Question

The quickest method of plant breeding is A. Introduction B. Selection C. Hybridisation D. Mutation breeding

Answer 1

Hint: Plant breeding is the technique used to improve the variety of plants for human welfare. The main methods of crop improvement are Introduction, selection, hybridization, and mutation breeding along with polyploid breeding, tissue culture, and genetic engineering.

Complete step by step answer:
Let's discuss the option and find the correct answer.
A. Introduction: Introduction is the process of introducing new plants from their old locality to the new one. Hence option A is incorrect.
B. Selection: Various methods have evolved in plant breeding. Selection is one of the most important methods. After the selection of parents with desired characteristics, they can be hybridized to yield better offsprings with both the parent characteristics. Selection is the oldest method of plant breeding and is the base of all crop improvement programs. It is of two types: natural and artificial. Hence option B is incorrect.
C. Hybridisation: Hybridization is the production of new varieties by crossing two or more plants having different genetic constitutions. Hence option C is incorrect.
D. Mutation breeding: Mutation breeding is a quick way to introduce sudden changes in the genome of the plant. Hence option D is correct.
Hence, option D: Mutation breeding is the correct answer.

Note: Plant breeding is the purposeful manipulation of plant species in order to create desired genotypes and phenotypes for specific purposes. It has been used to improve the quality of nutrition in products for humans and animals, increase crop yield, improve quality, increase tolerance to environmental stresses, make the plants resistant to pathogens, increase tolerance to insect pests.