Selection methods in plant breeding based on mode of reproduction

Okay kiddo, let me explain plant breeding and selection methods based on the way plants make babies. Plants have two ways of having babies: sexual and asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction means they need both male and female parts to make a seed or fruit that will turn into a new plant. Asexual reproduction means they can make a new plant just from a piece of themselves or a root.

Now, let's talk about how scientists choose the best plants to make new ones. They look for plants with desirable traits, like being resistant to diseases, growing fast or having a high crop yield. They want to make new plants that have these good traits too.

For plants that reproduce sexually, scientists can cross-pollinate or mate two plants that have the desired traits. They take the pollen from the flower of the male plant and put it on the flower of the female plant, so the seeds will have genes from both parents. They grow the seeds from this cross and see which ones have the best traits. These are the plants they select for the next generation.

For plants that can reproduce asexually, scientists can clone the plants that have the desirable traits. They take a piece of the stem or a root and make a new plant that is identical to the original. This is called vegetative propagation. This way, the good traits will be passed on to the new plant without genetic mixing.

In summary, plant breeding and selection methods depend on the mode of plant reproduction. For sexual reproduction, scientists cross-pollinate or mate two plants and grow the seeds from the best combinations. For asexual reproduction, they can clone plants with desirable traits. These methods help to create plants with better traits for farmers and gardeners to grow.