Question

(a) How would you ensure cross pollination in a hermaphrodite flower? List the steps.
(b) What are the different types of cross-pollination? [5]

Answer 1

(a) Cross pollination in a hermaphrodite flower can be ensured by artificial hybridisation through emasculation and bagging. The steps are:
(i) Emasculation: Removal of anthers from the flower bud before the anther dehisces using a pair of forceps.
(ii) Bagging: Emasculated flowers have to be covered with a bag of suitable size to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen.
(iii) When the stigma of bagged flower attains receptivity, mature pollen grains collected from anthers of the male parent are dusted on the stigma, and the flowers are rebagged, and the fruit is allowed to develop. [3]

(b) The different types of cross-pollination are:
(i) Geitonogamy: Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of another flower of the same plant.
(ii) Xenogamy: Transfer of pollen grains from anther to the stigma of a different plant. [2]