Question

A farmer wants to use artificial selection to breed a watermelon that is sweet tasting but has a low quantity of seeds. Which plants should the farmer select to cross to get the desired set of characteristics?

A) Watermelon plants with high sweetness and high seed quantity.
B) Watermelon plants with low sweetness and low seed quantity.
C) Watermelon plants with high sweetness and low seed quantity.
D) Watermelon plants with low sweetness and high seed quantity.

Answer 1

The farmer should cross watermelon plants with high sweetness and low seed quantity to breed a watermelon that has both desired traits, as determined by the principles of artificial selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The farmer seeking to breed a watermelon that is sweet tasting but has a low quantity of seeds should select watermelon plants with high sweetness and low seed quantity. This is because the desired traits for the offspring are high sweetness and low seeds and by selecting parents that exhibit these traits, through artificial selection, the farmer increases the probability of these traits being passed down to the next generation. Over multiple generations, carefully selecting and breeding plants that show more and more of the desired characteristics, the farmer can cultivate a watermelon crop that consistently exhibits high sweetness and low seed quantity.