What is the method of producing thousands of genetically identical plants through tissue culture called?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Micro-propagation
In tissue culture, whole plants are grown from explants in a nutrient medium under sterile conditions. Done on a large scale, it gives thousands of plants in a very short time. This is micro-propagation. All these plants are genetically identical to the plant they came from, so they are called somaclones. Tomato, banana and apple have been produced on a commercial scale in this way.
Option (1) Somatic hybridisation — Incorrect. Somatic hybridisation fuses protoplasts of two different varieties to get a hybrid plant. Its product is a new hybrid, not identical copies.
Option (2) Genetic modification — Incorrect. Genetic modification alters the genes of an organism. It does not by itself produce thousands of identical plants.
Option (3) Micro-propagation — Correct. Micro-propagation produces thousands of plants through tissue culture, each genetically identical to the original plant.
Option (4) Cross-breeding — Incorrect. Cross-breeding combines two parents by sexual reproduction, so the offspring are not genetically identical.
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.”