Introduction: Cultivation of medicinal plants depends on multiple factors influencing growth, yield and phytochemical quality. Key factors influencing cultivation include soil properties (texture, pH, organic matter), climate (temperature, humidity, altitude), water management, propagation methods, nutrient management, pest and disease control, and post-harvest drying and storage. Understanding how these agronomic and environmental variables affect active constituent accumulation, pharmacognosy parameters and good agricultural practices (GACP) is essential for B. Pharm students. This knowledge supports standardization, quality control and sustainable production of medicinal plant raw materials. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which climatic factor most directly determines suitability of a site for cultivation of most medicinal plants?
- Light intensity
- Temperature
- Wind speed
- Fog frequency
Correct Answer: Temperature
Q2. Which soil property most strongly influences root penetration and water holding capacity?
- Soil texture
- Soil color
- Soil electrical conductivity alone
- Soil surface residue
Correct Answer: Soil texture
Q3. Most medicinal plants prefer which soil pH range for optimal nutrient availability and phytochemical production?
- 4.0–4.8
- 5.0–5.8
- 6.0–7.5
- 8.0–9.5
Correct Answer: 6.0–7.5
Q4. How does excess irrigation commonly affect phytochemical concentration in medicinal plants?
- Excess irrigation always increases phytochemical concentration
- Excess irrigation often dilutes active constituents and reduces concentration
- Irrigation has no effect on phytochemical content
- Excess irrigation only affects root length, not phytochemicals
Correct Answer: Excess irrigation often dilutes active constituents and reduces concentration
Q5. Photoperiod primarily influences which of the following relevant to medicinal plant cultivation?
- Root water uptake only
- Flowering time and secondary metabolite synthesis
- Soil nutrient content
- Seed viability after storage
Correct Answer: Flowering time and secondary metabolite synthesis
Q6. Which propagation method ensures true-to-type plants for maintaining chemotype consistency?
- Seed propagation from open-pollinated populations
- Asexual (clonal) propagation such as cuttings
- Random mixed sowing
- Collecting wild seedlings without selection
Correct Answer: Asexual (clonal) propagation such as cuttings
Q7. What is a primary agronomic benefit of intercropping medicinal plants with compatible crops?
- Guaranteed elimination of pests
- Increased soil salinity
- Reduced pest incidence and better resource use
- Higher herbicide requirements
Correct Answer: Reduced pest incidence and better resource use
Q8. How does increased soil organic matter influence cultivation of medicinal plants?
- Decreases microbial activity and nutrient cycling
- Improves soil structure and increases microbial activity
- Always raises soil pH above 9
- Causes excessive salinity buildup
Correct Answer: Improves soil structure and increases microbial activity
Q9. Which macronutrient is most directly associated with enhanced alkaloid production in many medicinal plants?
- Potassium (K)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Nitrogen (N)
- Calcium (Ca)
Correct Answer: Nitrogen (N)
Q10. Why is selecting the correct phenological stage for harvest critical in medicinal plant cultivation?
- Harvest stage only affects seed color
- Active constituent levels vary with growth stage and often peak at specific stages
- Phenological stage has no effect on quality
- Harvest stage only matters for ornamental traits
Correct Answer: Active constituent levels vary with growth stage and often peak at specific stages
Q11. Which drying approach best preserves heat-sensitive phytochemicals after harvest?
- Slow sun drying with direct high heat
- Rapid uniform drying at controlled, moderate temperature
- Storage wet until processing
- High-temperature industrial drying without control
Correct Answer: Rapid uniform drying at controlled, moderate temperature
Q12. What is a primary effect of mulching in medicinal plant beds?
- Increases soil evaporation
- Conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds
- Causes nutrient toxicity
- Promotes seedling transplant shock
Correct Answer: Conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds
Q13. How does altitude commonly influence secondary metabolite content in medicinal plants?
- Altitude has no measurable effect
- Higher altitude often increases certain secondary metabolites due to stress
- Higher altitude always reduces all metabolites
- Only soil type matters, not altitude
Correct Answer: Higher altitude often increases certain secondary metabolites due to stress
Q14. What is the general effect of high soil salinity on medicinal plant cultivation?
- Enhances growth and phytochemical uniformity
- Generally reduces growth and can alter metabolite profiles negatively
- Has no effect on medicinal quality
- Only affects flowering time without quality change
Correct Answer: Generally reduces growth and can alter metabolite profiles negatively
Q15. One key advantage of integrated pest management (IPM) in medicinal crops is:
- Complete elimination of all insects permanently
- Reduction of pesticide residues and preservation of product quality
- Guaranteed higher yields regardless of other factors
- Elimination of the need for crop monitoring
Correct Answer: Reduction of pesticide residues and preservation of product quality
Q16. Why is tissue culture valuable for medicinal plant production?
- It increases genetic variability randomly
- Enables mass clonal propagation of disease-free, true-to-type plants
- Is always cheaper than field propagation
- Produces seeds for open planting
Correct Answer: Enables mass clonal propagation of disease-free, true-to-type plants
Q17. How does certified seed or planting material benefit medicinal plant cultivation?
- No difference from wild-collected seed
- Ensures genetic purity, uniformity and good germination
- Always reduces active constituent levels
- Makes plants more susceptible to pests
Correct Answer: Ensures genetic purity, uniformity and good germination
Q18. What is a common consequence of excessive nitrogen fertilization in medicinal plant fields?
- Improved phytochemical concentration in all cases
- Luxuriant vegetative growth with possible reduction in secondary metabolite concentration
- Complete drought resistance
- Permanent increase in soil pH
Correct Answer: Luxuriant vegetative growth with possible reduction in secondary metabolite concentration
Q19. Why is selection of high-yielding chemotypes important in cultivation for pharmaceutical use?
- It reduces the need for any agronomic management
- Ensures consistent high levels of desired active constituents
- Always increases susceptibility to disease
- Makes plants unsuitable for propagation
Correct Answer: Ensures consistent high levels of desired active constituents
Q20. For shade-tolerant medicinal species grown under agroforestry, which light condition is generally preferred?
- Full, direct sunlight all day
- Partial shade with filtered light
- Complete darkness
- Artificial lighting only
Correct Answer: Partial shade with filtered light
Q21. Why is good soil drainage crucial when cultivating many medicinal plants?
- Poor drainage always increases active constituents
- Good drainage prevents waterlogging and root rot, maintaining plant health
- Drainage has no importance if irrigation is frequent
- Drainage only matters for seed crops
Correct Answer: Good drainage prevents waterlogging and root rot, maintaining plant health
Q22. How does crop rotation benefit long-term cultivation of medicinal plants?
- Always increases soil-borne pathogens
- Reduces build-up of pests/diseases and improves soil fertility
- Makes chemical inputs unnecessary
- Prevents seed germination of the medicinal plant
Correct Answer: Reduces build-up of pests/diseases and improves soil fertility
Q23. Which of the following treatments can act as an elicitor to boost secondary metabolite production?
- Methyl jasmonate application
- Excessive herbicide spraying
- Continuous waterlogging
- High-dose nitrogen only
Correct Answer: Methyl jasmonate application
Q24. How does the time of day at harvest affect essential oil yield in many aromatic medicinal plants?
- Time of day has no effect on essential oils
- Morning harvest often yields higher essential oil content
- Evening harvest always gives maximum oil for all species
- Harvesting at night destroys essential oils
Correct Answer: Morning harvest often yields higher essential oil content
Q25. Which storage condition most helps preserve dried medicinal plant material quality?
- High humidity and fluctuating temperatures
- Low humidity, cool and dark conditions
- Direct sunlight and warm temperatures
- Wet storage in open sacks
Correct Answer: Low humidity, cool and dark conditions
Q26. What is a major advantage of protected cultivation (greenhouses) for medicinal plants?
- No need for fertilization ever
- Control of environment leading to uniform growth and quality
- Guaranteed immunity from all pests
- Eliminates need for post-harvest processing
Correct Answer: Control of environment leading to uniform growth and quality
Q27. Why is effective weed management important in medicinal plant fields?
- Only to increase soil acidity
- Weeds compete for nutrients, water and light, reducing yield and quality
- Weeds always enhance active constituent synthesis
- Weed control increases pesticide residues automatically
Correct Answer: Weeds compete for nutrients, water and light, reducing yield and quality
Q28. How does routine soil testing support cultivation of medicinal plants?
- Has no role in fertilization planning
- Helps optimize fertilizer application and pH adjustments for quality
- Only measures soil color changes
- Is useful only for ornamental crops
Correct Answer: Helps optimize fertilizer application and pH adjustments for quality
Q29. What is a common plant biochemical response to moderate biotic stress (e.g., herbivory) in medicinal species?
- Complete loss of secondary metabolites
- Induction of defense-related secondary metabolites, sometimes increasing active compounds
- Immediate plant death in all cases
- Total sterilization of roots
Correct Answer: Induction of defense-related secondary metabolites, sometimes increasing active compounds
Q30. Which regulatory guideline specifically aims to ensure quality in cultivation and collection of medicinal plants?
- Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP)
- Good Manufacturing Practice for electronics
- International Building Code
- Food Packaging Standard only
Correct Answer: Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP)
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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