Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biotechnology and its Applications

Question:

The capacity to generate a whole plant from any cell is called:

Options:

Tissue culture

Micro-propagation

Parthenogenesis

Totipotency

Correct Answer:

Totipotency

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (4) → Totipotency 

Totipotency refers to the remarkable ability of a cell or explant to give rise to a whole plant when cultured under appropriate conditions. This property allows a single cell or small tissue sample (explant) to differentiate into all the different cell types and tissues needed to form a complete, viable plant.

In tissue culture, when an explant is placed in a nutrient-rich medium containing essential nutrients, vitamins, and growth regulators, it undergoes cell division and organogenesis, leading to the development of new shoots, roots, and eventually a whole plant. This process is facilitated by the totipotent nature of the cells in the explant.

Totipotency plays a crucial role in various plant biotechnology applications, such as micro-propagation, where large numbers of genetically identical plants are produced from a single explant, and somacloning, where somatic cells are used to generate new plants. It also allows for the regeneration of plants from small plant parts, like meristems, which are essential in developing disease-free plants.

Overall, totipotency is a fundamental concept in plant tissue culture and has significant implications for plant propagation, breeding, and genetic engineering research.