The genetically identical plants grown by the process of micropropagation are called :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Somaclones
Option (1) Meristems — Incorrect. A meristem is the growing tissue often used as the explant, especially for virus-free plants.
Option (2) Somaclones — Correct. Tomato, banana and apple are produced this way on a commercial scale.
Option (3) Explants — Incorrect. Explants are the parts taken from the plant to start the culture.
Option (4) Somatic hybrids — Incorrect. Somatic hybrids come from fusing protoplasts of two different plants, as in the pomato; they are not identical copies.
NCERT Extract:
Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture – “… By application of these methods it is possible to achieve propagation of a large number of plants in very short durations. This method of producing thousands of plants through tissue culture is called micro-propagation. Each of these plants will be genetically identical to the original plant from which they were grown, i.e., they are somaclones.”