When first-generation plants are allowed to self-pollinate, what type of traits appear in the second generation?

1 Answer
Apr 11, 2017

It depends on the genotype of the plant

Explanation:

Self-pollination means that you are not necessarily introducing any new traits into the second generation.

Say you have a heterozygote plant for smooth seeds (i.e. Ss). This means, that there are 4 possible outcomes of a cross between its own gametes:

  1. SS
  2. Ss
  3. sS
  4. ss

75% of the offspring has, therefore, the same genetic traits as the mother-plant, whilst 25% have a different phenotype