Crop improvement in rabi crops mcqs (With Answers)

Crop improvement in rabi crops MCQs is one of the most important and frequently asked topics for agriculture students, especially in competitive exams like BSc Agriculture, ICAR, JRF/SRF, Seed Technology, and Plant Breeding. Rabi crops such as wheat, barley, mustard, chickpea (gram), linseed, and others are major crops in India, and questions related to their improvement methods are repeatedly seen in exams.

In crop improvement, concepts like ideotype breeding, hybridization, gene pool, germplasm conservation, qualitative and quantitative traits, stability analysis, male sterility, and isolation distance are highly important from an exam point of view. That’s why simply reading theory is not enough. Regular practice through objective questions helps you strengthen your basics and improve accuracy.

To support your preparation, this post includes a well-organized collection of Crop improvement in rabi crops MCQs with answers, along with fill in the blanks and one-liner/definition type questions for quick revision. You can use this content for daily practice and last-minute exam preparation to boost your confidence and scoring.

Now, let’s start with the most important Crop improvement in rabi crops MCQs ✅

Section A: Crop improvement in rabi crops mcqs

Q1. What is the botanical name of common bread wheat?

A) Triticum durum
B) Triticum dicoccum
C) Triticum aestivum
D) Triticum monococcum
✅ Answer: C) Triticum aestivum

Q2. Which gene is responsible for the semi-dwarf nature in Green Revolution wheat varieties?

A) Dee-Gee-Woo-Gen
B) Norin-10
C) Tift-23A
D) Opaque-2
✅ Answer: B) Norin-10

Q3. The inflorescence of Sugarcane is technically known as:

A) Spike
B) Arrow
C) Panicle
D) Capitulum
✅ Answer: B) Arrow

Q4. ‘Pusa Giant’ is a tetraploid variety of which fodder crop?

A) Napier
B) Sorghum
C) Berseem
D) Oat
✅ Answer: C) Berseem

Q5. The first hybrid of Sunflower released in India is:

A) KBSH-1
B) BSH-1
C) MSFH-8
D) LSH-2
✅ Answer: B) BSH-1

Q6. Isolation distance for Foundation Seed production of Sunflower hybrid is:

A) 200 m
B) 400 m
C) 600 m
D) 1000 m
✅ Answer: C) 600 m

Q7. Which of the following crops is known as the ‘King of Fodder Crops’?

A) Napier
B) Sorghum
C) Berseem
D) Lucerne
✅ Answer: C) Berseem

Q8. The sour taste of Chickpea leaves is due to the presence of:

A) Citric Acid
B) Malic and Oxalic Acid
C) Tartaric Acid
D) Acetic Acid
✅ Answer: B) Malic and Oxalic Acid

Q9. ‘True Potato Seed’ (TPS) rate recommended per hectare is:

A) 25 q/ha
B) 10-15 kg/ha
C) 100-120 g/ha
D) 1-2 kg/ha
✅ Answer: C) 100-120 g/ha

Q10. ‘Arrowing’ refers to flowering in:

A) Wheat
B) Maize
C) Sugarcane
D) Bajra
✅ Answer: C) Sugarcane

Q11. Which variety of Sugarcane is famously known as ‘Wonder Cane’?

A) Co-740
B) Co-419
C) Co-1148
D) Co-205
✅ Answer: B) Co-419

Q12. The chromosome number (2n) of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) is:

A) 20
B) 36
C) 38
D) 42
✅ Answer: B) 36

Q13. In Hybrid Seed Production, the ‘A-line’ is referred to as:

A) Maintainer Line
B) Restorer Line
C) Male Sterile Line
D) Male Fertile Line
✅ Answer: C) Male Sterile Line

Q14. ‘Tift-23A’ is a source of male sterility in:

A) Sorghum
B) Maize
C) Bajra (Pearl Millet)
D) Wheat
✅ Answer: C) Bajra (Pearl Millet)

Q15. Which crop is known as a ‘Dual Purpose’ crop (Oil + Fibre)?

A) Sunflower
B) Linseed
C) Safflower
D) Cotton
✅ Answer: B) Linseed

Q16. The fruit type of Rapeseed and Mustard is called:

A) Pod
B) Siliqua
C) Caryopsis
D) Capsule
✅ Answer: B) Siliqua

Q17. Which of the following is a non-spiny variety of Safflower?

