500 Free MCQs on DDA SO (Horticulture)

Correct Answer: b) Meiosis

Meiosis is the process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that leads to the formation of gametes, introducing genetic variation through recombination and independent assortment. This variation is critical in seed-propagated horticultural plants, unlike mitosis (for growth), apomixis (asexual seed production), or somatic mutation (rare, non-gametic changes).

Correct Answer: c) Grafting

Grafting ensures that the scion (desired cultivar) retains the exact genetic traits of the parent plant, producing true-to-type plants. Apple cultivars do not breed true from seeds due to genetic recombination, and cuttings or layering are less reliable for apples due to rooting challenges.

Correct Answer: b) Vernon Stern

Vernon Stern, along with colleagues in the 1950s, pioneered the concept of IPM, emphasizing the integration of biological, cultural, and chemical controls to manage pests sustainably. Rachel Carson focused on pesticide impacts, Borlaug on crop breeding, and Mendel on genetics.

Correct Answer: b) At full bloom

Gibberellins are applied at full bloom to enhance fruit set in grapes by promoting cell division and elongation, improving fruit development. Application during dormancy, post-harvest, or ripening is less effective for this purpose.

Correct Answer: b) Apical meristem

Auxins, critical for rooting in cuttings, are primarily synthesized in the apical meristem (shoot tips) and transported downward. This concentration promotes cell division and root initiation when cuttings are taken from this region.

Correct Answer: b) It influences nutrient availability

Azaleas require acidic soil (pH 4.5–6.0) for optimal nutrient uptake, particularly iron and magnesium. Incorrect pH can lead to nutrient deficiencies, causing chlorosis or stunted growth, making pH a critical factor in their cultivation.

Correct Answer: b) It reduces variability within blocks

RBD groups experimental units into blocks based on similar conditions (e.g., soil type), reducing variability within blocks and improving the precision of treatment comparisons in horticultural experiments.

Correct Answer: b) Gibberellin

Gibberellins promote seed germination by breaking dormancy, stimulating enzyme production to degrade stored nutrients. Abscisic acid maintains dormancy, cytokinins promote cell division, and ethylene affects ripening.

Correct Answer: b) Minimizes water wastage

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, thus conserving water compared to other methods like flood irrigation.

Correct Answer: b) Cleft grafting

Cleft grafting is ideal for joining a smaller scion to a larger rootstock, as it involves splitting the rootstock and inserting the scion, ensuring good cambial contact despite diameter differences.

Correct Answer: b) Fixes atmospheric nitrogen

Rhizobium bacteria form symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants, fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which the plant uses for growth, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Correct Answer: b) To acclimatize them to external conditions

Hardening gradually exposes tissue-cultured plants to field conditions (e.g., light, humidity), reducing transplant shock and improving survival rates.

Correct Answer: b) Boxwood

Boxwood (Buxus spp.) is preferred for topiary due to its dense, evergreen foliage and slow growth, allowing precise shaping and long-lasting designs.

Correct Answer: d) Winter dormancy

Pruning during winter dormancy encourages vigorous growth in spring by directing energy to new shoots, as the tree is not actively growing and wounds heal quickly.

Correct Answer: b) Above the plants

Shade nets placed above plants reduce light intensity and heat, protecting tropical crops from excessive radiation while maintaining adequate ventilation.

Correct Answer: b) Conserve soil moisture

Mulching covers the soil to reduce evaporation, conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, benefiting vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: c) Pearson’s correlation coefficient

Pearson’s correlation coefficient measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two continuous variables, such as rainfall and fruit yield, making it ideal for this analysis.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes early flowering

Paclobutrazol, a growth regulator, inhibits gibberellin synthesis, promoting early flowering in mango trees by shifting resources to reproductive growth.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces respiration rate

Post-harvest cooling slows down the respiration rate of cut flowers, preserving their energy reserves and extending vase life by delaying senescence.

Correct Answer: c) Root rot

Phytophthora spp. cause root rot in citrus, leading to reduced water and nutrient uptake, wilting, and tree decline, making it a significant concern in orchards.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate shoot proliferation

Cytokinins promote cell division and shoot formation in tissue culture, essential for generating multiple shoots from explants in horticultural propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Raised bed

Raised beds improve drainage and prevent waterlogging, making them ideal for raising vegetable seedlings in areas prone to excess water.

Correct Answer: b) Yuji Yoshimura

Yuji Yoshimura, a Japanese bonsai master, played a key role in popularizing bonsai in the West through his teachings and books in the mid-20th century.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Nitrogen fertilizers applied in early spring support vegetative growth by providing nutrients during the active growth phase of fruit trees.

Correct Answer: b) Coastal areas with high humidity

Orchids thrive in warm, humid environments, making coastal areas with high humidity ideal for commercial nurseries to support their growth and flowering.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances pest resistance

Resistant rootstocks, such as those resistant to phylloxera, protect grapevines from soil-borne pests and diseases, ensuring healthier plants and sustainable production.

Correct Answer: b) Accelerates ripening

Ethylene is a plant hormone that triggers and accelerates the ripening process in climacteric fruits like bananas by promoting starch breakdown and sugar accumulation.

Correct Answer: b) Sandy loam

Sandy loam provides good drainage and aeration while retaining enough moisture, allowing root crops like carrots to develop straight, unhindered roots.

Correct Answer: b) Eliminates viral pathogens

Tissue culture, particularly meristem culture, eliminates viral pathogens by propagating plants from virus-free meristematic tissue, ensuring healthy planting material.

Correct Answer: b) Plasmopara viticola

Plasmopara viticola is the oomycete pathogen causing downy mildew in grapes, characterized by yellowish spots on leaves and reduced yield.

Correct Answer: b) Adds organic matter

Organic mulches decompose over time, adding organic matter to the soil, which improves fertility, structure, and microbial activity.

Correct Answer: b) It controls local temperature and humidity

Microclimate refers to localized environmental conditions within a greenhouse, allowing precise control of temperature, humidity, and light to optimize plant growth.

Correct Answer: c) Renewal pruning

Renewal pruning removes old, unproductive wood and encourages new growth, rejuvenating fruit trees by stimulating vigorous, fruit-bearing shoots.

Correct Answer: b) To control environmental variables

Growth chambers allow researchers to control light, temperature, and humidity, enabling precise studies of plant responses under controlled conditions.

Correct Answer: b) After the first true leaves appear

Transplanting after the first true leaves appear ensures seedlings are strong enough to withstand transplant shock while establishing quickly in new conditions.

Correct Answer: b) In a cool, dry place

Bulbous plants like tulips require cool, dry storage during dormancy to prevent rot and maintain viability for the next planting season.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pest and disease buildup

Crop rotation disrupts the life cycles of pests and pathogens, reducing their buildup in the soil and promoting healthier vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces light intensity

Shade nets lower light intensity, protecting tropical fruit crops from excessive radiation, which can optimize photosynthesis and prevent leaf burn.

Correct Answer: c) Ferrous sulfate

Ferrous sulfate provides iron in a form readily available to plants, correcting iron deficiency symptoms like chlorosis in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Eliminates soil-borne diseases

Hydroponics uses a soilless medium, eliminating soil-borne pathogens and providing a controlled environment for vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Day length

Chrysanthemums are short-day plants, and their flowering is primarily triggered by changes in day length (photoperiod), making it the most significant factor.

Correct Answer: b) Improves nutrient uptake

Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with roots, enhancing the uptake of nutrients like phosphorus, improving fruit tree growth and health.

