A farmer wants to produce a large number of genetically identical plants quickly. Class 9
A farmer wants to produce a large number of genetically identical plants quickly. Class 9
Question 1.
A farmer wants to produce a large number of genetically identical plants quickly. Suggest suitable reproduction methods and explain why they are effective. Class 9
Answer:
The farmer should use asexual (vegetative) reproduction methods. Suitable methods include:
- Cutting: Stem cuttings from a desirable plant are placed in soil. Each cutting develops roots and grows into a new plant genetically identical to the parent.
- Tissue Culture: Cells from the shoot tip (apical meristem) of the desired plant are grown in artificial nutrient media in a laboratory. A large number of plantlets are produced rapidly, all genetically identical to the parent plant.
- Grafting: A stem piece from the desired plant (Plant B) is attached to a rooted plant (Plant A). The graft grows and produces a plant with the desired characteristics of Plant B.
These methods are effective because they involve only one parent, so all offspring are genetically identical (clones) to the desired parent plant. They are much faster than growing plants from seeds, as they bypass the germination stage. They allow large-scale production of uniform, high-quality plants that farmers can rely on for consistent yield, flavour and disease resistance. Tissue culture, in particular, can produce thousands of plantlets from a single parent plant in a short time and ensures virus-free plantlets.