Interspecific crosses are rare in nature | Class 12 Biology Chapter Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production, Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production NCERT Solutions

In interspecific crosses, male and female animals of two different related species are being mated. In some cases, the progeny may combine desirable features of both the parents and can be of considerable or desirable economic value. E.g., the mule.

An interspecific hybrid’s fertility varies from different points. Many of Panthera species varieties like tigers, lions, leopard hybrid males are infertile, while the female counterparts can breed with the species that she contains (female tigers can breed with a lion or tiger to produce ligers or tigers). These are rare in nature.

Intergeneric hybridization is the crossing of two different animals or plants of different genus. It is almost unknown in nature. Intergeneric hybrids more or less never form a complete zygotes or an embryos. These are sterile or we can say infertile.