Question

question 10 (1 point)
which is a significant drawback of relying solely on asexual propagation for a large - scale crop?
o a it takes much longer to produce a mature plant.
o b offspring may have unpredictable traits.
o c it increases unwanted genetic diversity.
o d the entire crop is vulnerable to a single disease.

Explanation:

Asexual propagation produces genetically identical offspring (clones). With no genetic variation, if a disease targets the genetic makeup of these clones, the entire crop (which has the same genetic makeup) is at risk.

• Option a: Asexual propagation is often faster than sexual reproduction in producing mature plants (e.g., vegetative propagation like cuttings can root quickly), so this is incorrect.
• Option b: In asexual propagation, offspring are genetically identical to the parent (barring mutations, which are rare), so traits are predictable, making this option wrong.
• Option c: Asexual propagation reduces genetic diversity (since there is no recombination of genetic material as in sexual reproduction), not increases it, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

d. The entire crop is vulnerable to a single disease.