Vidyalelo
Agriculture · Q399

Horticulture

Graduate and Post Graduate · Agriculture · question 399

Q399

Delayed harvesting in radish may cause

A.
Forking
B.
Pithiness
Answer
C.
Deformed root
D.
High pungency

Answer: Option B

Solution

Answer: Option B
Solution:
The correct answer is Option B: Pithiness.

Here's why:

* Pithiness means the radish root becomes spongy, less juicy, and develops an undesirable texture. This happens because the plant is putting energy into reproduction (going to seed) instead of keeping the root tender.

* Delayed harvesting allows the radish to mature beyond its prime eating stage, leading to this pithiness.

Let's look at the other options:

* Forking: Forking (splitting into multiple roots) is usually caused by obstacles in the soil or uneven moisture during root development, not delayed harvesting.

* Deformed root: Deformed roots can be caused by poor soil conditions, pests, or diseases, but are less directly related to *when* you harvest.

* High pungency: While pungency (spiciness) can increase slightly with age, delayed harvesting primarily affects the texture (pithiness) rather than dramatically increasing the pungency. Pungency is more influenced by variety and growing conditions.

Therefore, the most direct consequence of delaying radish harvesting is pithiness.