Principles of Inheritance and Variation – Solutions

1. Mention the advantages of selecting a pea plant for the experiment conducted by Mendel.

Solution:

The advantages of selecting a pea plant for the experiment conducted by Mendel are as follows:

1. Pea plants show many characteristics, each with two contrasting traits – one dominant and the other recessive – that are easily detectable. Mendel chose 7 such characters for his study.
2. Pea plants have bisexual flowers that are naturally self-pollinated, but artificially can be cross-pollinated.
3. The plant is very small and is easy to grow and maintain.
4. The life cycle of the pea plant is very short, so a large number of generations can be obtained within less time.
5. A large number of true breeding varieties are available.
6. The floral structure of the pea plant facilitates controlled breeding by hybridization.