This set of Plant Biotechnology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Cytoplasmic Male Sterility”.
1. Who first discovered male sterility in plants?
a) Oswald Avery
b) Rachel Carson
c) Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter
d) Elizabeth Blackwell
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Explanation: Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter was the first to discover male sterility in plants. Through his findings, he explained the process of anther abortion within plant species and in other specific hybrids. At present, Cytoplasmic male sterility has been identified in over 150 plant species.
2. Cytoplasmic male sterility is found mostly in which type of plants?
a) Lower-level plants
b) Higher-level plants
c) Flowering plants
d) Non-flowering plants
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Explanation: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is found mostly in higher level plants like cotton, sugarcane, cabbage, potato etc. Usually, the Cytoplasmic male sterility occurs in plants, those in which the cytoplasmic genes are mutated.
3. Which of the following is true regarding cytoplasmic male sterility?
a) It shows mendelian mode of inheritance
b) Hard to detect
c) It is controlled by extranuclear genome
d) Paternally inherited
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Explanation: Cytoplasmic male sterility is controlled by extranuclear genome. It shows non-mendelian mode of inheritance, with sterility being inherited through maternal means. And it is easy to detect as the pollen grains can be assayed with the help of various staining techniques.
4. Why cytoplasmic male sterility is employed in plant breeding?
a) To control male gametes
b) To control female gametes
c) To produce nonviable eggs
d) To produce hybrid seeds
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Explanation: Cytoplasmic male sterility is employed in plant breeding in order to generate hybrid seeds. These hybrid seeds are produced as a result of crossing between two genetically different cell lines. And they also prevent self-fertilization in plants.
5. Which of the following is not a characterization of male sterility in plants?
a) Abnormal pollen maturation
b) Cannot be induced artificially
c) Malfunction or absence of male organs
d) Occurs due to spontaneous mutation
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Explanation: Male sterility includes abnormal pollen maturation that can be viable or nonviable because of the malfunctioning of plant male organs. It can be induced artificially for the purpose of breeding or they can naturally occur by means of spontaneous mutation.
6. Cytoplasmic genetic male sterility is also known as nucleoplasmic male sterility.
a) True
b) False
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Explanation: The given statement is true. Cytoplasmic genetic male sterility is also known as nucleoplasmatic male sterility because they occur when both the nuclear as well as cytoplasmic genes are mutated.
7. What is the key function of male fertile lines?
a) To maintain male sterile lines
b) To maintain female sterile lines
c) To increase pollination
d) To decrease pollination
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Explanation: The main function of male fertile line is to maintain male sterile line in plants, for which both the male sterile as well as the fertile lines should be of same genotype. The male fertile line is also known as maintainer or B line, whereas, the male sterile line is typically termed as A line.
8. Male sterility in plants does not affect female gamete functioning.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The given statement is correct. Male sterility in plants does not affect female gamete functioning. The male sterility is characterized by the production of nonfunctional pollen grains and this prevents the occurrence of self-pollination.
9. Why cytoplasmic male sterility is stable?
a) Because of phenotypic origin
b) Progenies are always male sterile
c) It is not affected by chemicals
d) It is not affected by environmental factors
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Explanation: Cytoplasmic male sterility is not affected by environmental factors such as temperature, pressure and pH, hence they are stable in nature. Cytoplasmic male sterility can be induced by chemicals or through other transgenic methods.
10. Which of the following is not a type of male sterility?
a) Non-functional male sterility
b) Cytoplasmic male sterility
c) Cytoplasmic-Genetic male sterility
d) Genetic male sterility
View Answer
Explanation: The five main types of male sterility in plants are: Transgenic male sterility, Cytoplasmic male sterility, Cytoplasmic-Genetic male sterility, Genetic male sterility and Chemical induced male sterility. Each of these types are induced either by nuclear and cytoplasmic genes or chemicals.
Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Plant Biotechnology.
To practice all areas of Plant Biotechnology, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.
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