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Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Plant breeding & biotechnology

How often Plant breeding & biotechnology comes up on the Agricultural Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

OL Asked on 2 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2023.

Plant breeding & biotechnology, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Plant breeding & biotechnology.

(a)When crossing two varieties, why are the anthers removed from the flower to be pollinated?
  1. To increase nectar production
  2. To prevent self-pollination
  3. To make the petals open
(b)Purple petals (P) are dominant to white (p). A cross Pp x pp gives what ratio?
  1. All purple
  2. 3 purple : 1 white
  3. 1 purple : 1 white
(c)What is a genetically modified (GM) crop?
  1. One whose DNA is altered by inserting a gene
  2. One grown without any chemicals
  3. One produced by cross-pollination only
Show the answers

(a) To prevent self-pollination

(b) 1 purple : 1 white

(c) One whose DNA is altered by inserting a gene

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Plant breeding & biotechnology.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q15
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q17, Q17c, Q17d
2021Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Plant breeding & biotechnology questions

Plant breeding & biotechnology, 2 marks

Why do plant breeders cross two different parent varieties?

  1. To make exact copies of one parent
  2. To stop the plants flowering
  3. To combine good traits from both
Show the answer

To combine good traits from both

Crossing brings together traits such as yield from one parent and disease resistance from another; breeders then select the best offspring.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 2 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2023.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Q18
2022Q18
2021Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Plant breeding & biotechnology questions

Plant breeding & biotechnology, 2 marks

Why do farmers sow certified seed?

  1. It needs no fertiliser to give a good yield
  2. It is always genetically modified for yield
  3. It is true to type and free of weeds and disease
Show the answer

It is true to type and free of weeds and disease

Certified seed is tested for purity, germination and disease. Varieties on the Department's Recommended List have been proven in Irish trials.

Plant breeding & biotechnology, 2 marks

Changing a crop's DNA directly to add a useful gene is called?

  1. Natural selection
  2. Genetic engineering
  3. Crop rotation
Show the answer

Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering moves or edits genes, e.g. to give disease resistance. It is faster than traditional breeding but raises ethical questions.

Plant breeding & biotechnology, 2 marks

Crossing two varieties to combine their best traits is called?

  1. Hybridisation
  2. Grafting
  3. Cloning
Show the answer

Hybridisation

Pollen from one variety fertilises the other. The offspring may carry, for example, the high yield of one parent and the disease resistance of the other.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science