Asrb net agricultural entomology syllabus

  AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY

Unit 1: Systematics 

• History and development of Entomology, Evolution of insects, position of insects in the animal world, characteristics of phylum Arthropoda, structural features of important arthropod groups such as Trilobita, Chelicerata and Mandibulata, structural features of important classes of phylum Arthropoda viz. Arachnida, Crustacea, Chilopoda, Dip lopoda and Hexapoda. Classification of insects up to order level, habits, habitats and distinguishing features of different Order and important Families. DNA barcoding, Phylogenetic analysis.  

Unit 2: Morphology 

• Body wall, its structure, outgrowths, endoskeleton, Body regions, segmentation, sclerites and sutures. Head and head appendages, types of mouth parts, antennae, their structure and types. Thorax structure, thoracic appendages and their modification. Wings, their modification and venation, Abdomen; structure, abdominal appendages both in Pterygota and Apterygota. External genitalia, general structure and modification in important insect orders. 

Unit 3: Embryology

• Internal Anatomy and Physiology Embryonic and post embryonic development, types of metamorphosis, physiology of ecdysis. General features and types of larvae and pupae. Structure, function and physiology of Digestive, Circulatory, Respiratory, Reproductive, Nervous and Excretory systems, Sense Organs; structure and types. Insect food and nutrition; minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, lipids, vitamins and their role in growth and development, artificial diets.  

Unit 4: Ecology 

• Concept of ecology, Environment and its components-biotic and abiotic factors and their effects on growth, development, population dynamics, distribution and dispersal. Principle of biogeography and insects’ biodiversity. Biotic potential and environmental resistance. Ecosystems, agroecosystems analysis, their characteristics and functioning. Intra and inter specific relationship; competition, predator-prey and host parasite interactions, ecological niche. Life table studies, population models. Food chain and food web. Arthropod population monitoring, pest forecasting. Diapause and causes of pest outbreaks. 

Unit 5: Biological Control Importance and scope of biological control

• history of biological control: Biocontrol agentsparasites, predators and insect pathogens. Important entomophagous insect Orders and Families. Ecological, biological, taxonomic, legal and economic aspects of biological control, phenomena of multiple parasitism, hyper parasitism, super parasitism and their applied importance. Principles and procedures of using exotic biocontrol agents. Utilization of natural biocontrol agents: conservation, habitat management and augmentation. Mass multiplication techniques and economics. Effective evaluation techniques, Biocontrol organizations in world and India. Successful cases of biological control of pests. 

Unit 6: Chemical Control and Toxicology History

• scope and principles of chemical control. Insecticides and their classification. Formulations of insecticides. Susceptibility of insects to the entry of insecticides. Physical, chemical and toxicological properties of different groups of insecticides: chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids, chlordimeform, chitin synthesis inhibitors, avermectins, nitroguandines, phenylpyrrozzoles, botanicals (natural pyrethroids, rotenone, neem products, nicotine, pongamia spp. etc). Combination insecticides. Problems of pesticide hazards and environmental pollution. Safe use of pesticides, precautions and first aid treatments. Insecticides Act 1968, registration and quality control of insecticides. Evaluation of toxicity, methods of toxicity testing, determination of LD50, LT50, RL50 etc, Pesticide management Bill, 2020. Pesticides residues in the environment and their dynamics of movements, methods of residue. Codex, FSSAI, HACCP, Pharmacology of insect poisons. Mode of action of different groups of insecticides; neuroactive (axonal and synaptic) poisons, respiratory poisons, chitin synthesis inhibitors. Metabolism of insecticides; activative and degradative metabolism, detoxification enzymes and their role in metabolism. Selectivity of insecticidal actions; insecticide resistance; mechanism, genetics and management of insecticide resistance. 

Unit 7: Host Plant Resistance Chemical ecology: 

• mechano and chemo receptors. Host plant selection by phytophagous insects. Secondary plant substances and their defenses against phytophagous insect. Basis of resistance (Antixenosis, Antobiosis, Tolerance). Biotypes development and its remedial measures. Tritrophic interactions, induced resistance. Breeding for insect resistant plant varieties. Resistance development and evaluation techniques. Genetics of Resistance: vertical resistance, horizontal resistance, oligogenic resistance, polygenic resistance. Biotechnological approaches and development of transgenic insect resistant plants, its advantages and limitations. Case histories. Insect resistance to transgenic plants and its management. 

