GATE 2018 Botany (XL-R) Question Paper with Answer

GATE 2018 Botany (XL-R)

XL-R: Q. 1 – Q. 10 carry one mark each & Q. 11 – Q. 20 carry two marks each.

Q.1 Which of the following genera produces dimorphic seeds that help to broaden the time of
germination in a variable habitat?
(A) Xanthium (B) Pisum (C) Mangifera (D) Linum

Q.2 The genes for microRNA (miRNA) in plants are usually transcribed by
(A) RNA polymerase I (B) RNA polymerase II
(C) RNA polymerase III (D) RNA polymerase IV

Q.3 Which of the statements is TRUE for transposable elements Ac and Ds?
(A) Both Ac and Ds are autonomous because they encode their own transposase
(B) Both Ac and Ds are non-autonomous because they do not encode their own transposase
(C) Only Ac is autonomous because it encodes its own transposase
(D) Only Ds is autonomous because it encodes its own transposase

Q.4 Identify the CORRECT statement.
(A) Receptor-like kinases play role in gametophytic self-incompatibility in Brassicaceae
(B) Receptor-like kinases play role in sporophytic self-incompatibility in Solanaceae
(C) Ribonucleases play role in sporophytic self-incompatibility in Brassicaceae
(D) Ribonucleases play role in gametophytic self-incompatibility in Solanaceae

Q.5 Which of the following statements is TRUE for an ecotone?
(A) An ecotone is the synonym of an ecosystem
(B) An ecotone is an interface zone of two or more ecosystems
(C) An ecotone is a special feature of land biomes
(D) An ecotone is exclusively characterized by decreased biodiversity

Q.6 Acid rain with a pH of 4.0 is more acidic than the rain with a pH of 6.0 by
(A) 2 times (B) 10 times (C) 100 times (D) 1000 times

Q.7 Which of the following plants produces Ylang-ylang oil?
(A) Cananga odorata (B) Carcum copticum
(C) Pandanus odoratissimus (D) Pimenta racemosa

Q.8 Identify the INCORRECT statement in connection with polar transport of auxin.
(A) The putative influx carrier AUX1 is a cytosolic protein
(B) Polar auxin transport in root tends to be both acropetal and basipetal in direction
(C) Naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) is an inhibitor of polar auxin transport
(D) AUX1 and PIN1 proteins are located in the opposite ends of a cell for polar transport

XL-R 1/4

GATE 2018 Botany (XL-R)

Q.9 Which of the following stains is used to visualize callose under the microscope?
(A) Alcian blue (B) Aniline blue (C) Toluidine blue (D) Thymol blue

Q.10 The coding sequence of a gene XLR18 has the single ORF of 783 bp. The approximate
molecular weight of the XLR18 protein in kDa is ______.

Q.11 Statements given below are either TRUE (T) or FALSE (F). Select the CORRECT
combination.

P. Mitosis occurs exclusively in diploid mother cell
Q. Mitosis occurs both in diploid and haploid mother cells
R. Meiosis occurs exclusively in diploid mother cell
S. Meiosis occurs both in diploid and haploid mother cells
(A) P-T, Q-F, R-T, S-F (B) P-F, Q-T, R-F, S-T
(C) P-T, Q-F, R-F, S-T (D) P-F, Q-T, R-T, S-F

Q.12 You are asked to design a genetic construct for high-level expression of a gene encoding
the therapeutic protein 18 (TP18) via plastid transformation. Select the CORRECT set of
genetic elements for this construct.

(A) Actin1 promoter → TP18 coding sequence → Actin1 transcription terminator
(B) Ubiquitin1 promoter → TP18 coding sequence → Ubiquitin1 transcription terminator
(C) rbcS promoter → TP18 coding sequence → rbcS transcription terminator
(D) rbcL promoter → TP18 coding sequence → rbcL transcription terminator

Q.13 Select the CORRECT combination of the following statements.

P. The cyclic electron transport chain involving PSI results in net production of both ATP
and NADPH
Q. The cyclic electron transport chain involving PSI results in net production of ATP
R. Rubisco enzyme usually converts RuBP and CO2 into 2-phosphoglycolate and
3-phosphoglycerate
S. Rubisco enzyme usually converts RuBP and O2 into 2-phosphoglycolate and
3-phosphoglycerate

(A) P, Q (B) R, S (C) Q, S (D) P, R

XL-R 2/4

GATE 2018 Botany (XL-R)

Q.14 Match the fruit characters with their families and representative plant species.

