last ten years icar net question paper of Economic Botany & Plant Genetic Resources

Unit 2 : Economically important plants –I
Origin, history, domestication, botany, genetic resource activities, cultivation, production and use of:
Cereals: Wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet and minor millets.
Pulses: Pigeon pea, chickpea, black gram, green gram, cowpea, soyabean, pea, lentil, horsegram, lab-lab bean, ricebean, winged bean, French bean, lima bean, sword bean.
Oilseeds: Groundnut, sesame, castor, rape seed, mustard, sunflower, safflower, niger, oil palm, coconut and linseed.

Unit 3 : Economically important plants –II
Origin, distribution, cultivation, production and utilization of economic plants of following groups such as Fibres: cotton, silk cotton, jute, sunnhemp, agave, flax and mesta (kenoff); Sugars: sugarcane, sugarbeet, sugarpalm and sweet sorghum; Fodders and green manure crops: Plantation crops: coconut, cocoa, tea; root and tuber crops-: potato, sweet potato, tapioca, aroids etc.

Unit 4 : Economically important plants –III
Origin, distribution, classification, production and utilization of Fruits: mango, banana, citrus, guava, grapes and other indigenous fruits; apple, plum, pear, peach, cashewnut and walnut; Vegetables: tomato, brinjal, okra, cucumber, cole crops, gourds etc.; Fumigatories and masticatories: tobacco, betelvine, areacanut; medicinal and aromatic plants: sarpagandha, belladonna, cinchona, nux-vomica, vinca, mentha and glycirrhiza, plantago etc.; Narcotics: cannabis, datura, gloriosa, pyrethrum and opium; Dye-, tannin-, gum- and resin- yielding plants; Plant of agro-forestory importance: multipurpose trees/shrubs, subabool, Acacia nilotica, poplar, sesbania, neem etc.; non-traditional economic plants: jojoba, guayule, jatropha, carcus etc.

Unit 5 : Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources (PGR)
Biosphere and biodiversity; plant species richness and endemism; concept and importance of plant genetic resources and its increasing erosion; Centres of origin and diversity of crop plants, domestication, evaluation, bioprospecting; National and International organizations associated with PGR; Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), recent issues related to access and ownership of PGR, IPR,. PBRs, farmers rights, sui-generis system etc.

Unit 6 : Germplasm Augmentation
History and importance of germplasm collection, ecogeographical distribution of diversity, logistics of exploration and collection, use of flora and herbaria, random and selective sampling, genepool sampling in self and cross pollinated species; Concept, importance and ecogeographical considerations of introduction and exchange of plant germplasm; prerequisites conventions and achievements of PGR exchange.
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Unit 7 : Germplasm Conservation
Principles and methods of conservation, in situ and ex situ methods, on – farm conservation; Gene banks: short-medium- and long-term conservation strategies; seed physiology and seed technology in conservation; seed storage behaviour (orthodox, recalcitrant), field genebanks, clonal respositories. Gene bank management, gene bank standard for various crops, ISTA, AOSA, IPGRI guidelines, documentation of information in gene bank.

Unit 8 : Biotechnology in PGR
Plant conservation biotechnology, biotechnology in plant germplasm acquisition; plant tissue culture in disease elimination, in vitro conservation and exchange; cryopreservation, transgenics – exchange and biosafety issues; biochemical and molecular approaches to assessing plant diversity.

Unit 9 : Plant Quarantine
Principles, objectives and relevance of plant quarantine; Regulations and plant quarantine set up in Indai; economic significance of seed borne pests, pathogens and weeds; detection and post entry quarantine operations, salvaging of infested/infected germplasm, domestic quarantine.

Unit 10 : Germplasm characterization, evaluation, maintenance and regeneration
Principles and strategies of PGR evaluation, approaches in germplasm characterization and diversity analysis, concept of core collection, descriptors and descriptor states for data scoring; maintenance of working and active collections of self-cross-pollinated and vegetatively propagated crops, perennials and wild relatives; principles and practices of regeneration in relation to mode of reproduction, concept of genetic integrity, genetic shift, genetic drift and optimum environment; post-harvest handling of germplasm; PGR data base management.

last ten years icar net question paper of Agricultural Entomology

Unit 1: Systematics
History and development of Entomology, Evolution of insects, position of insects in the animal world, characteristics of phylum Arthropoda, structural  features of important arthropod groups such as Trilobita, Chelicerata and Mandibulata, structural features of important classes of phylum Arthropoda viz. Arachnida, Crustacea, Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Hexapoda. Classification of insects up to order level,  habits, habitats and distinguishing features of different Order and important Families.
Unit 2: Morphology
Body wall, its structure, outgrowths, endoskeleton, Body regions, segmentation, sclerites and sutures. Head and head appendages, types of mouth parts, antennae, their structure and types. Thorax structure, thoracic appendages and their modification. Wings, their modification and venation, Abdomen; structure, abdominal appendages both in Pterygota and Apterygota. External genitalia, general structure and modification in important insect orders. 
For detailed Syllabus of Agricultural Entomology, Click Here

