Question:

For the production of certified seeds of hybrid maize, which single cross hybrid seeds will be given to the growers?

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In the seed generation chain, the immediate parent of "Certified Seed" is always "Foundation Seed." Thus, to produce certified hybrid seeds, the parent seeds supplied to growers must be Foundation seeds.
  • Breeders seed
  • Foundation seed
  • Certified seed
  • Nucleus seed
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The production of certified seeds follows a strict generation system: Nucleus Seed $\rightarrow$ Breeder Seed $\rightarrow$ Foundation Seed $\rightarrow$ Certified Seed.
For hybrid seed production, the parent seeds supplied to the growers to produce commercial certified hybrid seeds must belong to the immediately preceding seed class.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

In hybrid maize (Zea mays) seed production, farmers grow "Certified hybrid seed" for their commercial crop.
This Certified hybrid seed is produced in a crossing field by crossing designated parental lines.
Depending on the hybrid type: - For a single-cross hybrid, the parents are two inbred lines ($A \times B$).
- For a double-cross hybrid, the parents are two single-crosses ($AB \times CD$).
To ensure absolute genetic purity and high quality, the seeds of these parental lines (inbred lines or single-crosses) supplied to the seed growers for planting must belong to the Foundation Seed class.
When these Foundation-class parent seeds are crossed in a certified seed production plot, the harvested seed is labelled and sold as Certified hybrid seed.
Breeder seed (A) and Nucleus seed (D) are high-purity initial classes maintained by the plant breeder for parental multiplication, not for direct distribution to commercial hybrid seed growers.
Certified seed (C) is the final end product sold to commercial growers for grain production, not for further hybrid seed production.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The parental single-cross hybrid seeds supplied to growers for certified hybrid seed production must belong to the Foundation seed class.
Therefore, the correct option is (B).
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