Final answer:
The advantages of using pea plants for experiments include a variety of easily observable traits, self-fertilization leading to true-breeding, and the ease of cross-pollination. Mendel capitalized on these advantages to study inheritance, making pea plants an optimal choice for his research. The correct option is D. All of the above were advantages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Experimental advantages of using pea plants included that they came in several different varieties, were capable of self-fertilization, and were easy to cross. Gregor Mendel chose pea plants (Pisum sativum) for his groundbreaking studies due to their many advantageous traits.
Pea plants are fast-growing and easy to raise, which allows for conducting multiple generations of experiments within a single season. They exhibit easily observable characteristics that come in pairs, like seed form (round or wrinkled) and flower color (white or purple), making it simpler to track heritability.
The ability for them to self-pollinate ensures that they are true-breeding, producing offspring with consistent traits, which is ideal for genetic studies. To facilitate cross-pollination, Mendel could manually transfer pollen between plants, ensuring controlled breeding between plants with different traits, also known as hybrids.
In conclusion, the correct option regarding experimental advantages of pea plants is D. All of the above were advantages.