Genetic Conservation and New Questions in English

(D) The Winged bean $(Psophocarpus\, tetragonolobus)$ is a legume that possesses tuberous roots capable of nitrogen fixation.
Its seeds are highly nutritious,containing approximately $34\%$ protein and $13\%$ oil,which makes its nutritional profile comparable to that of soybean.
Due to these characteristics,it is considered a new potential crop for agriculture.

(B) $Leucaena$ (commonly known as $Subabul$) is a fast-growing leguminous tree.
Its leaves are rich in nitrogenous compounds,making them an excellent source of green manure for soil enrichment.
It is widely used in agroforestry for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria in its root nodules.

(D) An under-utilised crop refers to a plant species that is not widely cultivated or commercially exploited despite its potential nutritional or industrial value.
$Azadirachta indica$ (Neem) is often categorized as an under-utilised oil crop because,although its seeds contain significant amounts of oil used in medicine and industry,it is not primarily cultivated as a major commercial oilseed crop compared to $Brassica$ (mustard),$Cocos$ (coconut),or $Helianthus$ (sunflower).

(C) is the correct answer.
$Subabul$ $(Leucaena leucocephala)$ is widely planted under social forestry programs.
It is highly valued for its fast growth, nitrogen-fixing ability, and versatility.
It is commonly used as a windbreak, firebreak, and as a high-quality fodder for livestock.

(A) Gene banks are facilities where genetic material (seeds,pollen,$DNA$,etc.) is preserved outside of its natural habitat.
This method of preservation is classified as $Ex$ $situ$ conservation.
$Ex$ $situ$ conservation involves the conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats,such as botanical gardens,zoological parks,and gene banks.

(B) $IR-36$ is a high-yielding rice variety developed by Dr. Gurdev $S.$ Khush at the International Rice Research Institute $(IRRI)$.
It was created by crossing $13$ different rice varieties with the wild species $Oryza \text{ } nivara$.
This breeding program was specifically aimed at developing resistance against the grassy stunt virus, which was a major threat to rice crops at the time.

(A) The Winged Bean $(Psophocarpus\, tetragonolobus)$ is known as a potential food plant because almost all parts of the plant,including leaves,flowers,seeds,and tubers,are edible and rich in proteins and vitamins. It is often referred to as a 'supermarket on a stalk' due to its high nutritional value.

(D) Recalcitrant seeds are those that cannot tolerate desiccation (drying) and freezing temperatures.
They maintain high moisture content and are sensitive to drying,which leads to loss of viability.
Therefore,exposure to dry air or further dehydration will kill the seed.
Additionally,they are sensitive to low temperatures,which can cause chilling injury.
Thus,all the given conditions are harmful to recalcitrant seeds.

(A) The term $New \ World$ refers to the Americas. Many crops,including $Red \ pepper$ (Capsicum),were introduced to India from the Americas by Portuguese traders. It has since become an integral part of Indian cuisine,whereas $Black \ pepper$,$Cardamom$,and $Ginger$ are native to the Old World (specifically India and Southeast Asia).

(A) gene bank is a type of biorepository that preserves genetic material. For plants,this could be by freezing cuttings from the plant,or stocking the seeds (e.g.,in a seed bank). For animals,this involves the freezing of sperm and eggs in zoological freezers until further need. Therefore,gene banks are specifically developed for the preservation of rare genes and genetic diversity.