BL 34D - Crop Ecology

Last Seven Exam Papers

Format: Answer FOUR questions in three hours

June 1992

• 1. Discuss the development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for Plutella xylostella in Barbados. Your strategy should include Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM).
  
  
• 2. Write an essay on Genotype x Environment interaction in relation to cultivar selection programmes.
  
  
• 3. During the evolution of crop plants, both human and natural selection were important.
  
  • (a) Describe three examples of the action of each type of selection.
  • (b) Discuss, with examples, how selection for improved palatability has created problems for farmers.
    
    
• 4. Describe and discuss plant propagation methods.
  
  
• 5. Biotechnology has made it possible to develop plants which produce insecticidal compounds. Discuss this development.
  
  
• 6. The Barbados sugar industry is suffering a yield decline. Discuss possible causes and solutions.
  
  
• 7. Soil is the ideal medium for plant growth. Discuss.
  
  

January 1993

• 1. "Plant breeding is natural selection". Discuss.
  
  
• 2. Write on Plant Breeders' Rights and the patenting of cultivars and genes.
  
  
• 3. Write an essay about Plutella xylostella.
  
  
• 4. Discuss the need for plant quarantine and its effectiveness
  
  
• 5. Using examples, discuss plant vacination (genetically engineering a symbiotic endophyte) and plant transformation (genetically engineering the plant) in relation to pest control.
  
  
• 6. Write an essay on soil conservation.
  
  
• 7. Write on three of the following:-
  • (a) The use of sterile male insects in pest control.
  • (b) Bud age/germination relationships in sugarcane.
  • (c) Grafting.
  • (d) Leaf analysis.
    
    

January 1994

• 1. The evolution of crop plants, including advances made by modern plant breeding, has been a product of natural selection. Discuss.
  
  
• 2. Discuss the premise that genetic engineering, including surrogate transformation, is better than traditional plant breeding.
  
  
• 3. Why should matching crops to soils be the aim of all agricultures?
  
  
• 4. Soil conservation should be the concern of all citizens of any Caribbean island. Discuss.
  
  
• 5. Write an essay on the conservation of plant genetic resources and the patenting of genes and plant varieties.
  
  
• 6. Explain why insecticide resistance management is an essential component of any integrated pest management programme.
  
  
• 7. Write on three of the following:-
  • (a) autocidal control of pests.
  • (b) weeds.
  • (c) mycorrhizae.
  • (d) cut flowers.
    
    

December 1994

• 1. Discuss the origins of agriculture.
  
  
• 2. Describe and explain the use of the four plant breeding populations - IBL, OPP, HYB and CLO.
  
  
• 3. Discuss the current philosophy of Integrated Pest Management.
  
  
• 4. Describe the basic properties of soils and the methods used to determine them.
  
  
• 5. Discuss the patterns of bud germination in sugarcane.
  
  
• 6. Explain how modern agricultural practices have caused many current disease and pest problems.
  
  
• 7. Write an essay on insecticide resistance
  
  

April/May 1996

• 1. Compare agro- and climax-ecosystems.
  
  
• 2. Discuss the value of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae to agriculture.
  
  
• 3. Describe autocidal control of pests and evaluate its potential for expansion.
  
  
• 4. Describe the main methods of crop propagation. Compare seed propagation and asexual propagation.
  
  
• 5. Write an essay on soil conservation.
  
  
• 6. Discuss the use of Bt genes in tropical crops.
  
  
• 7. With reference to cabbage in Barbados, describe and discuss Integrated Pest Management.
  
  

April/May 1997

• 1. Discuss the effectiveness of plant quarantine.
  
  
• 2. Discuss integrated pest management.
  
  
• 3. Write on domestication and the origins of agriculture.
  
  
• 4. Discuss conservation of plant genetic resources in relation to plant breeding.
  
  
• 5. Desribe how agronomic practices can affect the benefits of Glomalean fungi in agriculture.
  
  
• 6. With reference to Bt and herbicide resistance genes, evaluate molecular breeding including surrogate transformation.
  
  
• 7. Write on three of the following:-
  • (i) grafting
  • (ii) monoculture
  • (iii) soil classification
  • (iv) open pollinated populations
  • (v) bud age/germination relationships in sugarcane

April/May 1998

• 1. Discuss the use of molecular biology techniques in plant breeding.
  
  
• 2. Describe the methods that can be used to control pests.
  
  
• 3. Using examples, discuss the roles of natural and human selection in the evolution of crop plants.
  
  
• 4. Write on genotype x environment interactions in relation to plant breeding and variety trials.
  
  
• 5. Describe how soil parameters can be assessed.
  
  
• 6. Answer both parts.

(a) Describe the characteristics of Saccharum species. [10 marks]
(b) Discuss the use of solar energy by crop plants. [15 marks]

• 7. Write an essay on sustainable agriculture.

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  This page last updated 27 April 1998