Compilation of frequently asked question and answers on ‘Floriculture’ for students.
Q.1. When did the origin of planet earth occur?
Ans. 500 million years ago.
Q.2. When did the origin of man on the planet earth occur?
Ans. 1,50,000 years ago.
Q.3. Dominance of flowering plants started during which period?
Ans. Cenozoic age (60-70 million years ago).
Q.4. Evidences of systematic gardening in India are available from which civilization?
Ans. Indus of Harappan.
Q.5. When did the civilization of Harappan occur?
Ans. Between 2500-1750 BC.
Q.6. What is Floriculture?
Ans. Floriculture is a branch of Horticulture which deals with commercial growing, marketing and arranging flowers and ornamental plants, which includes annuals, biennials and perennials viz., trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials.
Q.7. Who is a Floriculturist?
Ans. A person involved in growing, improving and teaching ornamental horticulture is known as a Floriculturist.
Q.8. Who is a Florist?
Ans. A person dealing the business of cut flowers, cut greens, loose flowers and floral products is known as a Florist.
Q.9. Who is an Amateur Gardener?
Ans. A person who grows and arranges flowers and ornamental plants for personnel satisfaction and not for financial gains is known as an amateur gardener.
Q.10. Why we should practice gardening?
Ans. i. Gardening is a confluence of science and beauty.
ii. Gardening provides the feeling of peace and tranquility.
iii. It reduces the stress and offers a sense of self-esteem and mastery of environment.
iv. It is a kind of therapy used in psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals, physical rehabilitation centres, Homes for elderly, prisons and educational institutions.
v. It helps the individuals to overcome the diagnosed problems or cope with the problems much better while developing relationship with the plants and landscape.
vi. The patients achieve higher level of personnel development and satisfaction.
vii. It can be concluded that the gardening is providing a three prolonged service to the mankind as scientific, educational and social.
Q.11. How much is the share of dry flower products in total export?
Ans. Out of total export of floricultural products, about 60-70 per cent share is from dried flowers and plants.
Q.12. How much value flower market is estimated in Delhi?
Ans. Rs. 500 crores.
Q.13. How much is total investment in floriculture sector under Hi-tech floriculture?
Ans. Total investment in Floriculture sector is over Rs. 10000 million.
Q.14. How much budgetary provision made for development of floriculture?
Ans. In, XI five-year plan Rs. 200.93 million has been sanctioned for the development of floriculture.
Q.15. How much support National Horticulture Board is doing to uplift floriculture industry?
Ans. National Horticulture Board through area expansion of flower crops has released subsidy for 4832 acres amounting to Rs. 70 crores from 2002-03 to 2008-09 for the development of floriculture in country.
Q.16. Which are important institutions, where work on breeding of ornamentals has been done in India?
Ans. i. IARI New Delhi
ii. NBRI Lucknow
iii. IIHR Bangalore
iv. NBPGR New Delhi
v. TNAU Coimbatore
vi. PAU Ludhiana
vii. BCKVV Kalyani
viii. UAS Bangalore
ix. IHBT Palampur
x. BSI Kolkata
xi. BARC Mumbai
xii. The Agri-horticultural Society of India, Kolkata
xiii. Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar
xiv. Lalbagh Garden, Bangalore
xv. Horticultural Experiments and Training Centre Chaubatia, Ranikhet, (UK).
Q.17. Which was the first rose cultivar developed in the world?
Ans. La France cultivar of Hybrid Tea rose in 1867 by Guillot in France.
Q.18. Which was the first rose cultivar developed in India?
Ans. Cultivar Dr SD Mukherjee in 1935 by BK Roy Chowdhury, a nurseryman of Santhal Parganas.
Q.19. Who were/are important rose breeders in India?
Ans. i. BP Pal
ii. BK Roy Chowdhury
iii. BS Bhattacharjee
iv. MS Viraraghvan
v. Braham Dutt . MN Hardikar
vi. PL Airun
vii. Arpi Thakur
viii. JP Agarwal
ix. YK Hande
x. S Benerjee
xi. SC Dey
xii. RS Malik
xiii. Vishnu Swarup
xiv. Brijendra singh
xv. AP Singh
xvi. US Kaicker.
Q.20. What are the major objectives of breeding roses?
Ans. i. Vigorous roses
ii. Free blooming
iii. Good shape and size of flowers
iv. Striking colours
v. Strong fragrance, and
vi. Resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Q.21. What are important breeding methods to develop new roses?
Ans. i. Seedling selection (open pollinated)
ii. Hybridization
iii. Mutation, and
iv. Polyploidy.
Q.22. Which are leading institutions in breeding the roses?
Ans. i. IARI New Delhi
ii. NBRI Lucknow
iii. Private nurseries, and
iv. Amateur gardeners.
Q.23. Which is national flower of India?
Ans. Lotus.
Q.24. How much is Indian share in global flower trade?
Ans. Below 0.4 per cent.
Q.25. How much value flower trade is being done in India?
Ans. Rs. 1000 crores.
Q.26. When division of Floriculture and Landscape Gardening now named as Division of Ornamental crops was started at IIHR Bangalore?
Ans. 1969
Q.27. When division of Floriculture and Landscaping at IARI, New Delhi was opened?
Ans. 1983
Q.28. When the first All India Coordinated Floriculture Improvement Project started in India?
Ans. First All India Coordinated Floriculture Improvement Project was started in 1971 with its head quarter at IARI New Delhi, which has 15 funded, five ICAR institution’s and two volunteer centers. Under this project research on eight crops viz. rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, gladiolus, orchids, anthurium, tuberose and gerbera is being carried out.
