alleryWhich chemical is commonly used to double the chromosome number and induce polyploidy in plants?
ANitrous acid
BMustard gas
CCaffeine
DColchicine
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Colchicine
1. Polyploidy can be induced by physical agents such as X-rays and chemical agents.
2. The chemical specified for doubling chromosomes is colchicine, used to make sterile hybrids like Triticale fertile.
3. Nitrous acid and mustard gas are listed as chemical mutagens, not chromosome-doublers, so options A and B are traps.
4. Hence the answer is D.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit "Breeding and Biotechnology", p.296_
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