How does variation occur in plants?

Gene variation in plants often occurs as the result of gene flow. Pollen is dispersed from one area to another by the wind or by pollinators over great distances. Examples of genetic variation in animals include albinism, cheetahs with stripes, snakes that fly, animals that play dead, and animals that mimic leaves.

What are the sources of genetic variation in plants?

There are three sources of genetic variation: mutation, gene flow, and sexual reproduction.

What is variation in plant?

Definition. Natural variation in plants refers to the genetic diversity of a single plant species in the wild. Natural variation is a valuable source of beneficial traits for plant breeding.

How does genetic variability occur?

Genetic variation can be caused by mutation (which can create entirely new alleles in a population), random mating, random fertilization, and recombination between homologous chromosomes during meiosis (which reshuffles alleles within an organism’s offspring).

Why the variation in plant and animal breeding is so important?

Genetic variation is necessary in order to make progress in breeding successive generations. Each gene, which is the basic unit of heredity, occupies a specific location, or locus, on a chromosome. Two or more genes may be associated with a specific locus and therefore with a specific trait.

Why is variation important in plant and animal breeding?

How do plant genetics work?

Plant genetics differs from animal genetics in a number of ways: somatic mutations can contribute to the germ line more easily as flowers develop at the end of branches composed of somatic cells; polyploidy is more common; and plants additionally contain chloroplastic DNA.

What is the importance of variation in plant breeding?

The presence of genetic variation in plant populations is useful for conservation and breeding programs. Plant genetic diversity offers opportunity for researchers to develop new improved varieties with desirable traits, which accommodates both farmers and breeders preferred traits.