Question

Write a short note on mass selection.

Answer 1

Mass selection is the simplest and oldest method of crop improvement. It involves selecting plants, heads, or seeds that show superior traits from a field population. These selected ones are harvested and mixed together to grow the next crop. This process is repeated for several generations to achieve desired improvement. Mass selection is based on visible characteristics (phenotype) and works best in crops with genetic variability, especially cross-pollinated crops. It is less effective in self-pollinated crops due to low genetic diversity.