Question

When first-generation plants are allowed to self-pollinate, what type of traits appear in the second generation?

Answer 1

It depends on the genotype of the plant

Self-pollination means that you are not necessarily introducing any new traits into the second generation.

Say you have a heterozygote plant for smooth seeds (i.e. Ss). This means, that there are 4 possible outcomes of a cross between its own gametes:

1.SS

2.Ss

3.sS

4.ss

75% of the offspring has, therefore, the same genetic traits as the mother-plant, whilst 25% have a different phenotype