Final answer:
The process described is selective breeding, where a farmer crosses two apple trees to combine traits of large fruit size and popular taste, using principles of genetics established by Mendel's experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario where a farmer crosses an apple tree that produces large apples with an apple tree that produces apples with a popular taste describes the process of selective breeding. This is a method used by farmers and agricultural scientists to enhance specific desirable traits in crops, such as fruit size and flavor.
By selecting two parent plants that each exhibit one favored trait and breeding them together, the farmer hopes to produce offspring that combine both desired characteristics.
This approach has roots in the methods of Mendel, whose experiments with pea plants helped establish the principles of genetics. Modern-day farmers can use these principles to predict the likelihood of offspring exhibiting certain traits, often using tools like Punnett squares to guide their breeding programs.
Selective breeding has been fundamental in the evolution of agriculture, allowing for the improvement of crop yield, taste, storage longevity, ease of harvest, and disease tolerance.
These advancements have significantly changed the complexity and business of farming, involving a variety of stakeholders from seed producers to government officials.