Question:

Which of the following combinations of the premises of 'Gamete Selection' in plant breeding is the correct one? 
• [(A).] Multiparent crosses are required for simultaneous improvements of multiple traits. 
• [(B).] The male parents of the final crosses are heterozygous and hence heterogametic. 
• [(C).] Each zygotic seed is a product of a separate, independent fertilization event. 
• [(D).] Gametic selection is an effective method to isolate an inbred for hybrid breeding. 
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: 
 

Show Hint

Remember that Stadler's Gamete Selection method treats every single pollen grain as a unique package of genetic material.
By crossing these gametes to a homozygous tester, the genetic variability is directly expressed and can be easily evaluated.
  • (A), (B) and (C) only.
  • (A), (B) and (D) only.
  • (A), (C) and (D) only.
  • (B), (C) and (D) only.
Show Solution
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Gamete selection, proposed by L. J. Stadler in 1944, is a plant breeding method used to identify and isolate superior alleles from heterozygous populations (such as open-pollinated varieties) to develop elite inbred lines for hybrid crop production.
The fundamental idea is to evaluate the genetic worth of individual gametes produced by a heterozygous source rather than evaluating the entire plants.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

Let us analyze the premises of this method to evaluate the given statements:
- Statement (B) is correct: In gamete selection, the plants of the heterozygous source population (such as an open-pollinated variety) are crossed as male parents.
Because they are heterozygous, they produce genetically diverse, heterogeneous gametes (hence they are heterogametic).
We are selecting among these unique gametes, which is only possible if the male parent is heterozygous.
- Statement (C) is correct: Each zygotic seed produced from such a cross is the result of a single, independent fertilization event involving one specific male gamete and one female gamete.
Therefore, each individual seed represents a unique gametic sampling of the heterozygous parent.
- Statement (D) is correct: Gamete selection is specifically designed to isolate superior inbred lines by testing the combining ability of individual gametes with an elite tester, making it highly effective for hybrid breeding.
- Statement (A) is incorrect: Multiparent crosses are not a prerequisite or a premise for gamete selection.
The method can be successfully carried out on simple \(F_1\) hybrids or open-pollinated varieties, and does not strictly require multiparent crosses.
Thus, statements (B), (C), and (D) are the correct premises.

Step 4: Final Answer:

The correct combination is (B), (C) and (D) only, matching Option (D).
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