Correct Answer: b) Guarantees genetic purity

Certified seeds are tested for genetic purity and quality, ensuring consistent traits and high performance in commercial vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Japanese garden

Japanese gardens emphasize asymmetry, natural elements, and tranquility, using features like rocks, water, and plants to mimic natural landscapes.

Correct Answer: b) At bud break

Applying fungicides at bud break prevents anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum spp.) from infecting young tissues, reducing disease incidence in mango orchards.

Correct Answer: a) Near the trunk base

Drip emitters placed near the trunk base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and ensuring efficient irrigation for grapevines.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate root formation

Auxins promote root initiation in layering by stimulating cell division in the cambium, ensuring successful rooting of the layered stem.

Correct Answer: b) Increases water retention

Organic matter improves soil structure, increasing its ability to retain water, which benefits horticultural crops by maintaining consistent moisture levels.

Correct Answer: b) Suppresses soil-borne pathogens

Trichoderma spp. are antagonistic fungi that suppress soil-borne pathogens like Fusarium and Rhizoctonia, protecting horticultural crops through biological control.

Correct Answer: c) Backcross breeding

Backcross breeding introduces specific traits (e.g., disease resistance) from a donor parent into a commercial variety while retaining most of the original variety’s traits, making it effective for disease resistance.

Correct Answer: b) Maximizes land use efficiency

Intercropping grows multiple crops together, optimizing land use by increasing yield per unit area and improving resource utilization.

Correct Answer: c) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it highly efficient for water conservation in arid regions.

Correct Answer: b) Repels certain insect pests

Reflective mulches reflect light, disorienting and repelling insect pests like aphids, reducing pest damage in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces bitter pit

Calcium nitrate supplies calcium, which strengthens cell walls and reduces physiological disorders like bitter pit, improving apple fruit quality.

Correct Answer: a) Ralstonia solanacearum

Ralstonia solanacearum is the bacterial pathogen causing wilt in solanaceous crops, leading to vascular blockage and plant death.

Correct Answer: b) Before planting

Soil testing before planting provides baseline nutrient data, allowing for precise fertilizer applications to optimize crop growth and yield.

Correct Answer: d) Temperate highlands

Temperate highlands provide cool temperatures and adequate light, ideal for producing high-quality cut roses with long stems and vibrant colors.

Correct Answer: b) Induces dormancy

Abscisic acid regulates dormancy in seeds and buds, helping plants survive stress conditions like drought or cold by slowing metabolic processes.

Correct Answer: b) Adds organic matter

Green manuring involves incorporating cover crops into the soil, adding organic matter that improves soil structure, fertility, and microbial activity.

Correct Answer: b) Attracts and monitors pests

Pheromone traps attract specific pests using chemical lures, allowing monitoring and reducing pest populations without widespread pesticide use.

Correct Answer: b) Formal design

Formal design emphasizes symmetry, balance, and geometric patterns, often seen in traditional European gardens, to create a structured aesthetic.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances nutrient availability

Vermicompost, rich in organic matter and microorganisms, improves soil fertility by releasing nutrients in a form readily available to plants.

Correct Answer: b) Suppresses weed germination

Plastic mulches block sunlight, preventing weed seed germination and reducing competition with vegetable crops for nutrients and water.

Correct Answer: b) Minimizes pesticide application

Resistant varieties reduce the need for chemical pesticides by naturally withstanding pests and diseases, aligning with organic farming principles.

Correct Answer: b) Tissue culture

Tissue culture allows rapid multiplication of uniform plants from small explants under controlled conditions, ideal for large-scale production.

Correct Answer: b) During fruit development

Potassium fertilizers applied during fruit development enhance fruit size, quality, and sugar content in citrus crops by supporting metabolic processes.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Sticky traps placed at canopy level effectively capture whiteflies, which are active in the foliage, allowing accurate monitoring of pest populations.

Correct Answer: b) Promote healthy root systems

Root trainers encourage straight, well-developed root systems by guiding root growth, improving seedling vigor and transplant success.

Correct Answer: a) Enhances pollen viability

Boron is essential for pollen tube growth and viability, improving fruit set by ensuring successful pollination and fertilization in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces environmental impact

Bio-pesticides, derived from natural sources, have lower toxicity and environmental impact compared to synthetic pesticides, aligning with sustainable practices.

Correct Answer: b) Privet

Privet (Ligustrum spp.) is ideal for formal hedges due to its dense growth, fast regeneration, and ability to withstand frequent pruning.

Correct Answer: b) Eliminates soil-borne pathogens

Soilless media, like peat or coco coir, eliminate soil-borne pathogens, providing a clean growing environment for container gardening.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces wind damage

Windbreaks protect fruit orchards by reducing wind speed, preventing physical damage to trees, fruit drop, and soil erosion.

Correct Answer: b) Provides rapid nutrient uptake

Foliar sprays deliver nutrients directly to leaves, allowing rapid absorption and correction of deficiencies, especially for micronutrients like iron.

Correct Answer: b) Insect pests

Neem-based biopesticides contain azadirachtin, which repels and disrupts the life cycle of insect pests, making them effective for pest control in horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Bud stage

Harvesting gladiolus at the bud stage ensures longer vase life, as flowers continue to open after cutting, maintaining freshness.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained areas

Aloe vera thrives in sunny, well-drained areas with warm temperatures, as it is a succulent adapted to arid conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Improves canopy management

Trellising supports grapevines, improving canopy aeration, light exposure, and fruit quality while facilitating easier harvesting and pest management.

Correct Answer: b) Fixes atmospheric nitrogen

Azospirillum fixes atmospheric nitrogen, increasing nitrogen availability for cereal crops and benefiting intercropped horticultural plants.

Correct Answer: b) Slows respiration rate

Controlled-atmosphere storage reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide levels, slowing respiration and extending the shelf life of apples.

Correct Answer: b) Randomized Block Design

Randomized Block Design controls for environmental variability by grouping similar experimental units, making it ideal for comparing fertilizer treatments in vegetable crop trials.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances nutrient use efficiency

Drip fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone with water, improving nutrient uptake and reducing wastage in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Introduces novel traits

Interspecific hybridization crosses different species, introducing novel traits like disease resistance or unique fruit characteristics into horticultural plants.

Correct Answer: b) Thrives in low-light conditions

Shade-tolerant plants are adapted to low-light environments, making them ideal for indoor landscaping where sunlight is limited.

Correct Answer: c) Fungal pathogens

Copper-based fungicides are effective against fungal pathogens like downy mildew and anthracnose, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Growth regulators like gibberellins or auxins applied at flowering induce parthenocarpy (seedless fruit formation) in tomatoes, ensuring fruit set without pollination.

Correct Answer: b) Around ventilation openings

Insect-proof nets around ventilation openings prevent pest entry while maintaining airflow, protecting greenhouse crops effectively.

Correct Answer: b) Increases berry size

Gibberellins applied to seedless grapes promote cell division and elongation, increasing berry size and improving market quality.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances microbial populations

Organic practices like composting and reduced chemical use foster diverse soil microbial communities, improving soil health and nutrient cycling.

Correct Answer: b) Increases yield per unit area

High-density planting maximizes land use by increasing the number of trees per unit area, boosting overall fruit yield in orchards.

Correct Answer: b) Leaching

Leaching flushes excess salts from the soil profile, preventing salinity buildup and maintaining soil health for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures genetic uniformity

Clonal rootstocks, propagated asexually, ensure genetic uniformity, providing consistent traits like vigor or disease resistance in fruit trees.

Correct Answer: b) Suppresses weed germination

Cover crops compete with weeds for light, nutrients, and space, suppressing weed germination and reducing weed pressure in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Minimizes water loss

Sandy soils have low water-holding capacity, and drip irrigation minimizes water loss by delivering it directly to the root zone, improving efficiency.

