Introductory Horticulture MCQs

1. What is the primary factor influencing the fruiting of biennial plants?
(A) Light intensity
(B) Temperature
(C) Pruning
(D) Fertilization

2. In grafting, what is the main purpose of the scion?
(A) To provide the root system
(B) To provide the vascular tissue for growth
(C) To provide the fruiting characteristics
(D) To provide the bark for the union

3. Which of the following methods is most commonly used for propagation of citrus plants?
(A) Grafting
(B) Seed propagation
(C) Layering
(D) Cuttings

4. What is the process of removing the apical bud to encourage lateral branching called?
(A) Pollarding
(B) Pruning
(C) Pinching
(D) Girdling

5. Which of the following plant hormones is primarily responsible for promoting cell elongation and fruit growth?
(A) Auxins
(B) Gibberellins
(C) Cytokinins
(D) Abscisic acid

6. Which of the following is an example of a monocarpic plant?
(A) Oak tree
(B) Wheat plant
(C) Tomato plant
(D) Banana plant

7. What is the primary advantage of hydroponics in horticulture?
(A) Increased soil fertility
(B) Reduced need for pesticides
(C) Efficient use of water and nutrients
(D) Improved fruiting rates

8. Which of the following is a key characteristic of “cold-hardy” horticultural crops?
(A) High resistance to waterlogging
(B) Ability to tolerate freezing temperatures during dormancy
(C) Preference for acidic soil pH
(D) High tolerance to drought conditions

9. What is the correct term for a graft union between two genetically distinct species?
(A) Incompatibility
(B) Cross-breeding
(C) Intergeneric grafting
(D) Intraspecific grafting

10. Which of the following plant diseases is most commonly spread through the use of contaminated pruning tools?
(A) Powdery mildew
(B) Phytophthora blight
(C) Bacterial wilt
(D) Black spot fungus

11. Which type of soil is best suited for most horticultural crops due to its structure and drainage properties?
(A) Sandy soil
(B) Clay soil
(C) Loamy soil
(D) Peaty soil

12. What is the term used to describe the process of fruit formation without fertilization, often observed in certain species of plants such as bananas and oranges?
(A) Parthenocarpy
(B) Apomixis
(C) Cross-pollination
(D) Gametogenesis

13. Which of the following is NOT a method of asexual plant propagation?
(A) Layering
(B) Grafting
(C) Seed sowing
(D) Cuttings

14. What is the process by which a plant goes from a juvenile stage to a mature, flowering stage called?
(A) Vernalization
(B) Senescence
(C) Ripening
(D) Juvenility

15. Which of the following plant diseases is primarily transmitted through soilborne pathogens?
(A) Downy mildew
(B) Fusarium wilt
(C) Leaf spot
(D) Aphid-transmitted mosaic