Question

Backcross breeding method is useful for the improvement of:

• A. Highly heritable traits
• B. Polygenic traits
• C. Low heritable traits
• D. Environmentally influenced traits

Hint:

Backcross breeding is best for transferring highly heritable traits controlled by one or few major genes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept:
Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few desirable genes from a donor parent into an otherwise superior recurrent parent.

Step 1: Understand backcross breeding.
In backcross breeding, hybrid progeny is repeatedly crossed with the recurrent parent. \[ \text{Hybrid} \times \text{Recurrent parent} \] This helps to recover most of the genetic background of the recurrent parent while adding one desired trait.

Step 2: Type of traits suitable for backcrossing.
Backcross breeding is most suitable for traits controlled by one or a few major genes. Such traits usually show high heritability because their expression is mainly controlled by genes and less affected by the environment.

Step 3: Eliminate wrong options.
Polygenic traits are controlled by many genes and are not easily improved by simple backcrossing. Low heritable and environmentally influenced traits are also difficult to transfer through backcross breeding. Therefore, backcross breeding is useful for: \[ \text{Highly heritable traits} \] \[ \therefore \text{Correct Answer is (A)} \]