Correct Answer: b) Cytokinins

Cytokinins delay senescence in cut flowers by promoting cell division and inhibiting aging processes, extending vase life.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Zinc sulfate applied in early spring corrects zinc deficiency, supporting healthy leaf and shoot development during the active growth phase of citrus trees.

Correct Answer: b) Warm, humid lowlands

Mangoes thrive in warm, humid lowlands with adequate rainfall and temperatures, supporting optimal growth and fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Control plant height

Growth retardants, like daminozide, inhibit stem elongation, controlling plant height to create compact, aesthetically pleasing ornamental plants.

Correct Answer: b) Improves soil nitrogen content

Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria, enriching the soil with nitrogen and benefiting fruit trees in intercropping systems.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces environmental pollution

Biodegradable mulches decompose naturally, reducing plastic waste and environmental pollution while providing the benefits of mulching in sustainable horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Promote root formation

Etiolation involves growing plants in low light to produce soft, elongated stems, which enhances rooting in cuttings by reducing lignification and increasing auxin sensitivity.

Correct Answer: d) Sand

Adding sand to clayey soils improves drainage by increasing pore space, allowing better water movement and root aeration for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: d) Ian McHarg

Ian McHarg’s work in landscape ecology emphasized integrating ecological principles into landscape design, influencing sustainable horticultural practices.

Correct Answer: b) At the onset of symptoms

Systemic fungicides are most effective when applied at the first sign of powdery mildew, allowing the chemical to penetrate tissues and control the fungal spread.

Correct Answer: d) At overlapping intervals

Sprinklers placed at overlapping intervals ensure uniform water distribution across the lawn, preventing dry spots and promoting even grass growth.

Correct Answer: b) Improves nutrient uptake

Mycorrhizal inoculants form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhancing nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus, in organic fruit production systems.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces sunburn damage

Kaolin clay forms a reflective coating on fruit, reducing sunburn damage by reflecting solar radiation and lowering fruit surface temperature.

Correct Answer: b) Bridge grafting

Bridge grafting involves inserting scions to bridge damaged areas of a tree trunk, restoring nutrient and water flow in fruit trees.

Correct Answer: b) Provides sterile conditions

Perlite is a sterile, lightweight medium that prevents soil-borne pathogens, making it ideal for nursery propagation of horticultural plants.

Correct Answer: a) Erwinia amylovora

Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, leads to wilting and blackened shoots in apple and pear trees, resembling fire damage.

Correct Answer: b) Increases light exposure to fruit

Reflective mulches increase light reflection to the canopy, improving fruit coloration and quality in orchards by enhancing photosynthesis and pigment development.

Correct Answer: b) Improves soil aeration and structure

Double digging loosens compacted soil, improving aeration, drainage, and root penetration, creating optimal conditions for vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Creeping thyme

Creeping thyme is a low-growing, drought-tolerant plant that spreads quickly, making it an ideal low-maintenance ground cover for ornamental landscapes.

Correct Answer: d) During flowering

Boron application during flowering supports cell wall development, reducing fruit cracking in cherries by improving structural integrity.

Correct Answer: b) Dry, sunny slopes

Lavender thrives in well-drained, sunny slopes with low humidity, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth for commercial cultivation.

Correct Answer: b) Control plant height

Daminozide inhibits gibberellin synthesis, controlling plant height to produce compact, aesthetically pleasing potted ornamental plants.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances microbial activity

Compost tea introduces beneficial microorganisms to the soil or foliage, enhancing microbial activity and improving nutrient availability for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances disease resistance

Resistant scion varieties provide genetic resistance to diseases, improving the overall health and productivity of grafted fruit trees.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, maximizing water use efficiency and supporting large-scale fruit orchards in water-scarce regions.

Correct Answer: b) Eliminates soil-borne diseases

Hydroponics uses a soilless medium, eliminating soil-borne diseases and providing a controlled environment for indoor ornamental plant production.

Correct Answer: b) Increases berry size

Gibberellins promote cell division and elongation in seedless grapes, increasing berry size and improving market quality.

Correct Answer: b) Repels nematodes

Marigolds release compounds that repel soil-borne nematodes, protecting vegetable crops and reducing pest damage in intercropping systems.

Correct Answer: b) ANOVA

ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) is ideal for comparing the means of multiple groups, such as different pruning methods, to determine their effect on fruit yield.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Calcium sprays applied at flowering ensure adequate calcium uptake during fruit set, preventing blossom-end rot in developing tomato fruits.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Pheromone traps at canopy level effectively attract and capture codling moths, which are active in the tree canopy, aiding in pest monitoring.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting young plants in tropical fruit nurseries.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes root development

Root zone heating maintains optimal soil temperatures, promoting root growth and nutrient uptake in seedlings grown in cold climates.

Correct Answer: b) Prevents disease spread

Certified disease-free planting material reduces the risk of introducing pathogens, ensuring healthy crops and sustainable production in commercial horticulture.

Correct Answer: d) Carbaryl

Carbaryl, a synthetic growth regulator, is commonly used to thin apple fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces water use

Aeroponics delivers nutrients via mist to plant roots, minimizing water use while maintaining optimal growth conditions for vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Controls aphid populations

Ladybugs are natural predators of aphids, reducing pest populations and protecting horticultural crops without chemical pesticides.

Correct Answer: b) Improves fruit quality and yield

Trellising supports cucumber vines, improving air circulation, light exposure, and fruit quality while facilitating easier harvesting and higher yields.

Correct Answer: b) Sandy loam

Sandy loam provides good drainage and aeration, allowing bulbous plants like onions to develop well-formed bulbs without waterlogging.

Correct Answer: b) Early vegetative growth

Nitrogen fertilizers applied during early vegetative growth support robust foliage development, providing the energy needed for flowering in ornamental plants.

Correct Answer: b) Warm subtropical regions

Citrus thrives in warm subtropical regions with mild winters and adequate rainfall, supporting optimal growth and fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Extend the growing season

Plastic tunnels create a controlled microclimate, protecting vegetables from cold and extending the growing season in cooler regions.

Correct Answer: b) Improves pest control

Companion planting uses plants with repellent or beneficial properties to control pests naturally, supporting organic horticulture practices.

Correct Answer: b) Controls soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a cleaner environment for nursery plant propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) provides magnesium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like leaf chlorosis in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Maintains high humidity

High-pressure mist systems maintain high humidity levels, promoting successful rooting and growth of cuttings in greenhouse propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Drip fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone, minimizing leaching and improving nutrient use efficiency in fruit orchards.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces salt spray damage

Windbreaks protect coastal horticultural crops by reducing salt-laden winds, preventing leaf burn and plant stress from salt spray.

Correct Answer: b) Tissue culture

Tissue culture produces disease-free potato plantlets from meristem tissue, ensuring healthy, virus-free planting material for commercial production.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Fungicides applied at flowering prevent Botrytis cinerea infection, which causes botrytis blight, protecting developing strawberry fruits.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Yellow sticky traps at canopy level effectively capture thrips, which feed on leaves and flowers, aiding in pest monitoring and control.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate root formation

NAA, an auxin, promotes root initiation in cuttings by stimulating cell division in the cambium, ensuring successful propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Controls environmental conditions

Greenhouses provide controlled temperature, humidity, and light, creating optimal conditions for growing exotic flowers like orchids.