Q.29. Where is the H.Q of Project Directorate on Floriculture?
Ans. Division of Floriculture and Landscaping IARI, Pusa, New Delhi. Now this has been shifted to COA, Pune w.e.f. 2014.
Q.30. Who is first Director of PD (Floriculture) in ICAR?
Ans. Dr. Ramesh Kumar (previously Professor and Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, COA, PAU, Ludhiana) has been appointed as the founder Director of Project Directorate on Floriculture Research of ICAR in 2010.
Q.31. Who is Dr. K.L. Chadha?
Ans. Dr. K.L. Chadha was first DDG (Horticulture), first Horticulture Commissioner, first Executive Director, National Horticulture Board and first national Professor (Horticulture) at IARI, Pusa, New Delhi.
Q.32. Who are other DDG (Horticulture)?
Ans. Other DDG (Horticulture) are Dr. S.P. Ghosh, Dr. G. Kalloo, Dr. H.P. Singh and Dr. N.K. Krishna Kumar.
Q.33. Who are noted agricultural scientists in India?
Ans. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan was the first agriculture scientist to become Secretary to Govt., of India and Dr. B.P Pal, first Director General, ICAR has developed 105 cultivars of Roses.
Q.34. Who are noted rose-breeders in India?
Ans. Noted Rose breeders Shri B.S. Bhattacharji & his sons have developed 125 cultivars of roses.
Q.35. How many rose and bougainvillea cultivars so far released in India?
Ans. In, India about 600 cultivars of Roses and 150 of Bougainvillea have been developed.
Q.36. What is contribution of IARI, Pusa New Delhi in rose breeding?
Ans. IARI New Delhi has released 65 cultivars of Roses and about 800 cultivars are maintained at Division of Floriculture and Landscaping.
Q.37. What is the contribution of Lt. Governor of Himachal Pradesh Shri Bajrang Bahadur Singh Bhadari?
Ans. He has developed 160 cultivars of Gladiolus in the garden of Raj Bhavan.
Q.38. Swami Vinayananda of R.K. Math has made notable contribution in breeding of which flower crop in India?
Ans. Dahlia.
Q.39. What is the contribution of NBRI Lucknow in floriculture?
Ans. Number of cultivars of Chrysanthemum, Gladiolus, Amaranthus, Rose, Bougainvillea and Tuberose has been developed through mutation breeding.
Q.40. Where is the National Registration Center for Chrysanthemum situated?
Ans. NBRI Lucknow.
Q.41. Who has standardized the dehydration—technology of flowers and foliage at NBRI Lucknow?
Ans. Dr. J.C. Bhutani.
Q.42. What is the contribution of Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology Palampur?
Ans. Released ten cultivars of Gladiolus and two of Rosa damascena.
Q.43. What is the notable contribution of TNAU Coimbatore in floriculture?
Ans. Jasmine breeding.
Q.44. Who has released first hybrid cultivar of flower crops in India?
Ans. Indo-American Hybrid Seed Co. Bangalore has released first hybrid of Petunia in India in 1967. Dr. Manmohan Attavar, the Managing Director of this company has also released a number of hybrids of Petunia, Gloxinia, Anthurium, Marigold and Geranium.
Q.45. Which private company has maximum acreage under greenhouses?
Ans. In India, maximum area under protected cultivation is in Indo-American Hybrid Seed Co. Bangalore.
Q.46. What is the contribution of Mr. Feroz Masani of Nasik, Maharashtra?
Ans. He has made notable contribution in carnation cultivation.
Q.47. How many projects have been sanctioned for export of flowers in India?
Ans. In, India about 200 projects have been set up for production of flowers for export.
Q.48. What is special about rose cultivar Mohini?
Ans. This has been patented by a private company in USA.
Q.49. What are rose cultivars bred in India for cut flowers?
Ans. Three cultivars of Rose viz., Arjun, Raktagandha and Sindhoor developed in India, have been grown for cut flowers in India.
Q.50. What are important genera of orchids native to India?
Ans. These are Aerides, Arachis, Ascocentrum, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Renanthera, Rhyncostylis and Vanda.
Q.51. How much flower perfume is being produced globally and what is our share?
Ans. Out of total global production of Jasmine concrete (10 ton) our share is about 2.4 ton.
Q.52. How much is the area under bulbous flowers and what are important bulbous flowers?
Ans. In, India about 3500 ha area is under bulbous ornamentals with maximum in gladiolus (1200 ha) followed by tuberose (800 ha). Kalimpong and Sikkim contribute to 30-35% of total bulb export.
Q.53. Where are major flower seed production areas in India situated?
Ans. Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal. Alone in Punjab total area under flower seed is 450 ha with production over 1200q seeds and export over Rs. 60 million. Indo-American Hybrid Seed Co. Bangalore is exporting hybrid seed of petunia, nicotiana, geranium and dog flower.
Q.54. How many companies in India are engaged in micro-propagation of ornamental crops?
Ans. In India 122 tissue-culture labs with a capacity over 245 million plants per annum have been set up maximum in Maharashtra (28), Karnataka (18), Tamil Nadu (12), Andhra Pradesh (10) and Kerala (9) up to 2000-01. Kumar Gentech, Cadila Tissue-culture, A.V. Thomas, Indo American Hybrid Seed Co. are important organizations producing micro- propagated plants. Gerbera, carnation, chrysanthemum, anthurium, rose, orchids and foliage plants are commercially produced by these companies.
Q.55. What are new flower crops emerging in floriculture industry in India?
