9. The trait that can be masked is the * yellow trait. necessive trait. dominant trait. yellow trait.

In the world of genetics, the trait that can be masked is known as the recessive trait. This means that the effects of a recessive allele can be hidden when paired with a dominant allele. For example, if a plant has a dominant green trait allele and a recessive yellow allele, the plant will exhibit the green trait because the dominant one overpowers the recessive. In real-world applications, understanding the dominance and recessiveness of traits is crucial in fields like agriculture and animal breeding. By knowing how traits are inherited, farmers can optimize crop yields or breed livestock for desirable characteristics, such as faster growth or disease resistance, all while ensuring that recessive traits don't sneak in and alter their carefully planned genetics!