A manager is choosing trees for a new plantation. One group was produced by tissue culture from a single fast-growing parent tree. The other group was grown from seeds produced by several parent trees.
Both groups were grown under the same conditions and exposed to the same fungal pathogen.
| group | shortest tree after 18 months in cm | tallest tree after 18 months in cm | trees infected by the pathogen in % |
|---|---|---|---|
| tissue-cultured | 148 | 152 | 82 |
| seed-grown | 126 | 170 | 24 |
The fungal pathogen is likely to occur in the new plantation.
Evaluate whether the manager should plant the tissue-cultured trees rather than the seed-grown trees. Use the data and your knowledge of cloning in your answer.
100 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 4.3 Selective breeding and genetic modification, covering 4.3.1 Selective breeding and its impact, 4.3.2 Tissue culture, 4.3.3 Genetic engineering overview, 4.3.4 Main stages of genetic engineering, 4.3.5 Advantages and disadvantages of GM organisms, 4.3.6 Agricultural solutions for a growing population, and 4.3.7 Evaluating genetic engineering and breeding. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.