Question

(a) Write the two limitations of traditional breeding techniques that led to promotion of micropropagation.

(b) Mention two advantages of micropropagation.

(c) Give two examples where it is commercially adopted. [3]

Answer 1

(a) Two limitations of traditional breeding are : [0.5 for each point]
(i) Traditional breeding techniques could not keep pace with the demand and enough yield was not produced.
(ii) It also failed to provide fast and efficient system for crop improvement.

(b) Advantages of micropropagation are : [0.5 for each point]
(i) Production of many plants
(ii) Plants that are clones of each other that helps in rapid multiplication.
(ii) It can be used to produce disease free plants. (any two can be written)

(c) Two examples of where it is commercially used - [0.5 for each point]
(1) It is used to rapidly multiply and produce quality planting materials for other vegetatively propagated crops such as fruit trees such as tomato, banana , apple
(2) It is also used in floriculture for the rapid multiplication of orchids and Anthurium.