Cracking the Chickpea Pod Puzzle Quiz

Explore the key factors and biological processes influencing chickpea pod setting, crucial for optimizing yield in agricultural systems. This quiz examines genetics, environmental influences, plant nutrition, and best management practices.

1. Influence of Temperature on Pod Setting

   Which temperature condition is most likely to reduce pod setting in chickpea plants during flowering?

   1. Mild temperatures around 22°C
   2. Nighttime temperatures of 16°C
   3. High temperatures above 35°C
   4. Cool temperatures below 10°C

   Explanation: High temperatures above 35°C can cause flower drop and poor pollen viability, leading to reduced pod setting in chickpeas. Mild and moderate nighttime temperatures generally support pod set. Cool temperatures can delay growth but have less impact on pod initiation than extreme heat.

2. Role of Plant Nutrition

   Deficiency of which nutrient is most closely associated with poor pod setting in chickpeas?

   1. Zinc
   2. Boron
   3. Nitrogen
   4. Potassium

   Explanation: Boron is crucial for successful pollen tube growth and fertilization in chickpeas, so deficiency often leads to incomplete pod setting. While zinc, potassium, and nitrogen are important for overall plant health, their direct impact on pod setting is less pronounced compared to boron.

3. Effect of Irrigation Timing

   What is the best timing for irrigation to maximize pod setting in chickpeas?

   1. Just before seed harvest
   2. At flowering stage (anthesis)
   3. After pod filling is complete
   4. Only at seedling emergence

   Explanation: Proper irrigation at the flowering stage provides moisture needed for flower retention and pod set. Irrigating only after pod filling or at harvest is too late to influence pod initiation. Early irrigation helps establishment but does not directly impact pod setting efficiency.

4. Pod Setting and Hormonal Regulation

   Which plant hormone is closely linked to the regulation of chickpea pod setting?

   1. Ethylene
   2. Gibberellin
   3. Abscisic acid
   4. Auxin

   Explanation: Auxin promotes flower and pod development, directly supporting pod set in chickpeas. Ethylene often triggers flower drop. Abscisic acid is more involved in stress responses, and gibberellin primarily regulates stem elongation rather than pod initiation.

5. Genetic Factors in Pod Setting

   What describes the genetic control of pod setting in chickpeas?

   1. It is a quantitative trait influenced by multiple genes
   2. It is determined by a single gene
   3. It is controlled solely by environmental factors
   4. Pod setting depends only on parental crossing

   Explanation: Pod setting in chickpeas is a complex quantitative trait governed by several genes, along with environmental interactions. A single gene does not dictate pod set. While parental genetics and environment matter, control is not exclusive to either.