Question

The desired varieties of economically useful crops can be produced by_________

• A. Vernalisation
• B. Mutation
• C. Natural selection
• D. Hybridisation

Answer 1

The correct option is D Hybridisation

• The mating or crossing of two plants or lines of dissimilar genotype is known as hybridization.
• The chief objective of hybridization is to create genetic variation when two genotypically different plants are brought together in F1. Segregation and recombination produce many new gene combinations in F2 and the later generations, i.e., the segregating generations.
• The degree of variation produced in the segregating generations would, therefore, depend on the number of heterozygous genes in the F1 which in turn depends upon the number of genes for which the two parents differ.
• The aim of hybridization may be the transfer of one or few qualitative characters, the improvement in one or more quantitative characters, or use the F1 as a hybrid variety.
• Breeding new crops are important for ensuring food security by developing new varieties that are higher-yielding, resistant to pests and diseases, drought-resistant or regionally adapted to different environments and growing conditions.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.