- A Interspecific hybrids generally come from crossing two different varieties of the exact same species, unlike true somatic hybrid plants as frequently described in most textbook accounts
- B Interspecific hybrids result from sexual crossing between two different species while somatic hybrids are produced by protoplast fusion bypassing sexual incompatibility barriers
- C Interspecific hybrids can mainly be produced under sterile in vitro laboratory conditions, whereas somatic hybrids often form outdoors during normal conditions as generally observed
- D There is sometimes thought to be no real meaningful difference, since both processes yield the exact same type of hybrid plant in typical laboratory settings under usual circumstances
Correct answer: B. Interspecific hybrids result from sexual crossing between two different species while somatic hybrids are produced by protoplast fusion bypassing sexual incompatibility barriers
Explanation: Interspecific hybrids are produced by conventional sexual crossing between different species, which may fail due to reproductive barriers. Somatic hybridization (protoplast fusion) bypasses sexual incompatibility, allowing hybridization between species that cannot be crossed sexually.
Concept context
Learn about animal husbandry, plant breeding, tissue culture, biofortification, and single cell protein.
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