Ans. Achillea, Actinopus, Aconitum, Alstroemeria, Alstresias, Anemone, Anzioganthus, Aquilegia, Banksia, Bouvardia, Boronia, Campanula Ceratopetalum, Chamelauciium, Crocosmia, Cyrtanthus, Eustoma, Eriostemon, Geraldton, Isopogon, Leucandendron, Leucospermum, Leptospermum, Liatris, Limonium, Omithogallum, Osteospermum, Oxalis, Ozothamnus, Protea, Ptilotus, Solidago, Veltheimia, Watsonia and Zantedechsia are important specialty flower crops of great interest and importance in Indian Floriculture.
Q.56. What are important cultivars of various ornamental crops being grown for export in India?
Ans. i. Export rose cultivars- Cora, Corvetti, Diplomat, Femma, First Red, Grand gala, Kiss, Konfetti, Lambada, Laser, Nicole, Noblesse, Osiana, Papillon, Parea, Pavrotte, Rodeo, Rossini, Sacha, Samura, Sandy, Sangaria, Soledo, Susanne, Texas, Tineke, Vivaldi.
ii. Export carnation cultivars- Dona, Pink Dona, Malaga, White Dona, Rony, Rhodos, Lipstick, Empire, Romana, White Tendra, Corleone, Design, Natila, Dark Tempo, Bagatel silvery pink, Solar, Cobra, Pendy, Lorella, Cabaret, Tanga, Sonsara and Dakar.
iii. Export chrysanthemum cultivars- Snow ball, Snow Don White, Mountaineer, Sonar Bangla, Bright golden, Anne, Chandrama, Ajay, Birbal Sahni, Lehmans, Nanako, Sonali Tara.
iv. Export gladiolus cultivars- Cartago, Eurovision, Priscilla, Spic & Span, Nova, Peter pears, Mayur, American Beauty and Topaz.
v. Export Lilium cultivars- Asiatic- Connecticut King, Gran, Paradiso, Elite, Pollyana, Prato and Solemio. Oriental- Star Gazer, Macropolo and Casablanca.
vi. Export cultivars (genera) of orchids- Dendrobium, Mokaras, Arandas, Cymbidium and Oncidium.
vii. Export Gerbera cultivars- Diana, Anneke, Nette, Rosetta, Gloria, Ginna, Ingrid, Pricilla, Alexias and Monique.
viii. Export Alstroemeria cultivars- Sangria, King cardinal, Tiara, Mona Lisa, Jessica, Gold finger, Aladdin, Victoria, Diana, Ursula, Azula, Amanda, Rostita, Jupiter, Purple sensation and Granada.
ix. Export Tulip cultivars- Monte Carlo, Golden Apeldoorm, Christmas Marvel, Prominence, Apeldoorn, Lustige Witwe and white Dream.
x. Export Zantedeschia cultivars- Black eyed beauty, black magic, Dominique, Galaxy, Hazel Marie, Mango and Sorrento.
Q.57. Which was first website started in India for auction of flowers?
Ans. www(dot)rosebazar(dot)com was the first and the only online flower auction facility at Bangalore initiated by Karuturi Floritech Ltd. (Karuturi Networks Ltd.) started in March 2000.
Q.58. Where is National Horticulture Board H.Q. situated?
Ans. Gurgaon, Haryana.
Q.59. Where is ICAR H.Q. situated?
Ans. Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi.
Q.60. Where is ASRB H.Q. situated?
Ans. Pusa, New Delhi.
Q.61. When ICAR, IARI, NCA and NSC established in India?
Ans. i. Imperial (now Indian) Council of Agricultural Research was established on May 23, 1929 at New Delhi and was renamed on June 10, 1947.
ii. IARI was founded in 1905 at Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, and before independence it was known as Imperial Agricultural Research Institute, and it was shifted to New Delhi in 1936.
iii. The National Commission on Agriculture in India was established in 1970.
iv. The National Seed Corporation of India was founded in 1963 at New Delhi.
Q.62. What are important flowering trees for landscaping in mid hill areas?
Ans. i. Bauhinia purpurea
ii. B. retusa
iii. B. variegata
iv. Butea monosperma
v. Grevillea robusta
vi. Lagerstroemia speciosa
vii. Jacaranda mimosaefolia
viii. Koelreuteria paniculata
ix. Magnolia grandiflora
x. Michelia champaca
xi. Punica granatum
xii. Prunus cerasoides.
Q.63. What are important flowering trees for landscaping in high hill areas?
Ans. i. Aesculus indica
ii. Bauhinia variegata
iii. Bombax ceiba
iv. Grevillea robusta
v. Koelreuteria paniculata
vi. Magnolia grandiflora
vii. Malus domestica
viii. Michelia champaca
ix. Prunus cerasoides
x. P. persica
xi. Rhododendron arboreum
xii. Robinia pseudocasia.
Q.64. What are important foliage trees for landscaping in mid hill areas?
Ans. i. Abies spectabilis
ii. Acer oblongum
iii. Agathis robusta
iv. Acrocarpus fraxinifolius
v. Cinnamomum camphora
vi. Cupressus funebris
vii. Ficus glomerata
viii. Pinus wallichiana
ix. Podocarpus chinensis
x. Sapium sebiferum
xi. Thuja orientalis.
Q.65. What are important foliage trees for landscaping in high hill areas?
Ans. i. Abies spectabilis
ii. Acer pictum
iii. Agathis robusta
iv. Cedrus deodara
v. Cryptomeria japonica
vi. Cupressus sempervirens
vii. Ginkgo biloba
viii. Juniperus chinensis
ix. Picea smithiana
x. Pinus wallichiana
xi. Platanus orientalis
xii. Podocarpus chinensis
xiii. Populus ciliata
xiv. Salix alba
xv. S. babylonica
xvi. S. teterasperma.
