General Agriculture & Statistics

Prescribed submitted sample sizes for Grow-Out Test (GOT) under Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards:

• Groundnut (large-seeded legume): $1000\text{ g}$: (A)-(II).
• Paddy (cereals): $500\text{ g}$: (B)-(III).
• Jute (small-seeded fiber crop): $100\text{ g}$: (C)-(IV).
• Sweet potato (vegetatively propagated tuberous root): $250\text{ tubers}$: (D)-(I).

Modes of germination and reproduction:

• Epigeal germination: The hypocotyl elongates rapidly, carrying the cotyledons above the soil surface (e.g., soybean, castor, bean): (A)-(III).
• Viviparous germination: Seeds germinate while still attached to the parent plant before dropping into saline mud (e.g., mangroves like Rhizophora): (B)-(I).
• Oviparous reproduction: Animals that reproduce by laying eggs outside the body (e.g., birds, reptiles): (C)-(IV).
• Hypogeal germination: The epicotyl elongates while cotyledons remain below the ground (e.g., pea, gram, maize): (D)-(II).

Standard purity analysis protocol (ISTA):

• Step 1: Divide the submitted sample using a mechanical divider to obtain the prescribed working sample: (D).
• Step 2: Preliminary separation of inert matter or large trash on a purity board or sieves: (B).
• Step 3: Critical separation into pure seed, other crop seed, weed seed, and inert matter, followed by accurate analytical weighing: (A).
• Step 4: Calculate the percentage by weight for each of the four components to one decimal place and generate the certificate/report: (C).

Characteristics of baby corn:

• Baby corn is NOT a miniature or immature maize plant; it is the young, unfertilized female ear/inflorescence (cob) harvested within 2-3 days of silk emergence from normally grown, mature maize plants: Statement (I) is incorrect.
• Baby corn is consumed whole (including the soft cob), possessing miniature size ($6-11\text{ cm}$), delicate crisp texture, and sweet mild flavor, distinctly differing from mature grain corn: Statement (II) is correct.