Question

Suppose a strawberry farmer calculates that the average strawberry produced from his garden weighs 2 g. The farmer\'s 10 most productive plants grow strawberries with a mean weight of 6 g. The farmer interbreeds these 10 plants, and the progeny produce strawberries with an average weight of 5 g. If the farmer interbreeds plants that produce strawberries with an average weight of 4 g, how much would strawberries produced by the progeny of these selected plants weigh?

Answer 1

The correct answer is 3.5 grams.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given question, there is a need to use the equation R = h² × S. Here, R is the response to selection, it is the difference between the mean of the initiating population and the mean of the progeny of the selected parents. In the given question R = 5g - 2g = 3g.

S is the selection differential, it is the difference between the mean of the initiating population and the mean of the selected parents. In the given case, S = 6g - 2g = 4g

Substituting the values of R and S in the given equation, we get:

3g = h² (4g)

h² = 0.75

If the selected plants' average weight is 4 grams, then S would be 2 grams, and R = 0.75 × 2 = 1.5g

The predicted average weight of strawberries from the progeny plants would be 2g + 1.5g = 3.5 g.