With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements : 1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when 'bud chip settlings' are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field. 2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds. 3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts. 4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 4 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Why the answer is (c)
• Statement 1 is correct: raising bud-chip settlings in a nursery and transplanting them cuts seed-cane requirement by about 80% compared with planting whole setts.
• Statement 4 is correct: tissue-culture-raised settlings are used to multiply disease-free seed of new varieties.
• Statement 2 is wrong: with direct planting, single-budded setts germinate poorly; two- or three-budded setts give better germination.
• Statement 3 is wrong: in adverse weather, larger setts with more reserves survive better than single-budded ones.
• Hence 1 and 4 only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- Statement 2 is wrong: multi-budded setts germinate better.
- (b) 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: larger setts survive bad weather better.
- (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
- Statements 2 and 3 are wrong; statement 1 is correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.