Question

Differentiate between mass selection and pure line selection.

Answer 1

Hint: Mass selection and pure line selection are the methods of genetic breeding. Genetic breeding is a way of developing genetically modified crops that are disease resistant and have a better quality of crop and increased yield with desirable characteristics.

Complete answer:

Mass selection	Pure line selection
It is the oldest and the simplest method of improvement of crops.	It was first introduced by W.L. Johannsen in 1903 in Denmark.
It is a mixture of pure lines.	It contains only a single pure line that is a progeny of any single individual which is obtained by selfing.
It uses the method of both self-pollination as well as cross-pollination.	It uses the method of self-pollination only.
Here genetic variations are present.	Here genetic variations are absent.
It has a heterozygous variety.	It has a homozygous variety.
It has more stability because it contains a wide range of adaptations.	It has less stability because it contains a few ranges of adaptations.
It has fewer uniform characteristics.	It has highly uniform characteristics.
It is very hard to find seeds in Seed Clarification Programs.	It is very easy to find seeds in Seed Clarification Programs.

Note :Mass selection is defined as a method of crop improvement in which the individual plants are selected based on their phenotypes from a mixed population. The seeds developed from mass selection are produced in bulk and they are used to produce the progeny. On the other hand, pure line selection is defined as a method in which the new varieties of plants are developed by selecting a single best progeny from the landraces or traditional varieties.