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Q.128 Botany ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active
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NEET 2021 Botany Question 128 Solution

Topic: Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production · Official NTA Booklet Code M1
NEET 2021 Botany Question 128: Physical Mutagens in Plant Mutation Breeding: Gamma Rays

Question

Mutations in plant cells can be induced by:

  1. (1)Kinetin
  2. (2)Infrared rays
  3. (3)Gamma rays
  4. (4)Zeatin
✓
Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key
Option (3) : Gamma rays
📚 Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production Easy
📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup
Phenomenon Artificial induction of mutations in plant cells
Candidate Agents Kinetin, Infrared rays, Gamma rays, Zeatin
⚡

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Gamma Rays = Mutation Breeding in Mung Bean

⏱️ Save ~15 seconds

Mutations in plant breeding are induced artificially using physical mutagens like Gamma rays (or chemical mutagens like EMS)! In mung bean, resistance to yellow mosaic virus and powdery mildew was successfully induced by gamma rays. Match Option (3)!

1 Kinetin and Zeatin are cytokinins (phytohormones promoting cell division, not mutagens).
2 Infrared rays are low-energy thermal radiation that cannot break covalent DNA bonds.
3 Gamma rays are high-energy ionizing physical mutagens capable of causing DNA strand breaks and mutations.
4 Match Option (3).
🛡️
Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: Canonical NCERT Biology on Mutation Breeding and Crop Improvement.
📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Concept of Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is the process of breeding crops by inducing mutations artificially using chemical or physical mutagens, followed by screening and selection of plants with desirable agronomic traits:

Step 2

Action of Ionizing Physical Mutagens

High-energy ionizing radiation—specifically gamma rays (typically emitted by Cobalt-60 sources)—penetrates plant tissues, generating free radicals and causing single- and double-strand breaks in chromosomal DNA:

Plant Cells→γ-rays (Cobalt-60)DNA Double-Strand Breaks / Transversions  ⟹  Induced Mutations\text{Plant Cells} \xrightarrow{\gamma\text{-rays (Cobalt-60)}} \text{DNA Double-Strand Breaks / Transversions} \implies \mathbf{\text{Induced Mutations}}
Step 3

Canonical NCERT Exemplar

In mung bean (*Vigna radiata*), resistance to Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMVYMV) and powdery mildew was induced through mutation breeding using gamma irradiation.

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan
1 1
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Kinetin is a synthetic adenine-derivative cytokinin that induces cytokinesis and shoot morphogenesis in plant tissue culture, not mutations.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing plant tissue culture growth hormones with mutagens.
2 2
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Infrared radiation is non-ionizing thermal radiation with insufficient photon energy to alter nucleotide chemical structure.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Assuming any electromagnetic wave can cause genetic mutations.
3 3
✓ 100% Correct
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Gamma rays are high-energy ionizing physical mutagens routinely used to induce mutations in plant cells.

💡
Why this is airtight: None. Verbatim textbook example.
4 4
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Zeatin is a naturally occurring cytokinin first isolated from corn kernels (*Zea mays*), possessing no mutagenic properties.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing natural cytokinins with mutagens.
⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Hormones vs Mutagens Categorical Trap

Options (1) Kinetin and (4) Zeatin are familiar biotechnology words. However, they are growth promoters, not mutagens.

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Remember: Gamma rays are the classic physical mutagen in the NCERT syllabus (tested in both Genetics and Food Enhancement).
📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NEET / NCERT Biology · Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production Standard Benchmark
Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"It is possible to induce mutations artificially through use of chemicals or radiations (like gamma rays), and selecting and using the plants that have the desirable character as a source in breeding."

Syllabus Focus: Plant Breeding for Disease Resistance: Mutation
✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

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