Rice is one of the most widely consumed grain worldwide. As
increasing global temperatures hamper rice production, scientists
are searching varieties exhibiting some degree of heat resistance.
The HT54 variety of the indica rice, Oryza sativa, was found to
tolerate several days of high temperatures to 48 degrees Celsius
(118 degrees Fahrenheit) during its growth. Researchers performed a
genetic crossing experiment between the heat-resistant HT54 variety
and a control variety, HT13, without heat resistance. All seedlings
in the first generation survived a heat challenge of 48 degrees
Celsius. In the second generation only 548 of the 744 plants
survived the heat challenge. This would suggest heat resistance is
carried by a single gene with a dominant allele and a recessive
allele. Are the findings consistent with a simple
dominant-recessive Mendelian genetic model in which F2 is made up
of 75% dominant-trait (heat resistance) and recessive-trait rice
plants?
a)) Perform this test with a Z method.