Q.66. How many ornamental plants have sweet-smelling flowers?
Ans. Over one thousand.
Q.67. Which is the largest perfume producing country?
Ans. Bulgaria.
Q.68. Which perfume is costliest in the world?
Ans. Rose perfume.
Q.69. Which ornamental plants have been commercially exploited to extract essential oils for use in perfumery?
Ans. i. Rose
ii. Jasmine
iii. Tuberose
iv. Carnation
v. Champak
vi. Honey-suckle
vii. Hyacinth
viii. Iris.
ix. Marigold
x. Plumeria
xi. Sweet pea
xii. Narcissus
xiii. Gardenia
xiv. Magnolia, and
xv. Sweet violet.
Q.70. Which species of roses {Rosa) are commercially grown for oil extraction?
Ans. i. Rosa damascena (0.05%)
ii. R. bourboniana (0.04%)
iii. R. centifolia (0.01%)
iv. R. foetida
v. R. gallica
vi. R. moschata
vii. Cultivar- Rose Sherbet developed by Dr. B. P. Pal.
Q.71. What are important cultivars of Rosa damascena developed in India?
Ans. i. NBRI Lucknow- Noorjahan.
ii. IHBT Palampur- Himroz (for hills) and Jawala (for plains).
Q.72. Which species of jasmines (Jasminum) are commercially grown for oil extraction?
Ans. i. Jasminum auriculatum (0.29%)
ii. J. grandiflorum (0.25-0.30%)
iii. J. sambac (0.14%).
Q.73. What are important cultivars of Jasmines?
Ans. i. TNAU Coimbatore-Jasminum auriculatum- Co.1 Mullai, Parimullai, Large Round, Large Point, Short Point. Jasminum grandiflorum- Co.1 Pitchi, Co.2 Pitchi. Jasminum sambac- Adukkaumalii, Elusuttumallige, Iruvatchi, Mohra, Madanban, Ramabanam, Virupakshi.
ii. IIHR, Bangalore- Surabhi.
Q.74. What are important cultivars of tuberose?
Ans. i. NBRI, Lucknow- Rajat Rekha (Single), Swarna Rekha (Double).
ii. IIHR, Bangalore- Shringar (Single), Suvasini (Double), Prajwal (Single), Vaibhav (Double).
Q.75. Which methods are commercially used to extract essential oil from flowers?
Ans. i. Enfleurage or cold fat extraction.
ii. Maceration or hot fat extraction.
iii. Solvent extraction (petroleum ether and benzene).
iv. Super-critical fluid extraction.
Q.76. How essential oils are stored?
Ans. i. Most essential oils exhibit deterioration through oxidation and polymerization upon prolonged exposure to air and light.
ii. Hence, keep essential oil in closed, completely filled containers in dark in cool cellars.
iii. Without this, the essence become less intense, grow darker and more viscous, develop a bleaching effect and change into brown and odourless resin.
Q.77. How old rose is being grown in India for perfume?
Ans. i. First reference of rose perfume is in Charaka Sanghita.
ii. Rose water and rose perfume were known to Indian civilization before Vedic period.
iii. Archeological excavations in Harappan civilization say that rose- distillation were more than five thousand years old.
iv. Nurjahan wife of Jahangir first reported to extract rose oil and named it ‘Attre Jahangiri’ while taking bath in hot water filled with rose petals.
Q.78. What is the optimum temperature for storing gladiolus corms?
Ans. 4 to 7°C
Q.79. What is the average yield of gladiolus spikes and corms per hectare?
Ans. i. Spikes- 2.0-3.0 lakhs (1-2 spikes per plant).
ii. Corms- 2.5-3.0 lakhs (2 corms per plant).
iii. Cormels- 15-20 lakhs (10-20 cormels per plant).
Q.80. From where Lilium origin?
Ans. Asia (49), Europe (12) and North America (24)
Q.81. What are two important groups of Lilium?
Ans. i. Oriental
ii. Asiatic
Q.82. What are important characteristics of Oriental lilies?
Ans. i. Derived from species Lilium aurantium, L. speciosum and L. rubellum.
ii. These are late flowering lilies.
iii. Flowers are mostly white and pink.
iv. Flowers are mostly fragrant.
v. Leaves are broader and almost parallel to ground
vi. Bulbs are large 16-22 cm.
Q.83. What are important characteristics of Asiatic lilies?
Ans. i. Derived from hybridization of 12 species viz., Lilium amabile, L. bulbiferum, L. concolor, L. dauricum, L. davidii, L. hollandicum, L. maculatum, L. leichtlinii, L. pumilum and L. tigrinum.
ii. These have extended range of flowering period.
iii. Flower colour varies from orange, red, yellow, etc.
iv. Flowers are mostly odourless
v. Leaves are narrow and upward growing
vi. Bulbs are small 10-16 cm.
Q.84. What are important cultivars of Lilium for export?
Ans. i. Asiatic—Connecticut King, Elite, Pollyana, Prato, Solemio, Cordellia, Grand Paradise, Brunellow, Dream Land, Mercedes, Novcento, etc.
ii. Oriental—Star Gazer, Macropolo and Casablanca.
Q.85. Which cultivars of Lilium are preferred by most of consumers?
Ans. i. Those cultivars which do not stain clothes and table with their pollen.
ii. Important such cultivars are Tiara (pink single), Aphrodite (pink double) and sphinx (red double).