Correct Answer: b) Balances organic and inorganic fertilizers

INM combines organic and inorganic fertilizers to optimize nutrient availability, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Insect larvae

Bt produces toxins that target insect larvae, such as caterpillars, making it an effective biological control agent for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Maximizes space utilization

Container gardening allows urban growers to maximize limited space, enabling cultivation of horticultural plants in small areas like balconies or rooftops.

Correct Answer: b) Stabilizes soil temperature

Mulching insulates the soil, stabilizing temperature fluctuations and creating a favorable environment for vegetable crop root growth.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant rootstocks, such as those tolerant to Phytophthora or citrus tristeza virus, improve disease resistance, ensuring healthy citrus trees.

Correct Answer: b) Japanese Zen garden

Japanese Zen gardens use raked gravel and minimalistic elements to create serene, meditative spaces, emphasizing simplicity and natural beauty.

Correct Answer: b) During fruit development

Potassium fertilizers applied during fruit development improve grape quality by enhancing sugar content, color, and size.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained slopes

Rosemary thrives in sunny, well-drained slopes with low humidity, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade nets lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting vegetable seedlings during early growth stages.

Correct Answer: b) Fixes atmospheric nitrogen

Azotobacter fixes atmospheric nitrogen, increasing nitrogen availability for horticultural crops and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

Correct Answer: b) Minimizes salt accumulation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing salt accumulation in saline soils and protecting horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Bud grafting

Bud grafting (T-budding) allows rapid production of large numbers of roses by grafting a single bud onto a rootstock, ensuring uniformity and efficiency.

Correct Answer: b) Maximizes space utilization

Vertical gardening uses vertical space to grow plants, maximizing limited urban areas for horticultural production.

Correct Answer: b) Improves soil structure

Gypsum replaces sodium with calcium in sodic soils, improving soil structure, drainage, and root penetration for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Controls spider mite populations

Predatory mites feed on spider mites, controlling their populations and protecting greenhouse horticultural crops without chemical pesticides.

Correct Answer: b) Flying insects

Sticky traps capture flying insects like fruit flies and moths, aiding in pest monitoring and control in orchards.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Foliar sprays in early spring deliver zinc directly to leaves, correcting deficiency during the active growth phase of fruit trees.

Correct Answer: b) Warm, humid tropics

Bananas thrive in warm, humid tropical regions with high rainfall and temperatures, supporting optimal growth and fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Accelerate fruit ripening

Ethephon releases ethylene, accelerating the ripening process in climacteric fruits like bananas and tomatoes by promoting metabolic changes.

Correct Answer: b) Adds organic matter

Clover, as a cover crop, adds organic matter to the soil upon decomposition, improving fertility, structure, and microbial activity in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties naturally withstand pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in IPM programs.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation minimizes runoff on sloping fields, delivering water directly to the root zone and improving water use efficiency for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Produces disease-free plants

Tissue culture produces disease-free banana plantlets from meristem tissue, ensuring healthy, virus-free planting material for commercial production.

Correct Answer: b) Suppresses weed germination

Mulching blocks sunlight, suppressing weed germination and reducing competition with fruit trees for nutrients and water.

Correct Answer: b) Minimizes water wastage

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water-scarce horticultural regions.

Correct Answer: c) Auxins

Auxins, such as indole-3-acetic acid, promote fruit set in tomatoes by stimulating cell division and ensuring successful pollination and fertilization.

Correct Answer: b) At bud break

Fungicides applied at bud break prevent downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) from infecting young tissues, reducing disease incidence in grapes.

Correct Answer: b) Around ventilation openings

Insect-proof screens around ventilation openings prevent pest entry while maintaining airflow, protecting greenhouse crops effectively.

Correct Answer: b) Control environmental variables

Growth chambers allow precise control of light, temperature, and humidity, enabling researchers to study plant responses under controlled conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces evaporation

Organic mulches cover the soil, reducing evaporation and conserving soil moisture, benefiting vegetable crops in water-limited conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures genetic purity

Certified seeds ensure genetic purity and consistent traits, critical for producing uniform, high-quality flowers in commercial production.

Correct Answer: b) Fungal pathogens

Sulfur-based fungicides are effective against fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: b) Increases yield per unit area

High-density planting maximizes land use, increasing vegetable yield per unit area by optimizing plant spacing and resource utilization.

Correct Answer: b) Repels carrot flies

Onions release sulfur compounds that repel carrot flies, protecting carrot crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes fertilizer application

Soil testing provides data on nutrient levels, enabling precise fertilizer application to meet the needs of horticultural crops and avoid over-fertilization.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation minimizes water loss in sandy soils by delivering water directly to the root zone, improving efficiency for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: a) Early spring

Pruning evergreen shrubs like boxwood in early spring promotes healthy regrowth and maintains shape before the active growing season.

Correct Answer: b) Shaded, moist woodlands

Ginseng thrives in shaded, moist woodlands with rich, well-drained soil, mimicking its natural habitat for optimal growth.

Correct Answer: b) Promote early flowering

Paclobutrazol inhibits gibberellin synthesis, promoting early flowering in mango trees by shifting resources to reproductive growth.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances nutrient availability

Vermicompost releases nutrients slowly, enhancing availability and supporting plant growth in organic horticulture systems.

Correct Answer: b) Repels aphids with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient aphids by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform citrus trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of lettuce by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces physical damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to vegetable crops and reducing water loss from transpiration.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces environmental impact

Organic farming practices minimize chemical inputs, reducing environmental pollution and promoting sustainable horticultural production.

Correct Answer: b) Fungal pathogens

Neem oil contains antifungal compounds that effectively control fungal pathogens like powdery mildew in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Growth regulators applied at flowering induce parthenocarpy in cucumbers, promoting seedless fruit development without pollination.

Correct Answer: a) Near the plant base

Drip emitters placed near the plant base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting vegetable growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for vegetable crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels insect pests

Basil releases volatile compounds that repel insect pests like whiteflies and aphids, protecting tomato crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes photosynthesis

High-pressure sodium lights provide a spectrum that promotes photosynthesis, supporting plant growth in low-light greenhouse conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Potassium sulfate

Potassium sulfate provides potassium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like poor fruit quality in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary crops together, enhancing sustainability in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Maintains high humidity for cuttings

Fogging systems create a fine mist, maintaining high humidity levels critical for preventing desiccation and promoting rooting in cuttings during greenhouse propagation.

Correct Answer: a) M9

M9 is a widely used dwarfing rootstock for apples, reducing tree size, improving precocity, and allowing high-density planting for efficient orchard management.

Correct Answer: a) Bill Mollison

Bill Mollison, along with David Holmgren, developed permaculture, a sustainable agricultural system that integrates ecological principles into horticultural practices.

Correct Answer: b) At the onset of symptoms

Copper-based fungicides are most effective when applied at the first sign of bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris), preventing further spread in peppers.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

CO2 generators placed at canopy level ensure that carbon dioxide, essential for photosynthesis, is evenly distributed to actively growing plant tissues.

Correct Answer: b) Increases phosphorus availability

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria convert insoluble phosphorus into plant-available forms, enhancing nutrient uptake and growth in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves stress tolerance

Salicylic acid enhances plant defense mechanisms, improving tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought or salinity in horticultural plants.

Correct Answer: b) Shearing

Shearing involves trimming the outer foliage to maintain the precise shape and aesthetic appeal of topiary plants like boxwood or yew.

Correct Answer: b) Provides excellent water retention

Coco coir has high water-holding capacity and good aeration, making it an ideal soilless medium for hydroponic horticultural crop production.

