Selective Breeding & Cloning in Plants Flashcards
What is selective breeding?
Breeding of individuals with desirable features.
Why are plants selectively bred?
Increase crop yield.
More nutritive crops.
Better quality products.
What is micro-propogation?
A process in which very small pieces of plants are grown using nutrient media to produce genetically identical plants with desirable features.
What are explants?
The tips of the stem or side shoots which are removed to use for cloning.
Why does the surface need to be sterilized during micro-propogation?
To remove excess disinfectants/micro-organisms.
Where is the fragment placed after it’s sterilized?
In a steride agar medium which contains nutrients and growth hormones.
Where are the callus (explants) transferred to?
To another culture medium which contain hormones to induce root formation.
What is magnesium, nitrates and glucose in the culture medium used for?
Magnesium - chlorophyll production.
Nitrates - amino acids.
Glucose - to produce ATP.
What are 2 advantages of micro-propogation?
Species that are difficult to reproduce by seeds can be produced by this method.
Desired characteristics can be introduced to the plants by genetic modification.
How are the explants removed and transferred to the agar medium?
Using a sterile scalpel to cut the tissue and transfer using a forecep.
Why does the scalpel need to be sterilized?
To reduce contamination of micro-organisms.
What are 3 precautions needed to ensure healthy growth of plants?
Optimum temperature.
Optimum light conditions.
Sterilized equipments.
