Question

Which among the following characters selected by the Mendel in a pea plant is a recessive character ?

• A. Inflated (full) pod
• B. Green pod colour
• C. White flower
• D. Axillary flower

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Gregor Mendel studied seven contrasting characters in pea plants (Pisum sativum). For each character, he identified one trait as dominant and the other as recessive. The dominant trait is expressed in the heterozygous condition, while the recessive trait is only expressed in the homozygous condition.

Let's examine the characters given in the options: 

1. Inflated (full) pod: This concerns the pod shape. Mendel found that Inflated pod shape is dominant over constricted pod shape.
2. Green pod colour: This concerns the pod color. Mendel found that green pod color is dominant over yellow pod color.
3. White flower: This concerns the flower color. Mendel found that Violet (or Purple) flower color is dominant over White flower color. Therefore, white flower color is a recessive character.
4. Axillary flower: This concerns the flower position. Mendel found that Axial (or Axillary) flower position is dominant over terminal flower position.

Based on Mendel's findings, the only recessive character among the given options is White flower.

Answer 2

In Gregor Mendel's experiments with pea plants, he studied several traits, each with dominant and recessive forms:​

• Pod Shape: Inflated (full) pods are dominant, while constricted (wrinkled) pods are recessive.​
• Pod Color: Green pods are dominant, and yellow pods are recessive.​
• Flower Color: Purple flowers are dominant, and white flowers are recessive.​
• Flower Position: Axillary (side) flowers are dominant, and terminal (top) flowers are recessive.​

Among the options provided in the question, white flower is the recessive character. This is because, in Mendel's experiments, the white flower trait appeared only when both parent plants contributed the recessive allele for flower color.​

The correct answer is (C) : White flower.