Selection of superior recombinants
Cross-hybridisation among the selected parents
Germplasm collection
Evaluation and selection of parents.
Germplasm refers to the hereditary material transmitted to the offspring through the germ cells. It is the total content of genes. It serves as the raw material for the breeder to develop different crops. The main objective of germplasm collection is the preservation of genetic diversity of a particular plant or genetic stock for its use in the future. Thus, the correct answer is option D.