last ten years icar net question paper of Agricultural Biotechnology

Unit 1: Cell Structure and Function
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell architecture, Cell wall, plasma membrane, Structure and function of cell organelles: vacuoles, mitochondria, plastids, golgi apparatus, ER, peroxisomes, glyoxisomes. Cell division, regulation of cell cycle, Protein secretion and targeting, Cell division, growth and differentiation.
Unit 2: Biomolecules and Metabolism
Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids,  Synthesis  of carbohydrate, glycolysis, HMP, Citric acid cycle and metabolic egulation, Oxidative phosphorylation and substrate level phosphorylation, Vitamins, plant  and animal hormones.  Functional molecules, antioxidants, nutrient precursor, HSPs, anti-viral compounds.
Unit 3: EnzymologyEnzymes, structure conformation, classification, assay, isolation, purification and characterization, catariysis specificity, mechanism of action, active site, regulation of enzyme activity, multienzyme complexes, immobilized enzymes and protein engineering, immobilized enzymes and their application.
Unit 4: Molecular GeneticsConcept of gene, Prokaryotes as genetic system, Prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes, methods of gene isolation and identification, Split genes, overlapping genes and pseudo genes, Organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes and genomes including operan, exon, intron, enhancer promoter sequences and other regulatory elements. Mutation  – spontaneous, induced and site-directed, recombination in bacteria, fungi and viruses, transformation, transduction, conjugation, transposable elements and transposition.
Unit 5: Gene ExpressionExpression of genetic information, operon concept, Transcription  – mechanism of transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, transcription unit, regulatory sequences and enhancers, activators, repressors, co-activators, Co-repressors in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, inducible genes and promoters, Transcription factors post transcriptional modification and protein transport, DNA-protein interaction, Genetic
code. Mechanism of translation and its control, post translational modifications.
Unit 6: Molecular Biology TechniquesIsolation and purification of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids hybridization: Southern, northern and western blotting hybridization. Immune response monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and ELISA, DNA sequencing. Construction and screening of genomic and C-DNA libraries. Gel electrophoretic techniques. Polymerase chain reactor spectroscopy, rtPCR ultracentrifugation,  chromatography, FISH, RIA etc.
Unit 7: Gene CloningRestriction enzymes and their uses. Salient features and uses of most commonly used vectors i.e. plasmids, bacteriophages, phagmids, cosmids, BACs, PACs and YACs, binary vectors, expression vectors. Gene cloning and sub-cloning strategies, chromosome walking, genetic transformation, Basis of animal cloning. Biology. Risk assessment and IPR.
Unit 8: Molecular Biology 2Ribosome structure and function. Protein biosynthesis in prokaryotes and ekaryotes. Post-translational modification. Gene regulation, RNA processing and Post transcriptional modifications. Bioprospecting, biofortification, gene pryrimiding and gene fusion, nbozyme technology.
Unit 9: Plant Molecular Biology Photoregulation and phytochrome regulation of nuclear and chloroplastic gene expression. Molecular mechanism of nitrogen fixation. Molecular biology of various stresses, viz. abiotic stresses like  drought, salt, heavy metals and temperature; and biotic stresses like bacterial, fungal and viral diseases.  Signal transduction and its molecular basis, molecular mechanism of plant hormone action mitochondrial control of fertility, structure, organization and regulation of nuclear gene concerning storage proteins and starch synthesis.
Unit 10: Tissue CultureBasic techniques in cell culture and somatic cell genetics. Regulation of cell cycle and cell division.. Clonal propagation. Concept of cellular totipotency. Anther culture, somaclonal and gametoclonal variations. Hybrid embryo culture and embryo rescue, somatic hybridization and cybridization. Application of tissue culture in crop improvement. Secondary metabolite production.  In vitro, mutagenesis, cryopreservation  and plant tissue culture repository.
Unit 11: Plant Genetic EngineeringIsolation of genes of economic importance. Gene constructs for tissue-specific expression. Different methods of gene transfer to plants,  viz. direct and vectormediated. Molecular analysis of transformants. Potential applications of plant genetic engineering for crop improvement, i.e. insect-pest resistance (insect, viral, fungal and bacterial disease resistance), abiotic stress resistance, herbicide resistance, storage
protein quality, increasing shelf-life, oil quality,  Current status of transgenics, biosafty norms and controlled field trials and release of transgenics (GMOs).
Unit 12: Molecular Markers and GenomicsDNA molecular markers: Principles, type and applications; restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA sequences (RAPD), Simple sequence repeats (SSR), Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Structural and functional genomics, gene mapping, genome mapping, gene tagging and comparative genomics and application of genomics.

