) A strawberry farmer determines that the average weight of strawberries produced by plants in his garden is 2g. He selects the 10 plants that produce the largest strawberries; the average weight of strawberries among these selected plants is 6g. He interbreeds these selected plants. The progeny produce strawberries that weigh 5g. If the farmer had instead selected plants that produce an average strawberry weight of 4g, what would be the predicted weight of strawberries produced by the progeny of these selected plants

3.5 g

Explanation:

To solve this particular question, we will use the equation

R = h² * S, where

R, is the response to selection. This response to selection is the difference between the mean of the starting population and the mean of the progeny of the selected parents.

S, the selection differential, is the difference between the mean of the starting population and the mean of the selected parents

From the above explanation, we then have.

R = 5 g - 2 g = 3 g.

S = 6 g - 2 g = 4 g.

On Substituting the values into the equation, we have

3 g = h² * (4 g)

3 g = 4gh²

h² = 3g/4g

h² = 0.75.

If the selected plants are said to average 4 g, this then mean that S would be 2 g. If S is 2 g, using the earlier stated formula,

R = 0.75(2 g) = 1.5 g.

Therefore, the predicted average weight of strawberries from the progeny plants would have to be

2 g + 1.5 g = 3.5 g.