A) Bhima
B) A-1
C) NARI-6
D) NH-1
✅ Answer: D) NH-1

Q18. Pollination in Sunflower is mainly facilitated by:

A) Wind
B) Water
C) Honey Bees
D) Birds
✅ Answer: C) Honey Bees

Q19. The condition where female flowers mature before male flowers (promoting cross-pollination) in Bajra is called:

A) Protandry
B) Protogyny
C) Cleistogamy
D) Chasmogamy
✅ Answer: B) Protogyny

Q20. ‘Mescavi’ is a popular variety of Berseem which is:

A) Single Cut
B) Multi Cut
C) Rootless
D) Seedless
✅ Answer: B) Multi Cut

Q21. ‘Sindhu’ is a seedless variety of Mango developed from the cross:

A) Neelum × Dashehari
B) Ratna × Alphonso
C) Alphonso × Neelum
D) Dashehari × Ratna
✅ Answer: B) Ratna × Alphonso

Q22. The Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) is located at:

A) Shimla
B) Patna
C) Lucknow
D) New Delhi
✅ Answer: A) Shimla

Q23. ‘Xenia effect’ is commonly observed in:

A) Mango
B) Guava
C) Aonla
D) Banana
✅ Answer: C) Aonla

Q24. Which chemical is used to induce male sterility (Gameto-cide) in Sorghum/Wheat?

A) Maleic Hydrazide (MH)
B) GA3
C) NAA
D) 2,4-D
✅ Answer: A) Maleic Hydrazide (MH)

Q25. The isolation distance for Certified Seed production of Sorghum hybrid is:

A) 100 m
B) 200 m
C) 300 m
D) 400 m
✅ Answer: B) 200 m

Q26. What is the planting ratio (Female:Male) usually followed in Sunflower hybrid seed production?

A) 1:1
B) 2:1
C) 1:4 or 1:6
D) 10:1
✅ Answer: C) 1:4 or 1:6

Q27. The ‘Pustovoit’ method of breeding was developed for:

A) Wheat
B) Sunflower
C) Maize
D) Rice
✅ Answer: B) Sunflower

Q28. ‘False Septum’ or ‘Replum’ is a characteristic feature of the fruit of:

A) Wheat
B) Mustard
C) Gram
D) Pea
✅ Answer: B) Mustard

Q29. Which of the following Barley varieties is resistant to Nematodes (Molya disease)?

A) Ratna
B) Rajkiran
C) Jyoti
D) Amber
✅ Answer: B) Rajkiran

Q30. ‘Sharbati Sonora’ is a mutant variety of:

A) Rice
B) Wheat
C) Barley
D) Maize
✅ Answer: B) Wheat

Q31. Which crop exhibits ‘Protandry’ (Male matures first)?

A) Bajra
B) Maize
C) Sorghum
D) Wheat
✅ Answer: B) Maize

Q32. The ‘Designated Diseases’ for Sorghum seed production include:

A) Rust and Smut
B) Kernel Smut and Sugary Disease
C) Wilt and Blight
D) Mosaic and Leaf Spot
✅ Answer: B) Kernel Smut and Sugary Disease

Q33. Hybrid Napier is propagated through:

A) Seeds
B) Stem Cuttings / Root Slips
C) Leaf Culture
D) Rhizomes
✅ Answer: B) Stem Cuttings / Root Slips

Q34. Castor belongs to the family:

A) Poaceae
B) Euphorbiaceae
C) Linaceae
D) Asteraceae
✅ Answer: B) Euphorbiaceae

Q35. The chromosome number (2n) of Chickpea (Gram) is:

A) 14
B) 16
C) 22
D) 24
✅ Answer: B) 16

Q36. ‘Caging technique’ for pollination is used in:

A) Guava
B) Mango
C) Aonla
D) Papaya
✅ Answer: B) Mango

Q37. ‘Norin-10’ gene was introduced in wheat breeding from:

A) USA
B) Mexico
C) Japan
D) India
✅ Answer: C) Japan

Q38. Which of the following is a ‘Two-rowed’ barley?

