2022 Phase 2 Sexual Reproduction in Flowering PlantsApomixis Easy Question 1 of 3 in Apomixis

Which of the following can be expected if scientists succeed in introducing apomictic gene varieties of crops

A There will be segregation of the desired characters only in the progeny
B Polyembryony will be seen and each seed will produce many plantlets
C Seeds of hybrid plants will show longer dormancy
D Farmers can keep on using the seeds produced by the hybrids to raise new crop year after year

The answer is D.

Solution

In apomixis, seeds are formed without fertilisation, so the progeny is identical to the parent (hybrid) plant and characters do not segregate. Farmers can therefore keep using apomictic hybrid seeds to raise new crops year after year.

Concept Apomixis

Apomixis in past papers

3 questions from this chapter have appeared across 3 exam years.