An ascomycete called Cryphonectria parasitica causes...

Name: Problem 11, Chapter 19: Biology: Concepts and Investigations
Uploaded: 2020-05-24T20:43:31-08:00
Duration: 2 min 10 s
Channel: Jenny Wu
Description: An ascomycete called Cryphonectria parasitica causes chestnut blight, a disease that has killed most of the chestnut trees in the United States. If you were a plant breeder trying to bring back the chestnut, how would you use artificial selection to create disease-resistant varieties of the tree?

An ascomycete called Cryphonectria parasitica causes chestnut blight, a disease that has killed most of the chestnut trees in the United States. If you were a plant breeder trying to bring back the chestnut, how would you use artificial selection to create disease-resistant varieties of the tree?

Key Concepts

Artificial Selection

Artificial selection is the intentional breeding of plants or animals by humans to encourage the occurrence of desirable traits in successive generations. In the context of plant breeding, it involves selecting individuals that exhibit resistance to diseases and using them as the parent stock for further breeding, thereby gradually enhancing the prevalence of the disease-resistant trait in the population.

Plant Breeding

Plant breeding is a systematic approach to changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics such as disease resistance, improved yield, or environmental adaptability. This practice involves understanding heritable traits, designing controlled crosses, and selecting the best-performing progeny over multiple generations.

Disease Resistance

Disease resistance in plants refers to the inherent ability of certain varieties to prevent or limit the damage caused by pathogens. In breeding programs, identifying and selecting individuals with genetic resistance to particular diseases is critical, as these traits help counteract pathogens like the one causing blight, ultimately supporting the survival and health of the crop.

Genetic Variation

Genetic variation within a plant species is essential for artificial selection and plant breeding. It provides the raw material needed for selection by offering a pool of diverse traits, including those that confer disease resistance. Without sufficient genetic diversity, it becomes challenging to identify and propagate traits that can help overcome diseases.

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