Question

Hybrid varieties are most successful in:

• A. Wheat
• B. Pigeonpea
• C. Maize
• D. Lentil

Hint:

Maize was the first crop in which hybrid technology became commercially successful on a large scale because of its high heterosis and easy hybrid seed production.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Hybrid vigor or heterosis refers to the superior performance of hybrids over their parents in terms of growth, yield, and adaptability. Hybrid seed technology is most successful in cross-pollinated crops because cross-pollination naturally encourages genetic recombination and heterozygosity.

Step 1: Analyze the pollination behavior of the given crops.
Wheat and Lentil are predominantly self-pollinated crops. In self-pollinated crops, producing hybrid seed on a large commercial scale is difficult and expensive because controlled pollination must be carried out manually. Pigeonpea is categorized as an often cross-pollinated crop because insect activity causes some natural outcrossing, but hybrid technology is not as commercially advanced as in cereal crops.

Step 2: Understand why Maize hybrids became highly successful.
Maize is a naturally cross-pollinated crop. It possesses separate male flowers (tassels) and female flowers (ears), making controlled hybridization easier. The exploitation of heterosis in maize results in remarkable yield improvement, disease resistance, and adaptability. Therefore, hybrid varieties are most successful in Maize.