Consider the following techniques/phenomena: 1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants 2. Cytoplasmic male sterility 3. Gene silencing Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic crops?
Explanation
A transgenic crop is a genetically modified organism (GMO).
Transgenic indicates that a transfer of genes has occurred using recombinant DNA technology. Generally, a transgenic crop contains one or more genes that have been inserted artificially either from an unrelated plant or from different species altogether.
Technique 1 is incorrect: Budding and grafting in fruit plants does not include genetic editing or modification. Thus, option 1 is eliminated.
Technique 2 is correct: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a condition where plants cannot produce viable pollen. It is typically controlled by genes in the cytoplasm. While CMS can occur naturally, it can also be introduced or manipulated using genetic engineering techniques to create transgenic lines for more efficient hybrid seed production.
Technique 3 is correct: Gene silencing technique uses engineered genetic material to specifically suppress the expression of certain genes in a plant. This allows scientists to modify the plant's characteristics at the genetic level, which is the hallmark of transgenic crops.
Thus, the right answer is option 'B'.