Q.86. How Lilium is commercially propagated?
Ans. i. Seeds (plants raised are free from viral diseases)
ii. Bulblets
iii. Scales
iv. Bulbils (L. bulbiferum, L. sargentiae, L. tigrinum and L. wallichianum).
Q.87. What is most ideal soil or medium for growing Lilium?
Ans. i. Soil which is well drained and very rich in organic matter having pH 6.5-7.5
ii. Adequate growing medium is soil : peat moss :: 1:1 or soil : peat moss : perlite :: one part each.
Q.88. What is most ideal climate for growing Lilium?
Ans. i. Temperature (Day: 18-25°C and Night: 12-18°C)
ii. Partial shade (40-50%)
iii. Good aeration/ventilation.
Q.89. What is the ideal planting time for Lilium in different regions?
Ans. i. N.I. plains- Oct.-Nov.
ii. Hills- Feb.-Mar. and July-Sep.
iii. Bangalore- Mar.-April and Aug.-Sep.
Q.90. What is the ideal nutrition schedule for lily?
Ans. NPK :: 30 : 20 : 20 g/m2 and for liquid feeding of NPK :: 14:10: 14.
Q.91. How weeding is done in Lilium?
Ans. i. Three-four hand weeding.
ii. Propyzamide @ 2.25kg/ha and chloropham 3.5 l/ha as pre-emergence.
Q.92. What are important diseases of Lilium?
Ans. i. Gray mould (Botrytis elliptica, B. cinerea)
ii. Soft bulb rot (Rhizopus stolonifer)
iii. Fusarium bulb rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. lilii)
iv. Brown scale (Colletotrichum lilii)
v. Root rot (Pythium splendens)
vi. Bacterial soft rot (Pseudomonas spp.)
vii. Viral diseases (Cucumber mosaic virus, Lily mottle virus, Lily sympomless virus, Arabis mosaic virus, Strawberry latent ring spot virus, etc.).
Q.93. What are important insect-pests of Lilium?
Ans. i. Aphids
ii. Thrips
iii. White flies
iv. Mites.
Q.94. What are important disorders of Lilium?
Ans. i. Leaf scorch (Due to deficiency of Mn, Al which occur at over dose of nitrate level and add lime @ 10 ton/ha).
ii. Bud blast (Due to storage of water at top of plant, competition for nutrients, fluctuating carbohydrate level, low light intensity and high nitrate level).
iii. Puffy foliage (Due to frost injury and stunting of plants).
Q.95. What is optimum stage of harvesting Lilium cut flowers?
Ans. i. Local market- When 1-2 florets open
ii. Distant market- When 1-2 florets show colour.
iii. Store flowers at 1-2°C
iv. Cut stems few centimeter above ground level which increases bulb size.
Q.96. At what stage Lilium bulbs should be harvested?
Ans. i. After 40-50 days of flowering
ii. Foliage start turning yellow.
iii. Store bulbs in moist sand at -2°C for initial three weeks and later on at 0-2°C.
iv. In hilly areas, bulbs can be stored in moist moss/ saw dust and sand.
Q.97. Orchids have origin in which countries?
Ans. South and Central America, Mexico, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, New Guinea and Australia.
Q.98. How many genera, species and cultivars are included in the largest family of flowering plants Orchidaceae?
Ans. i. Genera- 600-800
ii. Species- 25-30 thousand
iii. Cultivars- 50-60 thousand.
Q.99. How many orchid species are native to India?
Ans. 1600 species as given below:
i. North-east: 800
ii. North-west: 200
iii. Central and western India: 200
iv. South and coastal regions: 200.
Q.100. What are important genera of orchids of commercial importance?
Ans. Arandas, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Mokaras, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum and Oncidium.
Q.101. What are important genera of orchids native to India?
Ans. Aerides, Arachnis, Ascocentrum, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Renanthera, Rhynchostilis and Vanda, etc.
Q.102. How orchids are classified on the basis of habitat?
Ans. i. Epiphytic:
Live on the bark of trees or on moss covered rocks, fixing themselves with their strong fasciculate roots. They take nourishment from fine particles of rain water or from the detritus that collects around the roots, contrary to the assumption of their drawing food from the host plant. These orchids can be successfully grown in hanging baskets. Important examples are Aerides, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Phalaenopsis, Rhynchostylis, Vanda, etc.
ii. Terrestrial:
Live or grow on the ground and can be cultivated in pots. The important examples are Calanthe, Cymbidium, Habenaia, Phaius, Spathoglottis, Thunia, etc.
Q.103. How orchids are classified on the basis of growing pattern?
Ans. i. Moriopodial:
The plants grow upward with new leaves produced at the tip and flowers in the axils. They have neither rhizomes nor pseudobulbs. The important examples are Habenaria, Phalaenopsis, Renanthera, Vanda, etc.
ii. Sympodial:
Growth of plant is seized after flowering and new shoots develop every year. The important examples are Bulbophyllum, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Gramatophyllum, etc.
Q.104. How orchids are propagated?
Ans. i. Seeds
ii. Cuttings
iii. Pseudo-bulbs
iv. Offshoots
v. Keiks
vi. Aerial shoots
vii. In vitro propagation.
Q.105. What are important characteristics of potting media?
Ans. i. Good aeration
ii. Well drained
iii. Rich in humus
iv. Retain adequate moisture
v. Supply sufficient nutrients
vi. pH of the growing medium should be neutral to acidic.
Q.106. How Alstroemeria was named?
Ans. Alstroemeria was named in honour of Klas von Alstroemer who brought rhizomes of Alstroemeria pelegrina to his tutor father of plant taxonomy Linneaeus in 1754.
