Science of Plants in Agriculture

Science of Plants in Agriculture

Pl.Sci 102

Test # 1

September 13th, 2006

10:30 – 11:20

Name:

Answer all 16 questions

A bonus question is available for an extra 2 points

A total of 100 points (plus 2 bonus points) are available

Points available from each part of each question

are shown in bold square parenthesis

Try to be as brief and concise as possible

Please write in a legible form

Make sure that any additional paper used

is attached to the questionnaire

1.  Explain why mankind changed from being hunter/gatherers to becoming farmers. In your answer consider animal and crop domestication [15 points].

2. Crop plant species are predominantly diploid, allopolyploid or autopolyploid. List one crop that is a diploid, one which is an allopolyploid, and one that is an autopolyploid. [6 points].

Ploidy / Crop
Diploid
Allopolyploid
Autopolyploid

3. What is generally considered to be the center of origin of the following crops? [8 points]

Crop / Center of Origin
Potato
Wheat
Rice
Apple

4. Who wrote The Origin of Species? [2 points]

5. What is the difference between 'Natural selection' and 'Human selection'? [4 points]

6. List three characters that have arisen in some of our crop plants which have been a result only of human selection. For each characteristic give an example of a crop exhibiting the characters you have listed. [6 points]

Plant characteristic / Crop species exhibiting characteristic
1.
2.
3.

7. What is the current estimate of the number of humans that live on the Earth? [2 points]

8. The rate of increase of the worlds' population has reduced recently. List three factors responsible for the reduction in the increase in world population. [6 points]

1.

2.

3.

9. List three reasons why we have seen a significant rise in agricultural productivity since the start of the Green Revolution [6 points].

1.

2.

3.

10. Describe the major features of the following types of agriculture [12 points].

1. Industrial

2. Traditional intensive

3. Shifting cultivation

11. Describe the major differences between Public and Private funding for agricultural research. [6 points]

12. List one of the top three major world agricultural crops (based on production totals) from the following crop types [10 points].

Crop type / Major Crop Species
Cereals
Fruit
Vegetable
Oilseed
Root crop

13. List one of the top three US states that produce the following crops (based on crop production) [4 points].

Crop / Major US Production State
Wheat
Fruit
Potato
Corn

14. What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms? [2 points].

15. What are the three primary sources of calories (i.e. energy) in a human diet? [6 points]

1.

2.

3.

16. What is 'the New Food Pyramid'? [5 points]

Bonus Questions

(2 points)

What is the coolest thing about plants?