Question

Why is vivipary an undesirable character for crop plants?

• A. It reduces the vigour of the plant
• B. The seeds cannot be stored under normal conditions for the next season
• C. The seeds exhibit long dormancy
• D. It adversely affects the fertility of the plant

Answer 1

The correct option is B

The seeds cannot be stored under normal conditions for the next season

Vivipary is the condition whereby the embryo (the young plant within the seed) grows first to break through the seed coat then out of the fruit wall while still attached to the parent plant. It is an undesirable character for annual crop plants because germinated seeds cannot be stored under normal conditions for the next season. Germplasm of the plant cannot be stored in the form of seeds. Germplasm is the living genetic resources such as seeds or tissue that is maintained for the purpose of plant breeding.