Correct Answer: a) Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is the fungal pathogen responsible for anthracnose in mangoes, causing dark lesions and reducing fruit quality.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces weed competition

Plastic mulches block sunlight, suppressing weed growth and reducing competition for nutrients and water in strawberry production.

Correct Answer: b) Thrives in low-light conditions

Shade-tolerant ground covers, like pachysandra, thrive in low-light urban environments, providing aesthetic cover and reducing maintenance.

Correct Answer: a) Ferns

Ferns are shade-tolerant, low-maintenance plants with lush foliage, making them ideal for vertical gardens in urban settings with limited space.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Magnesium sulfate applied in early spring corrects magnesium deficiency, supporting healthy leaf development during the active growth phase of citrus trees.

Correct Answer: b) Cool temperate regions

Tulips require cool temperate climates with cold winters to initiate bulb development and flowering, ideal for commercial bulb production.

Correct Answer: b) Promote shoot proliferation

Cytokinins stimulate cell division and shoot formation in tissue culture, enabling rapid production of multiple plantlets for propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Drip irrigation delivers water and nutrients directly to the root zone, minimizing nutrient leaching and improving efficiency in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant scion varieties provide genetic resistance to diseases like powdery mildew, reducing pesticide use and ensuring healthy grape production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation maximizes water and nutrient efficiency, making it ideal for large-scale vegetable production in water-scarce regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces water use

Aeroponics delivers nutrients via mist, minimizing water use while providing optimal conditions for herb growth in controlled environments.

Correct Answer: b) Controls aphid populations

Parasitic wasps lay eggs in aphids, controlling their populations naturally and reducing pest damage in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves fruit quality and yield

Trellising supports tomato plants, improving air circulation, light exposure, and fruit quality while facilitating harvesting and increasing yields.

Correct Answer: b) Organic matter

Organic matter, like compost, improves soil structure in sandy soils by increasing water-holding capacity and nutrient retention for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Nitrogen fertilizers applied in early spring support vigorous vegetative growth in ornamental shrubs during their active growth phase.

Correct Answer: b) Warm, humid tropics

Pineapples thrive in warm, humid tropical climates with adequate rainfall, supporting optimal growth and fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Extend the growing season

Plastic tunnels create a warm microclimate, extending the growing season for vegetables in cooler climates by protecting them from frost.

Correct Answer: b) Repels insect pests

Nasturtiums release compounds that repel pests like aphids and whiteflies, protecting vegetable crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Controls soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a cleaner environment for organic horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Calcium nitrate

Calcium nitrate provides calcium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like blossom-end rot in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Maintains high humidity

High-pressure mist systems maintain high humidity, preventing desiccation and promoting rooting in nursery propagation of cuttings.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Drip fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone, minimizing leaching and improving nutrient efficiency in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces wind erosion

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing soil erosion and protecting horticultural crops in arid regions from physical damage.

Correct Answer: b) Tissue culture

Tissue culture produces disease-free strawberry plantlets from meristem tissue, ensuring healthy, virus-free planting material for commercial production.

Correct Answer: b) At bud break

Fungicides applied at bud break prevent powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) from infecting young tissues, reducing disease incidence in grapes.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Yellow sticky traps at canopy level effectively capture whiteflies, which feed on leaves, aiding in pest monitoring and control.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate root formation

IBA, an auxin, promotes root initiation in cuttings by stimulating cell division in the cambium, ensuring successful propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Controls environmental conditions

Greenhouses provide controlled temperature, humidity, and light, enabling tropical fruit cultivation like mangoes in temperate regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces environmental impact

IPM integrates biological, cultural, and chemical controls, reducing pesticide use and environmental impact in sustainable horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Soft-bodied insects

Diatomaceous earth abrasively damages the exoskeleton of soft-bodied insects like aphids, providing effective control in horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Maximizes space utilization

Rooftop gardening utilizes underused urban spaces, enabling horticultural production in areas with limited ground space.

Correct Answer: b) Stabilizes soil temperature

Mulching insulates the soil, stabilizing temperature fluctuations and creating a favorable environment for fruit crop root growth.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant rootstocks, such as those tolerant to root-knot nematodes, improve disease resistance, ensuring healthy peach trees.

Correct Answer: c) English cottage garden

English cottage gardens feature colorful, informal plantings with a mix of flowers, herbs, and shrubs, creating a charming, naturalistic aesthetic.

Correct Answer: b) During fruit development

Potassium fertilizers applied during fruit development enhance apple quality by improving size, color, and sugar content.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained slopes

Lavender thrives in sunny, well-drained slopes with low humidity, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade nets lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting fruit seedlings during early growth stages.

Correct Answer: b) Fixes atmospheric nitrogen

Rhizobium fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with pulse crops, increasing nitrogen availability and reducing fertilizer needs.

Correct Answer: b) Prevents waterlogging

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly to the root zone, preventing waterlogging in clayey soils and supporting horticultural crop growth.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform olive trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of spinach by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces salt spray damage

Windbreaks reduce salt-laden winds, preventing leaf burn and stress from salt spray in coastal vegetable crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring medicinal plants are free from residues, which is critical for their therapeutic quality.

Correct Answer: b) Bacterial pathogens

Copper oxychloride is effective against bacterial pathogens like Xanthomonas, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Growth regulators applied at flowering induce parthenocarpy in eggplants, promoting seedless fruit development without pollination.

Correct Answer: a) Near the trunk base

Drip emitters placed near the trunk base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting fruit tree growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for fruit crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels onion flies

Garlic releases sulfur compounds that repel onion flies, protecting onion crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes light spectrum for growth

LED grow lights provide specific light wavelengths that optimize photosynthesis and growth in greenhouse horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Ferrous sulfate

Ferrous sulfate provides iron in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like chlorosis in ornamental plants.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary crops, enhancing productivity in fruit orchards.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting seedlings in tropical regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties withstand pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in organic vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water conservation in vegetable gardens.

Correct Answer: d) Winter dormancy

Pruning during winter dormancy promotes fruiting in peaches by directing energy to fruit-bearing shoots during the upcoming growing season.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained fields

Chamomile thrives in sunny, well-drained fields, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth for medicinal use.

Correct Answer: b) Promote fruit set

Gibberellins promote fruit set in citrus by stimulating cell division and ensuring successful pollination and fruit development.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances microbial activity

Vermicompost introduces beneficial microorganisms, enhancing soil microbial activity and improving nutrient cycling in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Disorients thrips with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient thrips by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform almond trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of herbs by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces physical damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to fruit crops and reducing water loss from transpiration.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring aromatic plants are free from residues, critical for their essential oil quality.

Correct Answer: b) Fungal pathogens

Sulfur dust is effective against fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: d) Early fruit development

Growth regulators applied during early fruit development thin peach fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: a) Near the vine base

Drip emitters placed near the vine base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting vineyard growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for vegetable crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels nematodes

Marigolds release compounds that repel soil-borne nematodes, protecting tomato crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes photosynthesis

High-pressure sodium lights provide a spectrum that promotes photosynthesis, supporting vegetable growth in low-light greenhouse conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Potassium sulfate

Potassium sulfate provides potassium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like poor fruit quality in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary crops, enhancing productivity in vegetable gardens.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting fruit crops in hot climates.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties withstand pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in organic fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water conservation in fruit orchards.