Q.107. Alstroemeria species have origin in which countries?
Ans. South America in Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela and Argentina.
Q.108. In which countries Alstroemeria is being commercially grown?
Ans. Presently maximum acreage under this flower crop is in the Netherlands, USA and UK.
Q.109. What are different uses of Alstroemeria’?
Ans. i. Cut flower
ii. Pot plant
iii. Herbaceous border
iv. Garden flower, as it is regarded as herbaceous perennial in warmer climatic regions.
Q.110. What are important cultivars of Alstroemeria for export?
Ans. Sangria, Pluto, Serena, Piantium, Alladdin, Reena, New Pink, King cardinal, Tiara, Mona Lisa, Jessica, Gold finger, Aladdin, Victoria, Diana, Ursula, Azula, Amanda, Rosita, Jupiter, Purple sensation and Granada.
Q.111. What factors affect the growth and flowering of Alstroemeria?
Ans. i. Alstroemeria prefers cool climate with partial shade.
ii. The control of flowering process requires thermo and photo-phase and thermo-phase requirement must be fulfilled before photo-phase.
iii. The optimum temperature in greenhouse during night and day is 15 and 18°G, respectively.
iv. The newly planted rhizomes/plants should not get more than 13 hours light at least for 6-8 weeks, which will allow the roots to develop sufficiently before flowering.
v. After which supplementary light of more than 16 hours a day ensures early and profused flowering for longer duration.
vi. During summer, when the air- temperature exceeds 30°C and soil temperature exceeds 18°C, the plants become dormant and should normally be divided.
vii. Cool well drained rich in organic matter medium is good for Alstroemeria.
viii. The optimum soil pH is 6 to 7. The ideal medium has one part each of sphagnum peat-moss, soil and sand or soil, perlite, expanded clay and gravel.
Q.112. How Alstroemeria is planted in the field and greenhouse conditions?
Ans. i. The beds should be 15 to 20 cm deep, which will allow the roots to grow during the three- four year production cycle.
ii. The growing-point of rhizomes is planted 7 to 10 cm deep.
iii. The spacing varies with cultivar and purpose whether cultivation is for cut flowers or planting material production or both.
iv. The optimum spacing between plant to plant and row to row is 40 to 50 cm.
v. For growing Alstroemeria in pots the rhizomes should be planted shallow with growing tips 2.5 to 3 cm deep from the surface of soil, which allows plants to produce more branches, therefore, the pot looks filled.
vi. The optimum planting time in hills is September-October or February-March.
Q.113. What is the optimum nutrition for Alstroemeria?
Ans. i. It prefers soil rich in organic matter, therefore, leaf mould or well rotten farm yard manure @ 3 to 5 kg/m2 should be added to the soil.
ii. The optimum nutrient contents in a healthy plant of Alstroemeria are N (4.7%), P (0.4%), K (3.7%), Ca (1.0%), Mg (0.3%), Fe (200 ppm), Mn (59 ppm), Zn (46 ppm), B (15 ppm), Cu (2.6 ppm)
iii. The recommended dose of nutrients is N (3.8-5.6%), P (0.3-0.7%), K (3.7-4.8%) Ca (0.6-1.8%) and Mg (0.2-0.4%). The mixture of (20N : 8.8P : 16.6K) @ 2.5g per litre is also ideal for growing Alstroemeria.
iv. The nitrogen should be applied in nitrate form. The soluble salt reading should always be less than 1.5 m mhos/cm.
Q.114. How irrigation is done in Alstroemeria?
Ans. i. Irrigation depends upon the prevailing weather condition.
ii. However, to keep the soil/ medium moist is beneficial for better growth, flowering and development of rhizomes for which irrigation at 7-10 days interval is ideal.
iii. Nutrients can also be applied with the irrigation water.
Q.115. How to do staking in Alstroemeria?
Ans. i. Galvanized or plastic wire mesh having a square of 20 x 20 cm should be erected in three rows at 30 cm height from one another.
ii. Bamboo sticks along with string can also used in the beds in three rows for supporting Alstroemeria plants.
Q.116. What are important insect-pests of Alstroemeria?
Ans. i. Thrips (These thrips also carry Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus)
ii. Caterpillars
iii. Spider mites
iv. Slugs
v. Snails
vi. Aphids
vii. White fly.
Q.117. What are important diseases of Alstroemeria?
Ans. i. Root rot (Rhizoctonia and Pythium)
ii. Plant or flower rot (Botrytis spp.)
iii. Viral disease (Cucumber mosaic virus).
Q.118. What is optimum yield in Alstroemeria?
Ans. 50-60 cut flowers/ plant/ year
Q.119. How gerbera is called on in various areas?
Ans. i. Transvaal daisy
ii. Barberton daisy
iii. African daisy
Q.120. How genus name Gerbera was coined?
Ans. It was coined in honour of German naturalist, Traugott Gerber.
Q.121. From where gerbera has origin?
Ans. Natal and Transvaal in South African and Asian regions.
Q.122. What are important species in genus Gerbera?
Ans. i. Asplenifolia
ii. Aurantiaca
iii. Jamesonii
iv. Kunzeana
v. Viridifolia
Q.123. What are important export cultivars of Gerbera?
Ans. Diana, Thalsa, Sonsara, Paganini, Anneke, Nette, Rosetta, Gloria, Ginna, Ingrid, Pricilla, Alexias and Monique.
Q.124. What are important factors affecting growth and flowering of gerbera?
