FFA Floriculture Practice Test

What would you call a plant specimen used for breeding and genetic studies?

1. Specimen

2. Parent

3. Stock

4. Hybrid

The correct answer is: Stock

The term "stock" in the context of breeding and genetic studies typically refers to a population of plants that exhibits certain characteristics desirable for research or breeding purposes. This term is used to define a group of genetically uniform specimens that serve as the basis for developing new varieties or breeding lines. Stock plants are crucial in horticulture as they can be manipulated through various breeding techniques to enhance desirable traits, such as disease resistance, flower color, or growth habit. In contrast, the other terms have different meanings. A "specimen" generally refers to an individual example of a plant, which may not necessarily be used for breeding. "Parent" refers specifically to the plants that contribute their genetic material to the next generation but does not convey the broader application of a breeding population. Meanwhile, "hybrid" describes the offspring of two different parent plants rather than the source plants themselves. Therefore, "stock" is the most accurate term when discussing plants used for breeding and genetic studies.