Question

The first crop plant genome sequenced

• A. Tomato
• B. Wheat
• C. Rice
• D. Barley

Hint:

Rice (Oryza sativa) is the model monocot crop plant due to its small genome size, which allowed it to become the first crop genome sequenced in 2005.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Genome sequencing projects aim to determine the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome.
Identifying the genetic blueprint of key crop species is essential for crop improvement, marker-assisted breeding, and agricultural biotechnology.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Rice (Oryza sativa) was the first crop plant to have its complete genome sequenced and published.
The sequencing project was completed in December 2004 and officially published in 2005 by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP).
Rice was selected as the pioneer crop species for genomic sequencing because of its relatively small genome size (approximately 389 million base pairs) compared to other major cereal crops like wheat and barley.
It also displays high synteny (conservation of gene order) with other cereal genomes, making it a valuable model organism for monocotyledonous plants.
Tomato (A), wheat (B), and barley (D) have much larger, more complex genomes (such as the hexaploid genome of wheat), and their sequencing projects were completed much later.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the first crop plant genome sequenced was Rice, corresponding to option (C).