What is the major advantage of producing plants by micropropagation?
The major advantage of producing plants by micropropagation is the ability to achieve propagation of a large number of plants in very short durations. Through this tissue culture method, thousands of plants can be produced rapidly, making it highly efficient for commercial-scale production of important food plants like tomato, banana, and apple.
Additionally, all plants produced through micropropagation are genetically identical to the original parent plant from which they were grown. These genetically identical plants are called somaclones, which ensures uniformity and consistency in the propagated plant population.
Explanation
The textbook clearly states that micropropagation allows for 'propagation of a large number of plants in very short durations' and that these plants are 'genetically identical to the original plant' (somaclones). These are the two key advantages explicitly mentioned in the context that a student should highlight for this 2-mark question.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the definition and purpose of micropropagation from the context
Step 2: Extract the key advantages mentioned - rapid production of large numbers of plants and genetic uniformity (somaclones)
Step 3: Formulate a concise 2-mark answer highlighting these points