A) Hordeum vulgare
B) Hordeum distichum
C) Hordeum irregulare
D) Hordeum spontaneum
✅ Answer: B) Hordeum distichum

Q39. ‘NA-7’ is a popular variety of:

A) Guava
B) Aonla
C) Mango
D) Berseem
✅ Answer: B) Aonla

Q40. The National Research Centre for Mustard (NRCM) is located at:

A) Kanpur
B) Bharatpur
C) Hisar
D) Ludhiana
✅ Answer: B) Bharatpur

Q41. In Sorghum Hybrid Seed Production, if there is a difference in flowering dates of parents, we use:

A) Staggered Sowing
B) Mixed Cropping
C) Relay Cropping
D) Ratooning
✅ Answer: A) Staggered Sowing

Q42. ‘Malting’ is the primary industrial use of:

A) Wheat
B) Oat
C) Barley
D) Maize
✅ Answer: C) Barley

Q43. Which of the following is an example of ‘Inter-specific’ hybrid in Mango?

A) Mallika
B) Amrapali
C) Sindhu
D) None of these (mostly inter-varietal)
✅ Answer: D) None of these (mostly inter-varietal)
(Note: Sindhu = Ratna × Alphonso, both M. indica)

Q44. The fruit of Sunflower is called:

A) Caryopsis
B) Siliqua
C) Achene
D) Berry
✅ Answer: C) Achene

Q45. Which of the following crops is self-pollinated?

A) Sunflower
B) Maize
C) Wheat
D) Bajra
✅ Answer: C) Wheat

Q46. The optimum time for hand pollination in Sunflower is:

A) 2 PM to 4 PM
B) 8 AM to 10 AM
C) 6 PM to 8 PM
D) Midnight
✅ Answer: B) 8 AM to 10 AM

Q47. ‘Bloom’ (waxy coating) is a characteristic feature of:

A) Sunflower
B) Castor
C) Soybean
D) Groundnut
✅ Answer: B) Castor

Q48. Which Sugarcane species is known as ‘Noble Cane’?

A) Saccharum barberi
B) Saccharum sinense
C) Saccharum officinarum
D) Saccharum spontaneum
✅ Answer: C) Saccharum officinarum

Q49. The ‘Staminodes’ (sterile stamens) are found in the flowers of:

A) Linseed
B) Mustard
C) Wheat
D) Gram
✅ Answer: A) Linseed

Q50. ‘Double Zero’ (00) varieties in Rapeseed-Mustard refer to low content of:

A) Oil and Protein
B) Erucic Acid and Glucosinolates
C) Fibre and Ash
D) Moisture and Impurity
✅ Answer: B) Erucic Acid and Glucosinolates

Section B: Crop improvement (Rabi crops) fill in the blanks

1. The botanical name of Macroni Wheat is ____________.

Ans: Triticum durum

2. In Barley, the classification into 2-row and 6-row is based on the fertility of ____________ spikelets.

Ans: Lateral (Side wale)

3. The Chickpea variety ‘Phule Vikram’ is specifically developed for ____________ harvesting.

Ans: Mechanical (Machine se katayi ke liye)

4. In Sunflower head, the outer ‘Ray Florets’ are sexually ____________.

Ans: Sterile (Inme seed nahi banta)

5. The opening of florets in Safflower (Kusum) starts from the margin towards the center, this order is called ____________.

Ans: Centripetal

6. Linseed (Alsi) flowers contain 5 fertile stamens and 5 sterile stamens called ____________.

Ans: Staminodes

7. The chromosome number ( $2n$ ) of Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is ____________.

Ans: 38 (Mustard ka 36 hota hai)

8. The arrangement of stamens in Mustard flower is $2+4$ , which is technically known as ____________ condition.

Ans: Tetradynamous

9. Hybrid Napier is a cross between Bajra and Napier, and it is genetically ____________ in nature.

Ans: Sterile (Triploid)

10. The first Pearl Millet (Bajra) hybrid released in India in 1965 was ____________.

Ans: HB-1 (Hybrid Bajra-1)

