Question

Enumerate the sequential order, the four steps that a plant breeder should follow to obtain a disease-resistant crop?

Answer 1

Hint: Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms modified by changing the genetic constitution maybe very little through methods of genetic engineering to bring about a change in the original plant. It is beneficial in many ways and one of the most important is resistance to diseases.

Complete answer:
Disease resistant crops are obtained only by Genetic Modification. A new gene or a modified gene is introduced into the plant to make it resistant to any particular disease. Such Genetically Modified Plants are known as GMOs.
The four basic steps that a plant breeder should follow to obtain the best disease-resistant crops are-
-SELECTION AND SCREENING OF THE GERMPLASM- The correct set of genes need to be selected for obtaining a disease-resistant variety. After selection, the set of genes are screened for the location of that one particular gene which can bring about the resistance.
-HYBRIDISATION OF THE SELECTED PLANT- After the process of screening is completed, two-parent plants are isolated which are then hybridized to produce the desired variety.
-SELECTION AND EVALUATION OF THE HYBRIDS- It involves the selection of those plants which have the desired character trait. This process is just like choosing the best among the five children. After this evaluation and selection are done, we obtain a product that is superior to both the parents and has the best set of genes.
-TESTING AND RELEASE INTO THE MARKET- The new progeny which has been developed is superior to the parents in all means. They are then evaluated for their yield and other agronomic traits of quality, disease resistance by growing in the research fields. After all the procedures are complete, the new variety is released into the market with a new name and better yield and disease resistance.

Note:
The World Health organization has passed the genetically modified organisms as safe and efficacious for consumption. It has no effect on human health and most of the crops we consume are genetically modified such as corn, potato, tomato, soybean, rice etc.
Even a hybrid has been created between tomato and potato named potato as an experiment to the genetic modification.