Correct Option
Terminator Seed Technology, also known as Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT), involves genetically modifying plants to produce seeds that are sterile. This means that the plants grown from these terminator seeds will produce a subsequent generation of seeds that are non-viable and cannot germinate or grow into new plants if replanted. Consequently, the sexual reproduction of these plants is rendered ineffective for propagation, making them functionally sexually sterile in terms of producing viable offspring for future generations. This technology prevents farmers from saving and reusing seeds from their harvest, thereby increasing their dependence on seed companies for each planting season.
Incorrect Options
Option (a) show poor germination: Terminator seeds are designed to germinate normally in the first generation. The sterility induced by the technology manifests in the seeds produced by these first-generation plants, not in their initial germination capacity.
Option (b) form low-yielding plants despite the high quality: Terminator seeds are often associated with high-yielding or other desirable agronomic traits in the first generation. The primary purpose of the technology is not to reduce yield but to control seed propagation and ensure repurchase.
Option (d) give rise to plants incapable of forming viable seeds: While the technology results in plants producing seeds that are incapable of forming viable offspring, option (c) "give rise to sexually sterile plants" is considered a more comprehensive description of the overall reproductive outcome. The inability to produce viable seeds is a direct consequence of the engineered sexual sterility, which prevents the plant from successfully propagating itself through its seeds in subsequent generations. The key aspect is the engineered nature of this sterility, impacting the plant's sexual reproductive cycle for future generations.