Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Flowering plants that are tetraploid have reduced maintenance costs because of the reduced need to:

1. water

2. dead head

3. fertilize

4. spray for insects

The correct answer is: dead head

In tetraploid flowering plants, there are typically more sets of chromosomes compared to their diploid counterparts. This genetic characteristic can lead to traits such as increased vigor, larger flower size, and the ability to produce more flowers. One of the significant benefits of tetraploidy is the reduced need for deadheading, which is the process of removing spent flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent the plant from going to seed. Tetraploid plants may have a longer blooming period or produce flowers that last longer before they need to be removed, which can alleviate the frequency and labor associated with deadheading. While moisture, nutrient needs, and pest control can also be factors in plant maintenance, the advantage of tetraploid plants specifically lies in their ability to enhance flowering performance and reduce the frequency of maintenance tasks like deadheading. Thus, this leads to overall lower maintenance costs for gardeners and landscape professionals.