Unit 8: Innovative Approaches in Pest Control Behavioral control: 

• pheromones-types and uses, advantages and limitations. Hormonal control: types and function of insect hormones, insect hormone mimics, advantages and limitations. chemosterilants, antifeedants, attractants, repellents; their types, method of applications, advantages and limitations. Genetic control: concepts and methods, case histories, advantages and limitations. Potentialities of IPM; molecular approaches for developing insect pest management strategies (RNAi, CRISPR). 

Unit 9: Integrated Pest Management History

• concept and principles of IPM. Components of IPM: Host plant resistance, agronomic manipulations, mechanical and physical methods, chemical methods, biocontrol agents utilization, genetic and behavioral control strategy etc. IPM strategies for field and horticultural crops. IPM case histories. Concept of damage levels-Economic threshold levels (ETL), Economic injury levels (EIL) and their determination. System approach, Agro ecosystem and cropping system vs. IPM. Constraints and Strategies of IPM implementation. 

Unit 10: Pesticide Application Equipments Types of appliances: 

• sprayers, dusters, fog generators, smoke generators, soil injecting guns, seed treating drums, flame throwers, etc. Power operated sprayers and dusters. Types of nozzles and their uses. Maintenance of appliances. Aerial application of pesticides, principles of aerial application, factors affecting the effectiveness of aerial application. Equipments for aerial applications. Advantages and disadvantages of aerial application. 

Unit 11: Pests of Field Crops and their Management Distribution 

• host range, biology and bionomics, nature of damage and management of arthropod pests of cereals, Oilseed, pulses and fibre crops, sugarcane and tobacco. Polyphagous pests: locusts, termites, hairy caterpillars, cut worms and white grubs. 

Unit 12: Pests of Horticultural Crops and their Management Distribution 

• host range, biology and bionomics, nature of damage and management of arthropod pests of vegetables, fruits and plantation crops, spices, condiments and ornamentals. 

Unit 13: Pests of Stored Products and their Management Fundamentals of storage of grains and grain products. 

• Storage losses, sources of infestation/infection, factors influencing losses, insect and non-insect pests, their nature of damage and control. Microflora in storage environment and their control. Storage structures,bulk storage and bag storage, their relative efficacy and demerits. Grain drying methods and aeration. Non-insect pests (rodents, birds, mites) of stored products and their control. Integrated management of storage pests.

Unit 14: Arthropod Vectors of Plant Diseases 

• Common arthropod vectors viz. aphids, leaf hoppers, plant hoppers, whiteflies, thrips, psylids, beetles, weevils, flies, bees and mites and their relationship with the plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma. Mechanism of pathogen transmission: Active mechanical transmission, biological transmission. Toxicogenic insects, mites and phytotoxemia. Some important arthropod vector transmitted diseases and their epidemiology in India. Management of vector and its effect on control of diseases. 

Unit 15: Honey Bees and Bee-keeping Honey bees and their economic importance. 

• Bee species, their behaviour, habit and habitats. Bee Keeping: bee pasturage, hives and equipments, seasonal management. Bee enemies inducing diseases and their control. 

Unit 16: Silkworms and Sericulture Silkworm species

• their systematic position and salient features. Rearing techniques of mulberrymuga-eri and tassar silkworms. Nutritional requirements of silkworms. Sericulture: rearing house and appliances, silkworm breeds, principles of voltism and nioultism, seed production and its economics. Enemies and diseases of silkworms and their management. Sericulture organization in India. 

Unit 17: Lac Insect Lac insect, its biology, habit and habitats. 

• Host Trees: pruning, inoculation, lac cropping techniques, and harvesting. Enemies of lac insect and their control. 

Unit 18: Other Useful Insects Pollinators

• biocontrol agents of weeds, soil fertility improving agents, scavengers. Use of insects and insect products in medicines. Usefulness of insects in scientific investigations, insects as food. 

Unit 19: Statistics and Computer Application Frequency distribution

• mean, mode and median. Standard, normal, bionomial and Poisson's distribution, Sampling methods and standard errors. Correlation and regression: Partial and multiple, tests of significance; t, F, chi-square, Duncan's multiple range tests. Design of experiments: Principles of Randomized block design, completely randomized block design, Latin square design, Split-plot designs. Probit analysis. 

