Technology : Biotechnology And Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

Q 7 / 34

UPSC CSE Prelims 2020

With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements:

  1. A substantial saving in seed material is when ‘bud chip setts’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
  2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
  3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
  4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using setts prepared from tissue culture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

Statement 1 is correct. The bud chip method involves preparing single-bud chips, raising them in a nursery, and subsequently transplanting the seedlings into the main field. This technique significantly reduces the quantity of seed material required for cultivation, leading to substantial savings.

Statement 4 is correct. Sugarcane can be propagated using setts derived from tissue culture. This biotechnological method enables the production of disease-free, uniform, and high-yielding planting material, which is beneficial for crop improvement and rapid multiplication.

Incorrect Options

Statement 2 is incorrect. When sugarcane setts are directly planted, multi-budded setts typically exhibit a higher germination percentage compared to single-budded setts. This is due to the presence of multiple buds, increasing the probability of successful sprouting.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Under adverse weather conditions during direct planting, single-budded setts generally have a lower survival rate. Multi-budded setts tend to survive better due to the redundancy provided by multiple buds, offering greater resilience against unfavorable environmental factors.