Question

Differentiate between mass selection and pure line selection.

Answer 1

The selection of a number of plants, heads or seeds phenotypically superior in desired characters from the field population, harvesting and bulking their produce together for raising the next years crop and repeating this process till improvement is achieved is known as mass selection. The mass selection is entirely based on phenotypic characters of plants. Greater variability leads to a better selection.

On the other hand when pure line is used for developing a variety, this is known as pure line selection. This method is not materially different from mass selection except that the fewer plants are selected and each selected plant is tested separately. The variety so developed is genetically pure and durable.