Question

Merits and demerits of mass selection?

Answer 1

Some of the merits of mass selection are:

1. It is a simple method which is easy, since it is selected based on the phenotype only. The testing process like crossing, selfing are not done.
2. It reduces the time and cost.
3. Most of the varieties which are developed as a result of the mass selection are more adapted.
4. By mass selection the cross pollinated varieties of crops are also improved.

Some of the demerits of mass selection are:

1. It is not suitable for improving the characters which are of low heritability.
2. In the self-pollinated crop varieties, the mass selection is useful only for the purification that is the improvement of the pure lines.
3. By mass selection no new recombinants can be produced.