Question

In 1963, several varieties such as Sonalika and Kalyan Sona were introduced all over the wheat-growing belt in India. They were

• A. High yielding and disease susceptible
• B. Low yielding and disease susceptible
• C. High yielding and disease resistant
• D. Low yielding and disease resistant

Hint:

Sonalika and Kalyan Sona are the star players of India's Green Revolution. The entire purpose of the Green Revolution was to increase food production, which was achieved by developing varieties that were both high-yielding and resilient (disease-resistant).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question relates to the Green Revolution in India, a period of major agricultural advancement. Sonalika and Kalyan Sona were pivotal wheat varieties introduced during this time.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


Sonalika and Kalyan Sona were semi-dwarf wheat varieties developed from Mexican wheat strains created by Dr. Norman Borlaug.

They were introduced in India in the mid-1960s to address food shortages.

Their key advantages were twofold:

High yielding: The semi-dwarf nature of the plants meant they invested more energy into grain production rather than straw, and they were less prone to lodging (bending over) when heavily fertilized. This resulted in a dramatic increase in grain yield per unit area.
Disease resistant: These varieties were bred to be resistant to common wheat diseases, particularly the rust fungi, which were a major cause of crop loss.

The combination of these two traits led to a massive increase in wheat production in India, making the country self-sufficient in food grains.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The wheat varieties Sonalika and Kalyan Sona were both high yielding and disease resistant.