The trait for tall pea plants is (T) and the trait for short pea plants is (t). The trait for smooth pea plants is (R) and the trait for wrinkled is (r).Two plants are crossed producing a F1 generation of plants with 612 tall and smooth pea plants and 188 short and wrinkled pea plants. What would be the most likely genotype of the parental generation?

P generation = TtRr × TtRr i.e both parents were heterozygote for both traits

Explanation:

This question involves two genes encoding the height and texture in pea plants respectively. The alleles for tall and smooth pea traits are dominant over the alelles for short and wrinkled traits.

According to this question, two plants are crossed to produce F1 offsprings as follows: 612 tall and smooth pea plants and 188 short and wrinkled pea plants.

First, we turn this derived number of offsprings into ratio by dividing by the smallest number (188)

612/188 : 188/188

3.25 : 1

Approximately; we can say this is 3 (tall and smooth) : 1 (short and wrinkled)

Based on this ratio, which was got by Mendel for his F1 offsprings when he crossed pea plants, the parental generation has a heterozygous genotype (TtRr).