Q.1 What desirable character must be kept in mind while choosing variety of strain of crop?
High yield, resistance to diseases and pests, adaptability to climate, early maturity, and tolerance to drought, salinity, and lodging are essential. Nutritional value, market demand, post-harvest stability, and suitability for sustainable practices are also important.
Q.2 What is hybridisation?
Hybridisation is the process of crossing two genetically different plants to produce a new variety with desired traits, such as higher yield, better resistance, or improved quality.
Q.3 Explain the type of crossing?
There are two main types of crossing: Intraspecific crossing, which involves crossing two varieties of the same species, and Interspecific crossing, where two different species are crossed to create hybrids with new traits.
Q.4 What are genetically modified crops? How do these help in crop improvement?
Genetically modified (GM) crops are plants that have been altered using genetic engineering techniques to introduce desirable traits like pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or improved nutrition. They enhance crop yield, reduce pesticide use, and increase resistance to environmental stresses.
Q.5 State some factors for which variety improvement is done?
Variety improvement is done to enhance yield, resistance to diseases and pests, adaptability to different environments, nutritional quality, and market value. It also aims to improve post-harvest storage and sustainability.
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