With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?
- Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
- This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
- It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Genome sequencing identifies specific genetic markers linked to desirable traits such as disease resistance and drought tolerance. This enables targeted breeding programs to develop improved crop varieties with enhanced resilience.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Traditional crop breeding takes years or even decades. Genome sequencing accelerates this process by allowing precise identification of beneficial genes, enabling marker-assisted selection and reducing the time required to develop new varieties from 10-15 years to just 3-5 years.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Genome sequencing helps decode the genetic interactions between host plants and pathogens. Understanding these host-pathogen relationships enables scientists to develop targeted disease management strategies and breed crops with enhanced resistance mechanisms.
All three statements correctly describe immediate applications of genome sequencing in Indian agriculture, making it a powerful tool for crop improvement and food security.
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