Plant Introduction and Acclimatization

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Questions and Answers

What is the first step in the plant introduction procedure?

Plant procurement or procurement of Germplasm (correct)

Entry and plant quarantine

Multiplication and distribution

Cataloguing

Which of the following materials may be classified as a propagule?

Fertilizer

Pests

Seeds (correct)

Soil

What is the main purpose of plant quarantine during the introduction process?

To classify plant species

To prevent pests and diseases from entering the country (correct)

To evaluate plant performance

To multiply and distribute plants

After introduction, how is the specimen categorized if it is an 'Exotic collection'?

Prefix 'EC' Signup and view all the answers

What does the evaluation step in plant introduction aim to assess?

Resistance to diseases and pests Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is responsible for the requisition of introducing new crop plants or varieties domestically?

NBPGR Signup and view all the answers

What is done to the propagules before despatch?

They are cleaned and treated with fungicides Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the groups plant materials are classified into after cataloguing?

Hybrid collection Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between primary and secondary introduction in plant introduction?

Primary introduction has the introduced variety well suited without alteration. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a purpose of plant introduction?

Acclimatization of local species Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main aspects necessary for successful plant introduction?

Domestication and Acclimatization Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence the success of acclimatization?

Selection of local varieties Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes germplasm conservation?

It helps maintain genetic diversity among various plant lines. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as the process of bringing a wild species under cultivation?

Domestication Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a secondary introduction?

It requires the selection and hybridization of local varieties. Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of the place effect in acclimatization?

It influences how well a species adapts to its new environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is one major disadvantage of introducing new plant species?

Introduction of weeds, diseases, and pests Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases has been introduced along with plant materials in India?

Potato late blight Signup and view all the answers

Which introduced crop species is NOT mentioned as being introduced to India?

Sugarcane Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the methods used to enhance introduced crop varieties for improved traits?

Mutation breeding Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the selection of desirable varieties from introduced plant materials?

Selection Signup and view all the answers

What role do introduced varieties play in hybridization programs?

They can act as donors for disease and pest resistance. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following crop varieties is an example of direct multiplication leading to new varieties?

Sonora 64 Signup and view all the answers

What is a common consequence of plant introduction during periods of weak quarantine?

Rapid spread of weeds and diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in India?

Managing the gene bank and coordinating plant introduction. Signup and view all the answers

Which substation of NBPGR is focused on acclimatizing plant material for the arid zone?

Jodhpur Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes a merit of plant introduction?

It can lead to the immediate availability of new crop plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Botanical Survey of India in the context of plant introduction?

To introduce medicinal plants and species of botanical significance. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Amravati substation play in the plant introduction process?

It conducts acclimatization and multiplication for the central zone. Signup and view all the answers

Which substation of NBPGR is located in the temperate zone?

Shimla Signup and view all the answers

Why is the introduction of certain varieties to newer areas beneficial?

It may protect them from specific diseases. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of germplasm collection is specifically coordinated by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun?

Introduction and testing of forest trees. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction of Plants

Plant introduction involves bringing plants from their original environment to a new one
This can be done with new crop varieties, wild relatives of crops, or entirely new crop species
Primary introduction: When the introduced variety is well-suited to the new environment and released commercially without genetic modifications
Secondary introduction: When the introduced variety undergoes selection or hybridization with local varieties to develop improved characteristics

Acclimatization

Acclimatization is the process of a crop plant adjusting to a new climate and soil conditions
Successful acclimatization increases the frequency of well-adapted genotypes, influenced by the crop's breeding system, genetic variation, and duration.
Acclimatization success depends on place effects and selection of new genotypes.

Purpose of Plant Introduction

To provide new food, fiber, wood, or medicinal plants for agriculture, forestry, and industry
To introduce ornamental plants for beautification purposes
To conserve germplasm and prevent the loss of old varieties due to the spread of high-yielding ones
To study plant origins and distribution patterns

Procedure of Plant Introduction

This procedure involves steps like:
- Procurement of plants or germplasm
- Packaging and dispatch
- Entry and plant quarantine
- Cataloguing
- Evaluation
- Multiplication and distribution
- Procurement: Requires submitting a request to the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) or the International Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR)
  - Materials can be obtained through exchanges, purchases, or donations
- Packaging and Despatch: The propagule (seeds, tubers, etc.) is carefully cleaned, treated with fungicides, and packed to ensure viability.
- Entry and Plant Quarantine: Incoming materials are inspected for contaminants, insects, diseases, and nematodes
- Cataloguing: Introduced specimens are given species, variety, and origin identifiers.
- Evaluation: Introduced plants are tested in different environments, assessed for their potential, and evaluated for disease and pest resistance
- Multiplication and Distribution: Promising introduced materials are propagated and released as new varieties after trial periods

Key Agencies in India

The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) is the central plant introduction agency in India, with headquarters in New Delhi and substations for testing plant materials.
NBPGR maintains a gene bank for long-term storage and future use.
It also coordinates the work of other agencies and provides training in plant collection, introduction, and maintenance.
Substations under NBPGR:
- Shimla (for temperate zone)
- Jodhpur (for arid zone)
- Amravati (for central zone)
- KanyaKumari (for tropical zone)
- Shillong (for germplasm from Northeast India)
Other agencies include:
- Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (introduces, acclimatizes, conserves, and tests forest trees)
- Botanical Survey of India (introduces medicinal plants and plants of botanical significance)

Merits and Demerits of Plant Introduction

Merits

Introducing entirely new crop plants
Developing superior varieties through selection or hybridization
Facilitating germplasm collection, maintenance, and genetic variability conservation
Serving as a quick and economical method of crop improvement when introduced material is directly usable
Protecting introduced varieties from diseases in new areas

Demerits

Introduction of weeds, diseases, and pests
Examples:
- Weeds: Argemone, Eichhornia, Lantana
- Diseases: Late blight of potato, flat smut of wheat, coffee rust, bunchy top of banana
- Pests: Potato tuber moth, woolly aphis of apple, fluted scale of Citrus
These issues were more prevalent during a time when quarantine practices were limited

Achievements of Plant Introduction

The process of introduction has brought new crop species and varieties worldwide
Examples:
- New Crop Species: Potato, maize, groundnut, chillies, coffee, rubber, guava, grape, pineapple, and ornamental plants like Gulmohor, Phlox, Salvia, and Aster
- New Crop Varieties:
  - Direct multiplication and release: Dwarf wheat varieties like 'Sonora 64', 'Lerma Rojo', and dwarf rice varieties like 'TN-1', 'IR-8'
  - Selection of desirable varieties: 'Kafyan Sona', 'Sonalika' were selected from introduced Mexican varieties.
  - Donor varieties in hybridization: Introduced varieties used as donors for disease, pest, and stress resistance
  - Mutation breeding: Using mutagens to improve introduced materials lacking certain desirable traits.
  - Sugarcane varieties: Derived from introduced noble cane variety (Saccharum officinarum)

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Description

This quiz covers the concepts of plant introduction and acclimatization, focusing on how plants are brought to new environments and adjusted to local climate conditions. It discusses the processes involved in selecting plant varieties for improved characteristics and their implications for agriculture and forestry.