Chromosomes and ploidy levels

Chromosomes, located in the nucleus of an organism's cell, contain genetic material in the form of genes that are essential for development and reproduction. Ploidy refers to the number of sets of chromosomes in a single cell. Organisms can have different levels of ploidy, such as:

• Haploid (n): one set of chromosomes, typical of gametes.
• Diploid (2n): Two sets of chromosomes, common in most animals and many plants. One set generally comes from each of the two parents.
• Polyploid: More than two sets of chromosomes, common in plants. For example, tetraploid (4n) for four sets and hexaploid (6n) for six sets. In autopolyploids the sets originate from the same species while in allopolyploids they originate from different species.

Ploidy levels influence genetic diversity and trait expression, providing opportunities to

• Combine beneficial traits from different species.
• Create sterile hybrids (e.g. seedless fruits) or stabilise hybrid species for consistent breeding.
• Lead to crops that are better suited to commercial production or specific environmental conditions

More information:

Link: Crop Genetics