Question:

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): Reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) simultaneously improves two different populations in their ability to combine well with each other.
Statement (II): RRS is, however, inferior to the Recurrent Selection for GCA and Recurrent Selection for SCA when dominance is either complete or incomplete.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

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Reciprocal Recurrent Selection (RRS) is the ultimate population improvement method because it selects for both GCA (additive) and SCA (dominance/overdominance) at the same time, making it highly effective for hybrid breeding programs.
  • Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
  • Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
  • Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
  • Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Recurrent selection is a cyclic breeding procedure designed to increase the frequency of desirable alleles in a population through repeated selection and intermating of superior individuals.
Reciprocal Recurrent Selection (RRS) is a specialized method that uses two genetically diverse, heterozygous populations as testers for each other to simultaneously improve both populations.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us analyze both statements:
1. Analysis of Statement (I): Reciprocal Recurrent Selection (RRS) was proposed by Comstock, Robinson, and Harvey in 1949.
It is designed to simultaneously improve two populations (referred to as Population A and Population B) for their combining ability.
Plants selected from Population A are crossed with a sample of plants from Population B (serving as the tester), and vice versa.
This dual selection improves both General Combining Ability (GCA, mediated by additive gene action) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA, mediated by non-additive gene action, such as dominance and overdominance) between the two populations. Thus, Statement (I) is correct.
2. Analysis of Statement (II): RRS is highly effective because it exploits both additive and non-additive genetic variances simultaneously.
- When dominance is partial or complete, RRS is as effective as recurrent selection for GCA.
- When overdominance is present, RRS is as effective as recurrent selection for SCA.
Therefore, RRS is a versatile, comprehensive breeding method that is superior (not inferior) to GCA-only or SCA-only recurrent selection methods over the long term, as it accommodates all types of gene action. Thus, Statement (II) is incorrect.

Step 3: Final Answer:

Statement (I) is correct, but Statement (II) is incorrect. This corresponds to option (C).
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