Question

Clonal propagation should not be used for the multiplication of following species

• A. Slow growing
• B. Male-sterile lines
• C. Wheat seedlings
• D. Vegetatively propagated

Hint:

Commercial micropropagation is primarily reserved for high-value ornamental, horticultural, and forestry crops (like bananas, orchids, and bamboo) rather than field crops grown from seed.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Clonal propagation (in vitro micropropagation) is used to mass-produce genetically identical plants. It is valuable for crops with low seed set, slow growth rates, male-sterile parental lines, or those that are typically propagated vegetatively to maintain heterozygosity.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- For major grain crops like wheat (Triticum aestivum), which are annual, highly self-pollinated, and produce large quantities of stable, homozygous seeds, clonal propagation is unnecessary.
- Wheat is propagated through seeds in open fields.
- Using labor-intensive, expensive in vitro micropropagation methods on wheat seedlings is impractical and not commercially viable.
- Conversely, clonal propagation is useful for slow-growing crops, vegetatively propagated species, and male-sterile parent lines where maintaining genetic uniformity without sexual recombination is critical.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Clonal propagation should not be used for the commercial multiplication of Wheat seedlings.