Correct Answer: a) Early spring

Pruning evergreen trees like pines in early spring promotes healthy regrowth and maintains shape before the active growing season.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained fields

Peppermint thrives in sunny, well-drained fields, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth for medicinal use.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate root formation

Auxins, like indolebutyric acid, promote root initiation in fruit tree cuttings, ensuring successful propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances microbial activity

Compost introduces beneficial microorganisms, enhancing soil microbial activity and improving nutrient cycling in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Disorients whiteflies with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient whiteflies by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform walnut trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of basil by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces physical damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to vegetable crops and reducing water loss from transpiration.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring spices are free from residues, critical for their culinary and medicinal quality.

Correct Answer: d) Insect pests

Neem-based biopesticides contain azadirachtin, which repels and disrupts the life cycle of insect pests, making them effective in horticulture.

Correct Answer: d) Early fruit development

Growth regulators applied during early fruit development thin apple fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: a) Near the plant base

Drip emitters placed near the plant base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting vegetable growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for fruit crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels carrot flies

Chives release sulfur compounds that repel carrot flies, protecting carrot crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes light spectrum for growth

LED grow lights provide specific light wavelengths that optimize photosynthesis and growth in greenhouse vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate provides magnesium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like leaf chlorosis in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary crops, enhancing sustainability in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes root development

Bottom heating maintains optimal soil temperatures, stimulating root growth and improving seedling establishment in nursery propagation.

Correct Answer: a) Troyer citrange

Troyer citrange is a widely used rootstock in citrus cultivation, providing resistance to soil-borne diseases like Phytophthora root rot and improving tree vigor.

Correct Answer: a) Rudolf Steiner

Rudolf Steiner developed biodynamic agriculture in the 1920s, emphasizing holistic, ecological practices that influence modern organic horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) At the onset of infestation

Systemic insecticides are most effective when applied at the first sign of aphid infestation, allowing the chemical to be absorbed and control pests effectively.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Humidity sensors at canopy level accurately monitor the microclimate around actively growing plants, ensuring optimal conditions for growth.

Correct Answer: b) Improves nutrient uptake

Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhancing nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus, in ornamental plant production.

Correct Answer: b) Induces defense mechanisms

Jasmonic acid triggers plant defense responses, enhancing resistance to pests and pathogens in horticultural plants.

Correct Answer: c) Renewal pruning

Renewal pruning removes old, overgrown branches, encouraging new growth and rejuvenating ornamental shrubs for improved vigor and aesthetics.

Correct Answer: b) Provides excellent water retention

Vermiculite has high water-holding capacity and good aeration, making it an ideal medium for seedling production in horticulture.

Correct Answer: a) Pseudomonas syringae

Pseudomonas syringae causes bacterial canker in stone fruit trees, leading to gummosis, dieback, and reduced fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Increases soil temperature

Black plastic mulches absorb heat, increasing soil temperature and promoting early growth in vegetable crops, especially in cooler climates.

Correct Answer: b) Thrives in low-light conditions

Hostas are shade-tolerant, thriving in low-light woodland environments, making them ideal for aesthetic landscaping in shaded areas.

Correct Answer: b) Succulents

Succulents store water in their tissues, making them ideal for drought-tolerant landscapes with minimal water requirements.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Zinc sulfate applied in early spring corrects zinc deficiency, supporting healthy leaf and shoot development in grapevines during active growth.

Correct Answer: b) Cool temperate regions

Daffodils require cool temperate climates with cold winters to initiate bulb development and flowering, ideal for commercial bulb production.

Correct Answer: b) Promote root formation

Auxins, such as indolebutyric acid, promote root formation in tissue culture plantlets, ensuring successful establishment during propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone with irrigation, minimizing leaching and improving efficiency in ornamental crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant rootstocks, such as those tolerant to root-knot nematodes, improve disease resistance, ensuring healthy almond trees.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation maximizes water and nutrient efficiency, making it ideal for large-scale ornamental plant production in water-scarce regions.

Correct Answer: b) Integrates fish and plant production

Aquaponics combines fish farming with hydroponic vegetable production, using fish waste as a nutrient source for plants, enhancing sustainability.

Correct Answer: b) Controls moth larvae

Trichogramma wasps parasitize moth eggs, controlling larvae populations and reducing pest damage in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves pod quality and yield

Trellising supports pea vines, improving air circulation, light exposure, and pod quality while facilitating harvesting and increasing yields.

Correct Answer: b) Compost

Compost increases water-holding capacity in sandy soils, improving moisture retention and nutrient availability for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Nitrogen fertilizers applied in early spring support vigorous vegetative growth in fruit trees during their active growth phase.

Correct Answer: b) Warm, humid tropics

Papayas thrive in warm, humid tropical climates with adequate rainfall, supporting optimal growth and fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade houses lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting ornamental seedlings during early growth.

Correct Answer: b) Attracts beneficial insects

Dill attracts beneficial insects like pollinators and predatory wasps, enhancing pest control in cucumber crops through companion planting.

Correct Answer: b) Controls soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a cleaner environment for greenhouse vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Borax

Borax provides boron in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like poor fruit set in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Maintains high humidity

Mist propagation systems maintain high humidity, preventing desiccation and promoting rooting in nursery cuttings.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Drip fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone, minimizing leaching and improving nutrient efficiency in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces wind damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to horticultural crops in high-altitude regions and reducing water loss.

Correct Answer: b) Tissue culture

Tissue culture produces disease-free apple plantlets from meristem tissue, ensuring healthy, virus-free planting material for commercial production.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Fungicides applied at flowering prevent anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) from infecting developing strawberry fruits, reducing disease incidence.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Yellow sticky traps at canopy level effectively capture aphids, which feed on leaves, aiding in pest monitoring and control.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate root formation

NAA, an auxin, promotes root initiation in cuttings by stimulating cell division in the cambium, ensuring successful propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Controls environmental conditions

Greenhouses provide controlled temperature, humidity, and light, enabling exotic vegetable cultivation like kale in cold climates.

Correct Answer: b) Balances organic and inorganic fertilizers

INM combines organic and inorganic fertilizers to optimize nutrient availability, supporting sustainable organic horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Soft-bodied insects

Insecticidal soap disrupts the cell membranes of soft-bodied insects like aphids and whiteflies, providing effective control in horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Maximizes space utilization

Balcony gardening utilizes small urban spaces, enabling horticultural production in areas with limited ground space.

Correct Answer: b) Conserves soil moisture

Mulching reduces evaporation, conserving soil moisture and supporting fruit crop growth in water-limited conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant rootstocks, such as those tolerant to fire blight, improve disease resistance, ensuring healthy pear trees.

Correct Answer: c) French formal garden

French formal gardens feature geometric patterns, symmetry, and manicured plants, creating a structured, elegant aesthetic.

Correct Answer: b) During fruit development

Potassium fertilizers applied during fruit development enhance citrus fruit quality by improving size, color, and sugar content.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained slopes

Thyme thrives in sunny, well-drained slopes with low humidity, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade nets lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting vegetable seedlings during early growth.

Correct Answer: b) Fixes atmospheric nitrogen

Azospirillum fixes atmospheric nitrogen, increasing nitrogen availability for cereal crops in horticultural intercropping systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes water use

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use in loamy soils and supporting horticultural crop growth.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform peach trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of lettuce by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces physical damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to ornamental plants and reducing water loss from transpiration.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring herbal plants are free from residues, critical for their medicinal and culinary quality.

Correct Answer: b) Bacterial pathogens

Copper sulfate is effective against bacterial pathogens like Xanthomonas, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Growth regulators applied at flowering induce parthenocarpy in tomatoes, promoting seedless fruit development without pollination.

