NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025: Download PDF!

Topic

Sub-Topic

Details

Tropical and Dry Land Fruit Production

Commercial Varieties

Regional, national, and international importance

Eco-physiological Requirements

Recent trends in propagation, scion-stock relationship, planting systems, cropping systems, canopy management, nutrient and water management, fertigation, role of bio-regulators, etc.

Flowering, Pollination, and Development

Physiology of flowering, pollination, fruit set and development, honeybees in cross-pollination, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality improvement by management practices, etc.

Harvesting and Storage

Maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, storage, ripening techniques, mechanization, industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones (AEZ), and industrial supports.

Fruits Covered

Mango, Banana, Citrus, Papaya, Guava, Sapota, Annonas, Aonla, Bael, Wood apple, Jamun, Pomegranate, Ber, and minor fruits of the tropics.

Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production

Commercial Varieties

Regional, national, and international importance

Eco-physiological Requirements

Recent trends in propagation, scion-stock relationship, planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient and water management, fertigation, role of bio-regulators, etc.

Flowering, Pollination, and Development

Physiology of flowering, pollination, fruit set and development, honeybees in cross-pollination, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality improvement by management practices, etc.

Harvesting and Storage

Maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, storage, ripening techniques, mechanization, industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones (AEZ), and industrial supports.

Fruits Covered

Avocado, Pineapple, Jackfruit, Mangosteen, Carambola, Fig, Rambutan, Litchi, Loquat, Apple, Pear, Quince, Grapes, Plums, Peach, Apricot, Cherries, Persimmon, Kiwifruit, Strawberry, Walnut, Almond, etc.

Breeding of Fruit Crops

Origin and Distribution

Taxonomical status, species, cultivars, cytogenetics, genetic resources, blossom biology, breeding systems, breeding objectives, breeding constraints, ideotypes, approaches for crop improvement, introduction, selection, hybridization, mutation breeding, polyploidy breeding, rootstock breeding, improvement of quality traits, resistance breeding, biotechnological interventions, achievements, and future thrust.

Selected Fruit Crops

Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Citrus, Grapes, Guava, Sapota, Jackfruit, Papaya, Custard apple, Aonla, Avocado, Ber, Litchi, Jamun, Phalsa, Mulberry, Raspberry, Apple, Pear, Plums, Peach, Apricot, Cherries, Strawberry, etc.

Post-Harvest Technology

Maturity Indices

Harvesting practices and grading for specific market requirements, the influence of pre-harvest practices, enzymatic and textural changes, respiration, transpiration, physiology, and biochemistry.

Ethylene Management

Ethylene evolution, factors leading to post-harvest loss, pre-cooling treatment prior to shipment (chlorination, waxing, chemicals, bio-control agents, and natural plant products), fungicides, hot water, vapor heat treatment, sulfur fumigation, irradiation.

Storage Methods

Ventilated, refrigerated, modified atmosphere storage (MAS), controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, physical injuries, disorders, packing methods, transport, quality evaluation, principles and methods of preservation, food processing, canning, fruit juices, beverages, pickles, jam, jelly, candy, dried and dehydrated products, nutritionally enriched products, fermented fruit beverages, packaging technology, processing waste management, and food safety standards; Role of HACCP.

Processing Techniques

Canning, fruit juices, beverages, pickles, jam, jelly, candy, dried and dehydrated products, nutritionally enriched products, fermented fruit beverages, packaging technology, processing waste management, and food safety standards; Role of HACCP.

Biotechnology of Fruit Crops

Bio-technology Applications

Harnessing bio-technology for improvement of horticultural crops, influence of plant materials, physical and chemical factors, growth regulators on growth and development of plant cell, tissue, and organ culture.

Tissue and Organ Culture

Callus culture types, cell division, differentiation, morphogenesis, organogenesis, embryogenesis; use of bioreactors and in vitro methods for the production of secondary metabolites, suspension culture, nutrition of tissues and cells, regeneration of tissues, ex vitro, establishment of tissue culture plants, physiology of hardening and field transfer, organ culture-meristem, embryo, anther, ovule culture, embryo rescue, soma clonal variation, protoplast culture, and fusion.

