How many growing seasons are required to complete one selection cycle in reciprocal recurrent selection?

Correct option is C

What is Reciprocal Recurrent Selection (RRS)?
Reciprocal Recurrent Selection is a breeding method used to improve the combining ability of two populations simultaneously.
Particularly effective in cross-pollinated crops like maize, sorghum, and pearl millet.
Designed to enhance both General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) by interpopulation hybridization and selection.
�� Steps in One Selection Cycle of RRS:
To complete one cycle of selection, the following steps are involved:
Season 1 – Crossing:
Individuals from Population A are crossed with a tester from Population B, and vice versa.
This produces testcross progeny for both populations.
Season 2 – Evaluation:
The testcrosses are evaluated in field trials to measure their combining ability.
Based on performance, superior individuals are selected from both populations.
Season 3 – Recombination:
The selected individuals from each population are intermated within their original populations to form improved populations (A' and B').
This completes one selection cycle.
✅ Thus, a complete cycle of reciprocal recurrent selection requires 3 growing seasons.
�� Option-wise Explanation:
(a) 1 – ❌ Not enough time for crossing, evaluation, and recombination.
(b) 2 – ❌ Would leave out either evaluation or recombination.
(c) 3 – ✅ Correct, standard number of seasons needed to complete crossing, evaluation, and recombination.
(d) 4 – ❌ Possible with additional traits or locations, but not minimum required.