Question

Match List-I with List-II

List-I	List-II
(a) Protoplast fusion	(i) Totipotency
(b) Plant tissue culture	(ii) Pomato
(c) Meristem culture	(iii) Somaclones
(d) Micropropogation	(iv) Virus free plants

Choose the correct answer from the option given below

• A. (a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i)
• B. (a) - (iii) , (b) - (iv), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i)
• C. (a) - (ii), (b) - (i), (c) - (iv), (d) - (iii)
• D. (a) - (iii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (ii)

Answer 1

The correct option is C (a) - (ii), (b) - (i), (c) - (iv), (d) - (iii)

Protoplast fusion involves the fusion of isolated protoplasts from two different varieties or species of plants, each having a desirable character, to obtain hybrid protoplasts, which can be further grown to form a new plant. The hybrids obtained are referred to as somatic hybrids. Pomato is a hybrid that was obtained by protoplast fusion of potato and tomato. It was not commercially utilised because it unfortunately did not have the desired combination of characters.

Plant tissue culture involves the generation of whole plants from any part of a plant (explant). The explant is grown in a test tube, under sterile conditions in special nutrient media. It is possible because of the capacity of any plant cell/explant to generate a whole plant which is called totipotency.

Meristem culture involves utilizing apical and axillary meristems as explants. It can help in obtaining virus-free plants as meristems are generally free from virus even if the plant is affected.

The method of producing thousands of plants through tissue culture is called micro-propagation. Each of the plants such produced will be genetically identical to the original plant from which they were grown and are referred to as somaclones.