Benefits of micropropagation (clonal propagation)—select the most comprehensive answer Which option best captures the major advantages of micropropagation for commercial and research applications, including speed, sanitation, and special genotypes?

Introduction / Context:
Micropropagation is widely adopted in horticulture, forestry, and seed potato programs because it provides fast, clean, and scalable clonal production. The method is especially powerful for elite, sterile, or recalcitrant genotypes that cannot be propagated sexually.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Culture is performed under aseptic, controlled conditions.
• Source material can be indexed for pathogens to generate clean mother stocks.
• Multiplication stage can be iterated to achieve exponential plantlet numbers.

Concept / Approach:
Evaluate whether each listed benefit is a recognized strength of micropropagation. Speed (rapid multiplication), sanitation (disease-free plants), and the ability to propagate sterile hybrids are all hallmark advantages.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Commercial success stories (banana, sugarcane, ornamentals) consistently cite these advantages as the rationale for adopting tissue culture pipelines.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• (e) omits the crucial benefit for sterile hybrids.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming sterility prevents clonal propagation; micropropagation bypasses sexual reproduction entirely.

Final Answer:
All of the above