Genetic Engineering and Transformation

Construction and identification of somatic hybrids and cybrids, wide hybridization, in vitro pollination and fertilization, haploids, in vitro mutation, artificial seeds, cryopreservation, rapid clonal propagation, use of molecular markers, in vitro selection for biotic and abiotic stress, achievements of biotechnology in horticultural crops, and application of gene editing tools in horticultural crops.

Principles and Practices of Plant Propagation

Cellular Basis for Propagation

Introduction, life cycle in plants, cellular basis for propagation, sexual propagation, apomixis, polyembryony, chimeras.

Seed Germination and Quality

Factors influencing seed germination, hormonal regulation of germination and seedling growth, seed quality, treatment, packing, storage, certification, and testing.

Rooting of Cuttings

Under mist and hot beds, physiological, anatomical, and biochemical aspects of root induction in cuttings.

Micropropagation

In vitro clonal propagation, direct organogenesis, embryogenesis, micrografting, and meristem culture.

Nursery Management

Selection of elite mother plants, establishment of budwood bank, stock, scion, and interstock relationship and incompatibility.

Production Technology of Cool Season Vegetable Crops

Climatic and Soil Requirements

Introduction, climatic and soil requirements, commercial varieties/hybrids, sowing/planting times and methods, seed rate and seed treatment.

Crop-Specific Requirements

Nutritional and irrigation requirements, intercultural operations, weed control, mulching, physiological disorders.

Harvesting of Specific Crops

Potato, chow chow, cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol, sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprout), root crops (carrot, radish, turnip, beetroot), bulb crops (onion, garlic), peas and beans, leafy vegetables (palak).

Production Technology of Warm Season Vegetable Crops

Climatic and Soil Requirements

Introduction, climatic and soil requirements, commercial varieties/hybrids, sowing/planting times and methods, seed rate and seed treatment.

Crop-Specific Requirements

Nutritional and irrigation requirements, intercultural operations, weed control, mulching, physiological disorders.

Harvesting of Specific Crops

Tomato, eggplant, hot and sweet pepper, okra, vegetable cowpea, Dolichos lablab, cluster bean, cucurbitaceous crops, sweet potato, cassava, yams, colocasia, moringa, amaranths.

Seed Production

Introduction

Importance and present status of the vegetable industry.

Propagation in Vegetables

Modes of propagation in vegetables.

Seed Morphology and Development

Floral biology of vegetable plant species, classification based on seed dormancy, pollination, and reproduction behavior.

Steps in Quality Seed Production

Identification of suitable areas for seed production, methods of seed production, comparison between different methods, pollination mechanisms, sex types, ratios, and modification of flowering pattern in cucurbits.

Nursery Raising and Transplanting

Seed production technology for various vegetable categories – solanaceous, cucurbitaceous, leguminous, malvaceae, cole crops, leafy vegetables, root, tuber and bulb crops.

Harvesting/Picking Stage and Seed Extraction

Techniques for harvesting/picking and seed extraction in fruit vegetables.

Grading, Storage, and Seed Certification

Seed quality testing, seed certification standards, clonal propagation and multiplication in tuber crops (e.g., Potato and Sweet Potato), seed-plot technique in potato, TPS (True Potato Seed).

Hybrid Seed Production Technology of Vegetables

Maintenance of parental lines, use of male sterility and self-incompatibility in hybrid seed production.

Hi-tech Production Technology of Fruits, Flowers & Vegetable Crops

Importance and Scope of Protected Cultivation

Significance of protected cultivation of fruits, flowers & vegetable crops.

Principles Used in Protected Cultivation

Principles and greenhouse technology in protected cultivation.

Effect of Temperature, Carbon Dioxide, Humidity

Influence of temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity on crops.

Energy Management

Efficient energy management in protected cultivation.

Low-Cost Structures and Training Methods

Types of low-cost structures, training methods, engineering aspects in vegetable production.

Classification of Protected Structures

Classification of protected structures including low-cost poly-house/greenhouses and other structures.

Types of Cladding Material

Varieties of cladding material used in protected cultivation.

Mulching, Solarisation, and Fumigation

Practices such as mulching, solarisation, and fumigation in protected cultivation.

Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation, and Fertigation

Irrigation methods – Drip and sprinkler irrigation, fertigation.

