Question

The new varieties of plants are produced by

• A. introduction and mutation
• B. selection and introduction
• C. selection and hybridization
• D. mutation and selection.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The production of new plant varieties is a significant aspect of agricultural science and biology. It involves techniques that lead to the development of plants with desired traits such as increased yield, resistance to pests, or improved nutritional quality. The question is about the methods involved in creating new plant varieties. Let's evaluate each option provided:

• Introduction and Mutation: Introduction refers to bringing plant species into a new area where it has not been grown before. Mutation involves changes in the DNA sequence. While mutations can lead to new traits, the combination of introduction and mutation is not systematically used to produce new varieties of plants.
• Selection and Introduction: Selection involves choosing plants with desirable traits for reproduction. Introduction, as mentioned, is presenting a species to a new region. While selection is a part of plant breeding, introduction alone doesn't contribute to creating new varieties.
• Selection and Hybridization: Selection and hybridization are core techniques in plant breeding. Selection involves choosing plants with optimal traits, and hybridization is the process of cross-breeding two different plant species or varieties to produce a hybrid with the desired traits. This combination is considered the most effective method for producing new plant varieties.
• Mutation and Selection: Mutation breeding that involves inducing mutations to create genetic variation can result in new traits. When combined with selection, it can lead to new varieties, but traditionally, hybridization with selection is more prominent and reliable for this purpose.

Based on the above analysis, the correct answer is selection and hybridization. Hybridization allows for the combination of desirable traits from two parent plants, and selection helps in choosing the best offspring, making these methods the cornerstone of developing new plant varieties in agriculture and horticulture.