Question

In the area of plant breeding, it is important not only to preserve the seeds of the variety being cultivated, but also to preserve all its wild relatives. Explain with a suitable example.

Answer 1

Preservation of the seeds of the cultivated variety and its wild varieties helps in making a good germplasm collection. Many high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties of wheat, rice and maize have been produced by selective breeding of plants. This could be possible because of a better germplasm collection.