Question
Interspecific crosses are rare in nature and intergeneric crosses almost unknown. Why?

Answer

Interbreeding is a major criterion for members of any species. If two individuals cannot breed, they cannot be termed to belong to the same species. Hence, interspecific crosses are rare in nature. Some logic applies for intergeneric crosses. The main reason lies in the difference in number of chromosomes in the cells of different organisms. Due to this, a viable zygote cannot be formed by two gametes having different numbers of chromosomes. But artificial hybridization is being frequently used to produce interspecific and intergeneric crosses; especially for producing better varieties of plants.

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