Question

In conventional plant breeding, collection of germ plasm means ______.

• A. Collection of genes from a particular crop plant
• B. Gene library with collected genes of same variety of crop
• C. Gene library with genome of different varieties of crop plants
• D. Entire collection of plants/seeds with diverse alleles for all genes of a particular crop

Hint:

Greater genetic diversity in germ plasm increases the success of crop improvement programs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding germ plasm.
Germ plasm refers to the total genetic resources of a crop species. It includes seeds or plants that possess all possible genetic variations found within that crop.
Step 2: Importance in plant breeding.
In conventional plant breeding, germ plasm is collected to identify desirable traits such as disease resistance, high yield, or stress tolerance. A wide genetic base increases the chances of developing improved crop varieties.
Step 3: Analysis of options.
(A) Collection of genes from a particular crop plant: Incorrect, as germ plasm includes many plants, not a single plant.
(B) Gene library of same variety: Too narrow and does not represent genetic diversity.
(C) Gene library of genomes: Germ plasm is not limited to laboratory gene libraries.
(D) Entire collection of plants/seeds with diverse alleles: Correct, as it represents the complete genetic diversity of a crop.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Germ plasm collection includes the entire genetic diversity of a crop species in the form of plants or seeds.