Question

List various methods used for crop improvement. Describe how the objective is achieved by using any one of them.

Answer 1

Methods used for crop improvement include:

1. Selection (Mass selection, Pure line selection, Clonal selection)
2. Hybridization (Intravarietal, Intervarietal, Interspecific, Intergeneric, Introgressive hybridization)
3. Plant introduction
4. Mutation breeding
5. Polyploidy breeding

To describe one method of hybridisation: Hybridisation is the crossing of two or more plants with different genetic constitutions to produce new varieties. For example, crossing a plant with high protein quality with another resistant to disease results in hybrids combining both desirable traits. The steps include selecting parents, emasculation (removal of stamens to prevent self-pollination), pollination, and selection of superior progeny. This method achieves the objective of combining desirable traits in one plant, thus creating genetically superior and productive crop varieties.