification: Breaking dormancy by cold or moist treatment

Germination: The actual sprouting of a seed

Last verified on 19-01-2026