Ans. i. Light (Long days are good).
ii. Temperature (Day- 16-22°C and night- 12-15°C).
iii. Growth regulators (GA3 and CCC).
Q.125. How gerbera is propagated?
Ans. i. Seeds
ii. Division of plants
iii. Cuttings
iv. Micro-propagation
Q.126. What is ideal planting density and spacing in gerbera?
Ans. 8-10 plants/m2 or 30 x 30 cm or 40 x 25 cm
Q.127. What is ideal nutrient status in a healthy plant of gerbera for maximum quality flower production?
Ans. N – 2.7-3.1%, P – 0.19-.0.35%, K : 3.06-3.64%, Ca – 1.66-2.18% and Mg – 0.3-0.48%.
Q.128. What are important diseases of gerbera?
Ans. i. Root rot (Pythium irregularae, Rhizoctonia solani).
ii. Foot rot (Phytophthora cryptogea).
iii. Sclerotium rot (Sclerotium rolfsii).
iv. Blight (Botrytis cinerea).
v. Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum, Oidium crysiphoides).
vi. Leaf spots (Phyllosticta gerberae, Alternaria spp.).
vii. Viral disease (Cucumber mosaic virus and Tobacco rattle virus).
Q.129. What are important insect-pests of gerbera?
Ans. i. White fly
ii. Leaf miner
v. Nematodes
Q.130. How gerbera flowers are packed?
Ans. i. In insulated boxes to avoid freezing injury
ii. Plastic coated metal grids 50 x 70 cm with mesh size of 2 x 2 cm.
Q.131. What is the optimum yield of gerbera?
Ans. i. Greenhouse- 200-250 flowers/m2/year.
ii. Open field- 120-150 flowers/m2/year.
Q.132. What is flower arrangement?
Ans. Arranging flowers is a kind of art and a successful flower arranger is a born artist. But, one can become reasonably conversant about this art with proper training, a lot of patience and perseverance.
Q.133. What are different types of flower arrangements?
Ans. i. Japanese flower arrangement (Ikebana)- Emphasis is given on spiritual and religious background and only few flowers are used.
ii. English flower arrangement- Emphasis is given on mass flower arrangement and is primarily a form of art, so as to make the arrangement attractive as far as possible.
Q.134. What is Ikebana?
Ans. i. The first school, ‘Ikebana’ is called as ‘Ikenobo’ meaning it as the arrangement of flowers of the hermitage along a pond’ and it was started by Buddhist monk Semmu around 621 A.D.
ii. Earlier flower offerings were in the form of standing arrangements, which were tall in nature and called as ‘Tatebana’.
iii. ‘Sogestsu’ is a Japanese flower arrangement which does not follow rigid rules of offering flowers to Lord Buddha and flower arrangers can use their imagination after following basic traditional lines of Ikebana.
Q.135. What are three basic lines in all Japanese flower arrangements?
Ans. i. Heaven ‘Shin’
ii. Man ‘Soe’
iii. Earth ‘Hikae’.
Q.136. What are different types of Ikebana?
Ans. i. Moribana
ii. Nageire
iii. Jiyubana
iv. Zeneika
v. Zeneibana
vi. Morimono.
Q.137. What is ‘Moribana’?
Ans. i. ‘Moribana’ means piled flowers, in which arrangements are made in shallow containers.
ii. The flowers and branches are supported with the help of pin holders, which are known as ‘Kensan’ in Japanese language.
iii. This arrangement looks very natural and is often called as natural ‘Ikebana’.
Q.138. What is ‘Nageire’?
Ans. i. ‘Nageire’ means thrown in and flowers are arranged in upright containers.
ii. Flowers must have sufficient stem length and these are supported with the help of cross bar fixture, which may be single or split types.
Q.139. What is ‘Jiyubana’?
Ans. i. ‘Jiyubana’ means free flowers, which can be arranged both in ‘Moribana’ or ‘Nageire’ styles of ‘Ikebana’.
ii. Wood, metal or any other material may be used in addition to flowers.
Q.140. What is ‘Zeneika’?
Ans. i. ‘Zeneika’ means abstract and this style does not simulate nature.
ii. Straight material with uneven height is used.
Q.141. What is ‘Zeneibana’?
Ans. In this style a beautiful sculpture is created using wood, stone, rocks, metal depicting any natural scenery.
Q.142. What is ‘Morimono’?
Ans. In this style fruits, vegetables and flowers are arranged and this style looks like ‘English flower Arrangement’.
Q.143. What is important material required for ‘Ikebana’?
Ans. i. Flower vase
ii. Pin holders
iii. Cross bar fixture (single or split).
iv. Flowers, foliage, wood, fruits or vegetables depending upon style of ‘Ikebana’ to be prepared.
Q.133. What are important principles of ‘Ikebana’?
Ans. i. Harmony
ii. Simplicity
iii. Variety
iv. Balance
v. Proportion
vi. Emphasis or accent or focal point, and
vii. Space.
Q.145. What factors determines the style of arrangement in the room?
Ans. i. Place of keeping arrangement (central or side table).
ii. Drawing, bedding, dining room.
Q.146. What are different ways to use medicinal herbs?
Ans. i. Raw
ii. Fresh
iii. Dried
iv. Powder
v. Extract
vi. Tinctures
vii. Essential oils
viii. Active constituents
ix. Constituent isolates
x. Oleoresins, etc. s
Q.147. How medicinal plants are classified based on economic plant parts?
Ans. i. Drugs obtained from the roots
ii. Drugs obtained from underground stem
iii. Drugs obtained from the bark
iv. Drugs obtained from the stem and wood
v. Drugs obtained from the leaves
vi. Drugs obtained from the flowers
vii. Drugs obtained from the fruits
viii. Drugs obtained from the seeds
ix. Drugs obtained from all plant parts.
