Question

Name the different methods that are employed in crop variety improvement.

Answer 1

Crop Variety Improvement:

1. It involves the methods to be adopted to modify the plants genetically for a better yield.
2. Thus, the implementation of these methods can fulfill the requirement of food.
3. Plant breeding is a technique to produce such varieties of crops.

Methods of Crop Variety Improvement:

Hybridization:

1. A process in which crossing is done between two genetically different parents,
2. Polyploid offspring is produced.
3. Hybridization can be done in three different ways:
   1. Intervarietal hybridization: Cross-made between plants of two different varieties.
   2. Interspecific hybridization: Cross-made between plants of two species of the same genus.
   3. Intergeneric hybridization: Cross made between plants of two different genera.

Genetic engineering:

1. It is a process where DNA is inserted into the genome of an organism.
2. Genetically modified plants (GM plants) are those plants in which a gene is introduced to obtain desired characteristics.
3. New DNA when transferred into the plant cells, produces a GM plant.
4. In tissue culture, cells are grown, where they develop into plants.