11. CSH-1, the first Sorghum hybrid, was released in the year ____________.

Ans: 1964

12. Berseem seeds are typically ____________ in color.

Ans: Yellowish

13. The wild species of Sugarcane used largely for transferring disease resistance is ____________.

Ans: Saccharum spontaneum (Kans grass)

14. Dormancy in Potato tubers can be broken by treating them with ____________ chemical.

Ans: Thiourea (or Gibberellic Acid / GA3)

15. Germination in Field Pea (Matar) is of ____________ type.

Ans: Hypogeal (Cotyledons mitti ke andar rehte hain)

16. Polyembryony (one seed, multiple plants) is commonly found in Mango varieties of ____________ India.

Ans: South (e.g., Olour, Bellary)

17. Aonla trees exhibit flowering ____________ times in a year.

Ans: Two (Feb-March & June-July)

18. The famous Guava variety ‘L-49’ is also popularly known as ____________.

Ans: Sardar Guava

19. According to gene pool concept, the gene pool where inter-mating is easy and produces fertile hybrids is called ____________ Gene Pool.

Ans: Primary (GP1)

20. The most popular model for stability analysis was proposed by ____________ and ____________ in 1966.

Ans: Eberhart and Russell

21. MLKS-15 is a ____________ variety of wheat developed to control rust.

Ans: Multiline

22. The seed coat of ‘Desi’ Chickpea is ____________ and colored, while Kabuli is smooth and white.

Ans: Rough (Khurdura)

23. The outer cover or pericarp of Sunflower seed is called ____________.

Ans: Hull

24. Castor belongs to the family ____________.

Ans: Euphorbiaceae

25. The fibre obtained from Linseed stem is commercially known as ____________.

Ans: Flax (Linen)

26. Brassica napus (Rapeseed) is an amphidiploid developed from the cross of B. oleracea and ____________.

Ans: B. rapa (triangle of U concept)

27. In Bajra, the inflorescence is a terminal ____________ spike.

Ans: Drooping (Latakne wala)

28. Seed setting in Sugarcane is possible only in ____________ climatic conditions (like Coimbatore).

Ans: Tropical (Warm & Humid)

29. Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Badshah are resistant to ____________ disease of potato.

Ans: Late Blight

30. In Castor, sex expression is influenced by environment; Winter season promotes ____________ flowers.

Ans: Female (Aur Summer/Kharif promote karta hai Male ko)

Section- C : Top 20 MCQs in other important topics

Q1. The term ‘Crop Ideotype’ was coined by:

A) N.I. Vavilov
B) C.M. Donald
C) M.S. Swaminathan
D) Jennings
✅ Answer: B) C.M. Donald (1968; Wheat ideotype)

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a feature of ‘Wheat Ideotype’ proposed by Donald?

A) Short strong stem
B) Erect leaves
C) Few small leaves
D) Long and drooping leaves
✅ Answer: D) Long and drooping leaves

Q3. Germplasm conservation in its natural habitat (e.g., Gene Sanctuary) is known as:

A) Ex-situ conservation
B) In-situ conservation
C) In-vitro conservation
D) Cryopreservation
✅ Answer: B) In-situ conservation

Q4. Seeds that lose viability drastically if moisture content is reduced below 12–30% (cannot be dried) are called:

A) Orthodox Seeds
B) Breeder Seeds
C) Recalcitrant Seeds
D) Certified Seeds
✅ Answer: C) Recalcitrant Seeds (Example: Mango, Cocoa)

Q5. In Gene Pool classification, ‘Primary Gene Pool (GP1)’ includes:

A) Species that cross easily and produce fertile hybrids
B) Species that produce sterile hybrids
C) Distant relatives
D) Only wild weeds
✅ Answer: A) Species that cross easily and produce fertile hybrids

Q6. Who proposed the ideotype for Rice?

A) Mock and Pearce
B) Jennings
C) Donald
D) Swaminathan
✅ Answer: B) Jennings (1964)

Q7. Quantitative characters (like Yield) are typically governed by:

A) Oligogenes (Few genes)
B) Polygenes (Many genes)
C) Single gene
D) Cytoplasmic genes
✅ Answer: B) Polygenes

Q8. ‘Base Collection’ of germplasm is stored at:

A) 0°C to 15°C
B) Room Temperature
C) -18°C to -20°C
D) 25°C
✅ Answer: C) -18°C to -20°C (Long term storage)

Q9. Which organization in India is responsible for Germplasm collection and conservation?

