Question

Application of embryo culture is to
A. Obtain clonal propagation
B. Overcome hybridization barriers
C. Produce alkaloids
D. Form somaclonal variants

Answer 1

Hint: Embryo culture is an in-vitro culture technique which allows the plant to overcome hybridization barrier. It is one of the earliest techniques that is used to assist in the development of plant embryos which might not survive to become viable plants. It nurtures immature embryos. Zygote undergoes cell division and gives rise to formation of embryos. The formation of embryos in the laboratory is known as embryo culture.

Complete answer: Embryo culture is also known as embryo rescue. This technique was first documented in the eighteenth century. It is discovered by Charles Bonnet. The first successful attempt was performed by Hanning in 1904. 1n modern plant breeding embryo culture plays a major role by allowing the development of many interspecific and inter generic food. It is the most widely used procedure which involves excusing plant embryos and putting them into media culture. The main applications of embryo rescue or culture are:
- Determining seed viability
- Overcome seed dormancy
- Used in plant physiology to study seed germination and development.
- Recovering maternal haploids
- It allows Breeding of incomplete intergeneric and interspecific species

On the basis of above applications the correct option is B. Application of embryo culture is to overcome hybridization barriers.

Note:
Nature does not allow interspecies plant breeding. To overcome this reproductive isolation we use embryo culture. Crossing of species are occured in laboratory medium and embryos of desired species are produced by mixing the genetic pool of two species. Embryo culture is a technique of cultivating embryos under aseptic conditions.