Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production (LAQs)

Botany-2 | 13. Strategies For Enhancement In Food Production – LAQs:
Welcome to “LAQs” in “Chapter 13: Strategies For Enhancement In Food Production”. This page includes detailed explanations for each LAQ, provided in simple English, followed by a Telugu explanation, and presented in the exam format. This approach helps you tackle each question effectively and aim for great results in your final exams.

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LAQ-1 : You are a botanist working in the area of plant breeding. Describe the various steps that you will undertake to release a new variety.

Introduction

Plant breeding involves developing new plant varieties with desired characteristics. This process consists of several key steps including the collection of variability, evaluation and selection of parents, cross-hybridization, selection and testing of superior recombinants, and finally, testing, release, and commercialization of new cultivars. Let’s delve into each of these steps in detail.

1. Collection of Variability: The first step is to gather different varieties of the crop. This involves collecting all the wild relatives of the plant. These diverse plants or seeds make up what is called the germplasm collection. This collection is vital because it carries all the diverse genes of a crop.
2. Evaluation and Selection of Parents: After collecting diverse varieties, the next step is to assess these plant varieties to find the ones with the most desirable traits. The chosen plants are then multiplied and used for cross-breeding. By using self-pollination, pure lines of these chosen plants are created.
3. Cross Hybridization among Selected Parents: In this phase, the selected plants are cross-bred to combine their desirable traits. However, cross-hybridization can be a slow and uncertain process, with only one in hundreds of crosses resulting in the desired combination of traits.
4. Selection and Testing of Superior Recombinants: From the cross-bred plants, those that show the most desired traits are chosen. These plants are better than both of their parent plants. By using self-pollination, these plants are made homozygous, which means that their traits will not segregate or separate in their progeny.
5. Testing, Release, and Commercialization of New Cultivars: The last step involves testing the newly selected plants for their yield and disease resistance. This is carried out in research fields and compared against the best local crop cultivars. Once the plants have been thoroughly tested and certified, they are ready for release and commercialization.

Summary

In summary, developing a new plant variety involves a series of carefully planned and executed steps. From collecting diverse varieties to the final release of a new cultivar, each step is crucial. Although the process can be time-consuming and uncertain, the end result – a new, superior crop variety – can significantly contribute to improved crop yields and sustainable agriculture.

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LAQ-2 : Describe the tissue culture technique and what are the advantages of tissue culture over conventional method of plant breeding in crop improvement programmes?

Introduction

Tissue culture is a powerful tool in the field of plant breeding and crop improvement. This technique allows for the growth and cultivation of cells, tissues, and organs in an artificial, controlled environment. We will explore the tissue culture technique and its advantages over traditional methods of plant breeding.

Understanding Tissue Culture Technique

1. Preparation of Nutrient Culture Medium: A suitable nutrient culture medium is prepared to facilitate plant growth. This medium provides a carbon source, such as sucrose, along with essential nutrients like inorganic salts, vitamins, amino acids, and growth regulators like auxins and cytokinins.
2. Sterilization of the Culture Medium: To prevent contamination, the nutrient-rich culture medium is sterilized, typically in an autoclave at 121°C and 15 lb pressure for about 15 minutes.
3. Preparation of Explant: An explant, a living plant tissue used to start a tissue culture, can be a root, stem, or leaf.
4. Inoculation of Explants: The sterilized explants are transferred to the sterile culture medium in a sterile environment, often in a laminar air-flow chamber.
5. Incubation for Growth: The cultures are incubated, allowing cells to absorb nutrients, grow, and multiply, forming a callus. The addition of auxins and cytokinins triggers the formation of roots and shoots, a process known as organogenesis. Alternatively, embryoids (somatic embryos) can be produced from an embryonic callus.
6. Acclimatization of Plantlets and Transfer to Pots: Plantlets generated through organogenesis need to acclimate to environmental conditions before transfer to soil in pots.

Advantages of Tissue Culture

1. Rapid Multiplication: Allows for the production of a large number of plants in a short time.
2. Disease Prevention: Shoot-tip cultures can produce virus-free plants.
3. Propagation of Seedless Plants: Facilitates easy multiplication of seedless plants.
4. Production of Female Plants: Can selectively produce female plants.
5. Creation of Somatic Hybrids: Useful for creating hybrids when sexual hybridization is not possible.
6. Medicinal Plant Cultivation: Enables the cultivation of high-value medicinal plants for medical and industrial use.

Summary

The tissue culture technique is a significant advancement in botany, offering benefits over traditional plant breeding. It enables rapid plant multiplication, disease control, propagation of seedless plants, production of female plants, creation of somatic hybrids, and cultivation of high-value medicinal plants.