1.
Give any two conditions that must be fulfilled for germination to occur (2 marks)
1. Water (moisture):
Needed to activate enzymes and soften the seed coat for embryo growth.
2. Oxygen:
Required for aerobic respiration to provide energy for growth.
2. Define the following terms (10 marks)
i. Seed viability (2)
The ability of a seed to germinate and produce a healthy seedling under suitable conditions.
ii. Parthenocarpy (2)
A process where fruits develop without fertilization, resulting in seedless fruits.
iii. Photo-assimilates (2)
Organic compounds such as carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis and transported to
growing tissues.
iv. Genetic engineering (2)
A scientific technique of directly modifying an organism’s DNA to introduce desirable traits.
v. Translocation (2)
The movement of dissolved food materials such as sugars through the phloem to different parts of a
plant.
3. State four stages of respiration (4 marks)
1. Glycolysis
2. Link reaction
3. Krebs cycle
4. Electron transport chain
4. Outline four advantages of asexual reproduction in plants (4 marks)
1. Rapid multiplication of plants.
2. Production of true-to-type plants identical to the parent.
3. Useful for plants with poor seed set.
4. Faster maturity and earlier fruiting.
5. Explain the tetrazolium test in testing seed viability (6 marks)
The tetrazolium test is a biochemical method used to determine whether seed tissues are alive.
Seeds are soaked in water to soften them.
The seed coat is removed to expose tissues.
Seeds are soaked in tetrazolium solution, which stains living tissues red.
Living tissues with active respiration turn red, indicating viability.
Dead tissues remain colourless.
It gives quick results and does not require germination.
6. Give any four contributions of genetics to crop improvement in Zimbabwe (4 marks)
1. Development of high-yielding varieties.
2. Production of disease-resistant cultivars.
3. Development of drought-tolerant crops.
4. Improvement of quality traits such as taste, colour, and shelf life.
7. State four types of bases that make up the DNA compound (4 marks)
1. Adenine
2. Thymine
3. Cytosine
4. Guanine
8. Outline the germination process (12 marks)
1. Imbibition: Seed absorbs water and swells.
2. Activation of enzymes: Metabolism increases.
3. Breakdown of food: Stored food is converted into usable energy.
4. Radicle emergence: First root breaks through the seed coat.
5. Shoot emergence: Plumule grows towards light.
6. Seedling establishment: Development of leaves for photosynthesis.
9. Explain any four environmental factors that affect photosynthesis (4 marks)
1. Light intensity: Low light reduces photosynthesis rate.
2. Temperature: High or low temperatures affect enzyme activity.
3. Carbon dioxide concentration: Low CO₂ limits carbohydrate synthesis.
4. Water availability: Stress closes stomata, reducing CO₂ uptake.
10. Describe any five characteristics of high-quality seeds (10 marks)
1. High viability: Able to germinate successfully.
2. High purity: Free from weed seeds or foreign matter.
3. High vigour: Produce strong, uniform seedlings.
4. Genetically pure: True to the variety.
5. Free from pests and diseases: Reduces losses during storage and growth.
11. Outline any three environmental factors that influence variation in plants (6 marks)
1. Temperature: Affects growth rate and morphology.
2. Light: Influences leaf size, colour, flowering.
3. Water: Changes plant size, stomatal behaviour, and productivity.
12. Give any four plant parts used as propagation material in asexual reproduction (4 marks)
1. Cuttings
2. Grafts
3. Bulbs
4. Tubers
13. Describe five effects of water stress in crop production (10 marks)
1. Reduced photosynthesis: Leads to low yields.
2. Wilting: Leaves lose turgor pressure.
3. Reduced nutrient uptake: Poor growth.
4. Flower abortion: Lower fruit set.
5. Early maturity: Shorter growing period and lower yields.
14. Outline five methods that can be used to break seed dormancy (10 marks)
1. Scarification (mechanical scratching).
2. Stratification (cold treatment).
3. Use of chemicals: e.g., GA₃.
4. Soaking seeds in water.
5. Heat treatment.
15. Discuss five importance of seed dispersal (10 marks)
1. Reduces competition between parent and seedlings.
2. Enables colonization of new habitats.
3. Reduces overcrowding.
4. Prevents spread of diseases.
5. Increases chances of species survival.
16. State any four advantages of genetically modified organisms (4 marks)
1. Higher yields.
2. Pest and disease resistance.
3. Improved nutritional quality.
4. Tolerance to environmental stress.
17. Explain three significance of transpiration (6 marks)
1. Cooling the plant: Prevents overheating.
2. Transport of minerals and water: Via mass flow in xylem.
3. Maintains turgor pressure: Supports plant structure.
18. Explain any three properties of water (6 marks)
1. High specific heat capacity: Helps regulate plant temperature.
2. Universal solvent: Dissolves nutrients for transport.
3. Cohesion and adhesion: Enables capillary movement in xylem.
19. Describe with aid of illustration the following types of mutation (12 marks)
i. Substitution (3 marks)
One base is replaced by another, e.g., A → G.
ii. Insertion (3 marks)
Addition of an extra base into a DNA sequence.
iii. Deletion (3 marks)
Removal of a base from DNA.
iv. Duplication (3 marks)
A section of DNA is copied resulting in repetition.
(Illustrations not drawn due to text format, but each can be shown by sequence examples.)
20. State two functions of a plant stem (2 marks)
1. Supports leaves, flowers, and fruits.
2. Conducts water and nutrients between roots and leaves.