Correct Answer: a) Near the plant base

Drip emitters placed near the plant base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting ornamental plant growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for ornamental crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels cabbage worms

Onions release sulfur compounds that repel cabbage worms, protecting cabbage crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes light spectrum for growth

LED grow lights provide specific light wavelengths that optimize photosynthesis and growth in greenhouse ornamental production.

Correct Answer: b) Calcium nitrate

Calcium nitrate provides calcium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like bitter pit in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary ornamental plants, enhancing garden productivity.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting vegetable crops in tropical regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties withstand pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in organic ornamental production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water conservation in ornamental gardens.

Correct Answer: d) Winter dormancy

Pruning during winter dormancy promotes healthy growth in deciduous ornamental trees by directing energy to new shoots in spring.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained fields

Echinacea thrives in sunny, well-drained fields, promoting healthy growth and active compound production for medicinal use.

Correct Answer: b) Increase berry size

Gibberellins promote cell division and elongation in grapes, increasing berry size and improving market quality.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances microbial activity

Compost tea introduces beneficial microorganisms, enhancing soil microbial activity and improving nutrient cycling in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Disorients leafhoppers with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient leafhoppers by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform cherry trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of microgreens by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces salt spray damage

Windbreaks reduce salt-laden winds, preventing leaf burn and stress from salt spray in coastal fruit crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring medicinal plants are free from residues, critical for their therapeutic quality.

Correct Answer: b) Fungal pathogens

Sulfur-based fungicides are effective against fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: d) Early fruit development

Growth regulators applied during early fruit development thin pear fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: a) Near the plant base

Drip emitters placed near the plant base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting fruit plant growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for vegetable crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels insect pests

Basil releases volatile compounds that repel insect pests like aphids and whiteflies, protecting pepper crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes photosynthesis

High-pressure sodium lights provide a spectrum that promotes photosynthesis, supporting fruit growth in low-light greenhouse conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Ferrous sulfate

Ferrous sulfate provides iron in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like chlorosis in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary fruit plants, enhancing garden productivity.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting fruit crops in hot climates.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties withstand pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in organic vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water conservation in fruit gardens.

Correct Answer: a) Early spring

Pruning azaleas in early spring promotes healthy regrowth and flowering by directing energy to new buds before the growing season.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained slopes

Lavender thrives in sunny, well-drained slopes with low humidity, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth.

Correct Answer: b) Promote shoot proliferation

Cytokinins stimulate cell division and shoot formation, promoting bushy growth in ornamental plants for aesthetic appeal.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances nutrient availability

Vermicompost releases nutrients slowly, enhancing availability and supporting fruit crop growth in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Disorients aphids with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient aphids by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform apricot trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of herbs by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces physical damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to ornamental crops and reducing water loss from transpiration.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring spices are free from residues, critical for their culinary and medicinal quality.

Correct Answer: d) Insect pests

Neem oil contains azadirachtin, which repels and disrupts the life cycle of insect pests, making it effective in horticulture.

Correct Answer: d) Early fruit development

Growth regulators applied during early fruit development thin plum fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: a) Near the plant base

Drip emitters placed near the plant base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting ornamental plant growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for fruit crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels carrot flies

Garlic releases sulfur compounds that repel carrot flies, protecting carrot crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes light spectrum for growth

LED grow lights provide specific light wavelengths that optimize photosynthesis and growth in greenhouse fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate provides magnesium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like leaf chlorosis in ornamental crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary crops, enhancing sustainability in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes water use efficiency

Automated irrigation systems deliver precise amounts of water at optimal times, reducing waste and improving water use efficiency in greenhouse horticulture.

Correct Answer: a) SO4

SO4 is a widely used rootstock for grapevines, providing vigor and resistance to soil-borne diseases like phylloxera and nematodes.

Correct Answer: a) Sir Albert Howard

Sir Albert Howard is considered a pioneer of modern organic gardening, emphasizing soil health and natural processes in horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) At the onset of symptoms

Contact fungicides are most effective when applied at the first sign of downy mildew, preventing further spread on lettuce leaves.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Temperature sensors at canopy level accurately monitor the microclimate around actively growing plants, ensuring optimal growth conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Suppresses soil-borne pathogens

Trichoderma fungi act as biocontrol agents, suppressing soil-borne pathogens like Fusarium, enhancing vegetable crop health.

Correct Answer: b) Improves stress tolerance

Brassinosteroids enhance plant resilience to drought stress by regulating physiological processes, improving water retention and growth in horticultural plants.

Correct Answer: b) Spur pruning

Spur pruning encourages the development of fruiting spurs on apple trees, promoting higher fruit production and better quality.

Correct Answer: b) Provides excellent water retention

Rockwool offers excellent water retention and aeration, making it an ideal soilless medium for hydroponic horticultural crop production.

Correct Answer: a) Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungus causing verticillium wilt, leading to wilting and reduced yields in tomato crops.

Correct Answer: b) Increases light exposure to fruit

Reflective mulches increase light reflection to the canopy, improving fruit coloration and quality in pepper production.

Correct Answer: b) Thrives in low-light conditions

Ferns are shade-tolerant, thriving in low-light urban courtyards, providing aesthetic cover and reducing maintenance needs.

Correct Answer: b) Yew

Yew is a dense, evergreen shrub with strong branches, making it ideal for creating wind-resistant hedges in ornamental landscapes.

Correct Answer: b) Early spring

Iron chelate applied in early spring corrects iron deficiency, supporting healthy leaf development during the active growth phase of citrus trees.

Correct Answer: b) Cool temperate regions

Roses thrive in cool temperate regions with moderate temperatures and well-drained soils, ideal for commercial flower production.

Correct Answer: b) Increase berry size

Gibberellins promote cell division and elongation in seedless grapes, increasing berry size and improving market quality.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone with irrigation, minimizing leaching and improving efficiency in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant scion varieties provide genetic resistance to diseases like bacterial canker, ensuring healthy cherry production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation maximizes water and nutrient efficiency, making it ideal for large-scale fruit production in water-scarce regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces water use

Aeroponics delivers nutrients via mist, minimizing water use while providing optimal conditions for microgreen growth.

Correct Answer: b) Controls aphid populations

Lacewings are natural predators of aphids, reducing pest populations and protecting horticultural crops without chemical pesticides.

Correct Answer: b) Improves pod quality and yield

Trellising supports bean vines, improving air circulation, light exposure, and pod quality while facilitating harvesting and increasing yields.

Correct Answer: b) Sand

Sand increases pore space in heavy clay soils, improving drainage and aeration for horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) During fruit development

Potassium fertilizers applied during fruit development enhance stone fruit quality by improving size, color, and sugar content.

Correct Answer: b) Warm, humid tropics

Mangoes thrive in warm, humid tropical climates with adequate rainfall, supporting optimal growth and fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade houses lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting fruit seedlings during early growth.

Correct Answer: b) Repels nematodes

Marigolds release compounds that repel soil-borne nematodes, protecting pepper crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Controls soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a cleaner environment for organic fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate provides magnesium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like leaf chlorosis in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Maintains high humidity

Fogging systems create a fine mist, maintaining high humidity levels critical for preventing desiccation and promoting rooting in greenhouse propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces nutrient leaching

Drip fertigation delivers nutrients directly to the root zone, minimizing leaching and improving nutrient efficiency in ornamental crops.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces wind erosion

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing soil erosion and protecting horticultural crops in semi-arid regions from physical damage.

Correct Answer: b) Tissue culture

Tissue culture produces disease-free citrus plantlets from meristem tissue, ensuring healthy, virus-free planting material for commercial production.

