Question

What are some considerations and detractions regarding botanical classification trends and botanists who want to reclassify plants based on their genetics or constituents rather than their visual botanical features?

Answer 1

The traditional botanical classification has numerous drawbacks as it group plants based on their physical appearance. The classification of plants based on their genetic constitution and cell constitution will lead to better classification. Plants which are morphologically similar may not have common origin or common traits. But the plants which are similar in genetic constitution will most probably have common origin or evolved from a common ancestry.

The main purpose of botanical classification are:

1. For evolutionary study
2. To trace the ancestors
3. To exploit plant genetic diversity
4. To narrow the risk of genetic erosion
5. To study the function and benefits of various plants

But the botanical classification based on botanical features hardly serve the above purpose.

Here comes the importance of botanical classification based on their genetics and cell constitution play a significant. This classification will help to identify the ancestoral lines of the existing species and can draw the relationship between existing species.

For example: In wheat, due to genetic study, the ancestral lines has been traced out. Moreover after identifying that the wheat is having compatible genome with Rye, scientists have crossed wheat with rye and produced a new plant species called Triticale

Hence the botanical classification based on genetic also helps in developing new species and varieties based on human requirment. Even this botanical classification based on genetic constitution can help to tackle various pest and diseases affecting plants by identifying the genes resistant from a genetically related plant.

But the main detractions and considerations, the botanists face while reclassifying based on genetic constitution are:

• Availability of technically skilled labours.
• Time consuming as genetic diversity test will take more time depending on the plant.
• Cost is too high as it involve costly molecular markers.
• Lack of know how of proper genetic diversity protocols.
• Full furnished laboratory system is required.
• Proper classification based on genetic constitution may take long time.
• Botanists should have plant breeding knowledge and molecular biology experience to do classification based on genetic constitutions.

Above listed are the main considerations botanists have while reclassifying plants based on genetics or constituents.