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AGC 422 Final Exam 2020

This document contains a final exam for an agriculture course on seed science and technology. It consists of 5 questions assessing various topics: 1. Key issues in seed science such as Zambia's formal/informal seed sectors and genetic and dormancy variation in seeds. 2. Proposals to strengthen Zambia's informal seed sector and advice for farmers in Chadiza village to adopt certified seeds. 3. Calculations for seed production of a hybrid including parent seed amounts, planting areas, and projected yields over multiple generations. 4. Explanation of germination testing seeds with hard coats, underdeveloped embryos, or growth inhibitors and the relationship between seed vigor and storage

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Solomon Mbewe
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90 views

AGC 422 Final Exam 2020

This document contains a final exam for an agriculture course on seed science and technology. It consists of 5 questions assessing various topics: 1. Key issues in seed science such as Zambia's formal/informal seed sectors and genetic and dormancy variation in seeds. 2. Proposals to strengthen Zambia's informal seed sector and advice for farmers in Chadiza village to adopt certified seeds. 3. Calculations for seed production of a hybrid including parent seed amounts, planting areas, and projected yields over multiple generations. 4. Explanation of germination testing seeds with hard coats, underdeveloped embryos, or growth inhibitors and the relationship between seed vigor and storage

Uploaded by

Solomon Mbewe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Programmes: BSc Agric (IV), BSc Agric Ed (IV)

AGC 422 (Seed Science and Technology) Final Examination

Academic Year: 2019/20

Instructions: Answer ALL Questions

Total Marks for each question are as indicated

You will be required to submit your answers within 24hrs of downloading this

examination question paper


1. Explain the basis for the following issues in seed science (20 marks)

(a) Zambia’s formal seed sector is mostly involved in cross pollinated crops

(b) Inbred lines have low vigour but produce vigorous progeny

(c) Floors in seed storage sheds are normally damp proof

(d) Seeds produced on the same plant can vary in chemical composition

(e) Seeds produced on the same plant can vary in levels of seed dorma​ncy

2. (a) Zambia’s informal seed sector is an important component of the country’s seed sector.

Despite this fact, the sector is largely neglected both at policy level and at technical level. You

are required to develop policy and technical proposals which can result in a more robust informal

seed sector in Zambia (10 marks)

(b) Imagine that you are employed at Seed Control and Certification Institute. You are

aware that farmers in a village in Chadiza are mostly using recycled and uncertified seed.

What kind of advice would you give them so that you convince them to start using

certified seed?

(10 marks)
3. ​Imagine that you are employed as a Seed Production Manager at Pioneer Seeds Company
Limited. Your employer wishes to multiply a single cross hybrid PNR 1056. During the
preliminary trials for the two parents of the hybrid, it was established that the female parent was
able to produce 3kg of seed from a plot measuring 20 x 25m while the male parent seed was only
able to produce 1.8kg of seed from the same plot size. Given that the breeding department avails
180kg of the female parent seed and 90kg of the male parent seed and assuming that the
recommended seed rates for both the two parents is 8kg/ha and seed handling losses of 9% and
seed reserve ratio of 4% at each seed multiplication stage . Answer the following questions.
(a) What would be the maximum seed production area (ha) that can be established for this
seed at prebasic stage? (5 marks)
(b) Determine the maximum possible amount of male parent seed that you would produce at
the basic seed stage (5 marks)
(c) Determine the maximum possible amount of certified seed that can be produced for PNR
1056 assuming seed processing losses of 11% at certified seed stage.(10 marks)

4. (a) Explain how you would carry out germination test on seeds that have the following
challenges (15 marks)
(i) Seed coat so hard the embryo can not easily emerge
(ii) Under-developed embryo at seed dispersal
(iii) Seeds with high levels of anti-growth hormones

(b) What is the relationship between seed vigour and seed storage? (5 marks)

5. (a) Describe the procedures and machines you would employ to process maize seed that is
harvested by combine harvesters (10 marks)
(b) What similarities and differences would be there in the procedures and machines if the
seed crop being processed is soybeans instead of maize? (5 marks)
(c) Explain how seed can be used as a carrier of improved crop production technologies
(5 marks)

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