Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) are the genetic material of plant origin that is of value for present and future generations.
Conserving PGR aims to preserve crop biodiversity, protecting it from genetic erosion caused by urbanization, climate change, and habitat loss.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze each of the stated objectives:
- Statement (A): Conserving diverse landraces, wild relatives, and obsolete cultivars preserves genetic diversity, preventing the loss of unique genes that may be needed to breed future crops.
This is a primary objective.
- Statement (B): Monoculture (growing a single crop species over a large area) narrows the agricultural genetic base, making crops highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
PGR conservation aims to counter genetic vulnerability, not promote monoculture.
Thus, Statement (B) is incorrect.
- Statement (C): While controlling invasive species is important for broader ecosystem management, it is not a direct objective of plant genetic resources conservation.
Thus, Statement (C) is incorrect.
- Statement (D): Conserving diverse crop genes allows breeders to develop resilient, climate-smart varieties, ensuring stable food supplies and sustainable agricultural practices.
This is a primary objective.
- Statement (E): Germplasm stored in genebanks is evaluated and distributed to breeders to develop new crop varieties with improved yield and stress tolerance.
This is a primary objective.
Combining the correct statements yields (A), (D), and (E) only, which matches Option (B).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (B) (A), (D) and (E) only.