50,000 different strains of rice are example of:

The correct answer is Option (3) → Genetic diversity

Option (1) Loss of biodiversity — Incorrect. Loss of biodiversity is the decline of species through extinction, caused mainly by habitat loss, over-exploitation, alien species and co-extinctions. The 50,000 rice strains are diversity that exists, not diversity that has been lost.

Option (2) Species diversity — Incorrect. Species diversity is the variety of different species in a region. For example, the Western Ghats have more amphibian species than the Eastern Ghats. All rice strains belong to one species, so they do not show species diversity.

Option (3) Genetic diversity — Correct. The rice strains are all one species, but their genes differ from strain to strain. Such variation inside a single species is genetic diversity.

Option (4) Ecological diversity — Incorrect. Ecological diversity is the variety of ecosystems in a region. India, with its deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, estuaries and alpine meadows, has a high ecological diversity.

NCERT Extract:
Biodiversity – …