Which method can promote genetic resistance in plants towards diseases?

Selective breeding is a method that can effectively promote genetic resistance in plants toward diseases because it involves choosing parent plants with desirable traits, including resistance to specific diseases, to produce offspring that inherit those beneficial characteristics. By systematically selecting and breeding plants that show natural resistance, over time, farmers and plant breeders enhance the overall disease resilience of plant varieties.

This method allows for the incorporation of advantageous traits that can help the plants survive and thrive in environments where specific diseases might otherwise pose a significant threat. By focusing on genetic traits that confer resistance, selective breeding facilitates the development of varieties specifically tailored to withstand disease pressures, leading to healthier crops and potentially higher yields.

In contrast, the other methods, while valuable in their own right, do not directly enhance the genetic resistance of plants. Chemical treatments may help manage or prevent diseases but do not alter the genetic makeup of the plants. Grafting can be a useful technique for combining desirable traits of different plants, but it does not inherently increase genetic resistance. Organic pest control focuses on managing pests without synthetic chemicals but does not directly address plant genetics or disease resistance.