Special Horticultural Practices, Hydroponics

Innovative horticultural practices, hydroponics, mechanization and automation in protected cultivation.

Vertical Farming and Soilless Culture

Implementation of vertical farming and soilless culture for enhancing productivity and off-season cultivation of high-value vegetable crops like tomato, capsicum, and cucumber.

Production Technology of Spice Crops

Introduction

Historical accent, present status nationally and internationally, future prospects of spice crops.

Botany and Taxonomy

Botanical and taxonomical details of spice crops.

Climatic and Soil Requirements

Climatic and soil conditions suitable for spice crops.

Commercial Varieties/Hybrids

Details about commercial varieties and hybrids.

Site Selection and Planting Material Production

Guidelines for site selection, production of planting material including rapid multiplication and micro-propagation.

Sowing, Planting Times and Methods

Optimal sowing and planting times, methods for spice crops.

Seed Rate and Seed Treatment

Recommended seed rates and seed treatment practices.

Nutritional and Irrigation Requirements

Nutritional needs and irrigation requirements for spice crops.

Intercropping, Mixed Cropping

Approaches to intercropping and mixed cropping in spice cultivation.

Intercultural Operations, Weed Control

Practices for intercultural operations and weed control in spice crops.

Mulching, Physiological Disorders

Utilization of mulching and addressing physiological disorders.

Harvesting, Post-Harvest Management

Techniques for harvesting, post-harvest management, and processing practices for spice crops.

Plant Protection Measures, Precision Farming

Measures for plant protection, precision farming in spice cultivation.

Quality Control of Various Spice Crops

Methods for ensuring quality control of various spice crops – Black Pepper, Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Turmeric, Ginger, Garlic, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Fennel, Ajwain, Dill, Celery, Tamarind, Garcinia, Curry Leaf, Saffron, Vanilla, etc.

Role of Commodity Boards in Spices Development

Contribution and significance of commodity boards in the development of spice crops.

Statistics

Frequency Distribution

Understanding frequency distribution.

Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion

Calculation and interpretation of measures of central tendency and dispersion – mean, median, mode, standard deviation, etc.

Population Distributions

Types of population distributions – normal, binomial, Poisson.

Correlations

Understanding correlations – regression, partial, and multiple.

Tests of Significance

Application of tests of significance – t, F, Chi-square.

Experimental Designs

Concepts and application of experimental designs – randomized block, Latin square, split plot.

Analysis and Interpretation of Designs

Analyzing and interpreting experimental designs – randomized block, Latin square, split plot.

Topic

Subtopics

Concepts

Applications

Agriculture Importance

National economy, Agro-ecological zones, Geographic distribution

Crop plant significance, Cultural practices, Crop rotations

Scientific basis, Multiple cropping, Intercropping

Soil Science

Soil composition, Mineral and organic constituents

Soil properties, Essential plant nutrients

Soil fertility, Fertilizer use, Organic and inorganic fertilizers

Plant Physiology

Plant nutrition, Nutrient absorption, Transactions, Metabolism

Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies, Photosynthesis, Respiration

Growth and development, Auxins, Hormones

Genetics

Cell and cell organelles, Cell division

Principles of genetics, Gene interaction, Mutation

Genetic resources, Conservation, Utilization

Plant Breeding

Genetic basis, Pureline selection, Mass selection

Male sterility, Incompatibility, Pedigree selection

Back-cross method, Heterosis, Hybrids, Seed production

Horticulture

Fruit and vegetable crops, Propagation methods

Crop rotation, Intercropping, Post-harvest handling

Landscaping, Ornamental horticulture, Floriculture

Crop Protection

Pests and diseases, Control principles

Integrated management, Plant protection equipment

Proper use, Maintenance

Agricultural Economics

Economic principles, Farm planning

Resource-use efficiency, Income maximization

Farm systems, Regional development roles

Stage

Subject

Marks

No. of Questions.

Duration

Stage 1 (MCQ Type)

Horticulture

60

150

2 Hours

General Studies

30

English Comprehension

30

Quantitative Aptitude & Mental Ability

30

Total Marks

150

Stage 2 (Descriptive Type)

Horticulture and General Agriculture

100

100

2 Hours