ASRB net agricultural biotechnology Syllabus

 AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 

Unit 1: Cell Structure and Function Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell architecture, Cell wall, plasma membrane, Structure and function of cell organelles: vacuoles, mitochondria, plastids, golgi apparatus, ER, peroxisomes, glyoxisomes. Cell division, regulation of cell cycle, Protein secretion and targeting, Cell division, growth and differentiation.

Unit 2: Biomolecules and Metabolism Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, Synthesis of carbohydrate, glycolysis, HMP, Citric acid cycle and metabolic regulation, Oxidative phosphorylation and substrate level phosphorylation, Vitamins, plant hormones. Functional molecules, antioxidants, nutrient precursor, HSPs, anti-viral compounds.

Unit 3: Enzymology Enzymes, structure conformation, classification, assay, isolation, purification and characterization, catalytic specificity, mechanism of action, active site, regulation of enzyme activity.

Unit 4: Molecular Genetics Concept of gene, Prokaryotes as genetic system, Prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes, methods of gene isolation and identification, Split genes, overlapping genes and pseudo genes, Organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes and genomes including operan, exon, intron, enhancer promoter sequences and other regulatory elements. Mutation spontaneous, induced and sitedirected, recombination in bacteria, fungi and viruses, transformation, transduction, conjugation, transposable elements and transposition. 

Unit 5: Gene Expression Expression of genetic information, operon concept, Transcription -mechanism of transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, transcription unit, regulatory sequences and enhancers, activators, repressors, co-activators, Co-repressors in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, inducible genes and promoters, Transcription factors post transcriptional modification and protein transport, DNAprotein interaction, Genetic code. Mechanism of translation and its control, post translational modifications.

Unit 6: Molecular Biology Techniques Isolation and purification of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids hybridization: Southern, northern and western blotting hybridization. Immune response monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and ELISA, DNA sequencing. Construction and screening of genomic and c-DNA libraries. Gel electrophoretic techniques. Polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR, QRT-PCR spectroscopy, ultracentrifugation, chromatography, FISH, RIA etc.  

Unit 7: Gene Cloning Restriction enzymes and their uses. Salient features and uses of most commonly used vectors i.e. plasmids, bacteriophages, phagmids, cosmids, BACs, PACs and YACs, binary vectors, expression vectors. Gene cloning and sub-cloning strategies, chromosome walking, genetic transformation, Risk assessment and IPR. 

Unit 8: Molecular Biology Ribosome structure and function. Protein biosynthesis in prokaryotes and ekaryotes. Posttranslational modification. Gene regulation, RNA processing and Post-transcriptional modifications. Bioprospecting, biofortification, gene pryrimiding and gene fusion, ribozyme technology. 

Unit 9 : Plant Molecular Biology Photoregulation and phytochrome regulation of nuclear and chloroplastic gene expression. photosynthesis, C3& C4 cycle and photorespiration; Molecular mechanism of nitrogen fixation. Molecular biology of various stresses, viz. abiotic stresses like drought, salt, heavy metals and temperature; and biotic stresses like bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Signal transduction and its molecular basis, molecular mechanism of plant hormone action, mitochondrial control of fertility, structure, organization and regulation of nuclear gene concerning storage proteins and starch synthesis.

Unit 10: Tissue Culture Basic techniques in cell culture and somatic cell genetics. Clonal propagation, Concept of cellular totipotency. Another culture, somaclonal and gametoclonal variations. Hybrid embryo culture and embryo rescue, somatic hybridization and cybridization. Application of tissue culture in crop improvement. Secondary metabolite production. In vitro, mutagenesis, cryopreservation and plant tissue culture repository. 

Unit 11: Plant Genetic Engineering Isolation of genes of economic importance. Gene constructs for tissue-specific expression. Different methods of gene transfer to plants, viz. direct and vector mediated. Molecular analysis of transformants. Potential applications of plant genetic engineering for crop improvement, i.e. insectpest resistance (insect, viral, fungal and bacterial disease resistance), abiotic stress resistance, herbicide resistance, storage protein quality, increasing shelf-life, oil quality, Current status of transgenics, bio-safety norms and controlled field trials and release of transgenics (GMOs).