Correct Answer: a) During flowering

Fungicides applied during flowering prevent Botrytis cinerea from infecting rose petals, reducing botrytis blight incidence.

Correct Answer: b) At canopy level

Yellow sticky traps at canopy level effectively capture thrips, which feed on leaves and fruit, aiding in pest monitoring and control.

Correct Answer: b) Promote shoot proliferation

Cytokinins stimulate cell division and shoot formation in micropropagation, enabling rapid production of multiple plantlets.

Correct Answer: b) Controls environmental conditions

Greenhouses provide controlled temperature, humidity, and light, enabling tropical vegetable cultivation like okra in temperate regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces environmental impact

IPM integrates biological, cultural, and chemical controls, reducing pesticide use and environmental impact in organic horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Insect pests

Neem-based biopesticides contain azadirachtin, which repels and disrupts the life cycle of insect pests, making them effective in horticulture.

Correct Answer: b) Maximizes space utilization

Vertical gardening utilizes vertical space, enabling horticultural production in urban areas with limited ground space.

Correct Answer: b) Suppresses weed germination

Mulching blocks sunlight, suppressing weed germination and reducing competition with vegetable crops for nutrients and water.

Correct Answer: b) Improves disease resistance

Resistant rootstocks, such as those tolerant to root-knot nematodes, improve disease resistance, ensuring healthy plum trees.

Correct Answer: d) Naturalistic garden

Naturalistic gardens use native plants and minimal intervention, promoting low maintenance and ecological harmony.

Correct Answer: b) During fruit development

Calcium fertilizers applied during fruit development improve apple quality by reducing disorders like bitter pit and enhancing fruit firmness.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained slopes

Rosemary thrives in sunny, well-drained slopes with low humidity, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth.

Correct Answer: b) Reduce heat stress

Shade nets lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting ornamental seedlings during early growth.

Correct Answer: b) Increases phosphorus availability

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria convert insoluble phosphorus into plant-available forms, enhancing nutrient uptake in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Minimizes water loss

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff in sandy soils, supporting horticultural crop growth.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform olive trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of basil by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces wind erosion

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing soil erosion and protecting vegetable crops in arid regions from physical damage.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring aromatic plants are free from residues, critical for their essential oil quality.

Correct Answer: b) Bacterial pathogens

Copper-based fungicides, like copper oxychloride, are effective against bacterial pathogens such as Xanthomonas in horticultural crops.

Correct Answer: b) At flowering

Growth regulators applied at flowering induce parthenocarpy in cucumbers, promoting seedless fruit development without pollination.

Correct Answer: a) Near the vine base

Drip emitters placed near the vine base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting vineyard growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for ornamental crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels onion flies

Chives release sulfur compounds that repel onion flies, protecting onion crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes light spectrum for growth

LED grow lights provide specific light wavelengths that optimize photosynthesis and growth in greenhouse vegetable production.

Correct Answer: b) Potassium sulfate

Potassium sulfate provides potassium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like poor flower quality in ornamental crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary vegetables, enhancing garden productivity.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting fruit crops in tropical regions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties withstand pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in organic fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water conservation in vegetable gardens.

Correct Answer: d) Winter dormancy

Pruning during winter dormancy promotes fruiting in cherry trees by directing energy to fruit-bearing shoots in the upcoming growing season.

Correct Answer: b) Shaded, moist woodlands

Ginseng thrives in shaded, moist woodlands with rich, well-drained soil, mimicking its natural habitat for optimal growth.

Correct Answer: b) Accelerate fruit ripening

Ethephon releases ethylene, accelerating ripening in climacteric fruits like mangoes by promoting metabolic changes.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances microbial activity

Vermicompost introduces beneficial microorganisms, enhancing soil microbial activity and improving nutrient cycling in vegetable crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Disorients whiteflies with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient whiteflies by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in fruit crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform almond trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of herbs by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces salt spray damage

Windbreaks reduce salt-laden winds, preventing leaf burn and stress from salt spray in coastal ornamental crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring spices are free from residues, critical for their culinary and medicinal quality.

Correct Answer: b) Fungal pathogens

Sulfur dust is effective against fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, commonly used in horticultural crop protection.

Correct Answer: d) Early fruit development

Growth regulators applied during early fruit development thin peach fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: a) Near the tree base

Drip emitters placed near the tree base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting fruit tree growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for vegetable crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels onion flies

Garlic releases sulfur compounds that repel onion flies, protecting onion crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Promotes photosynthesis

High-pressure sodium lights provide a spectrum that promotes photosynthesis, supporting ornamental plant growth in low-light greenhouse conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Calcium nitrate

Calcium nitrate provides calcium in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like blossom-end rot in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary ornamental plants, enhancing garden productivity.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces heat stress

Shade cloths lower temperature and light intensity, reducing heat stress and protecting vegetable crops in hot climates.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces pesticide use

Resistant varieties withstand pests and diseases naturally, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in organic ornamental production.

Correct Answer: b) Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff, making it ideal for water conservation in fruit orchards.

Correct Answer: a) Early spring

Pruning rhododendrons in early spring promotes healthy regrowth and flowering by directing energy to new buds before the growing season.

Correct Answer: b) Sunny, well-drained fields

Chamomile thrives in sunny, well-drained fields, promoting essential oil production and healthy growth for medicinal use.

Correct Answer: b) Stimulate root formation

Auxins, like indolebutyric acid, promote root initiation in fruit tree cuttings, ensuring successful propagation.

Correct Answer: b) Enhances nutrient availability

Compost releases nutrients slowly, enhancing availability and supporting fruit crop growth in horticultural systems.

Correct Answer: b) Disorients aphids with reflected light

Reflective mulches disorient aphids by reflecting light, reducing their ability to locate host plants and controlling infestations in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Grafting

Grafting ensures uniform walnut trees by combining a desired scion with a compatible rootstock, maintaining genetic consistency and desired traits.

Correct Answer: b) Increases growth rate

Hydroponics provides optimal nutrient and water delivery, increasing the growth rate of spinach by ensuring consistent conditions.

Correct Answer: b) Reduces physical damage

Windbreaks reduce wind speed, preventing physical damage to fruit crops and reducing water loss from transpiration.

Correct Answer: b) Ensures chemical-free products

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, ensuring herbal plants are free from residues, critical for their medicinal and culinary quality.

Correct Answer: d) Insect pests

Neem oil contains azadirachtin, which repels and disrupts the life cycle of insect pests, making it effective in horticulture.

Correct Answer: d) Early fruit development

Growth regulators applied during early fruit development thin apple fruitlets, reducing competition and improving fruit size and quality.

Correct Answer: a) Near the plant base

Drip emitters placed near the plant base deliver water directly to the root zone, optimizing water use and supporting vegetable growth.

Correct Answer: b) Control soil-borne pathogens

Soil solarization uses solar heat to kill soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and pests, creating a healthier environment for fruit crop production.

Correct Answer: b) Repels insect pests

Basil releases volatile compounds that repel insect pests like whiteflies and aphids, protecting tomato crops in companion planting systems.

Correct Answer: b) Optimizes light spectrum for growth

LED grow lights provide specific light wavelengths that optimize photosynthesis and growth in greenhouse fruit production.

Correct Answer: b) Ferrous sulfate

Ferrous sulfate provides iron in a readily available form, correcting deficiency symptoms like chlorosis in vegetable crops.

Correct Answer: b) Improves resource utilization

Intercropping optimizes land, water, and nutrient use by growing complementary crops, enhancing sustainability in horticultural systems.