Question

If you had two true-breeding pea varieties, one that produces tall plants and another that produces short plants, how would you perform a reciprocal cross?

a. Cross a tall plant with a short plant
b. Cross a short plant with a tall plant
c. Cross two tall plants
d. Cross two short plants

Answer 1

To perform a reciprocal cross between two true-breeding pea varieties, you would need to cross a tall plant with a short plant. The purpose of a reciprocal cross is to determine if the traits are influenced by the parental plants or if it is solely based on sex. Therefore, the correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to perform a reciprocal cross between two true-breeding pea varieties, one that produces tall plants and another that produces short plants, you would need to cross a tall plant with a short plant. This is known as a reciprocal cross because you are reversing the roles of the male and female parents in the cross. By doing this, you can determine if the traits are influenced by the parental plants or if it is solely based on sex. For example, if the offspring from crossing a tall male with a short female are all tall, and the offspring from crossing a short male with a tall female are all short, then it can be concluded that the trait is influenced by the parent's sex.