Unit 12: Molecular Markers and Genomics DNA molecular markers: Principles, type and applications; restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA sequences (RAPD), Simple sequence repeats (SSR), Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Structural and functional genomics, gene mapping, genome mapping, gene tagging, transcriptomics, ionomics, metabolomics and proteomics, comparative genomics and application of genomics. 

Biofertilizers: Natural Boosters for Soil and Crop Health and types

 Biofertilizers: Natural Boosters for Soil and Crop Health

Biofertilizers are living microorganisms that help improve plant growth by increasing the availability of nutrients in the soil. They are not chemical fertilizers and do not directly supply nutrients. Instead, they support natural processes that make nutrients easier for plants to absorb. Biofertilizers are an important part of sustainable and organic farming.

What Are Biofertilizers ?

Biofertilizers contain useful microorganisms that are added to the soil or applied to seeds. These organisms help fix nitrogen from the air, improve phosphorus uptake, or break down organic matter. They help plants grow stronger and improve soil fertility without harming the environment. Biofertilizers reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and help lower farming costs.

Types of Biofertilizers

1. Rhizobium (Soybean Inoculum)
This is the most common biofertilizer used in Zambia. It contains nitrogen-fixing bacteria that form nodules on the roots of legume crops like soybeans. These bacteria convert nitrogen from the air into a form that plants can use.

2. Azolla anabaena (Algae)
This algae works with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and is mostly used in rice farming. It floats on water and provides a natural source of nitrogen in flooded fields.

Differentiation between Late Blight & Early Blight of Tomato

 Differentiation between Late Blight & Early Blight of Tomato:

Late Blight÷
1.Irregular, water-soaked dark spots
2.Rapid spread in cool, wet weather

kbagriclasses

3.Light green halos around lesions
4.Affects leaves, stems, and fruits severely

Early Blight÷
1.Small, round spots with concentric rings.
2.Slow spread, starts on older leaves
3.Yellowing around spots
4.Stem and fruit lesions with dark rings

common fungicides used for tomato crops to control major fungal diseases

 ✅ Common Fungal Diseases in🍅 Tomato:

1. Early blight (Alternaria solani)


2. Late blight (Phytophthora infestans)


3. Powdery mildew


4. Fusarium wilt


5. Septoria leaf spot


6. Damping off (in seedlings)

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Recommended Fungicides for Tomato Crop:

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Disease Fungicide Name Chemical Name (Group) Dosage (per litre) Notes

• Early Blight Antracol Propineb (Contact) 2.5–3 g Use every 7–10 days
• Ridomil Gold Metalaxyl + Mancozeb 2 g Systemic + contact
• Late Blight Curzate M8 Cymoxanil + Mancozeb 2.5 g Start at early signs
• Kavach Chlorothalonil 2–2.5 g Good preventive control
• Powdery Mildew Sulfex Sulphur (Wettable) 2–3 g Avoid during hot weather
• Topas Penconazole (Systemic) 1 ml Use alternately with other fungicides
• Fusarium Wilt Bavistin Carbendazim (Systemic) 1 g Soil drenching + seed treatment
• Septoria Leaf Spot Mancozeb Contact fungicide 2–3 g Spray weekly if humid conditions
• Damping Off Captan/Thiram Seed treatment 2–3 g/kg seed Also drench nursery beds

Best Practices:

• Use sticker/spreader (like Teepol or Sandovit) for better effectiveness.
• 
  
• Follow alternate fungicides to avoid resistance.
• 
  
• Spray during early morning or late evening.
• 
  
• Maintain good drainage and air circulation.

What is Disaster management MCQ Question Answer For All Exam

  

1. The disaster management act was enacted in the year 2005.

   • True

2. The point of the earth's surface directly above the point where an earthquake occurs is called the Focus.

   • False (It is called the Epicenter)

3. The center of the cyclone is characterized by low pressure.

   • True

4. Generally, the number on Richter scale ranges between 1 to 12.

   • False (The Richter scale technically has no upper limit, though practical measurements are between 0 and 9)

5. Ozone depletion is caused by the increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

   • False (Ozone depletion is caused by chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances)

6. Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Methane is higher than Carbon dioxide.