Q.148. What is the importance of herbal tea?
Ans. i. Herbal tea has prevalence in the civilization of Chinese and Romans as early as 5000 years ago.
ii. Herbal tea is enjoined for specific effects of wisdom, remembrance, immortality, happiness, bravery, bright outlook, nerve soothing, good sleep, stimulation and body invigoration.
iii. Herbal tea detoxify the body system.
iv. Herbal tea of sage, mint, catnip, anise, savoury, marjoram and rosemary is very common.
Q.149. How much is the share of India in global market of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants?
Ans. 0.04 per cent
Q.150. What are the important medicinal plants in India (Value wise)?
Ans. i. Belladonna
ii. Pyrethrum
iii. Chinchona
iv. Lemon grass
v. Eucalyptus
vi. Senna
vii. Jasmine
viii. Basil
ix. Dioscorea
x. Foxglove
xi. Ergot
xii. Ipecac
xiii. Rauvolfia
xiv. Psyllium
xv. Rose
xvi. Vetiver
xvii. Mint
Q.151. What are different types of tree forms?
Ans. i. Globular or round
ii. Dome like or wide oval
iii. Conical or pyramidal
iv. Cylindrical
v. Columnar or Fastigiated
vi. Cube
vii. Fan like
viii. Bell like
ix. Umbrella like
x. Informal.
Q.152. How trees are classified on the basis of height?
Ans. i. Dwarf- 4-10 meters
ii. Medium- 10-15 m
iii. Tall- 15 m or more.
Q.153. How trees are classified on the basis of canopy-spread?
Ans. i. Small- Up to 6 meters across
ii. Large- More than 6 m across.
Q.154. What are different types of texture?
Ans. i. Fine- Leaves very soft, glaucous, narrow and with high foliage density, i.e. Pines, silver oak
ii. Medium- Leaves comparatively larger than fine texture foliage and glabrous, i.e. Cassia, camphor tree
iii. Coarse- Leaves very large sized, rough, hairy, prickly and sparse foliage, i.e. Kanak champa, coral tree.
Q.155. How trees are classified on the basis of growth rate?
Ans. i. Slow- Less than 2 feet annually
ii. Medium- 2-4 feet
iii. Fast- More than 4 feet.
Q.156. What are different landscape uses of trees?
Ans. i. Specimen plant
ii. Shade tree
iii. Flowering tree
iv. Ornamental fruit tree
v. Avenue tree
vi. Screening
vii. Wind break
viii. Checking air pollution.
Q.157. What should be the characteristics of any tree for planting in avenues?
Ans. i. Good ornamental value throughout year.
ii. Medium size (10-15 m)
iii. Straight trunk up to 5 m
iv. Fast growing
v. Branches non-drooping and unbreakable
vi. Non-thorny.
Q.158. What are different planting times for ornamental trees?
Ans. i. Deciduous- December-January
Ii. Evergreen- July-September and February-March (if irrigation facility available).
Q.159. What is optimum pit size for planting a tree?
Ans. 2 x 2 x 2 feet
Q.160. What are different ways for guarding young tree sapling?
Ans. i. Fencing of thorny bushes
ii. Fencing of bricks
iii. Wire netting
iv. Perforated drums.
Q.161. How would you control attack of white ants on young saplings?
Ans. i. Chloropyriphos (0.05 per cent)
ii. Fenvelarate (5 per cent dust)
iii. Aldrin (5 per cent dust).
Q.162. Name five ornamental trees for planting in moist areas?
Ans. i. Alstonia scholaris
ii. Cassia javanica
iii. Callistemon lanceolatus
iv. Lagerstroemia speciosa
v. Putranjiva roxburghii.
Q.163. Name five ornamental trees for planting in marshy areas?
Ans. i. Eucalyptus hybrida
ii. Eucalyptus umbellatus
iii. Populus deltoides
iv. Salix babylonica
v. Salix tetrasperma.
Q.164. Name five ornamental trees for planting in dry areas?
Ans. i. Acacia nilotica
ii. Acacia mollissima
iii. Butea monosperma
iv. Cassia fistula
v. Erythrina indica.
Q.165. Name five ornamental trees for planting in arid areas?
Ans. i. Albizia iebbek
ii. Butea monosperma
iii. Casuarina equisetifoiia
iv. Meiia azedarach
v. Prosopis juliflora.
Q.166. Name three ornamental trees for planting in saline soils?
Ans. i. Cassia fistula
ii. Casuarina equisetifoiia.
Q.167. Parkinsonia acuieata Name five ornamental trees for sea sores?
Ans. i. Tamarix indica
ii. Pinus heiiopensis
iii. Juniperus vargodensis
iv. Popupus simoni
v. Acer rubrum.
Q.168. Name five ornamental trees for planting as specimen plant?
Ans. i. Araucaria columnaris
ii. Chorisia speciosa
iii. Casuarina equisetifoiia
iv. Magnolia grandiflora
v. Platanus orientalis.
Q.169. Name five ornamental trees for planting as shade tree?
Ans. i. Azadirachta indica
ii. Ficus benghalensis
iii. Pongamia pinnata
iv. Kigellia pinnata
v. Michelia champaca.
Q.170. Name five ornamental trees for planting as wind-break?
Ans. i. Eugeinia jambolana
ii. Pteropspermum acerifolium
iii. Peltophorum ferrugineum
iv. Tabebuia speciosa
v. Delonix regia.