Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In tree breeding and crop improvement, selection procedures can target the primary economic trait directly or target secondary traits that are genetically correlated with the primary trait.
Step 2: Detailed Explation:
Let us compare direct and indirect selection:
• Direct selection: Selection is practiced directly on the target trait itself (e.g., selecting trees that show no damage when exposed to insect pests).
• Indirect selection: Selection is practiced on a secondary trait that is genetically correlated with the primary target trait. If a physiological character (such as high tannin content, presence of specific secondary metabolites, or leaf toughness) is strongly correlated with insect-pest resistance, selecting for that physiological trait is a form of indirect selection.
Indirect selection is particularly useful when the primary trait (pest resistance) is difficult or expensive to measure directly, or when pest pressure is inconsistent.
Therefore, selecting for pest resistance based on correlated physiological characters is classified as indirect selection.
Step 3: Fil Answer:
The correct option is (D).