What part of a chromosome determines individual plant characteristics?

The part of a chromosome that determines individual plant characteristics is a gene. Genes serve as specific segments of DNA that encode the instructions for producing proteins, which in turn influence various traits and characteristics in plants, such as color, size, growth habit, and resistance to disease. Each gene can exist in different versions, known as alleles, which contribute to the variation seen within a species.

While traits refer to the observable characteristics of an organism, they are a result of the expression of genes. Pollen is involved in the reproduction of plants but does not directly determine characteristics. Enzymes are proteins produced by genes that facilitate biochemical reactions but do not themselves determine the characteristics of a plant. Therefore, the gene is the fundamental unit that links the chromosomes to the traits exhibited by individual plants.