A) ICAR
B) IARI
C) NBPGR
D) ICRISAT
✅ Answer: C) NBPGR (National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi)

Q10. The concept of ‘Ideotype’ for Maize was proposed by:

A) Mock and Pearce
B) Donald
C) Swaminathan
D) Borlaug
✅ Answer: A) Mock and Pearce (1975)

Q11. Qualitative characters (like Flower Color) show:

A) Continuous variation
B) Discontinuous variation (Distinct classes)
C) High environmental effect
D) Low heritability
✅ Answer: B) Discontinuous variation

Q12. ‘Genetic Erosion’ refers to:

A) Creation of new varieties
B) Loss of genetic diversity due to replacement of landraces
C) Soil erosion
D) Mutation
✅ Answer: B) Loss of genetic diversity due to replacement of landraces

Q13. ‘Active Collections’ are stored for medium term (10–15 years) at:

A) -20°C
B) 0°C to 15°C
C) 30°C
D) 50°C
✅ Answer: B) 0°C to 15°C (Medium term; breeding work use)

Q14. The ideotype for ‘Rainfed Cotton’ includes:

A) Fewer small and thick leaves
B) Large leaves
C) Late maturity
D) High water requirement
✅ Answer: A) Fewer small and thick leaves

Q15. The ‘Tertiary Gene Pool (GP3)’ produces:

A) Fully fertile hybrids
B) Partially fertile hybrids
C) Sterile hybrids (requires tissue culture)
D) Vigorous hybrids
✅ Answer: C) Sterile hybrids

Q16. Land races (Desi varieties) are characterized by:

A) High Yield but Low Adaptability
B) High Genetic Diversity and Broad Adaptability
C) Genetic Uniformity
D) Susceptibility to all diseases
✅ Answer: B) High Genetic Diversity and Broad Adaptability

Q17. Which of the following is an example of ‘Orthodox Seed’ (Can be dried and stored)?

A) Mango
B) Coconut
C) Wheat
D) Rubber
✅ Answer: C) Wheat

Q18. The proposed ideotype for Sorghum by Swaminathan (1972) emphasizes:

A) Low Harvest Index
B) High Harvest Index (>30%)
C) Small Ear Head
D) Late Maturity
✅ Answer: B) High Harvest Index (>30%)

Q19. Stability Analysis model Y = μ + bi + S²di was proposed by:

A) Finlay and Wilkinson
B) Eberhart and Russell
C) Perkins and Jinks
D) Mendel
✅ Answer: B) Eberhart and Russell (1966)

Q20. ‘Cryopreservation’ involves storage of germplasm in:

A) Liquid Nitrogen (-196°C)
B) Refrigerator
C) Oven
D) Field
✅ Answer: A) Liquid Nitrogen (-196°C)

Top 10 fill in the blanks in other important topics

21. The sum total of all alleles/genes present in a crop species and its wild relatives is called ____________.

Ans: Germplasm (or Gene Pool)

22. Wheat Ideotype was proposed by the scientist ____________ in 1968.

Ans: C.M. Donald

23. Seeds which can be dried to low moisture content (5%) without losing viability are called ____________ seeds.

Ans: Orthodox

24. NBPGR stands for National Bureau of ____________.

Ans: Plant Genetic Resources

25. The gene pool from which gene transfer is difficult and hybrids are sterile is called ____________ gene pool.

Ans: Tertiary (GP3)

26. Yield is a ____________ character because it is governed by many genes.

Ans: Quantitative

27. Conservation of germplasm away from its natural habitat (e.g., in gene banks) is called ____________ conservation.

Ans: Ex-situ

28. According to Jennings, Rice ideotype should have ____________ and thick leaves.

Ans: Short, Erect

29. The gradual replacement of old Land Races by modern varieties leads to ____________.

Ans: Genetic Erosion

30. The Active Collection is generally used for ____________ and multiplication in breeding programs.

Ans: Evaluation (or Distribution)

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👉Top 100 Crop Improvement in Rabi Crops MCQs + Fill in Blanks + One Liners (Exam Special)