Essential books for the ICAR PG exam in Plant Science

Core Subjects

• Genetics and Plant Breeding:
• Plant Breeding Principles and Methods by B.D. Singh (Kalyani Publishers): Comprehensive coverage of concepts and methods.
• Fundamentals of Genetics by B.D. Singh: A solid foundation in genetic principles.
• Plant Physiology:
• Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeiger: A classic textbook with in-depth explanations.
• Fundamentals of Plant Physiology by V.K. Jain: A good Indian-authored option.
• Biochemistry:
• Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson and Cox: A comprehensive and well-respected text.
• Plant Pathology:
• Agrios’s Plant Pathology by G.N. Agrios: Widely considered the 'bible' of plant pathology.

Specialized/Additional Subjects

• Seed Science and Technology:
• Principles of Seed Technology By PK Agrawal: A strong focus on seed production.
• Biotechnology:
• Text Book of Biotechnology by H.K. Das: Provides a clear overview of biotechnology techniques.
• Nematology:
• Introductory Nematology  by Southey: A good starting point to understand nematodes.
• Statistics:
• Fundamentals of Statistics by S.C. Gupta: Covers important statistical concepts for data analysis.

Objective-Based and Practice Books

• Objective Genetics and Plant Breeding by B.K. Prasad and B.D. Singh

Other Important Resources

• ICAR e-courses: The official ICAR website has valuable online course material for many subjects. ( https://ecourses.icar.gov.in/ )
• Previous year question papers: Analyze these to understand the exam pattern and important topics.

Tips:

• Prioritize core subjects: Genetics, Plant Breeding, Plant Physiology, and Biochemistry are the most crucial.
• Focus on understanding concepts: Don't just memorize facts. Strong conceptual knowledge will allow you to apply principles in different scenarios.
• Practice with objective questions: Time yourself to develop speed and accuracy.
• Revise regularly: Consistent revision is key to retaining information.