Fruit character Family Plant species
P. Syconus 1. Moraceae i. Canavalia ensiformis
Q. Capsule, opening by 2. Fabaceae ii. Artabotrys odoratissimus
apical pores or valves
R. Legume 3. Papaveraceae iii. Ficus religiosa
S. An etaerio of drupe 4. Annonaceae iv. Papaver somniferum
v. Pistacia vera
vi. Citrus aurantium
(A) P-2-iv, Q-3-ii, R-1-vi, S-4-v (B) P-1-iii, Q-3-iv, R-2-i, S-4-ii
(C) P-3-i, Q-2-iii, R-4-ii, S-1-vi (D) P-4-v, Q-1-ii, R-2-v, S-3-i

Q.15 Select the CORRECT combination by matching the disease, affected plant and the causal
organism.

Disease Affected plant Causal organism

P. Black rot 1. Corn i. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense
Q. Loose smut 2. Banana ii. Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli
R. Panama wilt 3. Watermelon iii. Botryosphaeria obtusa
S. Bacterial fruit blotch 4. Apple iv. Ustilago maydis
v. Plasmopara viticola
vi. Venturia inaequalis
(A) P-2-v, Q-1-iv, R-3-iii, S-4-vi (B) P-2-ii, Q-1-i, R-4-iii, S-3-i
(C) P-4-iii, Q-1-iv, R-2-i, S-3-ii (D) P-4-vi, Q-1-iii, R-3-ii, S-2-v

Q.16 Select the CORRECT combination by matching Group-I with Group-II.

Group-I Group-II

P. Photorespiration 1. Glutamate → 2-Oxglutarate
Q. Respiration 2. Acetyl-CoA → Malonyl-CoA
R. Amino acid degradation 3. 2-Oxglutarate → Succinyl-CoA
S. Fatty acid synthesis 4. Glycine → Serine
(A) P-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4 (B) P-2, Q-1, R-4, S-1
(C) P-3, Q-4, R-2, S-3 (D) P-4, Q-3, R-1, S-2

XL-R 3/4

GATE 2018 Botany (XL-R)

Q.17 Match the plant alkaloids with their uses and source species.

Alkaloid Use Source species
P. Codeine 1. Stimulant i. Hyoscyamus niger
Q. Caffeine 2. Analgesic ii. Catharanthus roseus
R. Scopolamine 3. Antineoplastic iii. Cola nitida
S. Vinblastine 4. Anticholinergic iv. Papaver somniferum
v. Coptis japonica
vi. Senecio jacobaea

(A) P-2-iv, Q-1-iii, R-4-i, S-3-ii (B) P-4-iii, Q-2-v, R-1-vi, S-3-i
(C) P-2-v, Q-1-vi, R-3-iv, S-4-ii (D) P-3-ii, Q-4-iii, R-1-iv, S-2-i

Q.18 Identify the CORRECT combination of statements with respect to chemical defense in
plants.

P. Pisatin, a phytoalexin produced by Ricinus communis is a constitutive defense
compound
Q. Phaseolus vulgaris produces Phaseolus agglutinin I, which is toxic to the cowpea weevil
R. A single step non-enzymatic hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycoside releases the toxic
hydrocyanic acid (HCN) to protect plant against herbivores and pathogens
S. Avenacin, a triterpenoid saponin from oat prevents infection by Gaeumannomyces
graminis, a major pathogen of cereal roots

(A) P, Q (B) Q, S (C) R, S (D) P, S

Q.19 In garden pea, dwarf plants with terminal flowers are recessive to tall plants with axial
flowers. A true-breeding tall plant with axial flowers was crossed with a true-breeding
dwarf plant with terminal flowers. The resulting F1 plants were testcrossed, and the
following progeny were obtained:

Tall plants with axial flowers = 320
Dwarf plants with terminal flowers = 318
Tall plants with terminal flowers = 79
Dwarf plants with axial flowers = 83

The map distance between the genes for plant height and flower position is______cM.

Q.20 Two true-breeding snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) plants, one with red flowers and
another with white flowers were crossed. The F1 plants were all with pink flowers. When
the F1 plants were selfed, they produced three kinds of F2 plants with red, pink and white
flowers in a 1:2:1 ratio. The probability that out of the five plants picked up randomly, two
would be with pink flowers, two with white flowers and one with red flowers is _____%.

