5.10 Breeding Plants

- In the image, the plant is rice. On the rice there are rice grains
- the number of rice grains are under the control of genes
- the farmer wants to improve the number of rice granes per plant which would lead to the increase in yield
- Some plants have six grains per stem whilst others have 8 grains per stem as well as others that have 10 grains per stem
- the farmer decides to harvest the one with 6 and 8 grains and use the one with 10 grains for planting
- in the next generation of rice, the number of grain increases to 8 grains per stem, 10 grains per stem and 12 grains per stem.
- he harvests 8 grains and 10 grains and selects the one with 12 grains for planting and breeding
- this way, the number of grains of rice on each plant gradually increases --> therefore, the yield increases.
- this is an example of selective breeding and can be applied to most characteristics of the plant.