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Sterility can be a desirable trait from an agricultural perspective since it may result in a fruit that is ________?

1) Seedless
2) Bigger
3) Juicier
4) Tastier

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Sterility in agriculture can lead to the production of seedless fruits, such as seedless watermelons, through parthenocarpy. While sterility doesn't inherently create bigger, juicier, or tastier fruits, it can contribute to other favourable traits like uniformity in size which aids in harvesting.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sterility in agricultural crops can be a desirable trait for a number of reasons, one of which is the production of seedless fruits. This is exemplified by the development of seedless watermelons through a process called parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpy occurs when fruits develop without the initiation or complete development of seeds. Fruits like seedless watermelon or bananas do not contain fully developed seeds, which can make them more appealing to consumers. It's worth noting that sterility does not necessarily produce bigger, juicier, or tastier fruits directly, but it can contribute to traits such as uniformity in size and time of maturation which may enhance harvesting and market appeal.

The seedless watermelon is a sterile hybrid, much like a mule, which was created by crossing a tetraploid plant with a diploid plant. While seedless watermelons do require pollination to initiate the seed development, the seeds soon abort, leading to fruit that is seedless. In agricultural practice, hybrid crops can combine favorable traits from parental lines, leading to advantages such as uniformity and vigor, but not explicitly better flavor or shelf life, unless those traits are also specifically selected for.

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