END OF THE QUESTION PAPER

XL-R 4/4

Q.No. Type Section Key/Range Marks

1 MCQ GA A 1

2 MCQ GA C 1

3 MCQ GA B 1

4 MCQ GA B 1

5 MCQ GA B 1

6 MCQ GA A 2

7 MCQ GA D 2

8 MCQ GA D 2

9 MCQ GA B 2

10 MCQ GA C 2

1 MCQ XL‐P A 1

2 MCQ XL‐P D 1

3 MCQ XL‐P D 1

4 NAT XL‐P 11 to 11 1

5 NAT XL‐P 4 to 4 1

6 MCQ XL‐P D 2

7 MCQ XL‐P D 2

8 MCQ XL‐P A 2

9 MCQ XL‐P D 2

10 MCQ XL‐P A 2

11 MCQ XL‐P C 2

12 MCQ XL‐P B 2

13 NAT XL‐P 1.39 to 1.43 2

Q.No. Type Section Key/Range Marks

14 NAT XL‐P 7.39 to 7.54 2

15 NAT XL‐P ‐13.40 to ‐13.36 2

1 MCQ XL‐Q B 1

2 MCQ XL‐Q A 1

3 MCQ XL‐Q C 1

4 MCQ XL‐Q C 1

5 MCQ XL‐Q D 1

6 MCQ XL‐Q C 1

7 MCQ XL‐Q D 1

8 MCQ XL‐Q B 1

9 NAT XL‐Q 12 to 12 1

10 NAT XL‐Q 50 to 50 1

11 MCQ XL‐Q A 2

12 MCQ XL‐Q A 2

13 MCQ XL‐Q D 2

14 MCQ XL‐Q B 2

15 MCQ XL‐Q B 2

16 NAT XL‐Q 512 to 512 2

17 NAT XL‐Q 20 to 20 2

18 NAT XL‐Q 0.8 to 0.8 2

19 NAT XL‐Q 77 to 77 2

20 NAT XL‐Q ‐8862 to ‐8862 2

1 MCQ XL‐R A 1

Q.No. Type Section Key/Range Marks

2 MCQ XL‐R B 1

3 MCQ XL‐R C 1

4 MCQ XL‐R D 1

5 MCQ XL‐R B 1

6 MCQ XL‐R C 1

7 MCQ XL‐R A 1

8 MCQ XL‐R A 1

9 MCQ XL‐R B 1

10 NAT XL‐R 28.00 to 31.00 1

11 MCQ XL‐R D 2

12 MCQ XL‐R D 2

13 MCQ XL‐R C 2

14 MCQ XL‐R B 2

15 MCQ XL‐R C 2

16 MCQ XL‐R D 2

17 MCQ XL‐R A 2

18 MCQ XL‐R B 2

19 NAT XL‐R 20.25 to 20.25 2

20 NAT XL‐R 11.00 to 12.00 2

1 MCQ XL‐S B 1

2 MCQ XL‐S A 1

3 MCQ XL‐S A 1

4 MCQ XL‐S D 1

Q.No. Type Section Key/Range Marks

5 MCQ XL‐S D 1

6 MCQ XL‐S C 1

7 MCQ XL‐S D 1

8 MCQ XL‐S B 1

9 MCQ XL‐S A 1

10 NAT XL‐S 1.38 to1.42 1

11 MCQ XL‐S C 2

12 MCQ XL‐S C 2

13 MCQ XL‐S A 2

14 MCQ XL‐S D 2

15 MCQ XL‐S B 2

16 MCQ XL‐S A 2

17 NAT XL‐S 2.60 to 2.80 2

18 NAT XL‐S 0.5 to 0.5 2

19 NAT XL‐S 45.50 to 46.50 2

20 NAT XL‐S 30.5 to 31.5 2

1 MCQ XL‐T C 1

2 MCQ XL‐T B 1

3 MCQ XL‐T A 1

4 MCQ XL‐T D 1

5 MCQ XL‐T C 1

6 MCQ XL‐T D 1

7 MCQ XL‐T B 1

Q.No. Type Section Key/Range Marks

8 MCQ XL‐T A 1

9 MCQ XL‐T A 1

10 MCQ XL‐T C 1

11 MCQ XL‐T B 2

12 MCQ XL‐T D 2

13 MCQ XL‐T C 2

14 MCQ XL‐T C 2

15 MCQ XL‐T B 2

16 MCQ XL‐T D 2

17 MCQ XL‐T C 2

18 MCQ XL‐T A 2

19 NAT XL‐T 5270 to 5310 2

20 NAT XL‐T 0.056 to 0.062 2

1 MCQ XL‐U B 1

2 MCQ XL‐U A 1

3 MCQ XL‐U C 1

4 MCQ XL‐U A 1

5 MCQ XL‐U D 1

6 MCQ XL‐U D 1

7 NAT XL‐U 1.55 to 1.65 1

8 NAT XL‐U 103.0 to 103.2 1

9 NAT XL‐U 54 to 56 1

10 NAT XL‐U 0 to 0 1

Q.No. Type Section Key/Range Marks

11 MCQ XL‐U B 2

12 MCQ XL‐U C 2

13 MCQ XL‐U C 2

14 MCQ XL‐U A 2

15 MCQ XL‐U D 2

16 MCQ XL‐U A 2

17 MCQ XL‐U B 2

18 NAT XL‐U 9.8 to 10.2 2

19 NAT XL‐U 1.1 to 1.8 2

20 NAT XL‐U 10 to 10 2