   • True

7. Montreal Protocol is associated with limiting earth average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

   • False (The Montreal Protocol addresses substances that deplete the ozone layer, while the Paris Agreement focuses on temperature limits)

8. Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board are constituted under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

• True

9. 

Part B (Define)

1. Tropical cyclone: A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms producing heavy rain or squalls.

2. Hazards: Hazards are potential sources of harm or adverse effects on a person or persons.

3. Vulnerability: Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility to be harmed or affected by disasters due to various factors such as physical, social, economic, and environmental conditions.

4. Risk: Risk is the combination of the likelihood of an event and its adverse consequences.

5. Eutrophication: Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

6. Global warming: Global warming refers to the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system, largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

7. Shifting cultivation: Shifting cultivation is an agricultural practice in which a piece of land is cultivated for a few years and then abandoned for a new area until its fertility has been naturally restored.

8. Climate change: Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time. While climate change is a natural phenomenon, current trends are largely driven by human activities.

9. Biological disaster: Biological disasters are events caused by the exposure to dangerous pathogens or biological agents, such as viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms, leading to widespread disease and health crises.

Part C 

1. Write in brief about different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.

   • Vulnerability types include physical (structural weaknesses), social (community resilience), economic (financial stability), and environmental (ecosystem fragility).

2. Write down the role of Non-Government Organization (NGO) in disaster management.

   • NGOs play roles in disaster preparedness, emergency response, providing relief and rehabilitation, advocacy, and community training.

3. What do you mean by disaster response?

   • Disaster response refers to the actions taken to manage and mitigate the impact of a disaster, including emergency relief, rescue operations, and the provision of basic needs.

4. Define natural disaster and enlist its types.

   • A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth. Types include earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and droughts.

5. What do you understand by Greenhouse effects?

   • The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases (greenhouse gases) trap heat from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a warming effect.

6. Differentiate between disaster and hazard.

   • A hazard is a potential source of harm, while a disaster is the actual event that causes significant damage or harm.

7. Write down the difference between cyclone and anticyclone.

   • A cyclone is a system of winds rotating inwards to an area of low barometric pressure, while an anticyclone is a weather phenomenon with high atmospheric pressure at its center, around which air slowly circulates in a clockwise direction (in the Northern Hemisphere).

8. How climate change affects food security in India?

   • Climate change affects food security by impacting crop yields, altering precipitation patterns, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, and disrupting food supply chains.

9. Write down the different causes of deforestation.

   • Causes of deforestation include agricultural expansion, logging, infrastructure development, and mining activities.

10. Fire is a good servant but a bad master justify the statement.

    • Fire, when controlled, is beneficial for cooking, heating, and managing land. However, uncontrolled fire can cause destruction to life, property, and the environment.

Part D 

1. What adverse effects can solid waste cause? How can the solid waste be managed?

   • Adverse effects include environmental pollution, health hazards, and disruption of ecosystems. Management includes recycling, composting, incineration, and proper landfill use.

2. Discuss adverse effects and control of water pollution.

   • Adverse effects include harm to aquatic life, health issues for humans, and ecosystem disruption. Control measures include wastewater treatment, pollution regulations, and public awareness.

3. Discuss various sources of marine pollution. How can you prevent ocean pollution?

   • Sources include plastic waste, oil spills, and industrial discharge. Prevention includes reducing plastic use, regulating shipping activities, and enhancing waste management systems.

4. Briefly describe the sources, effects, and control of noise pollution.

   • Sources include industrial activity, traffic, and urban development. Effects include hearing loss, stress, and wildlife disruption. Control measures include soundproofing, zoning regulations, and public awareness.

5. Write about state and International level disaster management programmers.

   • These programs focus on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts coordinated by state and international bodies, often involving policy frameworks, resource allocation, and community engagement.

6. Explain the principle of risk partnership.

   • Risk partnership involves collaboration among various stakeholders to share information, resources, and strategies to manage and mitigate risks effectively.

7. Discuss the role of armed forces and other agencies involved in disaster management.

   • Armed forces provide rapid response, rescue operations, and logistical support. Other agencies, like NGOs and government bodies, offer specialized services, relief distribution, and rehabilitation support.

8. Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.

   • Hazard zonation mapping identifies areas prone to landslides, helping in planning and implementing mitigation measures, early warning systems, and informed decision-making for land use and development.