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
Option (B) is correct because cytoplasmic male sterility is a tool used in hybrid seed production to prevent self-pollination, and gene silencing (like RNA interference) is a molecular technique used to suppress specific gene expressions, both of which are integral to developing transgenic crops. Budding and grafting are incorrect as they are traditional vegetative propagation methods that involve physical joining of plant parts without altering the plant's genetic makeup or introducing foreign DNA. The core concept tested is the distinction between conventional horticultural practices and modern genetic engineering techniques used in biotechnology.