Question

Germplasm conservation at liquid nitrogen temperature is
A) Stratification
B) Scarification
C) Cryopreservation
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:The conservation of environment and organism of an ecosystem is very important. For this conservation many approaches has been made and the germplasm conservation is one of them in which the plant's germ cells are preserved and conserved for future use.

Complete answer:
To answer this question, we have to know about the conservation of germplasm conservation. Germplasm is referred to as the total gene content that is transmitted to the offspring from the parent. The germplasm provides the raw material in the development of various crops. Thus, conservation of germplasm is important for the breeding development programs. The main objective of germplasm conservation is to preserve the germ line of a specific plant so that is being used in future. Many varieties of plants were developed by this conservation technique. It is helpful in preserving the endangered plants or some of the valuable genetic traits found in some plants that may be lost.

Now, this preservation of germplasm is referred to as the cryopreservation process. There are two approaches for germplasm conservation: in-situ and ex-situ conservation. The in-situ conservation is the germplasm conservation process in their natural environment by forming biosphere reserves or gene sanctuaries or national parks. In ex-situ conservation, the conservation of the germplasm is carried out by preserving the genetic materials in the form of seed and keeps it in the gene banks for long term storage under appropriate conditions.

So, cryopreservation is the method of storing cells, tissue, or organs in a cool temperature for preservation for a long time so that they do not lose their viability. In this technique the cells or the tissue is kept at -196 degree Celsius. In this low temperature the biological activities in the cell get stopped and the cell dies so, to prevent this cells are kept is liquid nitrogen temperature.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note:The in-situ conservation process may have some limitations like; the losing of germplasm because of environmental hazards and the maintenance cost may be very high but in ex-situ conservation, establishment of gene banks is very important.