last ten years icar net question paper of Plant Pathology

 Unit 1: History and Principles of Plant PathologyMilestones in phytopathology with particular reference to India. Major epidemics and their social impacts. Historical developments of chemicals, legislative, cultural and biological protection measures including classification of plant diseases. Physiologic specialization, Koch’s postulates. Growth, reproduction, survival and dispersal of plant pathogens. Factors influencing infection, colonization and development of symptoms. Unit 2: Laboratory and Analytical TechniquesPreparation and sterilization of common media. Methods of isolation of pathogens and their identification. Preservation of microorganisms in pure culture. Methods of inoculation. Measurement of plant disease. Molecular detection of pathogens in seeds and other planting materials: Nucleic acid probes, Southern, Northern and Western hybridization, ELISA, ISEM and PCR. Laboratory equipment and their use: autoclave, hot air oven, laminar flow, spectrophotometer, electrophoresis, light and electron microscopy, incubator, ultracentrifuge, ELISA Reader.
Unit 3: Physiological and Molecular Plant PathologyAltered metabolism of plants under biotic and abiotic stresses. Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis: recognition phenomenon, penetration, invasion, primary disease determinant. Enzymes and toxins in relation to plant disease. Mechanisms of resistance. Phytoalexins. PR proteins. Antiviral proteins. SAR. HR and active oxygen radicals. Tissue culture. Somoclonal variation and somatic hybridization. Elementary genetic engineering. Management of pathogens through satellite, antisense - RNA. Ribozymes, coat protein, hypovirulence cross protection/useful genes and promoter technology biosafety and bioethics.
Unit 4: MycologyClassification of fungi. Economic mycology, edible fungi and entomogenous fungi. Mycorrhizal associations. Cell organelles, their morphology, functions and chemical composition.
Unit 5: Plant BacteriologyIdentification and classification of bacteria. morphology, ultrastructure and chemical composition of prokaryotic cell in relation to function. Growth curve, nutrition and auxotrophic mutants. Resting cells in prokaryotic, elementary bacterial genetics and variability: transformation, conjugation, transduction. Biology of extra chromosomal elements: plasmid borne genes and their expression: avr, her, vie and pat genes. Bacteriophages: lytic and lysogenic cycles. Prokaryotic inhibitors and their mode of action. Economic uses of prokaryotes. Morphology, biochemical characteristics, reproduction and life cycle of phytoplasma and other fastidious prokaryotes.
Unit 6: Plant VirologyNature, composition and architecture of viruses and viroids. Properties of viruses. Variability in viruses. Satellite viruses and satellite RNA. Assay of plant viruses including biological, physical, chemical, serological and molecular methods. Conventional and biotechnological techniques used in detection and diagnosis. Behaviour of viruses in plants including infection, replication and movement. Histopathological changes induced by viruses in plants, inclusion bodies.Transmission of viruses: virus - vector relationships. Nomenclature and classification of viruses.
Unit 7: Plant Disease EpidemiologyConcepts in epidemiology. Development of disease in plant population. Monocyclic and polycyclic pathogens. Role of environment and meteorological factors in the development of plant disease epidemics. Survey, surveillance (including through remote sensing), and prediction and forecasting of diseases. Epidemic analysis and prediction models. Crop loss assessment: critical and multiple point models.
Unit 8: Phanerogamic parasites and Non-parasitic DiseasesDiseases caused by Phanerogamic parasites and their management. Diseases due to unfavourable soil environment, drought and flooding stress etc. Nutritional deficiencies. Primary /secondary air pollutants and acid rain.
Unit 9: Fungal Diseases of Crop PlantsFungal diseases of cereals, millets, oilseeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables, plantation, fiber, spices and ornamental crops with special reference to etiology, disease cycle, perpatuation, epidemiology and management. Post harvest diseases in transit and storage; aflatoxins and their integrated management.
Unit 10: Bacterial and Viral Diseases of Crop PlantsCrop diseases of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, plantation and fiber crops caused by bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas and other fastidious prokaryotes. Mode of transmission and pathogen vector relationships. Epidemiology and management.

Unit 11: Management of Plant diseases
General principles of plant quarantine. Exotic pathogens and pathogens introduced into India. Sanitary and phytosanitary issues under WTO, TRIPS and PRA. Genetic basis of disease resistance and pathogenicity: gene for gene hyphothesis; parasite mediated frequency -dependent selection concept of QTL mapping; breeding for disease resistance. Production of disease free seeds and planting materials. Seed certification. Chemical nature and classification of fungicides and antibiotics: their bioassy and compatibility with other agricultural chemicals; resistance to fungicides/ antibiotics; effect on environment. Spraying and dusting equipments, their care and maintenances. Important cultural practices and their role in disease management, solarization, integrated disease management. Microorganisms antagonistic to plant pathogens in soil, rhizosphere and phyllosphere and their use in the control of plant diseases; soil fungistasis. Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria.