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                  | Question 5 
 
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                                    (a)  (i)   What is seed viability?            [ 2 marks](ii)    State three characteristics of good quality seeds.   [ 3 marks]
 (b)  (i)   Name the causal organism of  blackpod disease of cocoa.       [ 1 mark ]
 (ii)   State two symptoms of the disease referred to in 5(b)(i).   [ 2 marks]
 (iii)     State the mode of  transmission of the disease referred to in 5 (b)(i).[ 2 marks]
 (c)      List two features of weed seeds dispersed  by:
 (i)     animal;
 (ii)     wind;
 (iii)    water.        [  6 marks]
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                  |  This question was popular with the candidates.  In 5 a(i) and (ii), majority of the  candidates could not define seed viability and state characteristics of good  quality seeds.However, in 5 b( i-iii), many candidates were able  to name the causal organism of blackpod disease of cocoa, state symptoms and  mode of transmission of blackpod disease of cocoa.  Further to this, in 5(c), majority of the  candidates were able to list features of weeds dispersed by animal, wind and  water.
 The expected answers include:
 Meaning  of Seed Viability
 Seed viability is the ability of seeds to germinate  under the appropriate weather and soil conditions.
 Characteristics of good quality seeds
 -    They  should be pure, that is, free from all seeds of   other varieties
 -     They  should germinate rapidly in order to ensure strong and vigorous seedlings
 -    They  should be uniform in size and shape
 -     They  should not contain noxious weed seeds
 -     They  should contain no insects, insect eggs or disease spores in or on the seeds
 -    They  should be free of stones, chaff or other forms of foreign matter
 -    They should be whole/unbroken/entire
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